Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group A new experience in my life.

About 3 nights ago, I got a headache and started getting nausea. I just felt weird and I decided to take my bp. It was 189/94. I was rather concerned since it stays about 116/64. I took bp meds about 1 1/2 years ago and still had the meds. I took it again later and it was 195/102 and my hubby insisted I take one of the pills and an aspirin. We waited a while and took it again and it was 200/100 so he said "Get your jacket, we are off to ER". They took me right back to a room because by then it was 238/142. They didn't give me another med since I had taken that one and it had not had time to take effect. They were ready to take me for a scan and the monitors showed it was starting to come down and my headache was lessening. It gradually came down and about 3:00 a.m. when it was in the 150's they let me come home with instructions to call my PCP and my Rheumie. He had started some Morphine IR that day. None of the drs. think that could do it but it has stayed down ever since with no more Morphine.

I couldn't keep from being kind of frightening because they were getting concerned about a stroke. The Lord was with me. I am still here and my bp is 116/64. I have no idea what happened but I don't want it again.

Have any of you ever had a bp spike like that? and do you know why?

I have been missing you all.

Blessings.
Possi

I haven't ever had that, Possi - but I must admit I'm now worried for you and hope it doesn't happen again. Good thing you checked your blood pressure. Good thing you went to the hospital because if you did have a stroke your chances of a complete recovery are very high if you get immediate treatment. Every minute counts.

I wonder if it was the morphine that caused it? Morphine normally lowers the blood pressure so it seems odd if it was that.

Big and gentle hugs

Possi,

I am so glad that hubby took you to the ER and promise me that you will do that every time or anytime that happens.

I can't remember if you said this but the couple of times this has happened to me the ER would give me nitro about every 30 minutes THAT STUFF makes you feel funky but it brings your pressure down quick.

Now if this happens at home or out my #1 response for you always will be to go to the ER but there is a drug clonipin that we have had for Bill when his pressure goes up and we can't get it down. You take 1 about every 30 minutes and then take your BP. You might talk to the Dr. it would be nice to have some so that you could take one and then go to the ER I am just thinking so there isn't a stroke.

Please go to your Dr and find out why but let me tell you that headache just might have saved your life, that is how I know my BP is getting to high.

Let us know how you are doing.

Hugs,

Lisa

Lisa - what causes it to happen for you? Is it a reaction to meds? Or high pain levels? Sounds so scary.

Wendy, It was kind of like Possi my BP was really high I went into the hospital and wore the heart monitor for 24 hours and had blood work to look for elevated enzymes and everything turned out ok..so Im not sure but we have been thru the same thing with Bill complete with treadmill, stress test, and everything so who knows.

Now this isn't Possi's case but my hubby and I need to lose a few pounds but I do know of people that have BP issues that are tiny. I think maybe a bit of it could be the inflammation thing but not sure.

Hugs,

Lisa

I've never given my blood pressure a thought. That does sound awfully frightening. I'm glad you are doing well now.

Chris

Wow, that sounds really scary Joyce! So far that is one of the fun things I have managed to avoid, but I think I know how you felt because I did go through something fairly similar last year. I wrote about it here when it happened--I'm talking about the time when I was playing poker last year and, out of the blue, started feeling funny and, within five minutes, I had passed out. Like you say, it was something totally new and totally foreign when compared to anything else that had ever happened to me, and that's what made it so incredibly scary. As the room started to fade away from me and people started to sound far away as a kind of white veil started to descend over my vision, I still distinctly remember saying to myself, "So, this is what it feels like to die . . . " At the time, I did not feel like I was overexaggerating at all because it was just absolutely terrifying, seeing as I'd never passed out at any other point in my life. Why wouldn't I think I was dying in that case?

So no, I haven't had the rapid increase in blood pressure you experienced, but I do think I understand how scary it must have been. Not only that, I can also imagine how you now think, "Great, one more medical thing for me to worry about!", because that's sure what I thought at the time of my incident. Here's hoping both of our bizarre circumstances were one-timers, Joyce!

Brad

wow possi, that does sound frightening!

if it were me, i'd make sure the doctor checked out my arteries and all thoroughly to rule out heart disease / artery disease. hope its not the case, but better to make sure.

Chris,

If you have BP problems of any kind it is a good idea to keep a cuff so that you can keep an eye on it.

It took me awhile but I started putting together this headache and then would take my BP and it would be a little high.

Lisa

Oh great, thanks Lisa. Now I have something else to worry about?

Although I do get headaches and feel blood thumping in my temples, I've never had any issues with blood pressure that I recall, even though I am a long term smoker. They're usually quite pleasantly surprised. I'll mention the issue next time I see my GP though.

Don't go jinxing me now

Chris