Weird headaches, what are they?

[somethingshiny]

hello all.

I hope someone hear may be able to figure out what''s going on with these headaches I''ve been getting.

I''ve suffered with migraines for 20 years and I''m very well aware of my triggers and *cures*.

However, recently I''ve been having different headaches. The pain is all over and constant but most severe if I move. Some dizziness, but no nausea or photophobia. I''ve had four in the past month. Three of the four have come on late afternoon and lasted through the night, even after taking vicodin. They don''t seem to correspond with food, sleep or stress. I do have allergies, but it doesn''t feel like an allergy induced headache either. I''m wondering if it''s hormonal, but wouldn''t it be unusual to have four "hormonal" headaches within one cycle?

Any ideas on what''s causing these headaches, or what may stop them/cure them would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[AGBF]

Hi, somethingshiny-

I do not know, but you sound like an experienced headache sufferer (as am I). Since you already know so much about your usual headaches and this is new and unusual for you, maybe you should see a doctor. Do you have a good neurologist? I had not been to the neurologist in a few years and found that there were some "new" drugs when I returned, new to me, that is!

Whatever they are, I hope you get over them soon. Headaches are dreadful!

Deb

 

[sera]

With my migraines I also get dizziness, nausea, tunnel vision, etc. associated with the migraines and they can come in any combination. You should really get checked out by a doctor to find out what the best treatment/prevention is and to make sure something else isn''t going on that is causing it.

For me, sometimes caffeine helps. For the pain- something like Vicodin doesn''t help but Motrin sometimes does, but I''ve got to catch it early or it doesn''t do anything.

 

[Kaleigh]

See a your neurologist. These are different from what you''ve experienced in the past, so you need to get the once over to see what is causing them. Seems like they came on quickly, and have stayed with you for repeated episodes, that''s why you need to see your Doc. Good luck, hope they find the cause and give you some relief.

 

[somethingshiny]

Thanks for your advice, Deb, Sera, and Kayleigh. I was trying to avoid the doctor, but maybe I should just give in and go. I don't have a neurologist. My migraines are very straight forward with all the *usual* symptoms, so I never had to do any tests to be diagnosed. I was really hoping these new headaches were caused by something that I was just missing.

 

[strmrdr]

checked your blood pressure lately?
Do they come on with stress?
Does taking 5 deep breaths in flast, slow out have any affect? ( I get simuler headaches when my o2 bombs from fairly mild asthma events and o2 increasing breathing helps them clear up sooner)

 

[diamondfan]

I have had migraines and tension headaches, as well as cluster headaches, since I was ten years old. I would see a doctor since this is different pain than you are used to. I have read, but I am not sure if this is valid, that migraines can change over years, but not too up on the research. Also, before I became allergic to aspirins and NSAIDS, I would take fioranal for pain and a vaso constictor as well, since migraines are vascular and the pain comes from the overblown vessels trying to shrink back to normal size. From what my neuro said when I was in my teens (mine are hormonal, stress and food triggered) is that pain meds make you feel better but they do not combat the cause of the headache. Anti nausea drugs in the emergency room have also proven vital for me. I did occasionally get rebound headaches from the demerol etc, but that type of headache, though bad, was much less awful than a full on migraine, which can leave me in my room for a couple of days really out of it. Good luck, and I hope you feel better soon.

 

[somethingshiny]

STRM~ I have checked my blood pressure during each headache, and it''s always normal. There is a long history of Hypertension in my family so I''m always proactive in that area. I don''t have any stress going on right now. I don''t feel anxious or irritated either.

I''ll try the deep breath thing. But, why would that tell?

 

[sera]

YW... now follow our advice- see a doctor. Hope you feel better soon.


ETA: FWIW- my migraines have changed over the years- I used to not get dizziness, now I do. I have low/normal BP... occasionally it can drop and very quickly get back to my normal- result: dizziness. What you are experiencing could be for any number of reasons... we can list what our causes and fixes are, but really, your doctor has to determine your cause and treatment.

 

[ephemery1]

SS, I''ve also been treated for headaches since I was a teenager... so I sympathized with you before I even clicked on your post! I''ve dealt with both migraine and tension headaches (as well as TMJ related) and each type of headache feels very different to me. Migraines cause the extreme nausea and light/sound sensitivity and throbbing pain on one side... and they''re equally horrible whether I''m moving around or resting.

