My pain management doctor put me on a blood pressure patch and an anticonvulsant to help control my pain. I could understand the anticonvulsant but the blood pressure completely baffled me, regardless I tried to hang in there. I've nothing but severe reactions from the blood pressure drug. My face and tongue have swollen up as well as my throat and sinuses; I'm completely exhausted from the drug and my hands through my biceps have swollen and I started to get shocking pains through them, so I called my GP after trying to explain to the prescribing doctor what I was experiencing and getting nowhere and was advised to take the patch off and if I don't start getting better or I get worse to go to the ER. That was at 2:45 today, so now I am just waiting to see what happens next....
I am getting really frustrated with doctors in general at this point and starting to feel like not one person in my life is listening to me. I might as well be mute for all the headway I am making with my treatment.
Maybe I just need to go back to my NS and start from the beginning, again.
Thanks so much for the compliments and the info, Abby, you are awesome! I have normal blood pressure, but it acts like a jerk when it's time for surgery. It always cranks up a bit right before surgery, for obvious reasons I would say! But I make a point of asking at every appointment with any of my doctors just so I am in the know. I had a tilt table test done after my chiari surgery when I was diagnosed with occipital neuropathy from my surgery and I remember it was quite horrible but I think it's something to bring up to my doctor. I have an appointment with my GP on Friday and she has been with me forever so doesn't mind adding fun tests for me to do. I've only ever had the neuropathy and chiari diagnosed, but I did have a blip on my EEG that was abnormal and I'm wondering if that has anything to do with how I am feeling now, excluding the drug interaction. I'll have to look into the others as well just in case.
Thanks so much for everything!
You make me feel like I'm being heard and that I am not just crazy and making up symptoms or problems for attention. I tend to talk a lot and always like to express myself so I probably also tend to post a lot, but you don't make it feel like a bad thing and I appreciate it as much as I do the info, the wishes and the compliments.
I've never heard of blood pressure meds being prescribed for excess fluid on the brain, but I wouldn't doubt that they can be helpful with that, depending on the type of blood pressure med you're on. BP meds can also be prescribed for migraine prophylaxis (prevention). My PCP started me on a beta blocker for just that, as well as to bring my heart rate down, as I am normally a bit tachycardic (heart rate above 100 beats per minute), due partially to smoking and caffeine intake.
If you're having that much swelling to your body already though, especially your face, tongue and throat, you should be at the ER already! Those can be signs of a severe allergic reaction! I can't say for sure though, because I don't know the extent of your swelling. Hope this helps and you feel better soon!
Thanks Liaspyre31, I'm still the same as I was since I spoke with my GP and took the patch off, I'm just trying to give it time to go down since with a patch it builds up a bit and I've had it on since Saturday...
It was prescribed for pain from occipital neuropathy from a chiari decompression. I have an implant that helps quite a bit with the pain, but one of my wires migrated out of place and isn't covering my pain. My doctor decided to prescribe the anticonvulsant and the blood pressure medication for the increased pain instead of doing surgery to adjust the wire, and I couldn't tell you what he was thinking. Regardless, it has led me here and as far as the patient guide for the drug my symptoms fit 100% with an allergic reaction. I'm keeping an eye on it and luckily haven't gotten worse and hopefully It will just ease out of my system. Thank you so much for your kind words, I appreciate them very much.
My swelling has gone down a little, it's not in my legs or feet now. I think it's safe to say it's moving it's way out. If I still have any swelling in the morning I am going to go to the ER and just hope they don't want to admit me. I absolutely abhor staying in the hospital, but if I have to then that is that.
Thanks for the amazing support, Abby and Nykki. I really do appreciate it. I'm just a little swollen today, but my doctor is calling me today and I am going to make sure whether I am in the clear or not since the swelling hasn't gone down completely. I think at this point she might direct me there and send over notification so I'm not uselessly stuck waiting in the ER forever. I'm taking my tablet with me just in case, for outside world contact!
Looks like you guys are coming to the ER with me. Still have the swelling in my face, tongue, throat and lips, so time for a short road trip and a long wait, ordered by my doctor!
I appreciate it your prayers very much, Nikki. I got a room almost immediately so that's one good thing about coming in early. They promised they will try to not need to admit me since I have 4 hours before the time they usually admit people which is awesome.
I'm sorry to hear that you ended up having to go to the hospital after all. Glad to hear that your swelling has been going down though, and hopefully everything goes well for you. Keep us updated as to how things are going!