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I’ve been dealing with certain issues for quite a while now—about seven years, actually. My blood pressure meds aren't doing much to help, and honestly, I’m starting to lose my mind because I just can't figure out what's going on. It’s possible that a severe deviated septum is playing a huge role in all of this. I’m planning to get it fixed as soon as possible since I've been struggling for way too long...
Thanks so much for getting back to me.... how have you been holding up? How are you managing with everything?
I've been reading up on this condition online, and it looks like a real nightmare. But then again, they seem to be discovering something new all the time, so I suppose you just have to stay optimistic...
I’m looking for someone who actually knows their stuff to tell me if these results point toward pulmonary hypertension.
I'm 26, weigh about 198 lbs, and I stay pretty active with sports.
Let me start from the beginning... for the last six months, my lifestyle was pretty rough. I was working night shifts, barely sleeping during the day, and drinking alcohol on occasion. About 20 days ago, right after a night shift, I had two coffees—even though I don't usually drink coffee—and while I was driving home from work, things just went south. I felt terrible... intense restlessness, fear, this dull headache near my cerebellum, chest pain, shortness of breath... my blood pressure hit 180/80. Things have been stressful lately too, facing layoffs, debt, and all that.
I went to see my doctor, and after taking some anti-anxiety meds, my blood pressure settled down. My EKG showed some occasional skipped beats.
The next day, I went in for blood work, and the results weren't great.
I'll just list the abnormal ones: HDL 1.51, LDL 4.7, ALT 56, GGT 92, Urea 10, Creatinine 158, Urate 450, Sodium 135.
Urinalysis: Leukocytes 25/uL, Protein 0.75 g/L.
MCV: 79.6.
Heart and lung imaging came back normal.
The prognosis looked pretty grim at first, but after more tests, getting some rest, and taking medical leave, things improved. It seems like it might have just been a temporary reaction to extreme exhaustion, lack of sleep, and the alcohol...
The follow-up labs were: creatinine 96, ferritin 161, calcium 2.72, phosphorus 1.01.
Creatinine clearance: 2.2 ml/s (Ref: 1.5-2.3).
Urinalysis was normal, but 24-hour proteinuria was 0.381g/day—slightly elevated.
Blood gas levels: pH 7.397, pCO2 5.80, pO2 7.83, actual bicarbonate 26.1, BE +1.0, oxygen saturation 90.3%, standard bicarbonate 27.5. CRP 0.4, iron 9, TIBC 73.3, UIBC 64.3.
What really worries me is this pO2 of 7.83 (Ref: 9.33-13.3) and the oxygen saturation being 90.3% (Ref: 92-99%). The pCO2 is within range at 5.80 (Ref: 4.66-6.21).
Ever since I was a kid, I've had a deviated septum from a broken nose, so I can't breathe properly through my nose. Being a soccer player, I've always felt a bit short of breath.
I was reading online and started seeing symptoms that match pulmonary hypertension, and it really scared me. Those symptoms include chest pressure, shortness of breath, occasional headaches, and sometimes trouble sleeping (though not sleep apnea).
I also read about high red blood cell counts and low platelets, and I'm wondering how much of a difference those numbers actually make. My red blood cells are 5.25 (Ref: 3.86-5.72) x 10^12/L, and my platelets are 247 (Ref: 158-424) x 10^9/L.
So, they're both within the normal range.
I still play soccer, and when I'm running, I don't have many issues other than getting winded, which happens to everyone. I'm planning to get surgery for my deviated septum soon. I don't smoke.
I would really appreciate it if someone knowledgeable could give me some advice.
I still need to get an IVP, a Holter monitor, and a funduscopic exam, so I won't be seeing the doctor again anytime soon.
Should I go back to my doctor immediately, or is there no real need? I'm currently taking 25mg of Nibel once a day for hypertension, and I was also taking Misar once a day.
Thanks for any help, and sorry for such a long, exhausting post...