The Puddles

Ben saw his hypertensive doctor this Monday.  This was our last visit with Dr. Feig.  He is moving to Alabama to move up the career ladder.  Good move for him, but we are just getting to know him.  So we are sadden by this.

The good news is that he gave us an explanation for Ben’s high blood pressure.  Here is the dilemma . . . when Dr. Feig explained it in the visit, I understood what he said.  When I came home and attempted to explain it to my mom, it didn’t turn out good.

I think the laymen’s version is this . . . At some point (probably when he had a subaortic membrane the last time) Ben had sustained high blood pressure causing some thickening in the vessels in his kidneys. This thickening is what is triggering his current high blood pressure.  In time (like years) Ben’s body will heal itself as long as we maintain good bp’s with medication.

The doctor thinks that Ben only needs one of his two drugs to do this, so we are trying to wean Ben off his Atenelol this week.  I have high hopes!  It has been a year since we last tried to wean Ben.  That didn’t go so well, but it has been a year now!!  I’m sure he is ready.