Back Story: I just got out of the hospital about 1 mo. ago due to extremely low heart rate (30 to 40/min). At that time I also had uncontrolled high blood pressure and diabetes, some signs of neuropathy in my hands and feet, as well as extremely bad back pain (long time problem due to injuries) and leg cramps. And needless to say I have a weight problem. I had been taking meds as prescribed for diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol and occasional pain relief for the back. But over the last year or so I kept getting worse and worse ever so s-l-o-w-l-y. Walking kept getting harder and harder, my balance kept getting worse and worse as well as my pain level. I finally started walking with a cane for help with stability and at times had to use a rollator. Also I was suffering from shortness of breath (have C-Pap machine) more and more as time went on. Doctor was taking steps one by one to eliminate possible problems and everything was coming up within the "normal" standards - no red flags over this timeframe. Finally I got to where I could not sleep at night even with machine. My breathing got worse where I would wake and have to run to the door to get "air" (cool/cold fall/winter air). Eventually I no longer could sleep flat nor use the C-Pap machine due to panic attacks - one night took 1/2 to even figure out where I was (this was after hospital stay).

Due to all this I was given different meds to treat me problems. But I seem to be having lots of side effects and/or panic attacks - all of which have similar symptoms that I was already having as well as similar to one another and I couldn't tell which was from what. I have even developed digestive disorders - gas, bloating, stomach pains, acid reflux, feeling so "full" of air both in the stomach and intestines that it was hard to even burp or pass gas . . . making it impossible to lay down or sit. All I could do was walk around the house and go to the front door for air since I felt like I could breath even less than I could with the other breathing problems I was having.

Now for the Question: I have several meds that I seem to be having side effects from. As I said I do have some neuropathy, breathing problems, back pain, etc. The meds I have been prescribed are: Hydralazine 25mg 1 - 3x/day) and Valsartan 160mg 1 - 2x/day as well as Buspirone HCL 7.5mg for panic attacks. The ones I continued are: Simvastatin 40mg 1x/day (bedtime), Levothyroxine 50mg 1 per day (mornings), Tramadol HCL 50mg every 6hrs as needed. But I do feel as those some of my symptoms are much, much worse. The neuropathy has really intensified in both my hands and feet, especially around my toes. My toes, fingers, hands & feet are always cold , stiff and swell very easily. My back pain had intensified to where I can barely move or walk. After looking up the side effects of both the Valsartan and Hydralazine I felt as though some of the intense pains were from one or both of these and I have already discontinued the Buspirone as it increased my panic attacks so greatly that I was nearly out of my mind. I decided to eliminate one dose of the Hydralazine and that seemed to help somewhat - enough to know to it was probably a factor but not enough to bring down the overall symptoms. Yesterday I woke up and was feeling so bad that I did not take my morning meds at all pain. At the end of the day I felt so, so, so much better that I really felt that it may be the new meds that are wreaking havic on how I do each day. I did take the ones prescribed for the evening and immediately that pains in my toes and feet came back (but were not as intense as usual).

I have left msg's (4) for my dr. for two weeks now, but have not received a response. I did go in once, but still could not get answers since it was his half day at his closing time & he still had a full waiting room. I realize that he has to deal with this flu epidemic and is extremely busy at this time. I do not have the copay to schedule an appointment, but I did just get out of the hospital and I really need to some advice. I did talk with my pharmacist but they can't tell me things from a doctors point of view. So if you can give me any insight I would appreciate it immensely as I really don't know what to do.

Thank you for your time.

--PJ Higginson