So I started the Nitroglycerin. A little history on this chemical. Originally invented in 1847 by an Italian chemist, it was later expanded into commercial use as an explosive by none other than Alfred Nobel. Nobel was a Swedish chemist who desired to create a safe way to use the explosive after it killed his brother in a factory explosion in 1864.
It was primarily used as a blasting explosive, primarily in mining. Extremely unstable in its undiluted form, this liquid compound became banned by most countries in the late 1800’s.
By 1867, Nobel had combined the liquid with some chemical solids and thus created…dynamite. As World War I broke out, dynamite became a widely used military application instead of mining.
This distressed Nobel to the point of him creating the “Nobel Peace Prize” out of guilt for what he had invented and how it was being used.
The medical application began in 1878. Small diluted doses are used to treat angina (chest pain) that comes from the restricted arteries. Restricted arteries are similar to trying to push too much water through a hose. The hose will begin to back up and create a “bubble” where the water gets clogged. That’s called “pressure pain” which is similar to the pain that comes from kidney stones. It’s the most difficult kind of pain to treat. So naturally, let’s try an explosive chemical!
The way it works is that the nitroglycerin causes the nitrates in the blood to increase which is what causes the arteries to dilate. As the arteries dilate more blood can flow through which causes the heart to work less hard and also alleviates the chest pain that comes from restricted arteries.
However….there is a side effect. Headaches.
For workers that work in a Nitroglycerin factory, their exposure can create a situation where their body gets used to the nitroglycerin effect on their arteries (and resulting headaches) and yet when they don’t work on the weekend they can actually experience a form of withdrawal called “Sunday Heart Attack”.
I have had Nitroglycerin before in the operating room and it really opens up the arteries. I can almost feel the flush of blood rushing through the once restricted artery. But, true to form, it left me with a massive headache. Not the kind of headache that makes you reach for a Tylenol, the kind of headache that makes you reach for a dark room and a pale to throw up in. Eyes with prisms, wanting to throw up….just brutal.
Irony….Nobel was prescribed Nitroglycerin in his later years.
So, I tried it for a few days. And I have to stop it. The body can develop a tolerance to it but I don’t think I can wait around to find out. The pain was just too much. It’s why I haven’t written.
But…there is good news. It helped the chest pain. Or at least I think it did. I could have just been distracted by the headaches. One way to deal with pain…create a different greater pain.
I stopped the med and immediately the headache stopped….and the chest pain returned. Amazing.
I will meet with Dr. Altman on the 3rd to try a different one. Nitrates all have the same side effect, but maybe we can find one less potent than the one used in dynamite.
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