We went to see the renal doctor today to get an update on all of the testing and to find out what our game plan for Ben’s hypertension was. Here are the results:
The good news. The DMSA scan showed two equally functioning kidneys. There was no scarring inside the kidneys and normal looking flow within the kidneys. The only abnormal test was a high level of the hormone renin. This hormone is produced by the kidneys in response to a lowering blood pressure somewhere in route to the kidneys or within the kidneys.
The plan right now for Ben is to wait until Ben sees the cardiologist at the end of February. Since Ben’s high blood pressure is secondary to his heart condition, Dr. Feig (our nephrologist) wants to wait until we see Dr. Altman and have another sonogram of his heart. After those results, they will confer and decide what course of action to take. If his heart is good, we will probably start to try and wean him off the enalapril. We will see what that will do. But we will just have to wait and see.
The not so good news. Dr. Feig is leaving TCH to go to Birmingham, Alabama to become the head of nephrology. We really liked him and so we are not looking forward to changing doctors. But this is life and we will survive.
Ben will go back in May to see Dr. Feig one last time before he leaves and we will meet Ben’s new doctor at that time. The long term prognosis is that we will be visiting the renal doctor every six months for a while. There is a possibility that is some narrowing of the arteries leading into the kidneys. But as long as his pressure is stable under medication Dr. Feig is not interested in doing another test or anything else invasive. Especially since this is a secondary issue.
At least we know what Ben’s problem is not. Elimination of issues is a good thing. It is a wait and see right now. Until the end of February when we have another set of tests and another visit to another doctor at TCH.
The Puddles 
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