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.

I really think you should go back to the doctor.Have you been to an optician yet?

I did go back, Noddy. He said my blood tests were ok, I've had a CT of my brain now too, all he would offer was a referral to physiotherapy. I haven't had my eyes tested yet but I did get them done just 6 months ago and they were fine, they've always been ok, I don't have sight problems. This is just like a permanent pressure on my forehead behind my eyes, it's so hard to try to work through it.

I'm still here. I'm still really suffering, I can't believe how long this has gone on. This morning I realised I feel as though I'm going insane with it. But I've got an appointment with a chiropractor tomorrow morning and a physiotherapist next Monday. I thought I'd update and hope to hear how any of you others are getting on and let you know if either of these treatments help.

did you try 4head thats all thats keepig me sane at the mo i still know its there but its not as sore as it was gonna try and get a doc appointment tomorrow

twik that's been a very long time. I'm so sorry.

I wish you all the very best of luck at the chiropractor.

I've heard of people with bad, regular headaches feeling better after cranial osteopathy. It has probably already been mentioned but I thought it best leave no stone unturned.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Gosh, I've had some killer headaches in the past. Sometimes they've gone on for a couple of weeks with little respite. I'll be interested to hear how you get on.

starshaker, have you had any respite though? Do you think it might be viral still? I haven't got that 4head thing but mostly because I haven't been feeling well enough to get out to a shop ...

spidermama I had cranial osteopathy for something else a few years back but it wasn't great for me. Maybe it would be for a headache though. I'll try anything so thanks for reminding me.

Today I've just wanted to cry all day. I actually feel like I'm going to lie on the floor screaming if it goes on much longer. I've taken so much medication. I've even lost almost a stone because I feel too lousy to eat.

I have been suffering with the worst headaches possible! I get one evryday headache and since my baby was born 6 1/2 months ago. My ones have been so bad I havent been able to turn my head sometimes. I had my eyes tested last xmas and had new glasses. The new glasses were fine. I had my DD in April and thats when they started, everybody said that it could be my glasses but as I had them done at xmas not April I dismissed this. I just carried on taking pain killers but last month I decided to dig out my old glassses and guess what.....? my headaches have gone!!!! I feel like going to Boots and blowing it up! Please get your eyes tested, it seems having a baby does strange things to your body!

Janmad, thanks, but I've never needed glasses and had my eyes tested 6 months ago and they were perfect.

BUT I did see a chiropractor this morning and I"m feeling slightly hopeful. He says the nerves and muscles at the back of my neck are inflamed and very tight. He did some x-rays but he says the particular nerve in question would affect my vision, would cause the pins and needles in my feet, my dizziness as well as the headaches and even possibly the panicky feelings I've been having when I lie down at night. So I start treatment on Friday.

Watch this space. Could there be a pain-free twik???

Twik, how are you today? Have only just seen your post & was wondering if you have been to a see a dentist? Are you clenching & grinding at night? This can put ALOT of pressure on all your neck, shoulder, back, face & head muscles. Classical symptoms are feel tired when you just woke up, heavy eyes, headache on waking. I saw in one of your psots that you are anxious by nature & this would tie in with grinding. Do your facial muscles ache/feel tight? Does your jaw joints feel achy? Put your fingers in your ears & apply pressure, does it hurt/ache to open close your mouth?

I used to grind heavily at night, still do to a certain extent. The dentist I worked for fitted me with a night guard & I feel much better. Still get achy, but nowhere near as much.

Please please consider seeing a dentist that knows about TMJ (tempo-mandibular joint) problems they may be able to help you, by making a nightguard to stop you grinding. It's sounds like the only thing you haven't tried so far.

I did 12 months in an opticians when I fisrt meved to a new area & was told that we didn't do eyetests on pregnant woman as the excess fluid i & the extra hormones in their body changes their sight.

Hence why you don't get free eyesights on NHS when Pregnant.

That's no reason not to have an eye exam though. It might not be a good idea to actually prescribe specs on the results depending on the individual but no harm in having the health of your eyes checked. I've hardly ever found it makes that much difference whether or not someone is pg tbh.

Creepmonkey, no its not a good enough reason not to have an exam, just that alotof opticians don't exam & prescibe glasses as pregnancy can & does alter our sight. I know it did mine, I have glasses & use to watch TV & read. If I used them while I was pregnant I could barely see.

They should examine though, even if they don't prescribe. I am an optom and think that 9 months can be a long time to wait if there's something you're worried about. Some people's Rx's change, others don't. I know someone whose pituitary tumour was picked up by an optom when she was pg.
BTW, I am creepmonkey, just unhalloweened myself!

I actually think they should too, but I know many in my towm don't. My town isn't that big, but we have 5 seperate opticians practices! None of them would test me.

melissasmummy, thanks, I don't know if I grind my teeth or not but I'll definitely consider that as a possibility too. I don't seem to have jaw pain when I put my fingers in my ears. Is there any other way of telling?

Twik, the ears thing is just one way of telling, but generally you could experience aching muscles, you may find yourself clenching your teeth, (next time you are concentrating on something, check if your teeth are tight together)
waking, feeling as if you haven't slept is a common one & frequently disturbed sleep.

if you have a DP/DH then ask them to let you know if you are grinding. The dentist will generally be able to see if you are as it will leave unusual marks in your teeth where they are grinding together.

Oh & sensative teeth can be an indicator, but not all people who grind get this symptom, or they get it v occasionally on waking.

Dp says I don't grind. But he could sleep through anything so not sure that's terribly reliable! I saw the dentist only very recently and he didn't mention anything odd. Would he mention it or would I have to ask him specifically?

not really just kinda takes the edge of it. got an appointment on monday (great thing to do on my b-day but hay ho) so hopefully will get some answers

For the GP, starshaker? Didn't you go already mid-week?

Twik, Not all dentist specialise in this area so, no I don't think he would have mentioned it. I have been a dental nurse for 15 years & nobody mentioned it to me until about my 12th year! So if the dentist's don't see it on their own staff, what chance do you have? I am a quiet grinder, so DH didn't have a clue I was doing it until, still doesn't!

This is why I suggested a dentist who specialised in TMJ (joint) problems, as they know what to look for. The symptoms far exceed head pains & such and some sufferers have been known to have expended muscle pain right down to their legs, as all the muscles are attached/link. Stress on some muscles lead to stress on others, so leg tingliness is a possiblity too.

*extended muscle pain, not expended!

the problem with TMJ specialists is that they see it in everyone. I saw a couple of epople about suspected TMJ. One wanted me to spend hundreds (private), the other said I had no more of a problem then half the population and it wasn't clinically significant. Actually it was sinus pain.

See if your library have any books about shiatsu/ acupressure it can help some headaches.

I don't know then melissasmummy, I haven't a clue how to find a dentist specialising in TMJ. I did have my first chiropractic session today though and he hit all the right spots, i.e. it was excruciatingly painful. The big big big trouble for me is the cost. It's £30 a session and he thinks I should have 3 a week for the first 2 weeks. I told him no way can I afford that, I can't even afford 2 but can try to borrow some money from my mum for a couple of weeks for it. And he's not sure the treatment will work properly without doing it regularly.