re: Chest Pressure and Palpatations

NJOberheim · 10-10-2003, 04:39 PM

Hi Everyone,

I'm new to this board. Just discovered it today. Just from reading though the threads there seems to be a lot of kind, helpful people on here.

Here's my problem. Im a 34 year old male. I've been on Diovan 80mg for high blood pressure due to high cholesteral/trigs for about a year now. Im also on Lipitor. It's worked fine. My blood pressure has been in check. My initial HBP symptom was headaches.

About a month ago, I started getting this stiffness on the back of my neck. At first I thought I had slept on it the wrong way, but as time went on, I realized it wasnt that. After two weeks of this stiffness, I went to my DR. My blood pressure was up again. About 135/92. He said this was causing the neck stiffness. He raised my Diovan to 160mg. The new dose didnt seem to do anything. The stiffness remained. In fact, I had an episode of a severe headache. I bought an automatic BPM and started monitoring my BP. Another day the stiffness felt more severe. I took my BP and it was 147/101. After calling the DR and letting him know, he prescribed Toprol XL 50mg to take in addition to the increased Diovan.

With all the said, here's my problem. I started taking the Toprol on Tues and my BP has been under control since. The stiffness went away and I felt great. All of a sudden, yesterday, I was sitting at my desk at work when I felt a pressure in my chest. It felt very strange. I almost felt like I was going to pass out. I got up and walked around. It continued for about 4 hours. When I got home, I laid down and still felt it. Then I started feeling palpatations. I was really concerend. After a while, it passed.

Today I feel 'normal' again. I called my DR. And he basically said that it couldnt have been the Toprol. That if it ever happend again I should go to the Emergency room. I didnt really like this answer and I wanted some kind of explantion for what happend but he couldnt give me one. He didnt even send me for tests or anything.

My question is, has anyone ever expereinced anything like this? Does anyone know what could have caused this? Could it have been something really simple like gas (i noticed I burped a lot during the ordeal). Or should I be more concerned?

Thanks everyone!

zip2play · 10-11-2003, 10:07 AM

Hi Oberheim,

My two cents:
I think the neck pain is unrelated to HBP. It's usually symptomless. More likely to stress.

On the dizziness, that dose of Toprol is likely to have drastically lowered your heart rate and probably your BP to boot. That sudden change can sometimes feel scary in the mid chest. If it happens again, make sure you get a BP reading and a heart rate. Can be useful info. Until you find out for sure what it is make sure you take an aspirin every day. If you decide on emergency room, chew 2 aspirins before you go. The feeling of "pressure" is the scariest symptom. AN ECG while it's occurring is best to rule out anything TOO scary!
Some daily magnesium supplementation is a good idea with any suspected rhythm disturbances.

Perhaps, like your neck pain, it's nothing more than anxiety/stress...or even some inflamed rib/breastbone joints.

Beta blockers have something of a tranquilizing effect (I've found) and thus the toprol might have helped any neck spasming to feel better.

[This message has been edited by zip2play (edited 10-11-2003).]