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Original poster

persistent headache ... driving me CRAZY!!!

166 replies

imaginaryfriend · 06/08/2006 21:40

I've had a tendency for headaches over the last couple of years but nothing like this bugger of a headache I've had now for 10 days solid. It's there when I wake up in the morning and apart from the odd hour of respite when the neurofen plus kicks in, it's there all day. It's painful over my forehead like a heavy weight above my eyes and the back of my neck is achy and stiff. I feel a bit dizzy and disorientated and a bit sick. No fever or anything like that.

Has anyone else had a long-lasting headache? Any miracle cures?

OP posts:
helsi · 06/08/2006 21:42

Yes - I have had something similar. Ended up having eyes tested and I needed glasses for computer at work.

Additionally have you been under any undue pressure recently - tension headaches are quite common.

Eeek · 06/08/2006 21:44

go to the doctor! A headache shouldn't last that long so get it checked out. And an optician to check your eyes would be a good idea too

crazydazy · 06/08/2006 21:45

Would get it checked out at the docs, just to be on the safe side.

Original poster
imaginaryfriend · 06/08/2006 21:50

Well I did go to the GP but they sent me away saying it was a tension headache. Can they be this severe? I have been stressed lately but it's eased a lot in the last 3 weeks. I had my eyes tested about 6 months ago and I rarely use a computer apart from MN in the evenings.

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tallmummy · 06/08/2006 22:02

I used to get alot of headaches - similar to you, with stiff neck. Ended up at the chiropracter and after a few sessions was headache free. I used to go every 6 weeks after that and it really helped. Downside was it was v.expensive and can now not really afford it.

My problem was in the sacral iliac joint, where the spine meets the pelvis. That was out of place and therefore it had a knock on effect up to my head. Apparently quite common after pregnancy, especially with the relaxin hormone still in the system.

A chiropractor might help you with your headache whatever the cause.

Hope this helps.

SpaceCadet · 06/08/2006 22:06

you could have blocked sinuses, the sinus cavities above your eyes in your forehead can become blocked, would also explain the dizziness.
i would return to the docs though.

nicnack2 · 06/08/2006 22:07

i suffer from headaches in fact i have a low grade one most days then culminating in migranes. Make sure than you are not dehydrated when you go to bed, get a good pillow cut down on caffine and the likes. hth

fistfullofnappies · 06/08/2006 22:19

I had permanent headaches around 15 years ago, it turned out to be an allergic reaction symptom, to fructose. (the allergy only lasted a couple of years, thankfully)
I also had many headaches (at least one a week) before I gave up cows milk.(still react to that)

Original poster
imaginaryfriend · 06/08/2006 22:25

Thanks! I don't think that I have sinus problems but I'll re-check that with the GP.

It's a horrible headache. Can tension headaches make you feel sick and weak? The GP ran some blood tests for thyroid etc but all were fine. I just feel like I need to lie down all the time and close my eyes.

It can't be anything really scary can it?

OP posts:
fistfullofnappies · 06/08/2006 22:29

another thought - could an osteopath help, if it is tension related?

fistfullofnappies · 06/08/2006 22:31

I always felt sick with the allergy-related headaches that I suffered from, although I was only actually sick a couple of times.

its not normal though, definitely worth sorting out. I used to never leave the house without paracetamol - now I dont even think about it.

Original poster
imaginaryfriend · 06/08/2006 22:32

I will check it out. How did you diagnose your allergies? Paracetamol does nothing for me, only neurofen plus but tonight even they aren't helping ...

OP posts:
fistfullofnappies · 06/08/2006 23:01

god yes its all coming back to me now...paracetamol didnt work for the fructose headaches, I was on something stronger but I cant remember what.

Food allergies are relatively rare. I was diagnosed by a kinesiologist, which is a difficult thing to recommend, because I believe that the quality of diagnosis is very variable. Two of my allergies were later confirmed with skin test though, plus of course, I got better and stayed better when I avoided the foods that he recommended, so Im inclined to think that he made an accurate estimation of what was causing my headaches.
I don't want to possibly identify myself to people who know me in rl by posting his name, but Im happy to send it by email of course. He used to practise in London.

Original poster
imaginaryfriend · 07/08/2006 09:39

Thanks! What's a kinesiologist???

OP posts:
fistfullofnappies · 07/08/2006 13:09

Its a sort of alternative medicine. They estimate your body's reaction to various substances by putting you close to them. If you hold a test tube of tartrazine, the kinesiologist can feel a difference in how strong your muscles are. It does feel like magic, and many people think it is just a con.
As I said, in my case, I think that the estimate was accurate. Two of my allergies (wheat and tomatoes) also showed up on skin prick tests, some fifteen years later. Ive never had skin prick tests for the other allergies that the kinesiologist estimated, so I have never tested them.
There have been some MN threads in health and allergies about kinesiologists in the past.

Original poster
imaginaryfriend · 07/08/2006 14:03

But can you suddenly just develop an allergy out of the blue?

OP posts:
fairyjay · 07/08/2006 14:05

Have you had your blood pressure checked?

Original poster
imaginaryfriend · 07/08/2006 14:10

Yes, it's normal to low.

OP posts:
Mercy · 07/08/2006 14:15

Have you ever had migraines before?

I can get 2 different types, one of which sounds like yours

foxinsocks · 07/08/2006 14:19

did you go to the doctor?

there has been a weird virus around lately that gives you a horrible headache

Original poster
imaginaryfriend · 07/08/2006 14:49

Could you describe that to me, mercy?

foxinsocks, I don't think it's viral, it seems to have been here too long plus I don't have any other symptoms ...

OP posts:
Mercy · 07/08/2006 15:05

One type of migraine I get is flashing lights around my eye, nausea, sensitivity to light, sound and touch, pain at front of my head. I get this type far less frequently now.

Second type is pain in head and neck, sore eyes, slight nausea and the headache is much longer lasting - several days at worst.

Migraleve usually works for me, you can buy it over the counter. Go and speak to your pharmacist, I normally find them pretty helpful.

Poor you I hope you get some relief soon. btw are you on the pill?

Original poster
imaginaryfriend · 07/08/2006 15:31

The second type you mentioned sounds like mine. I'm not on the pill. I'll try migraleve. Last night I tried some painkillers called Syndol before I went to bed and it was better this morning but as the day's worn on it's slowly returning. Horrible. I can't remember any more what it feels like to NOT have a headache ...

OP posts:
Tatties · 07/08/2006 15:56

I have also suffered from Mercy's 2nd type of migraine. Got them a lot at uni, usually as soon as I took a break after finishing exams or an essay. They are awful when they last for days. My GP advised me to come off the pill and they definitely improved. I still get quite bad headaches though, and one painkiller I have found works really well is soluble Solpadeine. Also I find soluble paracetamol better than tablets. Hope you feel better soon

Original poster
imaginaryfriend · 07/08/2006 16:17

Tatties, thanks, did you feel weak and sick with it?

OP posts: