anyone suffer from headaches? urgent advice needed

[twik]

I'm 39 and for the last year for the first time in my life have been headachey. My dd is 3 1/2. But for the last week I've had the most awful headache of my whole life. It feels as though my brain wants to explode, it's pressure rather than pain. I can't think straight, I'm totally irritable and exhausted (want to close my eyes all the time). I got so worried I went to A&E at the weekend and they checked my bp (normal), blood sugar (ok), did a basic neurological test (i.e. could i touch their fingers etc.) and said it must be a nasty migraine. I've been back to my GP today as it's driving me crazy and he said it was most likely a tension headache. Has anyone anywhere suffered like this from a straightforward tension headache? I'm really feeling very worried. I've got no fever, feel a bit nauseous and my limbs are quite heavy.

BTW i have suffered headaches as far back as i can remember. I get migraines since my teens, other headaches (dont know what type - i was a child), and tension headaches from teens.

I was in a car accident at 17 and i badly damaged my neck which give me bad tension headaches and its a bit of a vicious circle because you get a tension headache so you tense and sit in awkward positions and this in turn creates further tension.

I have had headaches last for up to 3 weeks due to tension. It does turn out that i do have spine problems too and posture plays a big part in that.

Would still suggest the Syndol. Also go back to GP. It might be worth getting ADs for a few days for the simple reason that they help relax - they are prescribed for back pain/spasms regularly so dont worry!

Thank you so much Queenvic and SirFur. I've been feeling very alone and worried about this bloody headache of mine. Your description, SirFur, is very similar to what I'm feeling. Did you find you woke up with it every morning? It's the first thing I feel when I wake. It makes my head and eyes feel very heavy and tired and I can't focus either. I'll try these syndol then. Do you take them for long? Do they shift the headache or just help you deal with it? I'm dreading that this go on much longer ...

I had some blood tests this morning for thyroid, glandular fever, full blood count, inflammation markers, liver profile, renal profile. with that plus my bp, blood sugar and general neurological test being fine, do you think there's anything else I should look out for?

Did you also have any other symptoms, like nausea? I've been feeling quite queasy. And I've had some strange tingling / pins and needles feelings in my legs ...

i also get tension headaches and use migraleve, veganin or paracetamol/codeine tablets. Once was prescribed beconase nasal spray as it turned out to be sinusitis and once was prescribed an antidepressent which apparently is also used for headaches (can't remember the name though). Good luck, headaches can be hell on earth especially if you can't afford to hide away in bed till it passes. Could you try acupuncture?

Not sure if what you've got is the same, but it might be worth a try.

After many yrs of migraines/headaches I got some good tablets. I get pressure rather than pain, usually behind my nose or eye. It will often travel around this area over the course of the day. It can last 2 days. I want to close my eyes and sleep, but this does not make it go away. I feel queesy and tired, dont like lights. However, dont get visual distrubances - not everyone gets those with migraines. What I'm trying to say is it you may be having a 'migraine' even though it doesnt fit the classic description.

I have tried all usual painkillers with no effect, including codine and co-codomal. But Dr got me to try 'Naramig' (Brand name of naratriptan). There are other similar tablets. They do something funny to the blood vessels in the brain, thus revlieving pressure. Anyway, they always work for me. It sometimes takes a while though (3hrs at times) and the longer you've had the headache, the longer it takes to go. Worth a try though. They are prescription only. Good luck.

Could it be to do with sinuses? I've had really bad sinus headaches which sound like your description.
I haven't had one since I came off the wheat and dairy, but I don't know if that's just coincidence.

Missed your recent posts. I always wake up with them. Migraleve didnt work for me either. Beconaise seemed to make it worse!! I have my suspricions that mine is something to do with noses as it often starts behind there. Ho hum.

Don't know about your funny tingles. YOu could be panicing a bit and focussing on anything that seems abnormal - Dont mean to be insulting, I do that sometimes, and it has turned out to be nothing. Sounds like you're getting thoroughly checked out though, sothat's good.

Have you thought about a visit to a chiropractor or Osteopath?

Have you had your eyes tested?

not read thread but that is what I would do.

