To ask how often you get headaches?

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I get headaches a lot. Very regularly.
Usually they are manageable by paracetamol, they don't normally stop me living life as normal, they occasionally get a bit worse but I've only ever had 2 migraines and I'm in my 30s.

I've been to the doctors many many times over the years and they say headaches are just headaches and they aren't worried.
It obviously concerns me anyway, it can't be normal to get headaches 3-4 times a week can it?

(I do have an anxiety disorder and someone previously mentioned it could be stress related because of this... but so often? Is this really normal?)

So how often do you get headaches?

Thanks!

Spread you poor thing . I would take any drugs when feeling like that and sod the side effects, migraines are absolutely awful and totally debilitating.

Used to be 3 or 4 a week when I was badly anaemic. Now probably one every couple of weeks.

Just seen your last post. Yes, iron deficiency definitely causes them! Get your levels checked again.

I get about 2-3 migraines a week and a headache every day. I am on a daily prophylactic combination which is supposed to help (and clearly doesn't) and a cocktail which includes a triptan and antiemetic abortive. For the headaches I rarely take anything so as to try and avoid further rebounds which is all I need. I have tried to establish dietary triggers the only ones were coke and red wine neither of which I actually like and unfortunately stress is part and parcel of farming.

I don't know if you have the same thing as me. But I was having daily headaches from May last year until February this year when I started medication.
It wasn't migraines. I gave up sugar. It wasn't that. I got enough sleep. I didn't feel especially stressed although I admit my life is quite full/busy! I took up exercise and it made no difference. I started yoga. No change. I wasn't anaemic. I had my eyes tested. I went to the dentist. I saw a cranial osteopath. I saw a shiatsu therapist. I tried mindfulness. None of this helped. I had no other symptoms apart from debilitating pretty much daily headaches. Painkillers didn't work. I became quite down and stopped looking forward to things as I knew they would most likely be spoiled by the headaches or I would just have to cancel. In the end my doctor diagnosed Chronic Tension Type Headaches. I am prescribed Amitryptaline (not sure if I've spelt that right) in a low dose and it's changed my life! I was very reluctant to go down the daily medication route (hence trying so many other things) but my life is normal now. I could have cried with relief when I finally got diagnosed.
Look it up on Google. Symptoms vary but this could be what you have. Some people do respond to painkillers better than others and they're able to get on with their life so they can wait years before getting a diagnosis as they don't see the point in going to the doctor. Check it out and if you think this might be what you have then see your GP and ask. There is no test. They'll rule out anything serious first. If you respond to Amitryptaline then hey presto!!!
Headaches ruined my life and I wish I'd started the meds sooner. Unfortunately I listened to too many people who had well meaning but unhelpful medication related anecdotes who recommended all sorts of expensive and unnecessary alternatives! So I put it off. I wish I hadn't.
I really wish you every success in sorting it out. X

Not had time to read all the replies so apologies for any repeats. Possible causes:

Taking too many painkillers, don't take any for a week see how you get on.

Too much caffeine, gradually cut down.

Not enough sleep.

Hormonal - are you on the pill? I used to get headaches a lot, have been off the pill for almost 2 years now and hardly any headaches now.

Not enough water.

Muscle tension / stress - try yoga and relaxation techniques.

I get occasional migraines but get hormonal headaches every month, bang on two days before my period starts and it will last about 72 hours. I will feel 'foggy' tired and run down for a day before it starts and the same again for a day after it ends. For four days a month at least I have to take regular ibuprofen and paracetamol. Sometimes I have nausea and visual disturbances with them. Bloody miserable. I'm not on the pill - the only time mine have gone is when I've been pregnant.

Maybe one every few months. I can't remember the last time I had one. I can't imagine living with them regularly - must be awful.

Every day for at least the last 15 years - drives me fucking batshit!

Once every few months

Practically daily and I'm on some bloody good painkillers to minimise them but then I have a congenital neurological condition so it's the norm for me.

(I do have an anxiety disorder and someone previously mentioned it could be stress related because of this... but so often? Is this really normal?)

If it's been going on for years, to be honest I'd want a second opinion. I went through uni thinking it was just migraines, which were bad enough as it was, but it wasn't it was my condition flaring back up again.

Book another appointment with GP or a different one. Tell them you're still concerned and I know it sounds silly but keep an eye on what you're eating. There's certain foods I can't eat that trigger my headaches. Once had a cup of no added sugar orange squash at a Christmas carol event. It floored me for the rest of the evening and the next day. Should have opted for the mulled wine instead!

