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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think headaches every day can't be normal?!

100 replies

jinglebellmel · 19/03/2019 12:50

I've been having headaches/eye pain and a twitching eyelid pretty much every day now since January (I had a week in late Feb early March where I was blissfully headache free but sadly it didn't last!) and as much as I try not to worry I can't help it- I'm getting really anxious that it is a brain tumor. It can't be normal to have headaches everyday surely?!

I've been having muscle twitches all over and occasional pins and needles, but I think these might be due to the fact that I've got myself so worked up about it all. I had a cold a week or so ago, so trying to convince myself this last lot of headaches could be sinus related but I can't shake the feeling that its something more. They're there when I wake and worse when i lean forward, today I'm feeling dizzy too.

I was referred to a neurologist a month ago but no appointment date yet. Has anyone else suffered with headaches every day and lived to tell the tale??

OP posts:

cestlavielife · 19/03/2019 12:52

Chronic daily headache is a thing yes
Dd has this

Keep.a headache diary
Neuro.referral

Various treatments to try
Meds / Botox / etc

Try and get referred to a headache centre

FlibbertyGiblets · 19/03/2019 12:58

Recent eye test to rule out spectacles prescription changes?

Original poster

jinglebellmel · 19/03/2019 12:58

Thanks cestlavielife. Sorry to hear that your daughter suffers with them, but good to hear that its possible to be something innocent. Did she have to have tests to rule out more serious causes before they came to that diagnosis or would a neurologist be able to tell the difference from symptoms etc?

OP posts:

InnerCircle · 19/03/2019 12:58

I had similar.

I kept a diary including specifics. Bugged the hell out of people for months and eventually went private and got to the root quite quickly.

After various tests it was discovered that it was due to caffeine. I lived. Some days when drinking roibush tea and not having a Picnic bar I wonder if it was for the best half joking

The chance of the cause being terminal is minimal but do push for the help you need.

Kolo · 19/03/2019 12:58

I’ve had periods of my life where I’ve had a headache every day, lasting for months at a time. The last time was just a few weeks ago and I believe was a stress related tension headache. The time before lasted months and I’d been advised to keep a headache diary, which really did help to spot patterns and work out what was causing it. Mine, for example, weren’t actually constant, sometimes lasting for half an hour or maybe 6 hours. And the type of pain was different - a sharp pain sometimes, moving from the side of my head, to my temples, to my eye, and then to the other side of my head.

I’m assuming that you’ve already seen medical professionals as you’ve been referred to neuro, so they’ve ruled out physical causes? Stress can do some very wierd things to the body - are you under stress at the moment (other than worrying about your headaches)?

Original poster

jinglebellmel · 19/03/2019 13:00

I'm hoping that the week without headaches means it can't be anything too serious as I guess the pain from a brain tumor wouldn't just go away for a week?! Can't find any clear info on that though and I'm trying not to google as it really isn't helping the anxiety!

OP posts:

Chloemol · 19/03/2019 13:18

I suffer from cluster headaches, no real idea of the cause. I can be woken up at 4am with a headache ( seems this is the lowest point for pain) have to take tablets etc. Some days every four hours or so, some days just the once. These go on for a couple of months. Then they stop for a few months then start again. I just live with it now knowing when it’s best to take the pain killers. Doesn’t help I occasionally suffer from migraines as well

Original poster

jinglebellmel · 19/03/2019 13:22

InnerCircle thanks for making me laugh! I did stop cafine but then gave up as it seemed to have no effect, maybe I should try again and give it a bit longer.

OP posts:

Original poster

jinglebellmel · 19/03/2019 13:29

Yes, eyes have been tested and they didn't find anything there.

Kolo, the only stress is worrying about the headaches really. I've seen 2 GP's but neither of them asked much about the headaches or ruled anything out/gave any suggestions. One just said headaches were normal, the other said she'd make a referral to neurology I think that's why I'm so anxious really. It feels a bit like they've referred me on, so washed their hands of me, but I've no idea when I'll get to see a neurologist, so just in limbo now.

OP posts:

Original poster

jinglebellmel · 19/03/2019 13:31

Chloemol that sounds awful, poor you! I did consider cluster headaches but I don't think mine are painful enough, from what I've heard of cluster headaches they are excruciating?

OP posts:

TOADfan · 19/03/2019 13:33

I have suffered with headaches everyday since I went through puberty. Back and forth to neurologists for years and no cause.

It's just something I have learned to live with. I dream about being headache free.

BiscuitDrama · 19/03/2019 13:34

DD has headaches every day.

Neurologist said the key thing to look at is whether you wake with them, or whether they appear shortly after waking. If the former she thought a scan might be an idea to rule stuff out.
She also suggested that the time they’ve been going on for (months in the case of my DD), would also suggest not serious.
DD gets sporadic loss of eyesight and absence seizures (under care for) which is why it was looked at seriously.

