Really, really need medical advice...please.

[Phoenix223]

A few months ago I gave birth to my daughter 14 weeks prematurely (due to the HELLP Syndrome), 2 weeks later I had shortness of breath, chest pain, disorientation, etc. I was diagnosed with a Pulmonary Embolism & have been on Coumadin since. A month or so after the PE was found I began having headaches, dizziness, & severe chest pain. My PCP & the ER doctors have been unable to find a cause after CAT scans/halter monitors/EEG's, etc. My PCP finally decided it was an inflamed chest wall (he said it could cause headaches as well). However, the headaches have intensified, always on the left side of my head, very sharp pain. Where they used to last a couple of hours, they are now lasting 24 hours or longer. I am also still experiencing dizziness, a feeling of "heaviness" in my head, occasional short term confusion, sometimes sharp shooting pains up my neck. Today I have had the headache a little over 24 hours and it's intense on the left side of my forehead, spreading to the right, and some pain at the base of my skull, in the back. Could this be related to the Coumadin, as I'm "resistant" to the drug and on a very high dose, perhaps related to the PE somehow?  I'd be lying if I said this wasn't causing some anxiety for me, yet I don't want to be a hypochrondriac either...any help would be very much appreciated, thanks.I forgot to mention that for a few months after this all started I would see little "bursts" of light like when a flash on a camera goes off in my peripheral (sp?) vision . I also passed out several times a week (3-4) after experiencing the dizziness, headaches, & "flashes" in my vision for about a 2 month period. The passing out & "flashes" seem to have stopped but I still have the headaches, dizziness, & heavy feeling in my head.

[ladeanda]

I would go see an eye doctor

[DrNoopurMD]

Hi,

Thanks for writing in.
It is difficult to pinpoint the exact diagnosis without clinical exam, however it is quite possible that you are suffering from migraine headaches. These headaches are usually preceded by a visual aura followed by intense one sided throbbing headache. When the throbbing headache goes away usually a dull headache follows.
I would suggest you to take OTC pain medications and see if they help. However snce you are Coumadin and it is important to notify your doctor if you get headaches, vision problems and slurred speech as this may indicate brain bleed, I would suggest you to see your doctor as soon as possible because symptoms of migraine and stroke are very similar.
Do keep us informed!