High blood pressure came into my life around the age of 43. First associated with family history, a sign of menopause or stress, so I took medication to control my hypertension for about 13 years.
It was during an x-ray for another medical situation that the radiologist noticed an abnormality on one of my adrenal glands, which turned out to be an adenoma. It was at this time, in 2018, that I was taken care of by a team from the Sacré-Cœur hospital in Montreal. My potassium was below normal.
I was then diagnosed with hyperaldosteronemia or Conn syndrome which was causing my hypertension. So I had several tests and was followed by nephrology to come to the conclusion that it would be preferable to proceed with a unilateral adrenalectomy.
At the beginning, I admit that the operation wasn’t on my list of options.
However, after discussing my fears with the nephrologist, I made the decision to proceed with the operation in 2019. Less than two weeks after the operation, I was no longer taking medication and am now in the normal range of blood pressure… except when I go to my medical appointments. The famous white coat syndrome!
Primary hyperaldosteronism is a relatively common (up to 20%) adrenal gland disease that causes high blood pressure. In some people, it is possible to cure the disease, and the high blood pressure, with surgery.
Sylvie B.
61 years old
High blood pressure came into my life around the age of 43. First associated with family history, a sign of menopause or stress, so I took medication to control my hypertension for about 13 years.
It was during an x-ray for another medical situation that the radiologist noticed an abnormality on one of my adrenal glands, which turned out to be an adenoma. It was at this time, in 2018, that I was taken care of by a team from the Sacré-Cœur hospital in Montreal. My potassium was below normal.
I was then diagnosed with hyperaldosteronemia or Conn syndrome which was causing my hypertension. So I had several tests and was followed by nephrology to come to the conclusion that it would be preferable to proceed with a unilateral adrenalectomy.
At the beginning, I admit that the operation wasn’t on my list of options.
However, after discussing my fears with the nephrologist, I made the decision to proceed with the operation in 2019. Less than two weeks after the operation, I was no longer taking medication and am now in the normal range of blood pressure… except when I go to my medical appointments. The famous white coat syndrome!
Primary hyperaldosteronism is a relatively common (up to 20%) adrenal gland disease that causes high blood pressure. In some people, it is possible to cure the disease, and the high blood pressure, with surgery.
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