Freaking out a bit - sorry if this is a bit off-topic!

[Jooju2004]

Hi all

I’m after some advice on how to find the best local, private endocrinologist. We’re in South Yorkshire so can get to Leeds/Sheffield type radius pretty easily.

My question isn’t for me but for my wife (she’s only 42). We found out today she has hypertensive retinopathy (grade 2) but until today we didn’t even know she had a blood pressure issue. Went to A&E because of a vision issue and her BP was 200/108! It dropped through the day, without medication, to 150/90, had a CT scan of head and nothing nasty in there and all bloods came back ok, so she is being referred to NHS endo to find out what could be causing such big and dangerous spikes.

So I know this isn’t a thyroid thing but I guess I’m hoping someone can point me in the right direction of a good Endo so we can get to the bottom of this sooner rather than later.

I’m feeling really lost and sick with worry - if anyone can give me any advice at all I’d be so grateful! Finally get my thyroid kind of on an even keel but this seems so much more serious right now

[Fruitandnutcase]

Isn’t hypertensive retinopathy a sign that the eyes are being affected by high blood pressure? In which case what are they doing to get your wife’s blood pressure down as soon as possible?

I take meds for high blood pressure but I’ve never seen an endo for that. I was treated by my GP - I’m not medically trained but I would have thought that if your wife needed to see a specialist it would be a vascular consultant or possibly an eye specialist, but I’m pretty sure her doctor ought to start treating her high blood pressure as soon as possible.

[Jooju2004 in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

Thanks for the reply. She has been started on ramipril, had a brain scan to rule out any nasties in her head causing the high blood pressure and full blood count done too (all clear) so he believes there has to be an endo cause for it getting so high and spiking so much - so a problem with her adrenals or whatever, I think.

[Fruitandnutcase in reply to Jooju2004]

Very good that she has had the full works and that no nasty surprises have been discovered plus she has started treatment to reduce her high blood pressure. It must have been an awful shock to discover her high blood pressure, must have been an awful shock to end up in A&E with visual problems. At least the all clear with scans and bloods will probably help reassure you both a bit.

In case you don’t hear from anyone else about good endos if you contact Dionne at ThyroidUK - thyroiduk.org.uk There is a list of recommended ends that she can send you. Good luck with it all.

[Jooju2004 in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

Thank you so much! I’ll email Dionne now.

Yes, such a shock - she’s been so well in herself (has fibromyalgia but for last couple of years has been so much better), and just knowing there’s something so dangerous lurking within her is really scary - but we’ll get it sorted and hopefully the meds will work quickly!

Really appreciate your comments and advice, thank you again x