High BP & future problems@#$!?

[WYOAnne]

I just wanted to share a little information that I recently received. I know I see posts every week from CKD patients whose doctors are putting them on some new medication for their high BP. They question whether it is the right one for them, or if they should take it at all. All of us with CKD have problems with high BP. I think it goes with the territory. If you question your BP meds or if your BP is high now......PLEASE call or see your doctor NOW. Not only does high BP put pressure on your kidneys, but also on your heart!!

I am 19 years post transplant and recently started having problems with edema in my feet and ankles. Since my creatinine is stable and doing great, my nephrologist sent me for an echocardiogram. So my doctor explained the results that my heart is mildly enlarged with a lot of scarring. I asked him what caused the scarring......thinking maybe it's because I am getting older? He told me the scarring & enlarged heart was caused by the high BP I had prior to my transplant. So, even though I really did not have out-of-control high BP for very long until I got put on medication that brought things under control, I still have scarring of my heart. Now they want to repeat the ECHO in 6 months and then once a year. What am I trying to say? Get your BP under control and keep it under control!! If your have questions about your BP and or your medications, please ask your doctor. You never how things will affect your future!

[Hopeful_kidney]

WYOAnne,thanks for the info.

[Charlene_Coxhead]

WYOanne

Not all CKD patients have issues with high blood pressure I actually have the complete opposite and my bp is low.

I do agree with your post those to many doctors throw tablets at the problem and a lot of BP can be helped with life style changes. My mum made these changes and avoided the medication she asked the doctor to give her 6 months to reduce it naturally and she did it. She only knew the damage the meds could do because of my renal disease.

[SamuelChin in reply to Charlene_Coxhead]

BP problem differs with people. Like me, I have proteinuria and pre hypertension. I am currently on 50mg of Losartan. Yes, lifestyle changes also important, which I have been asked also. For me, it is okay with BP med, but I also set myself a goal to stop it one day. I am trying to lose weight right now.

[CJEF]

I didn't have hypertension issues until I was placed on Neoral/cyclosporine. For a while after being placed on Neoral my BP was a little too high so they controlled it with BP meds. Then not too long ago the meds seemed to stop working and my creatinine was always elevated and my vision was blurred. Doing a biopsy it was found that I had Neoral/cyclosporine toxicity in my transplant. According to my nephrologist and transplant doctor Neoral was causing the spikes in my creatininine and BP due to the prolonged use of the drug. Yet for some reason I am still on this drug that is currently slowly poisoning my transplant and elevating my BP to dangerous levels. If this is doing this I don't see why they remove me off of it and try another therapy. I am 29 years post and I don't see the harm in trying. Thanks for the info though it is very wise to try to stabilize BP.

[WYOAnne NKF Ambassador in reply to CJEF]

Ya, sometimes I wonder.....a transplant saves your life and it's the meds you take after. I also have been on neoral/cyclosporine for 19 years. I do not have toxicity but has also caused me to be on several BP meds and my red blood cells to be abnormal. I try to stay positive and enjoy life! We just got back from a week long trip to the Caribbean.

[DexterLab]

I have polycystic kidneys, which can cause high blood pressure. I was good with weight, exercise and diet, but still had high BP. It took trying several different medications before we found a combination that worked. We didn't confirm the PKD til later. Now awaiting a transplant, and they are going to remove one of the old kidneys to make room. Will have to see how the BP ends up. So, be willing to work with the docs to find the right meds for you.

[Alone_ in reply to DexterLab]

Sorry to hear about your PKD. My mother passed as she was healing from a fistula.

DO MORE RESEARCH ON YOUR OWN

Pkd is genetic (I tested negative for ASDPKD and ASRPKD. ) Because it is genetic (unlike other ckd's) both kidneys need to be removed so the new kidney will not get infected by the other with the cysts.

And there are brand new evidence that there are 35 items in your DNA that can predispose a person to ckd. - my info on this may not be 100% accurate because it is so brand new.

Wish you the best.

[DexterLab in reply to Alone_]

My mom and grandma and brother all had or have PKD. I am the only one who has progressed to kidney failure. One of the old kidneys will be coming out just to make room. My information says the PKD won't affect the new (to me) kidney as it had different genetics.

I have seen medical articles where one, both, or none of the old kidneys are removed, and timed before, simultaneously or after the transplant. No real concensus. I, luckily, don't have severe pain issues from the cysts, so there is not that incentive to yank them both out. Will have to have serious conversation with the transplant docs on this. My nephrologist is not adamant either way.

Thanks for caring. This group makes all of this less scary.