<p>Hellow all, wondering if anyone of you have battled a sudden increase of high blood pressure. Last spring it started to climb a bit, then it climbed very high, 180, 190, 200 over 110. My doctor put my on meds and I started exercising(I have worked my way up to running about 12 miles a week now). Everything was fine until a few weeks ago when it started climbing again, at the Dr.s office it went up to 220 /114! She added an addtional med. She did an EKG, checked my optic nerve, ordered blood work for kidney and adrenal gland function. Everything came back normal. The second RX is helping, keeping it in normal range. I am just worried that it could be something else. 220/114 seems is so high for someone who is on meds already. The only other issue I have is tinnitius that really took off at about the same time in the spring. I am meeting with my Dr. again next week to go over things, can you think of any questions or additional tests that I should mention? Everything I looked up on-line seems to point to kidney and adrenal glands and those tests came back normal. Thank you so much for any info that you might have.</p>
<p>I’m not a doctor and I don’t want to alarm you but, as someone who has been on BP medication for years, I do know that a reading of anything over 180 systolic or over 110 diastolic is dangerous and you should be seen immediately. Do you have any other symptoms? Shortness of breath, vision issues, chest pain, nausea, headache? Are you taking readings yourself? If so, it’s best not to rely on a single reading. If you experience several readings with those numbers, you should be seen immediately by your doctor and if she’s unreachable, go to Emerg. Is the doctor you’re seeing a cardiologist?</p>
<p>Thank you for your reply. I was actually at the Doctors when it went to 220/114. She is an internist. The second rx has brought it down to normal. No other issues, except the tinnitus and a feeling of some pressure in my head that has diminished with the new rx. I do take readings myself. I just am worried that something else is causing this spike.</p>
<p>I second a follow up with a cardiologist, did you have a 24 hr urine test which is one test used to check for hard to detect adrenaline secreting tumors called pheochromocytoma which can result in sudden severe high BP. Kidney wise did you have test with dye to check blood vessel for narrowing which can also cause extreme HBP. I’m not a doc just have known people who experienced this and these were their issues.</p>
<p>^^^^I second that (24 hour urine), and it certainly wouldn’t hurt to get a cardiology consult.</p>
<p>Glad to hear the second med is keeping it under control.</p>
<p>Which tests did they give you for the adrenal function? As coskat and Nrdsbr say, the best test is the 24-hour urine screen. Do you ever have sudden heart palpitations for no particular reason?</p>
<p>I had a friend with your issue, and none of the BP meds worked, so finally they put him in the hospital for 24 hours to monitor his urine. Turns out he had something called an aldosterone (sp?) tumor, which is not malignant, but causes a build up of potassium in the body. Just one possibility.</p>
<p>Re: first med. Are you getting a generic version of the drug? Has the pharmacy made a switch to a different brand recently? A slight change in formulation can have a huge effect on pharmacokinetics of a drug. A friend experienced this recently with one of his meds (yes, it was a BP med).</p>
<p>Keeping my BP in check is a challenge for me. I heartily recommend consulting a cardiologist or a hypertension specialist. I have been going to a cardiologist for the last two years but in addition, I have accompanied my mom to her hypertension specialist - so I have had quite the education. </p>
<p>Couple of additional thoughts. My BP is caffeine and stress sensitive. I suggest you get a good home BP monitor and get an idea of what it is when you are at home. I have eliminated almost all caffeine - although I will occasionally have some green tea. I read the info on the DASH diet and follow their principals. When I am going thru an acute period of stress, I will take an anti-anxiety med to help me sleep. I exercise vigorously for an hour just about every day. My BP is much lower for several hours after I racewalk. </p>
<p>I also know I am better when I meditate - but I am not as vigilant with that. </p>
<p>You may have just worked yourself up into a frenzy at your last visit - both my mom and I have been known to do that!!!</p>
<p>I’ve been treated for hypertension for years, but last winter my BP wasn’t being controlled as well with the med I was on. My doctor added another med, but it didn’t seem to be working. I had been cutting back on caffeine, but wasn’t ready to give up coffee altogether. I finally decided to cut out caffeine, and like worknprogress, found that I was caffeine sensitive. My doctor thought one cup of coffee wouldn’t hurt, but when I tried even 6 oz. of coffee, my BP shot up…so no coffee for me anymore.</p>
<p>Arterial blockage can also cause high BP. Happened to a relative. Like those above, I think a visit to a cardiologist may be in order.</p>
<p>2 things help me with both BP and Blood Sugar (20 points decrease in both):
-being hungry (or loose weight, then you do not need to be hungry, 5 -6 pounds for about 20 points)
-swimming outside (I do not know if swimming inside has the same effect). Other exersices do not work for me although they make me feel good in general (I exersice 2 hrs/day, except in a summer, it is a bit over 1 hr of swimming)
however, I have experience only with 20 points and I always feel when mine is up, I do not need to measure, although I measure BP and Blood sugar almost on a daily basis, and weight 2 times/day.<br>
I also noticed that they do not tell the truth at Doc. office when they measure it. First, their measurement is different. Second, they alway say the same :120/80. while I have 120 sometime (and it is high for me), I never ever have 80. that is why I am saying that they do not tell the truth. I bet they are told to say 120/80 if they feel that it is OK. but the fact is 130 is not OK for me because I feel it.</p>
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<p>Ok, that is crazy. If you believe your doctor’s office is lying, it’s time to get a new doctor. As a nurse, I have never EVER falsified a blood pressure reading, and if anyone ever told me to say a certain blood pressure, I would not be working there.</p>
<p>Thank you so much for your kind responses. I knew I would get alot of info here! The RX I take is generic, I will check to see if it has been reformulated. I am super sensitive to caffeine, I only have coffee on the weekend, and then usually one cup. I mentioned the head pressure again to my Dr. so I am having an MRI later this week. I know one of the lab tests was Plasma Renin and Plasma fractionated Metanephrines, as I had to ask for clarification form the Dr’s office. Thank you all again, I am just trying to get the right questions to ask.</p>
<p>I know someone who had very high blood pressure, a whooshing noise in her ears, and headaches. She was diagnosed with ideopathic intracranial hypertension, also known as pseudotumor cerebri. That name basically means too much fluid in your head for unknown reasons. It can cause serious damage to the eyes. An MRI didn’t show anything but an off the charts lumbar puncture was the definitive test. </p>
<p>I doubt very much that this is what you have but the combination of head pressure and and ear symptom reminded me of it.</p>