I am anxious to find out if any of you who have MM also have high blood pressure?  Christy has had high blood pressure for several years and in spite of being on 2 BP med's it always continued to run on the high side.  My theory is that her body was keeping her bp high to pump as much blood as possible to her brain.  My concern is that now after having 2 sta-mca bypasses (10/04 and 12/04) her blood pressure continues to run high.  Do any of you experience this?  If so, is it something that will eventually re-regulate on it's own?  I'd appreciate any insights or observations.  And once again; Thanks to DJ for this wonderful site and thanks to all of you for your support!   Jim

Well, it does seem to me that there is a possible link.  Especially in your case Chelsie, since your's seemed to re-regulate after your surgery.  In Christy's case it's been 6 months since surgery but her's remains high.  In fact last week she was to have surgery (not MM related) but even after sedation it did not come down enough so they post-poned the surgery.

Hi jim...

...cara had VERY high blood pressure at 2.5...something like 225 over 165 or so.....that was the reason they did complete testing all over and found extra artery in her kidney that was sending it off....on HBP medication for a year and half..then weaned off.  MM was a possiblity at that time but they didn't think for sure.  Never did anything to that extra artery in her kidney..this was all pre-surgery....then by the time she had surgery at six...it was normal...and post surgery still normal but she has daily TIA's though.    Everyone varies as far as HBP goes.  Will keep your wife in my prayers as she has non-MM surgery.  hugs,  CarasMOM

Jim,
I had the sta-mca in 1998 but had hbp (averaged 140's/ 90's) for several years before my major stroke in 1997 at the age of 46.  After the surgeries, my bp stayed high but I, like most mm people, was told not to worry, just keep it high so the blood gets to your brain sufficiently.  Well, I worried too about how my heart was faring with so many years of hbp.  (Mine never re-regulated after surgeries but hbp run strongly in my family) 
My horror story:  When I turned 50, I started with a stress test that showed abnormalities & ended with two stents that closed by the following Jan., brachitherapy to open the stents, a triple bypass in July, which failed by Nov., a 5-way bypass in Nov.,FINALLY PUT ON HBP MEDS.,  then almost every 6 months since then, more stents until one year ago (from 2001 - 2004  total) my heart has been all right, so to speak....
Of course, my history is very bad news & I would say to try to keep the bp down as much as possible without affecting the blood to the brain too much (talk with your doctor about it; just my personal opinion especially  if heart problems run in the family (my father had heart probs in his 50's).  I think I have finally found the right combination, although I have to remember not to get up too fast as I get dizzy (my bp is now @ 115/70) & I feel better that my heart doesn't have to work so hard.  Try to read up on women's heart issues because they have smaller arteries that may be affected by many years of hbp.  Good luck.... just my 2cents,  sorry if I made you worry unnecessarily!  debs

Hi Jim,

I had high BP pre MM surgery, and if anything, it has gone up slightly post-op; therefore, my doctor has added a low dose BP medication to the one I was already taking pre-op.  One thing I've learned about BP medication is that many have side effects (i.e. coughing), so I've recently changed to "Cozaar."  Have you/anyone heard of it?  

I too worried that my BP may be too high, but I was told that it is generally better to be on the higher side, than the lower end, epecially the few months after surgery for the same reasons others here have mentioned...to ensure blood flows through their newly created paths.  

I've had a few cardiac tests/procedures, but no surgeries (thank God).  I've had a few treadmill thallium tests, an adenosine test a week after my double STA-MCA, as well as an angiogram for my heart.  I guess the main thing is that you continue to have Christy's doctors closely monitor her BP.

I hope this helps...

Take care,
Shan