Severe hypertension despite meds

[jezebel69]

Hi allI am still worried about my very high BP spikes which are reaching the stroke risk level. My GP just keeps increasing BP meds but it isn't working. Stress is the trigger, whether good stress (excitement) or bad stress (long list for anyone these days) and I'm sure it pushes my cortisol level through the roof as I have many symptoms.

My GP has contacted endocrinology who say my T3 dose is too high and must be reduced.

My last 2 blood tests were mid range (4.5 in a 3 - 6.8 range) My TSH was of course suppressed and that always panics the endos. A saliva test at a time of low stress showed a high but in range morning cortisol but over range until evening. Would Holy Basil help? Could that level of FT3 be too high?

[Buddy195 Administrator]

Hi Jezebel69,

Can you share your TSH and FT4 tests?

Have you tested your BP at home when relaxed or just at the GP surgery. Just asking, as many people’s BP spikes when in a medical setting.

Does anything help reduce your BP….. meditation, slow breathing etc or is it erratic?

[jezebel69 in reply to Buddy195]

Hi Buddy.

I'm taking readings for my gp and that's what he's basing his medication on. I woke at 4am today with bad chest pains and BP off the scale so not sure what I can do to prevent that. Every med increase I'm given is then beaten by my BP

[Buddy195 Administrator in reply to jezebel69]

I feel for you Jezebel69; that must be worrying for you. I recommend ‘shopping around’ for a private test to get a FULL picture of your thyroid health and key vitamins. Medichecks are often discounted on a Thursday, so worth looking at then. I wouldn’t want to adjust thyroid medication without having all this information.

[jezebel69 in reply to Buddy195]

Thankyou Buddy. Right now I'm mot sure if I can pay my energy bill lol

[Buddy195 Administrator in reply to jezebel69]

I would press your GP to complete the full thyroid tests and ferritin, folate, B12 and Vit D. If this doesn’t work, I’d mention it to endocrinologist (or specialist you may see regarding elevated BP) as they might have more leverage with the hospital labs.

[Batty1 in reply to jezebel69]

Worrying about being able to pay your energy bill can not be making your situation any better.

[jezebel69 in reply to Batty1]

Or anyone else's right now. I'm not alone. The pandemic forced me into retirement and I'm missing my salary. Also not been given my pension yet 🤷

[Batty1 in reply to jezebel69]

Wow what’s the reason for delayed pension?

[jezebel69 in reply to Batty1]

This country is in chaos and the pension dept is ignoring contact.

[Batty1 in reply to jezebel69]

well that really stinks and hopefully it’s sorted out quick.

[Noelnoel in reply to jezebel69]

There’s an interesting post on here this morning which mentions the good effects of potassium supplementation on high bp. Can’t comment on it because I know nothing on the subject but there’s a link somewhere if I can find it again for you

[Noelnoel in reply to jezebel69]

Here it is! humanbean posted it

healthunlocked.com/redirect...

[jezebel69 in reply to Noelnoel]

Thankyou!!

[jezebel69 in reply to Noelnoel]

Wow that is interesting. I'll check to see if my BP meds already contain potassium

[Noelnoel in reply to jezebel69]

it really is interesting isn’t it. Let us all know if you decide to try it and how it goes

[jezebel69 in reply to Noelnoel]

Have ordered some potassium chloride as that seems to be the best for BP. Will post results in a separate thread

[Noelnoel in reply to jezebel69]

I really look forward to hearing how you get on. The article made potassium sound promising. I hope it lives up to it

[GlowCoach Administrator]

When did you take your last dose of T3 before the blood test. How many hours?

Checking your previous posts I can't see your levels of ferritin, folate, B12 and D3. What are they please?

[jezebel69 in reply to GlowCoach]

My last doses were split in 3 that day and it was 12 hours before test next morning. The Pandemic forced my retirement so full tests are out of my price range and my GP has only just started testing FT3 after 7 years being prescribed liothyronine. I make sure I have up to date tests for FT3.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to jezebel69]

Exactly what vitamin supplements are you currently taking

Request GP test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12 as per guidelines for anyone with hypothyroidism

NHS England Liothyronine guidelines July 2019

 

sps.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploa...

Page 9 

Test for Deficiency of any of the following: Vitamin B12, Folate,  Vitamin D, Iron

[jezebel69 in reply to SlowDragon]

My GP is totally useless. I'll try - might be a couple of weeks before I can see him. Now I have something to show him - thankyou

[GlowCoach Administrator in reply to jezebel69]

As SlowDragon says, your GP can and should test the levels I mentioned. Low but in range levels of ferritin, folate, B12 & d3 can mean your thyroid hormone doesn't work properly causing all sorts of issues. It's really important to keep on top of them and get them OPTIMAL as opposed to what your GP will accept as just 'in range'. Supplements and specific foods can help raise levels.

Splitting T3 dose is the right way to test FT3 but it looks a little on the low side now. Your FT3 is only 40% through it's range and should be 60-70%. Could do with small, maybe 5mcg increase of T3 plus optimal vitamins.

[jezebel69 in reply to GlowCoach]

I realise it's low....near the top or even slightly over used to be great for me But my BP won't let me increase.

Last time I tested all were good. I take D3/K2....B12...C. I recently added zinc to reduce cortisol.

[GlowCoach Administrator in reply to jezebel69]

Low iron/ferritin is a frequent cause of cardiac type symptoms, also intolerance of thyroid hormone.