Also have you had an eye test recently? Might help shed some light on them. Pun not intended.

I wish I was on decent painkillers! Sometimes I get a little variety when they blossom into full blown migraines... that's always joyful...

propertypriceguide Thanks I've been on several preventatives too, none of which have worked unfortunately, so triptans it is. Thankfully they don't give me any side effects!

I used to get lots of headaches until I came off the pill (for other reasons) and they miraculously disappeared. It must have been the hormones.

i have daily background headache, status migraineus and chronic sporadic hemiplegic migraine.

I cant take triptans as it raises my risk of stroke we have tried a couple and i reacted with anaphalysis,

ive been on several preventatives to no avail,

ive had botox which caused severe side effects so had to stop after the second round,

ive also come completely off painkillers despite my chronic pain disorders for several months with no painkillers which made absolutely no difference,

ive had intensive physio input,

iv therapies which could only be given in a hospital setting to try and break / give relief which only lasted a matter of hours,

ive upped my fluid intake, ive followed eating / not eating certain foods,

i dont have TMJ and dont grind my teeth,

i do have problems with my neck however no physio can help because as soon as they touch it to work on it, i pass out or throw up in pain, my range of movement is limited from this

This is not a sales post as the course is free. There is a neurologist who has a headache friendly lifestyle who gives all the info in bite size chunks each day so you can take it on board. Its all free with no spam. I recommend it

www.severe-headache-expert.com/start-headache-friendly-lifestyle/

Can't remember the last one. Maybe one a year? Count myself very lucky

Headaches that either start out or turn to migraines 3-4 times a week average. Less lately since I've given up diet soda. Hoping like hell that is a connection that I can avoid.

Bright lights (bright sunlight), flashing lights, loud noises, alcohol of any kind, and chocolate and bananas also bring mine on. At times I'm ready to try Botox in my neck (might prevent them) but very concerned about side effects.

I always got frequent headaches, multiple per week, headaches after drinking would last all day.
Changed dentists and the new one asked me how long I had clenched my teeth for, wasn't aware I did... I had a mouth guard made, it has improved my headaches immeasurably, definitely worth a shot. Sadly my jaw hasn't reset like they hope so I still wear it but I really notice the difference when I don't wear it. All that pressure (you clench twice as hard at night as you do in the day) was obviously what was causing my headaches.

Livia it's took me years. I had a locum GP and OOH docs keep giving me codeine. Mine were horrendous. The worst one I can remember is not even being able to sit up in bed without all the symptoms coming at once. The first thing the neurologist did was take me off the codeine. Imagran never touched the sides with me.

New neurologist (other one left to go private - still gutted he was brilliant) now has me on a cocktail of what he calls neuropathic painkillers which seem to be just about holding them at bay, or at a manageable dull pain whilst the surgeons dither about deciding decide whether to go in or not.

Very rarely - maybe a couple of times a year.

All the time, several times a week. This has only really been this frequent in the last year.

A lot are tension headaches, I have been to the gp about them. All comes down to having a bad back and the stress of it. I clench my teeth a lot, mouthguard does help. I'm convinced the painkillers I'm taking for my back is giving me sore head too so try to limit them.

The rest are sinus bother with various allergies, hayfever and coldsores I sometimes get up my nose. Always been prone to sinuses playing up.

I rarely get headaches. I don't think it is normal to have them regularly without cause. I get them when dehydrated, when very very tired (I currently have 2 non sleeping dc and still rarely get a headache ) or when I am ill.
I'm not bragging just offering an alternative viewpoint to most of the other posts who appear to have an ongoing problem.

I have the same issue. I think it's tension-type headaches, about four times per week. I'm seeing my GP about it next week, it's been going on for about two years (hard to pinpoint exactly, as my toddler hardly slept for her first year so of course I felt like shit then).

Lots.. probably 3-5 a week. I've been like this since I was a teenager, but managed it with painkillers... Until I got a stomach ulcer from all the ibuprofen!! What an idiot. After that was sorted, I had a proper look at my lifestyle, "triggers" and the like - also I was anaemic, and took iron which helped. Still working on it though, reduced caffeine, trying and failing to get more sleep etc. I don't get as many headaches now but I think, as a PP said, I'm just prone to them.