headaches

[Birky]

I think was addressed somewhere along the line but I would like some help on a question. I am 11 mos. post-op and have been getting really bad headaches. Cardiologist does not feel that it is the medicine that is causing them. In fact he has increased the Cardizem to 300 mg. due to blood pressure going up. That has all settled down. The family Dr. has prescribed Darvocet for pain but doesn't want to give me anything else since I take so much medicine now. I called them this morning and said that I needed something to stop these before they get a good start. In bed all day yesterday since the Darvocet wipes me out and so does the pain. I am waiting back for a call from the fam dr. Said something about putting me on a betablocker versus the lanoxin and cardizem. Should I call and ask the Cardiologist if this is okay? I* was on atenol prior to the surgery and had no headaches. I am very nervous about going into problems with heart rythms etc which I had after the surgery. Help, Marcia

 

[bvdr]

Marcia,

Have your headaches been diagnosed as migraines? I started getting fairly frequent migraines starting in the hospital post-op. I was put on Imitrex by my cardiac surgeon and it works wonderfully. They are much less frequent now but I believe are related to shifts in my fluid balance. I have Darvocet if I need it but I rarely ever do.

I hope you get to the root of this and get some relief! I was on Cardizem 180mg twice a day and never really felt that it affected the headaches one way or another. How long has it been now since you had rhythm problems?

 

[joy]

Hey, I'm sorry you have been getting bad headaches. When I started getting headaches a lot, I found my trigger was intense heat. My cardio told me to take 50 MG's of metoprolol since it helps with blood pressure. It helped, but I also got some Midrin which might wipe you out at first, but once you get used to it, isn't really bad. Take care, and I hope you find your trigger!

 

[tiggerangelgirl]

i have had many problems with side effects from heart medications and because of the severe and nauseating headaches i had to be taken of of cardizem,we found out that i became hypersensitive to alot of medications because they keep trying different ones and doses,so what i needed to say that even at low doses of cardizem i had bad headaches i hope this helps

 

[Birky]

Headaches

Headaches

Thank you for your replies. I did get a call back from the family Dr. and they will not put me on anything until I talk to the Cardiologists office due to the amount of medicine that I am on now. I am 11 mos. post op. It seems to me that the headaches got worse after the 2nd surgery. The GP is weaning me off the estrogen patches and the stomach medicine. I am taking so much more medicine than I did prior to the surgery it just doesn't seem right. Blood pressure is finally in the normal level so that shouldn't be a problem. The Cardiologist's office is calling me back today hopefully with a solution. My INR has been stable for the last 4 mos. so I hope that it stays that way.

 

[ccrawford]

Marcia - I was having headaches in the morning right before getting out of bed which I attributed to the Altace I am taking. When the doc increased my dosage of Toprol (a beta blocker) the headaches went away. I'm now getting off Toprol and I'm starting to have minor headaches again, right before I get out of bed. Hope this helps. Chris

 

[Birky]

headaches

The GP was going to order a betablocker for me then decided not to since I was taking a channel blocker already and couldn't take both. Hope the cardio figures something out. I am keeping a diary of when I am getting to see if something I am doing is aggravating something. The Darvocet takes off the edge but I don't really enjoy laying in a dark room all day. I started back working out today and maybe this will help. Hoping to take off 10 lbs. that I gained from not smoking. I have to remember that I am 56 not 36 and the fluff doesn't leave as fast. I call it my winter coat.

 

[ccrawford]

Marcia - I don't recall there being a problem with both a channel blocker and a beta blocker simultaneously, but maybe there is. I'd get on the phone and see If your doc will agree to a beta blocker trial. I bet it will resolve the headaches. You may have colder hands and feet though, and it limits how fast your heart will beat so your time in the marathon may suffer Chris

 

[Birky]

marathon

marathon

I have to lose some of this weight to be in the body building contest or the 10k race. I had taken a betablocker for 15 years prior to the surgery. Only side effect was cold hands and feet along with slowing me down. I think I could put up with that compared to the headaches.

 

[bvdr]

Marcia,

I was on Cardizem and Atenolol at the same time plus other cardiac meds and other than having to be more careful about heart failure (and of course being tired), I didn't have any real problems.