Sympathetic Nervous System issues
 

I just joined the group and haven't had a lot of time to look around for information but I was wondering if anyone has had Sympathetic Nervous System issues.
My initial injury was about 13 months ago, followed by two more hits to the head a couple weeks later. I wasn't taking any medication previously and now take several. Some of those meds are to help regulate my heart rate and blood pressure. I also have problems with over sweating, as in if I am doing anything even slightly strenuous, ie: vacuuming my relatively small living room, I end up looking like I ran a marathon I'm sweating so much. SOOO FRUSTRATING! If I forget to take my meds my heart races up to over 135 beats per minute any time I even move around. My blood pressure also goes up. I am stuck on medication, completely dependent on it.
Just curios if anyone has similar issues and if so have they found any non medication related remedies?

ChrystalRose,

Welcome to NeuroTalk.

Medications can cause the sweating. What medication have been prescribed ?

It sounds like you may have suffered a brain stem concussion or have upper neck inflammation that is impacting your brain stem. I had the opposite problem from an upper neck inflammation. My pulse and BP would drop so low I could not hardly stand.

You should read the Vitamins sticky at the top. Look at Page 11, post 101 on Nov 8th. It has the latest information. Omega 3 fish oil will be worthwhile to take. It can help lower your BP. Plus the rest of the regimen will be good for your struggling brain, especially the B-12, B-6 and D3.

You may have adrenal malfunction, too. It controls BP and pulse.

My best to you.

Medications
 

I am currently taking the below listed meds.
NORTRIPTYLINE HCL 10 MG CAP-Used for my concussion headaches on a daily basis
BUTALB-ACETAMN-CAF-COD 50-325-40-30-used during the onset of a really bad headache
PROPRANOLOL 40 MG TABLET-used to help regulate my heart rate and blood pressure
ZOLPIDEM TARTRATE 5 MG TABLET-for sleeping problems
AMPHETAMINE SALTS 10 MG TABLET-to help my slow brain function better, only taken on work days
All of these just t get through the days, its depressing........
I also take Fish Oil, Folic Acid, Prilosec and multi vitamin.

Hi ChrystalRose,

I don't know about the other medications but I do know that Propranolol can cause excessive perspiration in some people.

Welcome to NT, CrystalRose.

Do you mind telling us how you sustained your injuries? Like Mark, I wonder if some of your issues might be related to damage to your neck. I have a number of neurological stemming from severe whiplash.

I fell from above standing, I have a standing desk at work along with a raised chair so that I can sit when I wanted. That morning my stool slipped forward and my chair slipped backward as I was going to sit. I fell to my right side hit my head, specifically my right temple on a table and my cheek on a open cabinet. My neck did get "tweaked" and I was diagnosed to a C2 Cervical Spine injury.
If these issues can be attributed to a neck problem, how do I go about getting that diagnosed? What specific things do I need to ask my doctor.
Thanks....

Sympathetic overdrive
 

Dysregulation of your heart rate to the extent you're describing is unusual for an mTBI in my opinion. Depending on the dose of Propranolol you are taking, abruptly stopping this medication will result in a reflex elevated heart rate for possibly several days. If you are young and cardiac healthy, there should not be a concern. If there is an underlying problem causing an elevated heart rate to begin with, I would suggest you at least consider other causes than mTBI related. To consider...
Rule out hyperthyroidism....check serum TSH
Rule out a primary cardiac rhythm anomaly... ECG+/- Holter moniter
Rule out anemia...Hemoglobin
Rule out (much rarer) pheochromocytoma....24 hour urine for metanephrines
Just some suggestions...hope it helps

PS Nortryptiline can cause excessive sweating but you are on a low dose. Just have your pharmacist check that there are no drug interactions with your other meds that may cause the Nortryptiline levels to rise.

PPS If you are taking regular amounts of pain medications as you listed, the caffeine content can increase heart rate