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 was getting horrendous migraines, more than weekly. Regular dr visits, at his insistence to try and medicate. Nothing found at optician despite double vision. On waiting list for neurologist- here, only the consultant can refer you for an MRI, not dr. Ended up being taken to A&E, twice in 2 days. Second time, scanned, brain tumour. Huge. Emergency case. Surgery 2 years ago. No pain since. Back to work full time. Loving life! Currently undergoing radiotherapy as it's coming back - new adventure!

Try not to get stressed. There's not a lot you can do right now. It's not the end of the world x

To add another idea to the pot...

I've had headaches for years - sinus type pain over one side of my face/eye/head, but it swaps sides and sinus xrays never showed any sign if infection. Doctor at the time thought I was making it up, so I left it and tried to deal with it on my own with painkillers/cool packs on my face, but it was debilitating at times.

Fast forward 10 years and I went on holiday to a brand new hotel, and took anti histamine to prevent mozzie bites. One week into the holiday I realised I had no headache! On my return I went to see my current doc - she reckoned I have allergies, probably dust (brand new hotel = no dust) and while I could get that tested she suggested first trying a steroid nasal drop for 2 months followed by steroid nasal spray. It has changed my life. I am not totally pain free but if I do have a sore head, it's very mild - in fact today is the first bad head I've had in months and I think that's partly due to having a bit of a cold.

So long story short - it could be allergies and it could be quite easily improved. All the best, headaches are awful.

I clench my teeth at night (I didn’t know for years until I got tooth problems) and have been given a mouth guard by the dentist to protect my teeth.
If I don’t wear it I have awful headaches the next day. I know someone else with the same issue.
Might be worth a trip to the dentist?

I also have idiopathic intracranial hypertension, headaches worse when lying down, leaning forward etc. It's diagnosed by lumbar puncture to measure the pressure of csf around the brain and is treated by medications to lower the fluid or a shunt to drain it away.

Thanks Gaunyersel maybe I’ll give that a go!

ISpeakBecauseICan Good idea. Did your headaches come on suddenly or have you always had them?

whatnametopick Thanks. It’s interesting, I’d read about this and it did seem to fit the bill. I’m about a stone overweight (which I think is a risk factor) and I’d just changed contraceptive a few weeks before it started (I think hormonal change is another possible cause). I’ve cone off the pill altogether now. When I saw the optician my optic disks looked okay, not sure if that rules it out or not?

Yanbu. I've had one for two years on one side. Cutting out caffeine and being ultra healthy didn't work. Brain scan showed nothing. So I just live with it, it's horrible and always nagging me. Unless I'm doing brutally hard exercise .
I think it's something to do with my impacted wisdom tooth but they won't remove it.

I have had a daily headache for going on 19 years - from early teens. They vary in intensity, have tried all the different drugs.. chiropractors, acupuncture, herbal, homeopathic, changes in diet, had clear CT... Nothing. It's a struggle.

Hope yours pass soon and aren't sinister, it's hard to not feel like the worst possible thing is happening but unfortunately stress can also cause headaches!

Megletthesecond have the doctors ever tried you on indomethacin? I have hemocrania continua (brutal one sided headache with constant “background” headache - mine gets worse with exercise though & makes me vomit too) Indomethacin literally kills the pain almost immediately!
Your one-sided pain and the fact you’ve had it for 2 years made me wonder if yours was something similar perhaps?

Sorry so many of you are suffering!

It is hard not to think it’s something sinister, every morning I wake, open my eyes, feel the slight twinge in my eye , a minute or two and the headache starts and my heart sinks :( I’ve ordered some feverfew as someone suggested and will see if that does any good

To top it off I’ve woken this morning with a swollen eyebrow on the bad side of my head! I think it’s maybe a spot or something, I’m sure itcant be connected but it really hurts and is giving me even more of a headache. I’m doomed

jinglebellmel I used to wake up with a bad headache from time to time and it would take ages to clear. The dentist gave me a mouth guard about 4 years ago and the headaches stopped. These days if I don’t wear the guard I can guarantee I’ll have a headache the next day.
Hope you find a solution soon

My eye twitches and I have headaches when magnesium is low. Sometimes what is normal on a test is still low for an individual - I know when my iron is too low from symptoms but it comes in as the very low end of the normal to the GP, but it's just too low for me.

Look into taking magnesium as taking it in pill form can be quite unreliable. There are various forms too. I ate a lot of seeds!

Hello did you get to the bottom of the headaches. I have been experiencing similar symptoms and searching for answers.

Cutting gluten made the biggest difference to my constant headaches

Thanks for the response, I only started experiencing it about 2 months ago, its ever day 24/7, there when I wake although it doesn't wake me up. I have always had gluten, caffeine etc with no issues so I don't know if they could just suddenly start causing this

Havent read the full thread, am in the same boat, here is what I've been advised (no pins and needles though which is probably different):

Blood test - check b12, vitamin d, iron and thyroid etc

Take vitamin d, b12, iron, magnesium, co enzyme q10

Cut out caffeine, alcohol, stress as far as you can

Have you changed contraception recently

MRI scan and neurologist appointment

Stop painkillers for a bit - you can get headaches from over use

Get 8 hours sleep a night at regular times (dont lie in at weekends)
Drink 3 liters of water a day
Eat 3 regular meals no skipping meals

There are various medications you can take daily eg amitriptyline if all causes have been ruled out

Keep a headache diary, include scale of the pain, if you have taken painkillers and if you have your period

Keep a food diary to see if you have developed any allergies

Also worth having an eye test

Neurologist said to cut out fizzy drinks as well

Also dentist said I was clenching my teeth and that can cause tension headaches...I cant sleep with the mouth guard though!

Yep, every single day for months .
I finally stopped taking my contraception and they’ve gone , I’m so happy!
I still get the odd migraine which is a hormone thing but I’ll take that over constant headaches !
Hope you find something to help you

Thank you, these are very helpful suggestions. Does anyone experience the headache when they wake up. A doctor told me this is a very unusual symptom. I have had a eye test which was normal.but no MRIs or CAT scans yet.

I also got sterilised when I had a baby 5 months ago so no contraceptives *sigh

I did years ago. When I stopped taking pain killers, the headaches stopped.

I just got the test results for some test I did on thriva. everything seems fine apart from the CRP which is elevated at 3.95. And folate is also slightly low. Does anyone know what the indication for this is especially CRP

My Dad's brain tumour presented with eyesight probs, lack of co-ordination, massive mood swings, paranoia & depression . Headaches came 2months later. Optician then saw it during a routine check up & wrote letter for GP. This was 4months after GP did standard brain tumour test which my Dad later told me he'd failed. (stand with eyes closed, stretch arms out to side. Touch nose alternately with tip of each hands forefinger). My Dad told us he thought it was a brain tumour but until the Optician visibly flushed & looked scared when looking at the back of his eyes, we went with what the useless GP had said :'depression'.