for about the 20th night I have a headache. What could be causing it?

[kneehightoagrasshopper]

I NEVER get headaches. NEVER. Painkillers are not things that cross my lips.

I am hydrated.

I eat different things on different days, there is no pattern to the headaches, except the (mostly) appear in the evening. And not always in front of a tv screen.

I am also totally exhausted, wiped out and irritable because of it.

Doctor will probably say it's a virus, but why is it lasting so long? Has anyone else had anything remotely similar?

I suggest going to get a thorough eye-test.
Also go see your gp.

Strange. DS is not one for headaches either, but has woken up with one every day since Wednesday.

I was recently having nightly headaches because of a stiff neck (and stress!) I saw a neurologist about it at the time. Could this be the cause for you?

If you go and talk to your pharmacist about this she will send you off to the doctor straight away. Any headache that lasts more than 24 hours should be investigated and any recurring headache that doesn't go away after 2-3 days should also be checked out. It is probably no more than the after effects of a virus but best to get it checked out.

Your G.P. should be your point of call.

Of if you want the MN diagnosis, we need more:

You've already said no pattern to onset but how long do they last?

Where in the head does it hurt?

Describe the sensation: Tightness, pressure, throb, ache, shooting pain etc.

Can you carry on with your evening or do you need to lie down, bang your head against the wall or can you carry on with your evening?

Is it made worse on routine physical exertion (climbing stairs for example)?

Do you feel sick?
Do you have trouble with bright lights or loud noises?

Do you notice any visual symptoms before, during or after your headache?

That should be enough to be going along with...

@senua

Waking up with headache is a red flag.
Definitely get that checked out at the G.P.

DO you wear glasses/contacts and might you need a new prescription?

Do you currently not wear them and might need a new prescription?

Took DS to the doctor this afternoon and got the diagnosis of "it's probably a virus". Isn't that doctor-speak for "I haven't a clue".

Seriously, he was thoroughly checked to see if it was something else (eyes, checked ENT, checked for neuralgia, etc) and got a clear. The 'prescription' was fluids and ibuprofen (not paracetomol).

x-posts

I would say eye test, but to think about your sleep pattern and quality and stress levels. then look at you level of caffine intake (coffee, tea chocolate etc) as caffine can trigger headaches. as can cheese etc. And sensitivieity can come on suddenly.

I had a week long really bad headache about a month ago it only went away when we had a huge thunderstorm. it was atomospheric pressure linked. could be lots of reasons so rule out the obvious first.

Thanks all, headache not bad at all this evening. I am a stresshead, so it could be stress, though there is nothing at all stressful about my life at the moment.

I do wear contact lenses and it has been a couple of years since my last checkup, and it wasn't anything I had thought about as I can see fine - but yes I will go to the opticians as well as the doctors, thank you.

You've already said no pattern to onset but how long do they last? 2 hours ish

Where in the head does it hurt? front of head

Describe the sensation: Pressure behind the eyes, stretching over the front of my forehead.

Can you carry on with your evening? yes although i am exhausted, not necessarily as a result of the headache. I push myself to get things done. frustrating as I am normally a very motivated person.

Is it made worse on routine physical exertion (climbing stairs for example)? yes stairs makes my head throb with every stair

Do you feel sick? yes on and off but not related to the headache i.e I sometimes feel nauseous even when I do not have a headache

Do you have trouble with bright lights or loud noises? no

Do you notice any visual symptoms before, during or after your headache? no

I should also say that I have recently cricked my neck whilst sleeping, but the headaches were here before then

I don't drink much tea or coffee and have noticed coffee makes me feel more sick but doesnt appear to bring on a headache.

I am also having random bouts of dizziness, sometimes with nausea, sometimes without. not often with headache.

I do not feel ill just out of sorts really.

I did take a pregnancy test the other night to rule that out (thats how exhausted I am) but it was negative.

I am wondering about wheat intolerance, though I have cut out wheat today and still feel just as tired and headachy.

Definitely get that eye test - especially if you wear contact lenses!

Do you work with computers? There may be something to do with your set up if you do that is causing it.

Is there anything going on in your life that you think you aren't stressed about or think you may have dealt with? Are you sleeping ok?

But I think optician and gp are your best bet...

Do you have a carbon monoxide monitor? Just wondering if it could be something external in your home?

There are some atypical features but it sounds most like a form of Tension Type Headache.

These don't tend to be of sinister origin and respond fairly well to over the counter analgesics.

Because of the slightly unusual presentation I'd still head to your G.P.

And because you haven't had a contact lens aftercare in a couple of years you should go to the optician.
It shouldn't alter your headache management but they can rule out a couple of, albeit rare and not fitting with your symptoms, causes of headache.