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

[jinglebellmel]

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??

I have constant sinus headaches, and while obviously no one on here can give you a diagnosis, a lot of your symptoms resonate. In particular, pain and sensitivity around the face (if i tap lightly with my finger tips around the forehead eye socket, and so on I can feel where it's worst) pain at the front made worse by bending forward (as the gunk inside sloshed around) and twitchy eyelid. I also get more travel sick when my sinuses are flaring up, and sometimes my eye shuts or half shuts as the lid gets pushed down. The pain is more of a dull throb, and often the first time I notice it is when I lift my head off the pillow in the morning

You need to see your GP. Here are numerous possibilities , the least likely being a brain tumour. Regular use of painkillers like Paracetamol can paradoxically cause headaches, for example.

I was diagnosed with hemicrania continua-trigeminal neuralgia. Suffered with constant headache every day for years - then one day they just suddenly stopped! Still have no idea why 🤷‍♀️

Deffo give it ago!

Mine was sharp stabbing pain on one side, like all over and behind my eye. Convinced myself I had a brain tumour and I was dying. It was horrible! It would be so painful I couldn’t see etc.

Then I got some soft pillows and the next day it had
Gone!

I had chronic headache and the cause was a raised cerebral fluid level, its called idiopathic benign hypertension. It was there on waking, worse in the morning, improving as the day wore on. However the vast majority of headaches are benign, caused through tension/stress etc and amitryptiline works v well to control pain. Good luck with the neurologist.

I have a family member who for years had frequent daily/few times a week migraines. Turned out it was tomatoes causing it...really random but I would suggest a food diary as well

Question for those suggesting a headache/food diary: has anyone found an app that's good for this?

Not sure if it's been asked but when you went to the GP, did they check your blood pressure?

I have been a migraine sufferer since my teenage hormones hit but about 2 years ago I found I had some form of headache almost every day along with things such as a twitch in my eye, pressure at the top of my nose, dizzy spells and some nosebleeds.
Lots of diary keeping and tests later, it turned out I had dangerously high blood pressure. Took 7 weeks off work while they got it down and found a medication that suits me and it's been mostly fine since (well, back to my standard migraines anyway).

Try not to take too many vitamins / supplements all in one go as you won't know which one is having what effect.

Don't take painkillers everyday as they can actually end up causing headaches.

If you are going to take medication, take the right one. Paracetamol isn't always best (I take aspirin for the start of a migraine for example).

Make sure you're not dehydrated, preferably with water. I saw you said you drink fizzy drinks - due to the sugar tax, some fizzy drinks have altered their recipes so the sweeteners are different and some have been linked to all sorts (read up on aspartame).

When you keep your diary, don't forget to note what you eat / drink and when, how much sleep you get, any medications you take and how you feel, including the type of pain you feel and score it out of 10.

I found triggers for my migraines are as random as having more than 8 hours sleep and the smell of raw onion, and pain relievers as random as putting my feet in hot water and using a menthol vicks inhaler.

I could have written this post OP! Since the new year I have had a feeling of pressure mainly in the top front of my head and also now a stiff neck. Not really that painful, but draining as it's most but not all of the time during the day. I have seen 3 different GPs and they think it is not neurological but I have only had blood tests so far. I gave up caffeine and alcohol for two weeks - no change. Had eyes tested and no change there. Also tried nasal douche which made no difference.

I went skiing for a week and felt really well. So maybe the change in altitude helped but as soon as I was back home they came back. Have now changed my work station in case it's related to work.

I should go back to the docs but I think I am very slightly better but I might just be clutching at straws! I hope you get some answers soon x

I have a headache most days and a migraine at least once a week. I’ve been diagnosed with fibromyalgia headaches/migraines are a classic symptom. I have constant pain in my neck shoulders as well.

Have you considered dehydration? I had blinding daily headaches that got worse through the day & was crawling under duvet once home with banging thumping head. I blamed stress. Random GP checkup revealed dehydration

Thanks everyone. Had a horrible all day headache yesterday and its still here this morning, not really bad pain but not nice and pain killers don't seem to help :( I'm so sick of it and stressed out now, just desperately want it to go away!