But for me, tension headaches feel like what you''re describing... some dizziness, some nausea, but mostly just an all-over gripping pain that is worse when I move around, a little better when I lay still. They always start in the afternoon and last through the night, and most drugs (Ibuprofen, Vicodin, Voltaren, Midrin) don''t touch them. The ONLY thing that has ever worked for me is Butalbital combined with acetiminophen and caffeine (Esgic Plus or Fioricet). It is my absolute miracle drug... I could not live without it. For me, the tension headaches are actually worse than the migraines, because they''re so frequent and so draining... at least 2-3 times a week.

Could it be possible you''re just developing a new type of headaches? Hopefully not... but something to consider....

Good luck!!

 

[strmrdr]

Date: 10/21/2007 10:47:18 PM
Author: somethingshiny
STRM~ I have checked my blood pressure during each headache, and it''s always normal. There is a long history of Hypertension in my family so I''m always proactive in that area. I don''t have any stress going on right now. I don''t feel anxious or irritated either.

I''ll try the deep breath thing. But, why would that tell?

If the breathing helps its time too see a pulminologist for an asthma screening and a lung function test.

 

[door knob solitaire]

Ah...hello...is anyone there??? This is your pumpkin. It isn''t working right. This is not your big toe. Trying to avoid the doctor...not a good plan. Save that line when you stub your toe.

You have a history...you know this isn''t normal. Nip it in the bud...but since we don''t recommend home brain surgery CALL A DOCTOR!!

DKS

PS. Are you by chance grinding your teeth? Like TMJ? OK, now I have you seeing a dentist too!!

 

[somethingshiny]

Date: 10/22/2007 12:29:38 AM
Author: door knob solitaire
Ah...hello...is anyone there??? This is your pumpkin. It isn''t working right. This is not your big toe. Trying to avoid the doctor...not a good plan. Save that line when you stub your toe.


You have a history...you know this isn''t normal. Nip it in the bud...but since we don''t recommend home brain surgery CALL A DOCTOR!!


DKS


PS. Are you by chance grinding your teeth? Like TMJ? OK, now I have you seeing a dentist too!!

yeah, yeah, I know! When you''re talking about your head, it seems reasonable to go to a doctor. Not going is just residual effects of growing up redneck, I guess.

I do have TMJ, but I get jaw and neck pain from that, not headaches. I see my dentist regularly to keep that in line!

Thanks for your advice. I''m looking into neurologists on my insurance.

PS-did you ever hear of that woman who DID DIY BRAIN SURGERY? I think it was in the seventies. She did some sort of wacko frontal lobe stuff. One REALLY flew over THAT Cuckoo''s nest!!

 

[door knob solitaire]

No...don''t recall that nutt case. I can''t even make a logical comment. I am just shuttering thinking about it.

Yes, TMJ does give serious intense headaches. My dentist asked me if I had them when I woke...I said no. As I am a morning person as chipper as a blue bird. Not much can make my mornings bleak.

He said well, do you notice them later in the day? Do you get dizzy? Well...yes as a matter of fact I can be reaching down to pick something up and notice the pressure on my brain...(should tell you it is true I am allergic to work and any exertion can cause a reaction like dizziness.

) anyhoo...he said TMJ side effects can hit you when you aren''t even grinding. It can come later...after the fact.

That info is not given to you so YOU WILL HAVE AN EXCUSE NOT TO GO TO A DOCTOR. You need to go. Nip it before it gets outta control....what did you call yourself? A redneck? Well in that case...try wrapping your noggin in duct tape.

DKS

 

[somethingshiny]

Date: 10/22/2007 7:03:53 PM
Author: door knob solitaire
No...don''t recall that nutt case. I can''t even make a logical comment. I am just shuttering thinking about it.


Yes, TMJ does give serious intense headaches. My dentist asked me if I had them when I woke...I said no. As I am a morning person as chipper as a blue bird. Not much can make my mornings bleak.


He said well, do you notice them later in the day? Do you get dizzy? Well...yes as a matter of fact I can be reaching down to pick something up and notice the pressure on my brain...(should tell you it is true I am allergic to work and any exertion can cause a reaction like dizziness.

) anyhoo...he said TMJ side effects can hit you when you aren''t even grinding. It can come later...after the fact.


That info is not given to you so YOU WILL HAVE AN EXCUSE NOT TO GO TO A DOCTOR. You need to go. Nip it before it gets outta control....what did you call yourself? A redneck? Well in that case...try wrapping your noggin in duct tape.


DKS

HE HE HE!! My grandpa always wraps his head with a handkerchief when he has a headache!!

And, just to clear it up, I''m more of a pink neck. I just can''t quite slip all those redneck quirks, but some people consider me a lady!!


This is a link to the TYPE of surgery the crazy lady did on herself. However I can''t find THE woman who did it. I remember reading that she went toa party the night after she did it!