[jezebel69 in reply to GlowCoach]

Thats interesting because I have always had high ferritin and the doctor never questions it. Not tested for a while though

[Hidden]

Do you take any T4?

[jezebel69 in reply to Hidden]

No. Not since 2015. I was never well on T4

[humanbean]

You might find this link of interest (the patient story is interesting as well) :

stopthethyroidmadness.com/b...

[arTistapple in reply to humanbean]

Fascinating reference. Crikey the way all the issues fit together and the superficial nature of the involved medics knowledge. I know I have said it before but I was twice in this situation (possibly more unbeknownst to me) and both times with TSH about 18 (not informed) and told “You are obviously not unwell”. With a blood pressure of 230 on top and higher than the usual top reading on the bottom. About 170 I think. The lack of faith or trust can hardly get lower. It’s their rules and yet not unwell. Eeegh!

[jezebel69 in reply to arTistapple]

How did you get your BP down? Was it connected to cortisol or was that never tested? How we suffer from ignorance

[arTistapple in reply to jezebel69]

So far Jezebel69 HBP meds were doubled - but really the thyroid meds made the most difference. It is still running a bit high 155/70 to 144/70. I have just recently started T3 and I notice my pulse is higher. About 75 from 60. I am not worried as I can’t feel it. I am just aware and will keep an eye. In Chinese medicine the pulse and it’s nature is very important. NHS don’t seem to care unless it’s very high or very low. I hope you get something sorted soon. We have quite enough to worry about.

[humanbean in reply to arTistapple]

I was twice in this situation (possibly more unbeknownst to me) and both times with TSH about 18 (not informed) and told “You are obviously not unwell”.

I hope you complained. A TSH of 18 would suggest that someone was very unwell and the doctor obviously didn't attend the lectures on thyroid disease at university.

[arTistapple in reply to humanbean]

humanbean too busy trying to get well - my priority. The TSH was six years before they paid any attention. It was a trainee GP who finally picked it up. However I am keeping it in mind for when I am more able. Busy complaining to certain authorities about the BTA/Twitter comments at the moment..

[humanbean in reply to arTistapple]

Busy complaining to certain authorities about the BTA/Twitter comments at the moment..

Do you have a link to the BTA/Twitter comments?

[arTistapple in reply to humanbean]

Mmmmm humanbean. I am not good with this business of links. I am on Facebook but not Twitter. I just took a screenshot of the comments showing the logo. It’s the one about the “supasavers”and the “organic stem ginger cookies”. @TanyaJR has the full story.

[humanbean in reply to arTistapple]

Ah, I have already read those comments. Thanks.

[Hedgeree]

Hi jezebel69,

Has your GP considered secondary hypertension? (Secondary high blood pressure?)

I'm not a medic but was recently reading around high blood pressure issues for a relative as they are having long episodes of uncontrolled very high blood pressure.

Obviously I'm not saying this is what you're experiencing but it might be worth speaking to your GP or if you're seeing an endo mention it to them.

From my limited understanding it's called secondary hypertension as there will be a medical cause and once you get this under control your blood pressure will then lower. Endocrine problems can be a cause but there are lots of other causes also. My relative's is caused by a pituitary problem.

Best wishes.

[jezebel69 in reply to Hedgeree]

He hasn't mentioned it. To be honest all he does is keep raising my BP meds because within a week or so my BP goes higher

[TiggerMe Ambassador]

Friend of mine just started having issues with high BP, vegetarian (no thyroid issue) and she turned out to be low in B12, Vit D and Iron/Ferritin

Though not quite low enough to get anything other than advised to talk to the pharmacist about OTC options and some B12 tablets!

I think very high or very low Iron has links to BP...

[jezebel69 in reply to TiggerMe]

I take vit D3/K2 - slow release C - B12 and have added zinc to help lower cortisol. Could my high ferritin be the problem even though it hasn't before?

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to jezebel69]

High ferritin I think can be a bit misleading as it can be caused by inflammation, which is why they always advise a full iron panel as you have to cross check things, it's one of those things that you can be high in ferritin and still low in iron 🤷‍♀️.... I always struggle with the iron results, someone else on here explained it really well, might be    humanbean / radd or maybe  SeasideSusie ? I'll go and have a hunt around to see if I can find the post, my filing system is shocking 😉

[TiggerMe Ambassador in reply to TiggerMe]

Can't find the bit I was looking for 😕 perhaps better if you post up any recent blood test results and that might give some pointers.

The link humanbean put up is fascinating

You might find this link of interest (the patient story is interesting as well) :

stopthethyroidmadness.com/b...

[humanbean]

Some other links that might be helpful :

mylowerbloodpressure.com/ha...

medicalnewstoday.com/articl...

And this is how blood pressure is controlled from a doctor point of view (I haven't read it all and it is hard going) :

geekymedics.com/regulation-...

[jezebel69 in reply to humanbean]

Looking at the last one there is an adrenal connection.

[Windmill6]

Hi ,don't mean to scare you but is it possible you have an endocrine disorder causing your high bp readings?My GP was also useless and kept upping my bp meds to no avail.

After a long battle with some truly awful symptoms I was finally diagnosed with an adrenal gland disorder.

Hope you get some answers.

Hope you can get a kidney funct ion test.

[jezebel69]

Hi Windmill6

I have had kidney function tests but all ok. I had very clear high cortisol symptoms so I had saliva tests (not available on NHS) which showed my cortisol was not dangerously high but was failing to come down during the day as it should. I was eventually offered the in-hospital test for Cushings but my symptoms are coming down very slowly so I declined.