Jon65 how were you diagnosed?

sweetkitty I had considered fibro, i'd read that a lot of people with it suffer with muscle twitches which I've been having. I've had regular burning muscle pain in my neck/shoulders for years, but i don't really have pain elsewhere and not proper exhaustion (just sleep deprivation from 2 kids!) so I don't think I have enough/bad enough symptoms for fibro really.

I've had daily headaches for a decade. It's because I grind my teeth in my sleep. I also get eye twitches but only when I haven't had enough sleep.

In my experience, doctors are not good at getting to the root cause of headaches. They rule out brain tumours and other serious issues and then throw their hands up. It took me years of experimenting before I finally figured out my issue, and that was by chance: a throwaway comment from a dentist. Keeping a diary is a very good idea.

I experienced this too. Headaches every day that would never shift. They ended a few days after I cut out tea and coffee. Since withdrawing caffeine in January, I haven't had a single headache. I feel so much better for it.

jinglebellmel You're getting lots of good advice and potential causes from posters. I would advise you carry on as normal and keep food, sleep, and activity records for a few weeks and then try cutting things out one by one. If you cut out caffeine, sweeteners, and perfume all at once and the headaches go, you won't know which one was the culprit.

ScrewyMcScrewup yes good point. I think I'll start with caffeine as that seems the most likely.

Thanks Margot33 will give it a go and keep my fingers crossed. I have tried it previously without great effect but possibly I need to give it more time.

It took three whole days to clear. Yes give it time. I drink water all day and now for the first time, people are telling me that my skin looks great. You 'll feel good. Fingers crossed for you.

Sorry not rft but if no ones said it have your B12 level ms and iron checked too.

Thanks BlueAndYellowPurplePills I've had them checked and they were in the normal range (although at the lower end)

TFBundy that sounds interesting, can I ask how much the acupuncture costs and how long it took for you to see an improvement?

If you cut out caffeine, sweeteners, and perfume all at once and the headaches go, you won't know which one was the culprit.

I’d do it the other way, cut everything out. Get rid of the headaches if possible! If something you’ve changed stops the headaches that fabulous, you can always re introduce things one by one if you miss them and see if your headaches return or not.

I would also suggest getting your blood sugars tested. Diabetes T2 can give you headaches, but it’s pretty simple to fix if it’s that (cut out carbs).

Yup agree with other posters about food and drink. Did you change brands or start eating or drinking anything different back in Jan? I got increasingly bad daily headaches one year and it coincided with switching to decaffeinated coffee. No it wasn't withdrawal, which I thought to begin with. It went on for months before i twigged. I'm fine with ordinary coffee. Except recently when I started buying a new brand of coffee and along came some headaches. I've changed back to my usual coffee and they've gone. Too much caffeine in general probably isn't good though, I limit myself much more now. I think I also got into a pickle with painkillers and the headache-inducing effect they can have when you start guzzling them too frequently.

We really are what we eat (and drink).

Also consider dehydration, eyesight and muscular tension suggestions though.

I've suffered from terrible migraines for years. Everyone is different and the causes are vast. Whole you are waiting for your appointment I think you should start keeping a diary. Record food, drinks, stress levels, period/ ovulation, headaches, intensity, any changes eg does it get better or worse if you do certain things. This will really help when you get your appointment.
In the meantime, try taking a combination of 300mg vit b2( riboflavin), high dose magnesium and Feverfew.( Some Pepe take butter bur instead of Feverfew). There have been studies that show that this combination reduces the frequency and intensity of migraines and headaches.
It has worked for me, hasn't eradicated them but has decreased them to a better level than all the medications my neurologist has tried.
As with everything, speak to your GP first if you are going to try any new supplements.

I get a lot of headaches and mine are usually due yo tension in my neck. Go to An Osteopath and make sure it's not as simple as meeting an adjustment. Also, the twitching suggests magnesium deficiency. I'm a massage therapist by the way!