Headache Hell (oops, I meant Help)

[Stella]

Alright, neuro-wives, page your husbands!

I have been having terrible headaches EVERY DAY for at least three weeks. Some days they are worse than others, but lately I can barely stand it. Last night, I couldn't sleep at all and I woke up with a headache. Now, it feels terrible still.

I have tried LOTS of Advil and Naproxen and nothing is working. WTF. I'm starting to get worried, but mostly, I just want the pain to stop. I'm a mess and I can't work or do anything.

So... what should I do? Go to a Primary Care doc? See a Neurologist??

I'm sorry, that's the worst. I would go to your Primary care doctor, but I have really no idea what I'm talking about. My BF is very little help with any sort of affliction, he generally tells me it could be like 30 things (most of which I was able to figure out on WebMD) and tells me to go to the doctor to have tests.... Thank you captain obvious

But I hope you feel better, three weeks is a long time to have headaches like that
:flowers

[rainbabies]

i have headache issues myself. i had a bout like you're describing a while back and ended up with a CT scan and high dose caffiene pills from my doc. after a few days of those puppies i was better.

a nurse friend of mine SWEARS by tylenol and a coke. try it. sorry about the headaches. im a migraine-puker girl mysef, so i can totally relate.

[DCJenn]

I'd recommend seeing you doctor- but while you're waiting for your appointment, take a look at your diet and stress levels, and (not kidding) your teeth.

Eliminate the more common headache inducers- chocolate, red wine, processed meats (bacon, etc), aspartame. Make sure you're not clenching your teeth and also see if it's really a toothache or a sinus infection- they both can make your head throb and sometimes it's hard to identify cause.

When you exercise, type, drive, etc. make a conscious effort to roll your shoulders down. A lot of people hold their shoulders up around their ears without realizing it and it can causes neck strain and headache.

Jenn

PS- some perfumes give me an instantaneous headache, especially those in common air fresheners.

[Stella]

Many years ago, I was a Diet Coke fanatic. I had the same continuous headaches back then. My doctor said it was stress and I thought it was the aspartame so I quit drinking Diet (and anything else aspartame) and threw out his "stress headache" pills and I was FINE after that.

What do you know...here they are again.

I started by taking three Advil three times a day (the first week) but there were no improvements. Then I tried my Naproxen in the same dosage. Nothing. I tried drinking more coffee, less coffee, taking my pills with Coke. Nothing. I have been doing daily neck and jaw massages and nothing. Started eating better and worked out last week - nothing.

So... this just sucks. I don't have a GP so I made an appointment with an Internist at 3pm. I have a neurologist's number for backup. We'll see how the appointment goes.

[Vishenka69]

I've been having similar headaches lately. Usually Excederin Migraine works like a charm but this time it did nothing. Saw a neurologist and even had an MRI. He said it was probably stress (which I think I agree). He also gave me some prescription strength pills, which help better than Excederin.

[Phoebe]

You've already gotten good advice. I hope you feel better. I understand chronic headaches!

Jennifer

[houseelf]

I have dealt with headaches on and off throughout the years. I used to think it was hormonal, but I've learned that many of them are due to tension. I know this sounds sooooo dawktor's wife, but massages *really* help me. My masseuse can't believe what a little ball of tension I am.

Kelly

Midren works wonders for me, have to back for more now that I've weaned. The headaches started the first fall of med school. I was taking tylenol EVERY day for well over a month. I went to the DR, she asked if I had any new stresses, I said, no, well my husband did just start medical school. She looked at me, and said "BINGO, that's it hun", and wrote me a prescription.

GL - blaim it on med school

OH DITTO on tylenol and coke -NOT DIET, need the sugar

[Stella]

A couple of prescriptions (and hours) later, I should feel better in no time...

There are five evils I discovered while trying to help dh with his migraines;

shellfish
alcohol
chocolate
citrus fruits
dairy

He eliminated all of these and it really worked, after getting 1-2 migraines a week, he was down to zero. It's just a b*tch to maintain...

also watch eye strain... :chat:

Jodi

[Stella]

My whole day is in front of a computer. :chat: Not much I can do about that as it's part of the job. I got some great drugs from the doc. I'm feeling a little better.

[MissCrabette]

Good to hear you're feeling better. Did the doc say what may be causing your headaches?

[Stella]

Stress and anxiety. No surprises there.

I'm a migrane sufferer, it's awful, it feels like someone is behind my eye trying to poke it out and the whole of my face goes numb and the arm on which ever side the headache is on, usually right side, and pre menstral so hormone induced, it increased to 72 hourly when I was on BCP. I swear by Zomig but it is prescribed specifically for migrane, it works in like 20 mins.

You definately need a doctors advice, if you are stressed it could well be tension headaches, I've had those too when i went through a stressful period.

You haven't been sniffing too many bath cleaners or anything trying to get your bath sorted??

Hope you feel better soon