OK, it may have been a long time since I've been called blonde. Let's just call it a gray-blonde blend. But, the dizziness is becoming evident. During my visit to the cardiologist on Wednesday, I reached an all time low...blood pressure that is. My blood pressure was 98/68 standing (without any blood pressure medications on board). This is quite a switch from my typical blood pressure of 130's/80's (while on blood pressure medication) just a few months previous.
The dizziness seemed to start shortly after my first chemotherapy infusion. While driving to my partnership meeting that evening and even during the meeting itself, I felt something akin to motion sickness. It would come in waves and could last 10 minutes or up to an hour. Given the toxicity of the medications used, it didn't surprise me and since I wasn't having any severe side effects, I didn't think a whole lot about it. As the week progressed and my energy level seemed to improve, my dizzy episodes actually increased rather than decreased. And after my cardiology appointment revealed the low blood pressure, I started checking my blood pressure when the dizzy episodes occurred and discovered that my blood pressure (BP) was considerably lower than usual.
This morning after showering, I became very dizzy and immediately lowered myself to the floor. As it didn't dissipate quickly and nausea soon accompanied, I took an ondansetron (anti-nausea medication) to help me get dressed and ready for my oncology lab work and appointment at noon. At the doctor's office, my BP was once again 94/64 and the dizziness was still present. We (my oncologist, myself and the cardiologist on-call) racked our brains about the potential cause of this sudden reversal. My BP was 170/110 when I started BP meds back in 2001. So, why the sudden dramatic change?
Initially, I thought it might have something to do with my port*, since the dizziness occurred today shortly after trying to get the remaining glue off of my incision sites for the port. The cardiologist didn't think this was the issue, so I researched the medications upon returning home. Both Vincristine and Bleomycin have hypotension (low blood pressure) listed as a potential side effect. With the Bleomycin, this appears to be in conjunction with an allergic reaction and would likely be associated with other symptoms including fevers, mental confusion (more than my usual, that is) and wheezing. The Vincristine, however, has BP changes listed as a common reaction and hypotension is listed under the serious reactions. Therefore, my suspicion lies with the Vincristine, especially since the dizziness also comes with tingling in the fingers/toes (a known neurotoxic response of the medication).
Well, my family found this blog very boring. So, if I put you to sleep, I apologize (unless you were reading this to help you fall asleep, that is). Yet science is truly fascinating and the broad variability of responses to disease and medications reveals the immense complexity of the human body. The inner scientist in me yearns to learn more about how and why these strange things occur. While annoying, they are more of a provocative nuisance than a misery.
* A port is a reservoir that is placed under the surface of the skin that allows direct access to a major vessel. In my case, the jugular vein was accessed, in order to allow the medications to get into the blood stream rapidly and without damaging the smaller veins.
With ideas it is like
with dizzy heights you climb: At first
they cause you discomfort and you are anxious to get down, distrustful of your
own powers; but soon the remoteness of the turmoil of life and the inspiring
influence of the altitude calm your blood; your steps get firm and sure and you
begin to look – for dizzier heights. ~
Nikola Tesla
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