Abdominal/intestinal pressure

[tinern]

I have been having an increased amount of pressure from just below my ribs to the lowest point of my abdomen. Lately when this happens it seems to temporarily make my vision blurry. As the pressure decreases my vision becomes more clear. I would be interested to hear if anyone else has had the same situation. I'm a C 4-5 since 1993.

[gjnl]

It is possible that the pressure you describe is causing autonomic dysreflexia (AD). That could explain why the blurred vision goes away as the feeling of pressure decreases.

"Autonomic dysreflexia means an over-activity of the Autonomic Nervous System. It can occur when an irritating stimulus is introduced to the body below the level of spinal cord injury, such as an overfull bladder. The stimulus sends nerve impulses to the spinal cord, where they travel upward until they are blocked by the lesion at the level of injury. Since the impulses cannot reach the brain, a reflex is activated that increases activity of the sympathetic portion of autonomic nervous system. This results in spasms and a narrowing of the blood vessels, which causes a rise in the blood pressure. Nerve receptors in the heart and blood vessels detect this rise in blood pressure and send a message to the brain. The brain sends a message to the heart, causing the heartbeat to slow down and the blood vessels above the level of injury to dilate. However, the brain cannot send messages below the level of injury, due to the spinal cord lesion, and therefore the blood pressure cannot be regulated."

The typical symptoms of AD are:

• cool, pale skin with goose bumps
• increased spasms (twitching) below a spinal cord injury (SCI)
• nasal congestion (stuffy nose)
• blurred vision (sight)
• flushed (red), sweaty skin above the level of SCI
• nausea
• nervousness or anxiety
• severe, pounding headache
• slow or fast heartbeat
• sudden increase in blood pressure
• tightness in chest

Are you constipated?

All the best,
GJ

[ekephart]

I agree that your body is trying to tell you that there is a problem. In fact, it is screaming. Has anything in your diet or routine changed? By now, I am sure you know what BP works for you but have you changed anything? As I am sure you know, what may be benign on its face, may impact you in a totally different manner.--eak

[SCI-Nurse]

Please take your blood pressure. Good results from bowel program? could be gallbladder or other issues. You need to see your doctor if still occurring.
CWO

[Padred123]

Originally Posted by tinern

I have been having an increased amount of pressure from just below my ribs to the lowest point of my abdomen. Lately when this happens it seems to temporarily make my vision blurry. As the pressure decreases my vision becomes more clear. I would be interested to hear if anyone else has had the same situation. I'm a C 4-5 since 1993.

I've been having the same thing for months now. It feels like a belt tightened around my chest. I'm c5/6 5 years post.. I can't figure it out but it happens more when I'm sitting upright. Sometimes it feels like I'm gonna drop dead but I goto the hospital and they say I'm ok. I noticed my spasms are worse lately too. My physiatrist called for an mri on my neck and I'm going to have my hemorrhoids removed. We'll see. I hope ur ok and we figure it out.

Here's my thread about it.
http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/showthread.php?t=194792

[SCI-Nurse]

Who is your regular doctor? Tell them to get a chest and spine x-ray.
CWO

[SCI-Nurse]

Are you bowels cleaned out? Not back up to the North Pole? Blood pressure?
CWO