New Daily Persistent Headache Support Group

Hi everyone,

I came looking to see if anyone else had similar symptoms. Back in 2003 I had chest pains so I had an EKG done and it came back normal so I never persued it any further. During the same time frame, I had migraines, and I also had extremely high blood pressure for me...see I normally have extremely low blood pressure but for some reason during this period it shot up very high for me. The docs were not too worried about it because it was on the low side of high for normal people. Then I became pregnant and all the symptoms went away. Over the years, I would have occasional periods of chest pains but nothing like 2003 until now. I have had the migraines again, chest pain, abnormal EKG this time, and my blood pressure has been consistently high again for me. My normal B.P. is 90/70. Today it was 148/80something. I somehow think the 3 are related. I have an echo, stress test, and holter scheduled but won't know till the 24th if they show anything. Has anyone else experienced similar symptoms?

I was coming online tonight to update what is going on with my daughter and I saw your note regarding chest pains. My daughter was recently diagnosed with NDPH but she has had the chest pain/pressure off and on too.

Last night she was doubled over in pain with severe shooting pains in her sternum, stomach, hips and chest. Also the chest was more like pressure, hard to breath, like an elephant sitting on her chest. Plus her headache was a 9.

I took her to ER and after looking at her previous ER visit and my updating them on all the test work she has had done the doctor just asked what he could do to make her less miserable. They gave her three shots, morphine, one for sedation, like valium, and one for anti-inflamitory.

We went home and slept all day, now at 9 pm her headache is less but still there as always and she still has the pains but not as intense or frequent.

Has anyone else experienced these additional pains? I couldn't get a hold of our neuroligist or his assistant all day today but will try to get an appointment tomorrow.

KarenLynnD

Hi Bmagilligan, Welcome to the forum. This thread is reminding me of an old one where somebody was exercising and got a sudden "thunderclap" sort of headache that wouldn't go away. They finally found some relief when treated for a heart condition. I will see if I can find the thread.

http://www.mdjunction.com/forums/ndph-support-forums/ introductions-personal-stories/110446-thunderclap-followed- by-persistent-l-side-ache

I know from experience that if they take your blood pressure when you are in bad pain it is likely to be higher than you are used to, but mine was not quite that big of a jump. I was really concerned about it, but my neuro was not...he just asked my pain level. Mine came back down when the pain was more reasonable.

I have not had the chest pain and all that though, and an abnormal EKG definitely means that something is going on. KarenLynnD I think I would be asking the neuro if she needs to have any tests done. That sounds like a scary situation. I hope that both of you find some answers soon.

KarenLynnD,

That sounds like a horrible experience. I have experienced "weird chest tightness" before. Mine felt like my sternum was zig zag tied up like a corset and someone was pulling it tighter and tighter. It was an allergic reaction to a drug I was on (and had been on for quite some time). I originally thought it was a reaction to an NSAID I was on but it turns out it was from something my dermatologist prescribed and I had been taking for a while. I think the pain you and Bmagilligan are describing is much worse than what I experienced but perhaps it is from a medication?

Either way, I hope you both find some relief from that soon.

Sorry, it may not have been an allergic reaction but rather just a side effect. Either way, I went off the medication and it went away.

I have thought about meds being the culprit. The neurologist diagnosed me with migraines but I really don't think they are migraines because like all of you, I have them everyday. Somedays they are tolerable and other days they are not. He had me on Topomax which I couldn't handle the side effects so I stopped taking them. I also take either Maxalt or Trexamet for the really bad days. They work pretty well for my bad ones, usually anyway. I have noticed that the most severe headaches is when my blood pressure is at it's highest. The only other med I take on a regular basis is Yaz for birth control. I will talk to the doc and see if we can find an alternate med to try and see if that helps. Thank you!

Hi KarenLynnD,

I hope they find out what is wrong with your daughter. My chest pains sound different from hers. Mine is sharp pains/pressure just on the left side of my chest but when it gets really strong, it goes the whole way through to my back (right under my left shoulder blade)

Let us know what the neurologist says and keep us posted.

Belinda

Hi Everyone. I began to suspect that meds might be the problem with my heart. I have the echo scheduled for tomorrow. I read the drug info for MAXALT that I was on. Very clearly it states several reports of cardiac interference and sudden high blood pressure. It also has both things that were found on my EKG: Bradycardia and cardiac ischemia (mine was anterior ischemia). That is enough to convince me to stop taking this med and pray no serious damage has been done to my heart from being on it. Hope this info helps someone else who may have similar symptons of chest pains, headaches and sudden onset hypertension.

I am glad you found a possible culprit and I hope that it turns out that nothing permanent was done. Thanks for letting the rest of us know what it might be. Please keep us posted.

We got in to see our Neurologist Dr. Singer who is very concerned about these new pains. He has ordered more blood tests, chest X-ray, stomach CT scan, Echocardiogram and an appointment with an internist. The pains are still there just not quite as high as when we went to the ER. I've read where people weren't diagnosed until their 3rd or 4th blood test. Lyme's disease has several symptoms and one guy I read about had same symptoms as my daughter, other peoples symptoms were so different. But doctor said blood changes and can get different results so I am all for redoing them again. Will let you all know hopefully next week when results from everything arrive and we revisit Dr. Singer. He is very dedicated to finding a diagnosis. So much better than her regular doctor who just said she couldn't help us anymore!

Thank you everyone for your support as always and hugs back to everyone too.

KarenLynnD