coumadin/surgery/headaches

[William]

Does anybody know if there is a connection between all three? I never used to get headaches but since my operation, there are more days I have them than when I don't and this started while I was still in the hospital. My doctors didn't think much of it and I'm not sure if it's some kind of tension from the surgery 9 weeks ago or a reaction to the coumadin. About the headaches, they seem to not be constant but come in spurts, sometimes on one side, eye or temple area and sometimes a band around the head. They will disappear completely for a short time and come back again. The pain is not bad, but annoying, which gets worse with time and it becomes hard to concentrate. Is this something I should expect at this stage of recovery? Has anyone else had some headaches after their surgery and if so for how long? Thanks for any info. Will

 

[geebee]

Will,
It's hard for me to seperate headaches from surgery because I have had migraines since I was 8. However, OHS can cause cerebral issues so I am sure headaches could be one of them. Many people have memory problems, speech issues, numbness and other cerebral symptoms after surgery due to platelets and other "tissue" that enter the bloodstream and wreak havoc for a number of weeks or even months.
I would talk to your doctor so he/she is aware of your headaches. My non-medical profession guess would be that the headaches will subside in time.
I do not know if headaches are a possible side effect with normal theraputic coumadin levels. I am sure headaches would be a side effect of bleeding in the brain from too high an INR but I think the pain would be severe and not like you describe.
Hope this helps some.

 

[ALCapshaw2]

Headaches and / or dizzyness can result from MANY types of medications, or drug interactions. It would help to know ALL of the medications you are taking.

FWIW, Coumadin has never caused me any problems that I am aware of. (sorry for ending with a preposition

'AL'

 

[Guest]

Winston Churchill was once criticized for ending a sentence with a preposition and he replied that there were some things up with which I shall not put.

Every medication has nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and headaches as possible side effects. These usually subside over a month or so. I would expect that it is not the warfarin for this reason. My guess would be that it is related to the surgery - either the anesthetic or psychologically adjusting to what you have undergone. Whatever the cause the pain is real. You need to have it evaluated by your PCP.