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.

breath into a paper bag

breath into a paper bag

repeatidly!!!!

It could be a tension headache that feels like a tight band around your head or sometimes the feeling someones is hitting you on top of your head with a hammer syndol and paramol are v good for this as they both contain codeine which is an excellent pain killer.
Do you work at or spend long hours at a comp? If so it could be eye strain.
It could be a sinus headache which is normally centred at the front of the head (and you dont have to have a blocked nose to have a sinus headache these are sometimes v painful.
Are you stressed ?Have you been sleeping properly as lack of sleep is a very common denominater of headaches.
My prescription to you would firstly go the chemist and get some syndol get some lavendcer oil too run a long hot bath with candles relax have an early nite and see how you go if this doesnt work for your headache go back to your gp tell him you have taken strong pain releif and it hasnt worked he should then give you some stronger analgesia to help.
Also have you had an eye test recently it could be that maybe you need glasses or lenses (or if you already wear them you script may need updating, strength of them etc!! hth

Twik it sounds to me like a classic migraine if your having sickness with it are you having any visual distrbances with it if you stare at this do you get flashes or th words running into one another?

Is it on one side of your head?
Where on your head is the centre point of your headache?

I don't think the headache is migraine as I've had about 10 migraines over the last couple of years and recognise the visual disturbances and the type of pain that goes with it.

The pain is centralised on the crown of my head. When I wake up in the morning it feels like my head's empty and pounding and I feel very sick. That carries on most of the morning, I sometimes feel a bit better throughout the middle of the day, then it all kicks in again around the end of the afternoon. My neck aches a bit and my forehead feels full of pressure.

I had my eyes tested about 8 months ago and they were fine. But I will get them checked again.

Oh, and I only work 2 days a week which is largely computer-based work, but not totally. The rest of the time I'm looking after dd.

My sleeping's not great as the headache's been waking me up around 6am and feels so horrible I can't get back to sleep.

The other thing is, it started a week ago yesterday. Isn't that a very long time for a migraine? Or a tension headache for that matter?

Could be a middle ear infection/viral infection type thing. would explain nausea and pain if not a migraine. Definitely go back to your GP.

no you can have a migraine for weeks do lights hurt your eyes ?

if its on your crown lik a hammer hitting you on the head? then its tension headache do you take any medication at all?

No, I'm fine with light.

I've tried all kinds of medication now. When I went to A&E they gave me paracetamol and codeine. I've had Neurofen Plus. The GP suggested aspirin and domperidone. And I just now tried syndol. The codeine-type stuff is best but it doesn't get rid of the feeling of pressure and makes the nausea worse I'm sure it upsets my stomach.

Yes, it is like a hammer on my crown. Sometimes more as though someone's pulling my hair out by the roots. and it travels down the back of my head to the base of my spine sometimes too.

With tension headaces do you also get nausea and this goddamned awful confusion? I feel I barely function at the moment.

Sorry, I meant the base of my skull, not my spine.

yes you can do it is common are you in a lot of pain now?

did AE give you cocodomol 8/500 tabs ?

I think you have either an ear infection or a trapped nerve in your neck - it cant be a tension headache if you have taken the painkillers you've listed. Migraines are usually down one side but the confusion thing fits.

Its a real thinker this one!

Sorry you are suffering Twik - i totally sympathise.

AE gave me codeine phosphate 15mg. They said to take 1 with 2 paracetamols. But only to do this for a couple of days tops.

Did that ease your symptoms?

Thanks Queenvic. AE checked my ears, and throat, all fine. I've got no fever. I don't feel like I've got a virus at all. Just a bloody headache.

The GP sent me for blood tests on Friday: liver profile, thyroid profile, renal profile, full blood count, inflammation markers, and glandular fever. I have to wait until next Wednesday for the results.

If my blood pressure and blood sugar are ok, do you think this means I don't have to worry about anything really sinister?

Debbsy, as I said, the codeine takes away any pain I have but it doesn't do anything for the pounding / pressure. And makes me feel pretty sick I think. Actually I'm no longer sure if the nausea isn't largely to do with all the medications I've tried. I don't normally take anything.

if your blood pressure is normal and ur dr has sent you 4 bloods he doesnt think its that serious,try not to worry maybe click on nhs direct type in headaches and go through and read which best describes your symptoms ive just read through and it points to cluster headaches, if your Dr thought there was the slightest chance it was anything more you would be in hospital now as they cover themselves so much now as they have to.

I don't know, Debbsy. My GP is a busy London practice and only a few weeks ago a man was sent home with indigestion who collapsed on his way to the car in the GP carpark and died of a massive heart attack.

Sorry, I know I sound like a wreck. I am a bit right now. I just can't think straight, you know?

Am off to try to sleep a bit now.

Thanks for all your help and advice everyone. I'll look at the NHS direct website. Thanks.

if your in any doubts speak to nhs direct they are v v good hope you get some sleep and feel better soon i will log on tomorrow to see how you are.

twik.
My Dh suffered a brain injury years ago. About 2 years ago he started getting really bad headaches. They were there the minute he woke and lasted all day. Nothing he took helped with the pain. We were both really worried in case there were any nasties happening re his brain injury so off we trotted to the GP. DH was referred immediately to the head inury clinic and loads of test were done.
Thankfully there were no major problems and he was diagnosed with stress/tension headaches.

He has tried every pill/potion under the sun to help eliviate the pain and nothing seems to work.
He describes the pain "as if someone has a balloon inside my head". The pressure is so awful for him.
He has been having cranial massage now for the past 6 weeks and the headaches disappeared two weeks ago.....so far so good.
He also saw the osteopath and had his neck sorted...lots of misalignments that were causing pressure on nerves etc.
He uses lavendar oil to help relax him and also takes feverfew tablets.

The ostepoath suggested that he increases his excercise and tries and gets plenty of fresh air. Also recommended cutting down on the stimulants....coffee, chocolate etc. DH has done all that he has been told to and is now painfree.

I hope you get your pain under control...headaches are just awful.