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.

how are you today twik?

Thanks for thinking of me everyone.

I'm still suffering today.I think I'm going to go back to AE tomorrow and see if I can also get the GP blood test results while I'm there. Today has been really bad. I've felt really quite unable to function in lots of ways, just really ill. Not only my pounding head but also a feeling of deep exhaustion, sweating, and nervousness. I'm sure there's something going on that I need to sort out. I'll try to keep you posted. I've also got lots of pressure and pain in my lower legs, as though I'm wearing very tight socks.

I've also had had a headache on one side of my head since thursday and also neck ache but then yesterday my stomach as also become very quezy, apparently there is a bug going round like this, so don't know if it that are both unrelated?

Twik, hope you are feeling better, I'm not sure what is causing your headache, sounds like you need to pursue the GP/blood test route, but thought I'd let you know that I suffer from migraines and they can last for days and days. No over-the-counter drug would touch the pain. In the end I found Imigran 50mg (Sumatriptan)which isn't a pain-killer but works by releasing a hormone in the brain which restricts the blood vessels back to normal (sorry, not very technical!). If you do find this is a migraine and they can't find a painkiller to help, you may want to speak to your doctor about Immigran - note some GP's don't like to suggest it as it is fairly expensive for them to prescribe! Hope you are feeling better soon.

I woke up still feeling rough so went back to AE. They didn't have my blood results back yet so I can't rule out thryoid etc. They did say that the muscles in my neck and shoulders are in a lot of spasm and that might be causing some of the pain. But didn't explain the weird vision (can't focus properly), dizziness, sweating, etc. etc. so they did a CT scan of my head and it looked fine. I'm massively relieved of course but still don't have a clue what to do to make the damned thing go away!

They sent me home with a new load of medication: diazepam (to relax muscles, am a bit nervous of taking that one), some anti-inflammatory tablets, and dihydrocodeine. Our kitchen drawer looks like a pharmacy.

Looking back at this thread I'm now especially interested to hear more of Jayzmummy's story of her dh. And anyone who's had a chronic headache of this proportion.

Glad theyve put your mind to rest a bit now twik. Take the diazepam - taking it for a few days will do you no harm at all. It will relax your muscles and is the common prescription for people laid out with back pains/strains.

I hope it works.

Twik, have you been in touch with the Migraine Association people? They deal with other types of headache as well as migraine, so may be able to help you. Hope you feel better soon.

I haven't suedonim, but I will now, thanks.

QueenVic, I will take them. I'm slightly concerned about whether or not I can take one after some alcohol though? Not a lot, just a large-ish glass of wine. What do you think?

I'm sitting here with a hot flannel on the back of my neck which I move from place to place ...

twik are you also getting neck aches too?? funnily enough like I have mentioned suffering similar to you since thursday but it's tending to be more one sided, but i have also got realy bad neck ache and a pain in the lip at the back of my head

Janbo - thats definitely a posture/mild neck strain type headache.

Twik - ive never had diazepam tbh so i dont know if alcohol affects it, whenever ive had my back problems i get a type of anti-inflammatory but i have an unusual spine so thats no help at all is it!

Hope the hot flannel is helping.

whats the best thing to do to help relieve my symptoms then, because like twik it's there when i wake in a morning although it doesn't stop me from sleeping? how long do you expect these types of headaches and pains last?

Just to say, mixing diazepam and alcohol can be dodgy! I'm surprised there wasn't a warning label on the bottle, tbh.

suedonim, it says 'avoid alcohol' on the pack but not definitely don't have both. Anyhow, just to be safe I didn't take one last night.

janbo, I'm no expert but I thought one-sided pain was more likely to be migraine whereas all over the head is more likely to be tension / muscle contraction type headache. Are you still feeling sick? To be honest I've felt quite nauseous since my headache started, I've definitely lost some pounds this last week and a half as I've barely eaten a thing. But I really don't think this is a viral thing unless it's something like glandular fever which my GP has done a test for. I don't have any kind of a fever however, just a pounding head. The other thing that happens is my vision is really affected. It hurts my head to focus my eyes. It's a horrible feeling. To write on here I've had to scrunch up my eyes and am peering through one half opened one with my head tipped right back. I can't do it any other way. I love reading too but can't do that either at the moment. I don't think I need glasses as this aspect comes and goes.