Oh yes Spidermama... me too Sinus. There are pressure points for that which a Chiro or Osteopath could help with and teach you about.

Good idea Papillon.
My dh has terrible sinus headaches and he presses his thumbs just under his cheekbones to help relieve the pain.

How would I know if they were sinus headaches? I don't have any kind of runny nose or anything? I think I will get my eyes tested but as I only had them done a year ago and they were fine I'm not imagining that will help. I'd love to see a chiropracter / osteopath but we're v. broke at the moment. The GP did mention that I could see a physiotherapist if it did turn out to be a tension headache.

Can you get the syndol today?They are pretty strong and you could be headache free by tomorrow I really recommend them

I had i incredible bad head ache the other weekend. I also wnet to hospital for it and they couldnt find a cause. When I came home had a look on the internet and found that it could possibly be sinus headache (didnt have any runny nose either)I did have a siff neck and stiff jaw though.
I took some sinutab and viola - it lifted. It then left me with an ear infection and continuing feeling of pressure in the head, no headache though. Try some sinutab and see what happens

Twik, if you cant get syndol try the heat thing (hot water bottle or hot flannel) on your neck making sure you get the heat on the base of the skull. It should give some temporary relief if nothing else.

I stopped bothering with pills for migraines and tension headaches ages ago (other than paracetamol) because ive been pg or b/feeding for the best part of the last 3 years.

The hot flannel on my face works with both tension headaches and migraines and breathing into a paperbag works for migraines(which does the same thing as the beta blockers do which Joanie mentioned).

Sinus related?

spider, thanks, that doesn't look like my pain at all, mine's predominantly over the top of my head, right over the crown, although there is some pressure on my forehead, there's nothing on my face or jaw.

Queenvic and Noddy, I'm going to try to get the syndol this afternoon, it's definitely worth a go and I can't keep taking paracetamol and Neurofen plus forever can I? I'm at max dose of them both and no joy.

I'll try the hot flannel too. Someone recommended earlier wearing a scarf round my head tightly and I did that all yesterday evening, it was a help, but I still woke this morning with a pounding head.

Try some sintuab as well, the pain I was experiencing was incredible, I also had a feeling like head was going to explode. You might not have a sinus problem but it is worth a try.

Good luck twik.
Drugs aside, don't forget to drink loads of water and lay off the coffee.

Very true spidermama - water is amazingly a common trigger for headaches.

I've also started with a really bad headache a couple of days mainly on one side, and my head actually feels sore to touch, I also feel achy and slightly nauseous and was wondering whether it could be this virus that is going round?

It's still here! I've taken everything I can think of now ...

Oh twik you poor thing. Maybe you need to go back to the doctor. That does seem a long time to have a headache. Do you have any cold or flu symptoms? Can you think of anything you're doing differently?

I've been a bit better this afternoon but I can't tell you why. This morning I took the syndol and although it took away the worst of the pain it didn't really shift, for me, the feeling of pressure in my head. I also tried something the GP suggested which was 3 soluble aspirin and an anti-sickness medicine called domperidone (I'm listing it here in case it's of any use to anyone else in the future). I was feeling so sick this morning, like I could retch all the time. But then this afternoon it felt a bit better, not gone, my head's still very delicate and I still feel like I'm quite disorientated.

I don't have any viral / fluey type signs.

I'm actually really worried it's some kind of 'warning' of a brain haemorrhage. I've heard that some headaches and neckache like I've been having can be an early warning of a bigger bleed in the head to come. But I don't know what I can do about it.

Just to add another point (sorry if anyone has already suggested it)
Have you had your eyesight tested recently? I was suffering with bad headaches similar to yours and was advised to get an eye test. My eyesight was awful and I hadn't realised till the pains. My eyesight is tested every year now and not a bad headache since.

Twik im a qualified pharms technician it could be a number of things
A migraine is NOT a headache its the swelling of the blood vessels that expand and contract in your head it is always on one side of the head and is somtimes accompanied by visual disturbances ie seeing colours words running into one another,and also sickness these are called classic migraines (which i suffered with for years then all of a sudden disappeared) if it is a migraine migraleve will ease the symptoms if it isnt they wont