Skydancer

Health Interests

blood pressure (high and low),  migraines,  meditation as an alternate choice,  getting a doctor to actually sit down and TALK to me

Drugs I am Taking

Amerge,  Klonopin,  Lunesta,  Neurontin,  Percocet,  Procardia,  Reglan,  Skelaxin

About Me

I had an accident in my lab last Spring where I tripped and landed on a desk. Unfortunately my chin was the only thing that hit the desk since my hands were full of paperwork at the time. I was unaware of any damage to my neck, other than some stiffness, until several weeks later. Slowly the problems persisted until I started having intense migraines this Fall. As I started keeping a journal of these events, I noticed a pattern evolving. My attacks would proceed a weather front by a day or two. Either a storm or an intense drop in pressure would bring on an attack. After a severe episode a few weeks back I was hospitalized and run through a series of tests. A cervical MRI showed 2 bulging disc, 2 herniated dics, 3 impingements, a bone spur, and a hemangioma. So basically from C-2 down to T-1 my neck is pretty messed up. The fronts are bringing on arthritic-like conditions where these areas in my neck will swell and place pressure on the surrounding nerves. In turn the nerves are triggering the migraine attacks. I have just been referred to a pain clinic here in my hometown, and just this past Thursday I underwent a Facet block to try to identify what nerves are causing the problems.

So, you ask, what does this have to do with high blood pressure? *smile* I have always run an even 110 over 65, but my attacks will raise my pressure. In fact my last migraine raised my blood pressure to 173 over 111. Not a happy camper here. My new doctor put me on Procardia to lower my blood pressure, but a part of me is concerned since I already run a normally low pressure. He did not seem to have an answer to satisfy me, and as a scientist myself I am looking at all angles until I get answers. Is there anyone out there who has had even a remotely similar problem?

Thanks,

Deb