Problem with blood donation...

[sdhill76]

I just donated blood today.  This is something I have been doing for the last 3 years (though I haven't donated in a year).  In the past, I've never had a problem with it.

But today, even 7 hours after, I feel horrible!  I had a full meal before I donated.  Had a cookie right after. Have been taking in extra fluids, and have had several small meals.  But I feel SO weak!

The weird part is, during the donation, I developed a headache and slight pain in my neck.
(side note, I have been pain-free for almost a week until now)
This pain has not let up, and I'm getting these weird "shocks" in my head. I guess that's the best way to describe it: like someone is putting a taser to the back of my head.

Is this all because I gave up a pint of blood???

~sonia

[sdhill76]

The only joints that I can pop in and out are my toes, which until just now I didn't realize that was what I was doing: dislocating my toes, most of the time not painful, but sometimes agonizing. Like I said, I just thought I was weird ;)
I have the "hitchhikers thumb" and I can lock my fingers, bend my thumb down, etc.
I can do all the things in the pic here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:EhlersDanlos.jpg

And what's weird is my kids can do various hypermobil stuff

(also, I might add, one of my kids suffers with migraines, and another has these weird spasms in his head)

I'm only 33 and my PCP diagnosed me with osteoarthritis (which shocked me cause of my age), I have early disk degeneration, I think it was from C4 through to C7.

See....just all this stuff I'm gathering, I'm telling myself, "Okay, lets further explore this path, this chiari and the related issues, do I truely have it? I don't know, but I will find out."  Medical science is basically a process of elimination, right?

And Ray, believe me, I am so scared to take the Lortabs!  This last round was the longest I consistently took them(2 1/2 weeks) .  I am a recovering alcoholic (3 years sobriety Nov.26!!!), and I would MUCH rather deal with pain than get addicted to some other substance.

Ugh!!! I just want someone to tell me I'm not crazy! LOL

~sonia

[rod44]

there are many things that can be causing these symptoms...like selma said, csf comes from the blood so it is possable there is a conection....WARNING Lortab can be habit forming, and lead to withdrawal symptoms.

http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Addiction-Substance-Abuse/lortab-withdrawal/show/44537

[selmaS]

Sonia...if u have hypermobility it is a possibility u have EDS and u will need ur sergeon to know for sure.....I also have this and it can be diff to try and sleep on ones side when ur shoulder is popping in and out of joint.....so do read up on it and make sure ur NS knows.

"selma"

[sdhill76]

I have not been diagnosed with chiari, have just had an mri show a mild tonsellar ectopia, and seeing a second neurologist in 3 1/2 weeks (since the 1st was an a**)

It does make since what you said selma.  Just kinda caught me off guard!  I haven't had this severe of "shocks" since I came off Paxil (and that was over 5-7 years ago).

Haven't came off any drugs recently Ray.  I mean, I just spent 3 weeks in pain and was taking Lortabs, maybe 2 a day.  Haven't taken one though in almost two weeks.  I'd "like" to think I'm not experiencing WD from them.  The "shocks" just came on today.

With all my reading on here and mentally gathering all the symptoms I've experienced over the years, it just makes me go "hmm" !  I cannot wait to followup with that neurologist!

Oh, and I just found out I have hypermobility!  LOL, I always just called it "stupid human tricks"  Haha, there's a word for it!

~sonia

[rod44]

Hi sdhill76
First you need to get this checked by a doctor….
What meds are you on and have you stopped taking any of them suddenly….this can cause these symptoms
Ray

[selmaS]

HI....sonia,

Sorry u had this experience...the only thing I could think of is it could have had the same effect like a LP would have on a Chiarian.....if the draw of CSF is too fast it can affect our chiari.....I can only wonder if this is true with a draw of blood.....it flows in the brain and spinal cord as well......

If u have a chiari dr, I would call tomorrow and ask if it could have affected u in this manor...neone else have this experience?

"selma"