High Blood Pressure - Minneapolis,MN

"Her pediatrician has seen this so seldom that he doesn't know much about it." It scares me, that your doctor would find waiting acceptable...when he admittedly has little knowledge.

You need a second opinion. Your Dr. simply cannot be the head of this situation, since he does not know anything about it. I would think most doctors would immediately order up the most basic of tests. As a parent, I would not like the doctor's laid back approach, considering his narrow knowledge on the subject. I do not know how the military health system works. Is there a way to get a second opinion immediately? This is not something I would be comfortable waiting on.

I don't have any experience with this, but I wanted to commend you for not blindly trusting the doctor, who clearly does not have the knowledge to deal with this situation.

I was glad to hear in your post you will be getting second opinions and that you will be back home soon. Maybe start calling and researching doctors with more knowledge in the area where you will be in MN, and maybe make your appointment now to reduce your wait time when you get back.

Good job being your child's advocate, Mama!

I wonder why the dr isn't willing to at least run a couple blood tests as they aren't invasive or require much as a precaution. I would follow up just in case.
I always get elevated blood pressure at Drs apts because I get anxious and cause it to spike (White Coat-itis is what I have heard it called more times than not). I do not have high blood pressure. Could she be getting a little scared and causing the high reading?
Can you test it at home or in another setting that isn't the doctors office and see if it still comes up high?

When I was 8 years old I was diagnosed w HBP too. Like your DD, I was not overweight, very active, ate pretty healthy, no reason at all I should have it. I tried calcium supplements (per pedi's suggestion), and I dont think it helped bc my mom never refilled the Rx for me. This continued for the rest of my life, throughout 2 pregnancies (preeclampsia both times + BP meds for 3 years), until 1 1/2 years ago at the age of 33. I had quit taking the BP meds due to low BP as the result of high blood loss after 2nd delivery of baby and never got back on them again. When DD #2 turned a year old, I had an IGg ELISA blood test done through www.betterhealthusa.com (in case you wondered :p) to test for food sensitivities and tested positive for 31 foods. I cut out those foods, and within 2 weeks guess what happened? PERFECT blood pressure for the first time in MY LIFE! (Not even BP pills did that!) I have added some foods back in, but still cannot tolerate wheat. I now follow the Paleo diet and am so healthy. In case you're interested, here are some links to help you learn more about this eating plan:
www.marksdailyapple.com
www.whole9life.com (Their book is called "It Starts With Food)
www.balancedbites.com

There could be a hereditary component you don't know about. I have colleagues in the nutrition field with strong tendencies toward HBP, high cholesterol, etc. They all get great results when they supplement properly - and that does NOT mean vitamin pills or individual minerals. That is NOT a good way to supplement.)

I'd eliminate processed foods (e.g. chicken nuggets but even soups crackers, cookies) that have high salt content, and go for all natural (but even so, check the sodium because salt is a "natural" ingredient). Look on the label and if "salt" or "sodium" is one of the first 5 ingredients, don't buy it. (Same with sugar in any form and "enriched" flour.)

I'd make an appointment in 5 weeks when you return to the states. I agree that a doctor who hasn't seen it but isn't concerned is a problem. If you can get another opinion where you are, fine.

You can go through the rounds of tests and kidney function and all that, or you could do comprehensive supplementation where you are. What country are you in right now? Depending on where you are, you could start this now or at the very least be ready to start when you get to the US. Let me know if you want more help.

I, too, was diagnosed with high blood preesure (HBP) when I was young. Made it through life until I was 30 years old with no meds. Then I moved to Mdsn, WI, which has a very active medical program/university. I was put on meds. One med led to another med to another med to another... None of the meds actually helped regulate my HBP. They just made my body very, very sick.

When I turned 40 years old four years ago, I became horribly sick. My blood pressure shot sky high. My cardiologist couldn't figure out why--he just kept adjusting my meds. When I pushed for him to actually find out WHY I was so sick and what had caused it, instead of helping me, he kicked me out of the clinic! I suppose I wasn't a dutiful enough client who "just went along with taking meds and not asking questions."

I went to alternative healthcare and started seeing a naturopath. Found out I had severe heavy metal toxicity. I detoxed. Also discovered I had severe malabsorption and was severely nutrient depleted; I took (and am still taking) various minerals, vitamins, enzymes, and amino acids. Like LovingLife, I discovered that I have casein allergy, soy and gluten intolerance--and intolerance to 21 others foods. So I modified my diet to stay away from those foods. Ate my veges.

Still had issues.

I changed healthcare providers when we changed health insurance companies and actually found an allopathic doctor who at least is willing to help me stay healthy. I had discovered that I have a liver issue that doesn't allow my body to detox or metabolize correctly; Pharma drugs are OFF LIMITS to me. She asked me if I drink pop; I said I was off diet, but was still drinking regular. She told me to QUIT drinking pop. I did, and have officially been "pop free" since March of 2012.

Wow! What a DIFFERENCE it made! My overall blood pressure went way down. I'm also watching how much overall caffeine I'm taking in (in tea and chocolate). AND I discovered that hibiscus tea helps lower blood pressure. I found one with pineapple, apple, and stevia right in the bags. It is SO GOOD iced! And it tastes good hot as well.

I also use a variety of different herbs and homeopathic remedies to help in lowering and balancing my blood pressure.

The biggest difference, though, has been in changing my family's diet over to organic. We rarely eat any fast food or processed food, and the restaurants we do eat at, we've checked to make sure the foods we eat are compatible to what we can eat (i.e., allergen-free, organic or farmer's market produce, local ma & pa owned restaurants, etc.).

The best thing you can do for your daughter is, when you get back Stateside, take her to see a naturopathic doctor and have him run a full diagnostic work up on your daughter. He will be able to tell what your daughter is deficient in, what she's allergic/intolerant to, and any other areas her little body might be out of whack in. He will be able to help you get her body healthy--and her blood pressure should come back down to normal.

It's better to find out now what the issues/problem areas are so that she can be healthy. When you get to be 40 years old before you find the actual problems, well, it takes a long time to get the body healed and healthy again. It's been four years, and I'm still working on it.

I work as an RN in the hospital on a Peds unit. When we get a high BP an alert fires in our computer system signaling the need for recheck (when the patient is calm) and then follow up from the doctor specifically relating to kidney US. I would recommend that you attempt to take her BP when NOT in the clinic setting (walmart/walgreens/ etc) to make sure it is not unduly high related to "whitecoat syndrome" then make a follow up appt with a dr besides...Good Luck!