For starters, I realize what causes high blood pressure and how it can be naturally lowered through diet, exercise, etc. and the importance of doing this. My question really relates more to why there would be no change despite significant changes in the dosages of my medications and to my diet, etc.

The background info is that I was started on high blood pressure medications a couple of years ago–but not for high blood pressure. I was prescribed Verapamil ER, 120 mg once per day to prevent headaches, a common off-label use of this medication. Over the last few years though, I have started seeing a neurologist/pain management doctor who specializes in hard to treat chronic daily headaches. In the time since I started seeing this doctor, she has significantly (though slowly and cautiously) raised my dosage of the Verapamil ER to my current dose of 120 mg three times per day. She also (again slowly/cautiously) added Inderal…starting at 40mgs per day to my current (cont…)
Inderal dosage of 80 mgs 4 times per day. I work in a medical setting and know that most people on this much of these two medications would likely have significant side effects on these dosages. Commonly people would be very tired, lethargic, etc. due to low blood pressure given the amount of blood pressure lowering agents taken each day….but not only is that not the case for me, but I actually have not seen any drop in my blood pressure throughout the last couple of years—not even the few times the dose was raised by large amounts. In fact, although I did not have high blood pressure at the time these medications were started, I will now often have boderline-high blood pressure (140/90) when it is checked despite the amount of these meds. I do take several other medications…but none of which are known to cause hypertension (though some are known to lower BP) because my doctor is very cautious and expresses concern that it is still so high (see more add. details….)
despite the doses of the meds I am already on. When I first started seeing this doctor, it would have made sense if I had high blood pressure because I was eating very poorly, not exercising at all, and almost constantly in pain. Since that time, she has been able to get my headaches under control to a greater extent than before and was able to determine that much of the pain is actually due to a sleep disorder that does not allow the muscles to really rest properly at night…though through treatment I have seen great improvements in all of the symptoms (though not 100% by any means) and I have been eating a more balanced, lower sodium diet because this has also helped with the pain management…but again, I did not have high blood pressure before but now—despite all the BP lowering meds, and despite a better diet and losing 80 pounds, I continue to have boderline-high BP numbers on a regular basis.

Read the rest of this entry

i have a really good friend, but i’m starting to get really annoyed with her.
she is always “sick” or has something wrong with her, and i’m starting to wonder if she’s faking all of this. she is always complaining about her scoliosis, and how her back hurts all the time. i asked her mom about it one day, and she said that the scoliosis is very mild (12 degrees) and shouldn’t be causing her pain.
she had braces on both of her wrists for over 6 months. one brace was because she sprained her wrist at school, and she said the other brace was because her wrist starting randomly hurting one day. she wore these braces all the time for over 6 months, and i’m pretty sure a sprained wrist doesn’t last that long!
according to her, she’s allergic to basically everything. she says she’s allergic to peanuts, and yet i’ve seen her eating them. she says she’s allergic to dairy prodects, yet her mom packs her cheese and other dairy products in her lunches.
she misses school all the time. she’s only in school for about 2 hours a day, 4 days a week because she says she gets chronic daily headaches.
now she’s wearing an ankle brace all the time because she has “chronic irritation of the ankle” (does that even exist?)
my question is, could she really be sick with something serious, or is she faking all of this to get attention? she’s such a good friend, but i’m really getting annoyed with her health complaints all the time!

sorry this was so long!
she’s still a great friend, but this is really affecting her schooling, which is concerning. last year she failed half of her classes because she missed so much school.

I sometimes get migraines but more often then not I get annoying headaches (almost daily) they move around, mostly my left temple or between my eyes. I have adjusted my sleeping patterns and it helped for a little while. Lately though my headaches have been really disruptive, sometimes causing me to throw up and it is hard to concentrate. Please, if you know how to staunch the flow of these daily annoyances, let me know!

The surgery happened in Thailand – I was forced to have 2 surgeries as the first one went wrong. 2 months later I became ill and was taken to the ER with a fever, low blood pressure, headaches and vomiting. After being let out, I contacted my surgeon to say I was very unwell, and was told it was nothing to do with the surgery. I asked to meet with him when he flew over to meet perspective clients, and he examined me and said there was definitely nothing wrong. I remained sick for 8 months, left work, was diagnosed with chronic fatigue, and chronic daily headaches, and continued to contact my surgeon to beg him to investigate further. Nothing was done. I then developed seriously painful breasts and was rushed to hospital to have the implants removed, where they were found to have a staph infection! I called my surgeon in Thailand who spoke with my doctor here and told her he thought I was lying and didn’t think there was anything wrong with me so didn’t think he needed to investigate. I have now had a whole year off work and am still recovering. The infection had traveled to my blood, causing sepsis and the length of time it had been present in my body meant the symptoms were advanced. I am so angry at the whole situation when this could have been dealt with right away if he had taken me seriously. I want to sue to get back some of my medical costs, and lack of earnings over the past year – and also to teach him a lesson to never fail to take his patients seriously again. Can I sue him for negligence? I signed a waiver at the time of surgery, but this was to say I knew the risks associated with surgery. I never signed a waiver to say I didn’t mind being ignored when I felt ill – this is the main issue, that he dismissed me as “lying”, thus avoiding further investigation. Thanks for your help – much appreciated