I'm so fed up of it. Can a tension headache affect your vision?

Janbo, yes, my neck is very stiff and painful.

Oh Twik. So Sorry to hear this is still going on. I had hoped you'd be over it by now

Sounds horrible. Really hope you get answers soon.

twik,
Dh has just read your last few posts and he said he suffered with such bad blurred vision when he was experiencing his tension headaches. He was even seen by the physio at the GP's surgery because he had a painful, tense neck.

DH was prescribed Diazepam when he was first diagnosed with tension headaches. They help to relax the muscles and in turn helped ease the headaches a little.

Would you consider cranial massage?? It's working for DH and he wished he had gone years ago.

Twix
only just seen this thread, & not read all of it.
have you tried the patches that stick onto your head for headaches? Ive not tried them personally, even though Ive suffered for yrs with migraines (less often now IMA) Or there is a stick that you can rub onto the head also, that instant & maybe better than taking pills.
Ive also heard that Magnesium is good for headaches (dont know how true it is).

Also certain foods can trigger migrains/headaches ie.. chocolate/cheese
hope you are feeling better soon

It does sound similar though twik because mine is tending to be one sided although its also at the front, I have booked an opticians appointment just in case, i'm also wondering whether it could perhaps be an ear infection?

I'd totally recommend a visit to an osteopath and/or reflexologist
I used to suffer from massive tension headaches whici morphed into hideous migraines that would lay me low for days on end
I no longer get themdue to one or either of the therapists.

Jayzmummy, could you tell me again exactly what happened to your dh? It sounds so similar, especially as you say he also suffered visual problems.

janbo, when did you say yours started again? This week's been such a blur to me. I think even my memory is affected by such a headache. I'm also concerned about taking all these painkillers for such a long time. I'm not a tablet-taker by nature at all. Are your eyes also affected? Are you finding anything that helps? Is it constant?

I'll look out for those 'patch' things. I've tried everything else. And I think I should definitely see a chiropracter. I'm just so broke.

I'm going to the GP for blood results tomorrow.

hi, twik let us know how you get on at the doctors today.

My headache started last thursday and it as been constant although it's not kept me awake at night, it's been really draining though and i havn't found anything that helps yet. My eyes have been fine, but the pain for me also goes down my neck and into my shoulders.

Janbo, I hope yours doesn't go on as long as mine! It'll be 2 weeks on Friday for me. i think as you're describing it going down your neck and shoulders it sounds most like a tension / muscle contraction type headache. Have you tried Syndol? It's a pain-killer lots of people on here recommended for me. It has helped but not shifted it by any means. Now I'm sick of taking pills. Not sure I'm going to make it to the GP today, will probably have to wait until tomorrow. I need to be in bed!

Jayzmummy, did your dh also feel dizzy? How long did he suffer for? I'm so keen to hear more about his story as it's the closest I've come to finding someone with a similar experience.

I just wonder still though whether is still something mad thats going round because I popped into work yesterday (because i start back from maternity leave in 2 weeks!!!) and there were a couple of people of work with headaches which seemed slightly strange to me! I think i might pop to the gp tomorrow as well if no better, and like i mentioned i have also booked an eye test for friday!

I really don't think mine is viral. You may be going through something quite different to me. But I'd expect to have some kind of temperature or other symptoms.

But, hmmm ... if you're going back to work after maternity leave, that may be a big cause of stress? Could that be triggering a horrible tension headache you think? And how come you're getting your eyes tested if your vision's ok? I'm going to get mine done too actually. But I only had them done a short while ago and they were fine so I'm not expecting that'll help. Are you still feeling nauseous?

Dp brought me a fluffy hot water bottle home yesterday to hold onto my neck and shoulders and it was very nice! But still the bloody things there pounding away this morning.

I agree about not be viral because i have no other symptoms than feeling nauseous, but it just seems strange that so many people are suffering from headaches at the moment.

I really don't think it stress related at all if anything it may be like you mention tension/muscle headache but i just can't understand why it won't shift!!

I'm having my eyes done, because i do wear contact lenses so it could be my script as changed and plus I can also have my regular contact lense check done whilst i am there which is overdue