Damn...the last 24 hours I have had a headache on the right side

[onecent]

of my temple. I live in No. Missouri (so don't know if it is due to something in the air? ) don't have asthma, NEVER EVER have headaches..and I don't do well with them. Don't have allergies...

Took a pain killer this afternoon...but now headache is back.

Damn...I'm surprised....

I feel really sorry for people with migraines....I couldn't do it.

[Pharaoh]

1. I hear ya onecent

I also rarely get headaches, when I do I cannot imagine what people with migraines must go through.

[Justitia]

2. Please, please do me a favor & check your blood pressure!

My 23 yr old son started having headaches that just wouldn't go away.
He then had a seizure & we found out those headaches were from off-the-chart high blood pressure.
Of course we never suspected high blood pressure because he was an otherwise healthy young man.

It doesn't matter where you do it, but please, everyone, if you get a headache that won't go away (or keeps coming back) check your blood pressure - even if it's w/a grocery store cuff.

[onecent]

3. OMG, I just took my blood pressure this morning and IT IS OFF

the wall.

I have a call into my doc. They changed my bp meds 30 days ago.

Holy shit...thanks so much for this piece of advice .. I never dreamed.....

plus I have had some papitations that were unexplained fri. nite.

thanks so much.

Penny

[Pharaoh]

4. Geez!!

DU may have saved your life!!!O8)

[Justitia]

5. Good God - I'm so glad I saw your post! And I didn't even know you were on BP meds - PLEASE post a

follow up here after you see and / or talk to your doctor.

When I read your post every hair on my head stood up!

Please let us know how you are doing and what the outcome is.

Good luck and I'll be thinking of you in the meantime.

[onecent]

6. I really appreciate your email. Sometimes people forget to check

their blood pressure. Mine was 195/102 this morning and I am on Norvasc and Toprol. When I went to the doc this afternoon he ALSO put me back on my Altace and gave me something for extra drainage in my throat and ear, thinking that is the headache cause. He pretty much ignores my palpitations..(you will see why on down page.)

Seems like such a long story when I go to type about it.

I was diagnosed with WPW 5 yrs ago (Wolfe Parkinson White) and had a cardiac ablation 5 yrs ago (which THEY SAY took care of the palpitations). I still think there's more going on re: the WPW...but no one listens.

I had palpitations friday nite along with this annoying headache near my right temple and right side. I should have taken my bp then, because I know my heart was racing. The palpitations appeared to go away until this morning when I read your email about taking my bp. Thanks again, it doesn't hurt to remind people about blood pressure) I guess it is a silent killer.

I also have been diagnosed with panic attacks, which has put me in the emergency room 4 times in the last 15 months. Every time it's a panic attack..but it scares the livin' bejeesus out of me...so NOW when I get palpitations, I don't even wake my husband or I wake him and he helps me breathe for an hour or so until it calms down. But when I have the palpitations my blood pressure goes off the charts and my heart rate goes VERY VERY HIGH. When the WPW was running wild 5 years ago it was nothing to have my heart rate at 150 to 250 beats per minute and still be able to converse with people.

Thanks again...and hope your boy is doing good. I'm not convinced my doctor has hit the nail with the high blood pressure (what good is medicine IF they don't know what is causing the high blood pressure.

Anyway..... that's about it... Thanks for thinking of me. It's a nice place (DU). I love it hear.

Penny

[Justitia]

7. I'm so glad to hear back from you. So, is your BP back down to normal?

Do you know what causes your high BP? Is it the WPW? And have they ever suggested anything for the panic attacks?

My son's hypertension is caused by a genetic kidney disease. The kidneys are regulators of your blood pressure, and conversely, when your BP is high, it's ruining your kidneys - vicious circle.

He's on 3 BP meds: Clonindine, Labetalol & Lisinopril.

His BP will always run a little high (even w/medication) because he has end stage renal disease and is on dialysis - basically his kidneys are shot and can't control his BP.

But every time his head hurts, it's a sure sign his BP is crazy high.