QuizzlyBear · 19/03/2019 13:34

I have headaches every day, I live on paracetamol! After years of lacklustre investigations they finally said it was likely because my joints are hyper bendy / loose and my muscles (specifically my trapezium across back and shoulders) compensate by constantly being tensed. This causes nonstop tension headaches.

I hope yours is solvable!

TOADfan · 19/03/2019 13:35

Hopefully you can get sorted and it's nothing too bad. I would go to the opticians though.

Also headaches behind the eyes can be stress related. Have you had any changes or stress?

GetOffTheRoof · 19/03/2019 13:36

Are you taking painkillers everyday?

Have a look at painkiller overuse syndrome.

My wait for neurology for migraine with stroke symptoms is 37 weeks.

BiscuitDrama · 19/03/2019 13:36

Oh I’ve reread your OP to see they are there when you wake. Sorry to have added to your worry! Make sure you mention that when you get seen?
It might be worth phoning neurologist to check you’re in the queue ok. It seems to prompt things.
It’s also possible to go back to your GP and ask for your referral to be marked as urgent, esp if you feel anything has changed.

steppemum · 19/03/2019 13:37

there are many causes of headaches which are not a brain tumour!

dd had this for several months when she was about 11.
GP prescribed a migraine preventative medication. I wasn't very happy putting her on it. She had to take it for a week, until she was headache free. In the meantime I did some research and she started taking multi vitamons with B12, iron etc as anaemia can cause headaches. I also wondered if it was her hormones.
There was another minieral linked with headaches - magnesium? So we made sure her vitamin had that in too.

Anyway, once she was headache free for a week, we slowly weaning her off the meds, and she hasn't had them back.

1shotcappuccino · 19/03/2019 13:40

I used to suffer from terrible headaches that lasted all day. Started taking magnesium and they disappeared!

Original poster

jinglebellmel · 19/03/2019 14:00

BiscuitDrama no problem! I've mentioned it to the GP so had hoped the referral would be fairly quick but its not looking that way! I'll try to contact them to check the waiting time. Sometimes they are there as soon as I open my eyes, but often it once I've been awake for a minute or two - the GP seemed to class these as 'on waking' though.

I'm taking magnesium, B12 and vit D. Have had all check ed and they're in the normal range but at the lower end so thought it worth a try.

GetOffTheRoof I'd been trying not to, but the headaches stress me out so much that I have been using more painkillers lately. I'll take a look. That's a hell of a wait! I've actually booked privately too, but there was a 12 week wait even for that (8 weeks to go). Its not so long I guess, I just worry if its something sinister will those weeks make a difference to the outcome.

OP posts:

Triangled · 19/03/2019 14:07

I had to have an emergency ct scan of my head quite a few years ago after passing out whilst lying flat in A&E. I developed severe daily headaches and migraines after the scan that lasted several years!

Babyfoal · 19/03/2019 14:12

How old are you?

Original poster

jinglebellmel · 19/03/2019 14:16

Babyfoal I'm 34

OP posts:

GetOffTheRoof · 19/03/2019 14:17

Have you picked up any triggers at all?

Start some lifestyle changes asap and see what helps. You should spot the ones that work very quickly.

Cut out caffeine. Make sure you are eating regularly - keep a small biscuit or something by the bed and eat it as soon as you wake up. Have something similarly small just before bed.

Make sure you're not dehydrated at all - plenty of water, squash is you prefer. Not fresh fruit juice - too sugary.

Keep blood sugars consistent - don't skip meals, avoid crashing your system with high sugar meals and drinks.

If you have a headache, does anything help? Application of ice, heat, scents?

Avoid strong scents, stop use of sprays in the house like Febreze etc (I use natural oils to scent bedding and as perfume now).

Keep notes, a diary, a calendar of your headaches, what medication you take, your periods etc (if applicable), alcohol and so on - neurology will want to know things like that.

Auramigraine · 19/03/2019 14:21

I was like this for years throughout my teen years, I went to the doctor who referred me, nothing found. They were excruciating at times and I couldn’t cope, someone told me to start a diary of everything I ate and drank. It took a long time but I found a few triggers which I now avoid, sweeteners being a MASSIVE trigger. I now literally live on water and cups of tea everyday but my headache frequency is a lot less. I don’t drink any cordial or any fizzy pop anymore as they contain sweeteners or a lot of caffeine and both would kick off a headache. I also never try to have many lies in bed as I find I end up with a headache. Years ago I never would have believed it was what I drank that was causing these horrendous pounding headaches but the proof is there as they have decreased a hell of a lot. Worth a try x

Original poster

jinglebellmel · 19/03/2019 14:21

GetOffTheRoof thanks that's helpful, I will start recording this stuff ready for the appointment. I've not identified any triggers unfortunately. Both hot and cold compresses are soothing, painkillers dull the pain but don't really get rid of it entirely.

Should say also that the pain isn't extreme, more dull and persistent, often over one eye. My head feels fuzzy and not clear, its hard to describe.

OP posts:

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