Originally Posted by cyclelops

Also, the thing I keep in mind is these episodes are superimposed on the PN.

Autonomic issues are not rare in spinal injury and in head injury. I did not have these until I was 36 years old.....after that, I have gotten on average 8-15 per year. Using my arms above my head always brings this on....as does a 'window washing' movement. SSRIs bring it on. Several bad stressors in a row will bring it on.

Mere, I may turn red, but don't know it, since I retreat to the dark....I never noticed my color....but nasal congestion and 'migraine' are familiar, but to the extreme.

The condition is alternatively listed as Autonomic Dysreflexia or Autonomic Hyperreflexia. I would say I am more hyperreflexia....altho, constipation or filling myself a bit too much on food, will bring it on. I have not noticed a relationship to my bladder function.

I was cracked head on by a truck, both of us going roughly 55. It was most unpleasant and altho I saw a light, I met no religious figures.

I hear you saying 'migraine' Mere, and I always told them that too....'eh, it is one of my 'migraines'....I have seen people with migraines, and what I am having is not it. I also do get some quite high BPs during these...and some relief, not much, by dangling my legs over the edge of the bed....head up helps pain some, but, I am so sick, I can't stay sitting. The nerves on my head are so sore that it feels like my pillows are concrete block.

I should probably go to the academic center ER, but my problem is not getting past the ER. Grrrr. Usually I am so sick, it is the local ER which isn't far away, or I lay in bed incapacitated with my bucket. Now that my K+ levels are unstable, this is getting to be more of a concern. Since I went on K citrate, my last lab was normal....so that is a factor.

It is so complex, I don't if they will ever get to the bottom of it.