Headaches?

[TrophyWife]

(Sorry if this has already been discussed.)

Having taken Ross' advice to heart (argh), we began dosing my diet. I eat mostly soy and spinach and had removed them from the menu post-op.
My coumadin clinician upped my dosage last Wednesday by 50% (from 4 everyday to 6) and since Friday I have had a ******** of a headache.
Now, this is Michigan. Land of headaches and strange weather patterns. But the weather's been gorgeous.
So, is it the coumadin? Has anyone else experienced this?
The dizzy spells are minor now; I can tell when they're approaching.
How much tylenol is too much?
Headaches feel like sinus headaches.
Thanks!
Nan

 

[catwoman]

Nan:

Have you called your family doctor?
Headaches and dizzy spells? I'd have these checked out.
Don't think warfarin would give you headaches -- or dizzy spells. Too little warfarin might (caused by a stroke). Ditto with sinus infections. So you should rule out a sinus infection or TIAs. Dizziness can be a side effect of the acetominophen.

What strength of Tylenol are you taking?
Check these out:

http://www.warfarinfo.com/acetaminophen.htm

http://www.webmd.com/migraines-headaches/guide/migraine-treatment

 

[Ross]

What was your last INR? If their increasing the dose that much, I would hope it was way low. Soy and Spinich, if you eat alot of it, will definately knock INR down, so maybe the increase is warranted, but it sure seems like one heck of a single change.

 

[TrophyWife]

THANKS for your input!

THANKS for your input!

Just had my INR drawn. 3.9
Last week the clinician did not hear me when I said I (trying to be delicate here) barfed and probably lost my dose of Coumadin.
My reading was low (1.9) so he boosted it. So now this week it's almost 4.
The dizzy spells began just after the surgery and the "whoopsing" just a little over a month ago. The dizziness was originally attributed to the low BP - 90/60.
They are not related, on a day to day basis anyway.
Have contacted my GP to discuss the vertigo and meanwhile my dosage is lowered back to 4 mg. daily.
On the brighter side of the news - I was cleared for rehab today and will be regaining my title of kween klutz on the treadmill real soon.
This whole adventure of surgery, coumadin and INRs has so far been just that. One glorious adventure.....
Never take it too seriously - I won't get out alive!

 

[Ross]

If 4mg daily netted you a 1.9, then it's too low and now you'll swing low again. I'd of felt better if they simply went to 5mg daily for 35mg for the week.

 

[tobagotwo]

Too much Tylenol is anything over the dosage on the label. Tylenol is great stuff, but everything that actually does something useful in the body also has its toxicity level.

And don't go by someone who boasts about how much they take, and how it never affected them. Each person is chemically different. Your tolerance may be much lower.

Best wishes,

 

[temp69]

your body adjusts...

your body adjusts...

or at least mine did. I thought i was bruising easily when i first got out of th ehospital and bled easily through the nose, freaked about cuts, etc. but as time went by, the coumadin and my body got to know each other -- and now i feel pretty much normal -- can play two sets of tennis, have sex! workout, etc. and i'm sooooo glad the whole waiting game is over. Plus, when you're taking coumadin, you ain't gonna have a stroke (knock on wood.)

so give yourself some time and things will work out great for you.

 

[EireCara]

aaaargh.....had a reply written when it suddenly decided to DISAPPEAR from the screen... So heres a shorter version of it.

I have been taking Warfarin for about 6 weeks. Coming into week 2 I go THE WORST HEADACHE I have ever had in my life (and Iv had some doobies...due to migrane headaches for years). It lasted for about 4 days. Even strong painkillers that I had which one can only get on prescription, didnt do the trick.

Because I was new to Warfarin, I was attending the clinic every day, so I mentioned the headache to the doctor, but he said ''warfarin doesnt cause headaches''.

Best Wishes.

 

[ALCapshaw2]

aaaargh.....had a reply written when it suddenly decided to DISAPPEAR from the screen... So heres a shorter version of it.

I have been taking Warfarin for about 6 weeks. Coming into week 2 I go THE WORST HEADACHE I have ever had in my life (and Iv had some doobies...due to migrane headaches for years). It lasted for about 4 days. Even strong painkillers that I had which one can only get on prescription, didnt do the trick.

Because I was new to Warfarin, I was attending the clinic every day, so I mentioned the headache to the doctor, but he said ''warfarin doesnt cause headaches''.

Best Wishes.

Warfarin by itself probably doesn't cause headaches,
BUT a BRAIN BLEED sure could. If it doesn't / hasn't gone away, I would get it checked out ASAP.

'AL Capshaw'

 

[JimL]

This is Michigan, Nan, but neither warfarin nor Michigan cause headaches, not by themselves, anyway. I can't remember one headache since surgery, but then I can't remember a lot of things since surgery. If your coumadin clinician doesn't work out, go see Jacque and Debbie at Lapeer Hospital; I've been training them for over five years now. They are always excellent.

 

[EireCara]

*Hi Al, my headache finally stopped. It took nearly a week to completely go. It did scare me a bit to be honest, and I hope it NEVER comes back.
*THANKS for your concern.

 

[TrophyWife]

It was my blood sugar. I looked at all the variables and that was the only one left!
In all of this I forgot I was hypoglycemic.
Duh.
THANKS Jim. I'll be at rehab at Lapeer the week after next! YAY!!!!