111 for a headache?

[BambooLanda]

This is day 7 or 8. It’s constant and in one spot. (Above my eye). It doesn’t respond to painkillers of any type at all. Every morning I wake up with a tightness across my forehead before it settles above my right eye and builds in severity throughout the day. It’s a pressure type pain. I’ve tried to get a GP appointment and been fobbed off/ told there are no appointments and I’ll need to try the next day. Now it’s Easter and obviously nothing is open. Would you wait until Tuesday and try GP again? Just wondering if this is a 111 issue or not? I’ve never used the service before and feels like it needs to be urgent before you call.

I can almost guarantee they’ll advise you to go to a walk in centre, miss out the middle man and go there yourself.

But sumatriptan over counter?

Have you tried a decongestant? Combine with ibuprofen or aspirin

Nasal rinse could help too

Does anything improve it? Laying down or sleeping? Does bending over or standing make it worse?

Also, was it a sudden onset or gradual?

We don’t have a walk in centre where we live. Just A&E and I can’t turn up there with a headache.

I’ve tried decongestants and pretty much every pain killer the pharmacy sells. Nothing seems to touch it.

Do you have a diagnosis of migraine? You can buy sumatriptan from a pharmacist. This isn't a painkiller, it's a migraine abortive medication.

Sounds like a migraine type headache.

Are you dehydrated or stressed?
Rest, decent food and plenty of water should get rid of it.
However, if in doubt, go walk in center for a proper check up.

Sudden onset. Nothing improves it other than it’s less severe in the mornings and more severe as day goes on. At first I thought maybe it was to do with looking at screens or concentrating on work but I’ve had a few days off and there has been no change. I did have Covid a few weeks before the headache started but don’t think it was related.

Go to your pharmacist. I rang them because my kiddo had the most awful headache and that’s what they advised. Pharmacist was brilliant (even though it had somewhat eased by the time we got there)

Can a migraine last over a week? I’ve never had one before and if that’s what this is they are absolutely vicious

I should say I’ve been to pharmacist and taken all the medication they advised. It hasn’t made any difference

I get hormone related migraines like this sometimes. But could it also be sinus related? Am just getting over a sinus infection that didn't come with a cold so took a while to diagnose. Pharmacy First can prescribe for them

Mine can last up to 10 days, especially if I don't get the 24/ 48 hours rest my body is demanding! (Which can be tricky with young DC & FT work.)

Very reasonable to ring 111 for this- just wondering do you have any other symptoms such as feeling dizzy/lightheaded any visual disturbances? Are you having any nausea or vomiting or any co-ordination problems?

Do you have any other symptoms? Such as smaller pupil in that eye? Droopy eyelid?

No, nothing like that. I’ve had problems with finding the right words for things since being ill with Covid but that predates the headache by a few weeks.

Not at all unreasonable to ring 111.

Oh and actually the day this all started I had a weird few minutes were the very edges of my vision went all blurry in that eye. It came back very quickly like nothing had happened. Later on the headache started. Maybe that does point to a migraine after all.

In that case, I would ring 111 as over the counter medicines are not working and would need to be assessed by a medic

Absolutely call 111

With the update I would definitely ring 111 and inform them of what’s been happening for them to rule out all causes

111 may get a doctor to ring you back, a headache that lasts that long, is intense and doesn't respond to pain killers is not trivial. Give them a ring, they are helpful and not judgemental.

They can - I had one last month that lasted nearly three weeks. This does sound very much like a migraine but hopefully 111 will be able to advise you. I hope it eases off soon.

Phone 111. Migraines can last over a week. But this is a new thing for you and could be a symptom of something, you should get it checked out. Pre-pregnancy my record for a headache was six weeks of proper sharp pain constantly. During my second pregnancy I had one that lasted literally most of the pregnancy. I had my brain MRId at 19 weeks because they were actually pretty worried. I am something of a connoisseur when it comes to headaches. This sounds like one you should get checked out.

Why would that update change anything? Doesn’t it just make a migraine the more likely cause? Sorry, I’m just feeling a bit anxious now. Was expecting to be told to get over myself and wait for the GP to open again.