I was diagnosed w / Hep.C in 9/2001 and I had to go thru Chemo to kill the virus. I was on the treatment for 48 wks. and after 3 wks. on I went on Procrit to build my red blood cells and 2 wks. later I had to take Neupagen Shots for the building of bone marrow and white cells. The anguish I went thru. I made it thru the treatment and done good, but, after 3 months, the virus grew rapidly and I now have a viral count over 3 million, and I fight Idiopathic Hyposomonolence ( chronic fatigue) and take meds for that. I have severe pain in my joints and hip area, as well as my lower back. I was told those Neupagen shots were my reason. I need some relief. I still work daily, but with all my medical problems I’m told I should get diability. I want more out of life and the more I hurt I pray the Lord will take me home. Is there truly joy in life with daily pain? I also have Chronic daily Headaches and stress, perfumes and chemicals make them worse. Thank you for sharing your insite. Crafty

I’m 16 have chronic daily headaches, scoliosis, two dehydrated discs, and take 25mh tizanidine 6 times daily. I have asthma but it’s never a problem unless I exercise or ocassionaly due to allergies. Should I get the H1N1 vaccine??? Why?

What are the benefits of drinking water daily? Recently, I read the opinion of a scientist who claims that the 64 ounce per day rule may be unnecessary, unless you are thirsty and that it could cause people to feel guilty for not reaching that goal. On the other hand, I have read the opinions of many other scientists saying that 64 ounces is not enough and that people should drink more. Everyone has their opinion but there are many facts that cannot be ignored. The body is composed primarily of fluids. Babies are 75% water, adults range from 55-60%. Knowing that, it is obvious that there must be some way to protect that fluid level. Otherwise the blood would thicken and eventually, the heart would be unable to move it through your body. Blood plasma is not the only fluid in the body. Every cell has some amount of fluid in it. Fluids are used to carry away toxins and waste as well as to cool the brain and the body’s other organs. The average human loses and average of 2.5 liters, which is equivalent to 84 ounces per day through natural processes, such as urination, respiration and sweating. Those that sweat or urinate more frequently lose more so I have to wonder about the motivation of the scientist that claims there are no benefits to drinking water daily, unless you are thirsty. I am more inclined to agree with the scientists that say more is better. What do you think? The primary benefits of drinking water daily are to avoid acute dehydration and protect homeostasis. Acute dehydration can cause death. Homeostasis imbalance is responsible for heat stroke, which can also cause death. But, there are some common complaints that many people have on a daily basis, which they do not equate with minor or low level dehydration. They include: Stomach ache, headache, joint pain, body aches, back pain, constipation, fatigue, inability to concentrate and confusion. In acute dehydration, these symptoms become severe. On a day-to-day basis, people may notice pain in the joints, particularly in the knees. When the body senses a lack of fluid, it pulls fluid away from non-essential systems, such as the fluid that cushions the joints. In particular, it will choose those sources of fluid that are farthest away from the brain and the heart. That would be the knees and the ankles. People with chronic headaches will be amazed by the benefits of drinking water daily, in an amount that exceeds the minimal 64 ounce rule. Headaches can be alleviated without pain killers, if one takes a moment to de-stress and drinks a big glass of pure water. The purity of the beverages that you drink is of great importance. Beverages bottled in plastic are not pure. The toxins in them work against ideal homeostasis. Your best choice is to install a home purification system and enjoy the many benefits of purified drinking water daily. I’m sure you’ll be surprised.

Ive had daily chronic headaches for 10 years, doctors cant find anything wrong. Ive had every type of test and scans. I cant find any medicine that will help me with pain. i have tried every type of pain med, headache/migraine meds and other different type of meds. nothing ever works. can anyone help me? Why am i so immune to these drugs. i am very healthy person in general. most meds even for other reasons dont help.
I eat all kinds of veggies, im not much into fruits. i dont smoke or drink. i drink alittle diet pop everyday but i drink ALOT of water.
I havent taken migraine drugs in years because they dont work. i take otc drugs on occasion and it takes the edge off but doesnt get rid of it. I have tried biofeedback and it did nothing.

For the past two years, yes TWO, I have had these symptoms, everyday. I went to my doctor a few times the last time I went she sent me to a neurologist. The neurologist did not do any tests she only asked my mother questions. Now my mother is quite fixated on me being a hypochondriac. I am fourteen by the way, so she probably got it through my head that I was a hypochondriac and I would look up brain tumors everyday on the internet but anyway. The neurologist, after doing no tests that could prove anything, said that I had chronic daily headaches and anxiety. She said to drink lots of water and get lots of exercise and they would go away. 6 months later and here I am even worse than before and now I wake up constantly in my sleep. So, should I go to a different doctor and neurologist or what? What is wrong with me!?!

There are many people who suffer from the symptoms of chronic fatigue fibromyalgia but because it is not a well known disease many of these people do not realize that they have it. Most people do not learn about this disorder until they make an appointment with their doctor to find relief from the symptoms.

When the symptoms of chronic fatigue fibromyalgia first appear they are usually little more than a minor annoyance that may come and go for several years before they intensify. What starts out as minor headaches, tingly or numb body parts, body aches and general fatigue can become more severe over time and lead to joint pain, long periods of fatigue and lethargy, and light headedness. When these symptoms become unbearable those who suffer them are forced to miss work, family events and seek relief with frequent visits to their doctor.

Read the rest of this entry