Headaches?????

[Gibby]

My mom has A big problem!! Every time she eats or drinks anything her head starts to pound and her blood pressure rises out of control(180/110) or higher. this has been going on for over 4 yrs. She has had every test possiable and the Dr. are all bafulled!! Is there any one out there that has heard of this or knows anything about it???? The following are test that were done:MRI, Catscan, Alergy test of all kinds, eheo, Sinus sergery, ended up with gangreen in her jaw from a root-canal(treated and cured), canditious(from being on antibiottics so long), And many, many more. The food alergy test shows that she is alergic to everything except; turkey, potatoes, shell-fish, and selected veggies, yet this problem persists even when she drinks water, or when she eats these items ONLY!!! She is in so much pain she has even said that she wishes that she wuold die so she wouldn't be in so much pain!!! My mom is a lover of life and is the kindest person you have ever met!!! To hear her say this breaks my heart!! The Dr's. are passing this off now as "SEVERE MIGRAINE HEADACHES"! That is not the problem!!!! There is somthing else, so,PLEASE can some one out there give my mom her life back! Does anyone know or have an idea of what is happening??? Have you ever heard of such a thing??? PLEASE HELP !!!
                                         THANKYOU FOR YOUR TIME,
                                           A WORRIED Daughter
                                                Alison

[wilson-wilson]

I was on atenolol for about 8 months and I have been off now for about 2 months.  I "weened" myself off the stuff because I had side efects I couldn't get used to.  I had terrifying dreams and mild to "not so mild" hallucinations!  Sure my BP was 132/78 and I didn't have the, "contact your doctor immediately if you notice these symtoms happen" side effects...but I struggled for lo those 8 months!  I thought, well, I'd rather die of a stroke and know that's why I died, than to die of side-effects of a medicine I knew nothing about that was messing with me. <G>

Atenolol seems to work like a "governor" on a car engine..."no matter how much gas you give it, it just AIN'Y gonna go over 55! I also had a resting HB of 60-62..and sometimes after a brisk walk or "being with my wife <wink>" my heart wouldn't know whether to "go slow" OR "speed up!"  It was so confusing to my heart it seemed that all it wanted to do was just STOP!  Well I had enough of all that so I quit taking it.  May I add that I was only taking 25mgs @ day.

[jdm]

I posted a question some months back that seems similar to this one.  I have been experiencing now for over 4 years a significant increase in resting pulse rate after meals.  BP does go up-high for me but still not dangerous ( my BP is good ) but the resting rate goes from 68-72 premeal to 95 to 110 for hours after.  Then any even moderate physical activity causes it to go into the low tachycardia range of 130 -150.  No headache.  Just inappropriately pounding heart.  However, this caused severe anxiety episodes to occur that would really spike my pulse rate.  This followed over 10 years of gradually worsening problems.  I was hyper athletic.  WAS.  Then about age 35 ( I am 52 ) I noticed that after aerobic exercise my rate would remain elevated for hours afterwards at rest.  It got so bad that a mildly strenous hike would keep the rate at 125 for several hours resting rate and that it would gradually drop over the next 8-12.  I gave up my running, mountaineering, and most of what I really lived for since I could not handle this effect.  My docs said "normal sinus rhythm" and not to worry and all test were negative ( holter etc. ). Like why does it bother you to have a pulse of 125 hours after exercise was over.  Like they said---just live with it!   I am now taking atenolol.  I hate the side effects but I can eat a meal and not have my rate fly off into the wild blue yonder!  I still have severe anxiety problems related to the problem and take medication for that.  My HMO docs NEVER gave me a hypothesis as to cause.  I learned that docs are not all creative or interested in solving rare problems.  I did the research and think my problem is some kind of foci irritated by exercise, now food, also caffeine and alcohol MUCH more sensitive than before.  I would also mention that I have had classic migraine since age 8 with visual disturbance and the rest.  I know how your mom feels.  I think I know how you feel and I wrote this to wish you luck helping her.  Maybe the beta blocker would help.  They tell me it is a safe drug.  I don't like the side effects but at least I have some of my life back.  I was living in fear of meals. Some of the same docs who have no clue or hypothesis as to my problem are really on my case for doing the research myself. I only did when I got nothing from them. One called me a donkey ( I cleaned up this word for the post ) for trying to do my own diagnosis.  Others just tell me that I am causing the tachycardia due to anxiety reaction.  But the anxiety PRECEEDED the tach and caused it.  You mom is lucky to have you.   I would say get another doctor.  They are not all created equal.  Pronto.  jdm

[CCF-M.D.-CRC]

Dear Alison,
This is a very unusual problem and I have not heard of this before.  Has she tried blood pressure medications such as beta-blockers?  These medications not only control blood pressure but may also help migraines if this is occuring.  Biofeedback and chronic pain management may also be helpful.  There are doctors that specialize in the management of chronic pain and she may benefit from seeing one of them.