Before all this we never suspected his headaches were due to high BP, and his neurologist has said he has suffered permanent (but minor) brain damage as a result of uncontrolled hypertension - in the front temporal lobe. That's what caused the seizures. Those are secondary complications caused by the underlying kidney disease in the first place.


Yes, uncontrolled high blood pressure / hypertension will absolutely destroy your internal organs and can kill you - never anything to mess around with. And it changes all the time!

[Justitia]

8. Forgot to mention...about the throat / ear drainage....decongestants have been reported to increase

blood pressure and can interfere w/ BP meds. So, if he gave you a decongestant, make sure to keep checking your BP.

Good luck and keep your BP down!

[onecent]

9. Thanks again for your advise. My bp was still somehat high this

morning before I took my meds. My head is still killing me. After taking meds my bp is down to fairly normal.but another day or two of this I will call doc again.

Doc pretty much ignores my palpitations. I want to call our local fire dept (1 block away) and see if I can go there to have bp taken (rather than call an ambulance, and/or go to the hospital for 4 hours).(Maybe if my doctor got enough readings from a reliable source) he would take more of an interest. But the Cardiologists believe it's panic attacks.

Have insurance presently, but the hospital has tried to make me feel like a fool for going to the emerg. room for heart palpitations,(once before, so I try not to go.) Problem is, it's difficult to tell the DIFFERENCE between panic attack....OR heart attack. There is NO difference to me. Although panic attacks are suppose to last 10 minutes, thats why I think my attacks are due to the WPW. Had a second cardiac opinion....Well you can figure out what they say.

Panic attacks, in my opinion, are not given their due. I heard one woman doctor say they are very misunderstood..I've found out since I had them that many many people I know have them and never talk about them. (contrary to popular belief, many men have them). But since it's mainly a female (disease?) it isn't taken seriously. (Look how seriously they take Cialis).

I'm 61, overweight, quit smoking 5 years ago (due to fear with WPW)..

So sorry to hear about your son. It must be very scary and you must be very strong. I think it takes special people to handle some of the things the good lord hands us. I'm not an overly religious person, but as I get older I wonder if I have enough faith!

I see below this there is a thread about cardiac ablation. Guess I can talk to this person, but I think I'm like him...I think the palpitations and fast heart rate (and bp rise) are caused from the wpw. I am on Zoloft, by the way, for panic attacks. It has helped.

[Justitia]

10. I think going to the fire dept is a great idea, they probably have paramedics there to take your BP

and if you think you are getting the brush off from your medical professionals because of your panic attacks, try just focusing on the hypertension issue - they HAVE to pay attention to that because it can be so deadly.

Just keep beating them over the head about your elevated blood pressure and pressure them (unintentional pun) to find the primary cause of your hypertension. Once they nail that down, the panic attack issue may become more apparent. But make the continued hypertension the focus, Good Lord, you could have a stroke (like my 23 yr old son)!

Please keep us posted, I'm genuinely concerned about how this turns out for you.

[onecent]

11. Thanks Justitia. My thoughts are with you and your son as well. n/t

[ncrainbowgrrl]

12. I highly recommend a BP home machine.

No- this is not medical advice. Actually while we're on that topic, we all know the DU rules about medical advice, right?

I bought a manually inflatable one for under $30. One of the best purchases I ever made- especially since at the time, I was having DANGEROUSLY low blood pressure. It confirmed that it was time to go to the hospital when resting heart rate was in the 60's( I normally have a resting heart rate of 100-120- which, yes, has been checked out, and it's just how I am... :shrug: ) and BP was 89/50.

[grasswire]

13. have you tried deep breathing for palpitations?

Taking a deep breath and holding it for a second and then exhaling through the mouth. Do that several times, and see if it helps quiet the palpitations.

Some people who have palpitations do something called the Valsalva's maneuver where they take that deep breath and then hold it and bear down as if having a bowel movement. Hold for a moment, then exhale. This is often recommended to stop tachycardia.

And then, of course, there's the face in ice water treatment. I hate doing that but it is known to stop tachycardia, too.