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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?

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imaginaryfriend · 19/08/2006 09:19

Do they do the entire head though? And is lumbar spine the lower spine do you know? Sorry to ask so many questions!

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foxinsocks · 19/08/2006 09:42

basically when I had mine done, I had to lie on a stretcher/hospital bed thing completely still. They then wheel you (head first) into a sort of tunnel where you have to lie still and look upwards (for a fair amount of time). I know that there are some new scanners where only your head goes in (rather than your whole body which is what the older ones are like). Tbh, it is quite claustrophobic but they can talk to you through a sort of microphone thing and if you feel frightened, you just have to let them know - I think at one point, a nurse came to hold my hand but it's over quicker than you imagine (I think I focused on counting in 12s or something like that - anything to take your mind off the whole process!).

Don't worry about it - you'll be fine but it might be nice if you can find someone to go with you.

I'm on holiday when your results come back so good luck with whatever happens.

foxinsocks · 19/08/2006 09:43

so yes, the idea is to get a picture of your brain so the scanner makes a sort of whirring noise as it takes different pictures of your head!

imaginaryfriend · 19/08/2006 12:56

Thanks, I have seen them on Holby City etc. . What I'm most wondering, I guess, is does the scan itself show up everything, I mean, can I stop worrying if it looks ok? Does it mean that everything in my brain / head is ok?

And lumbar spine is lower spine?

It's this Thursday ... quiver ...

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liquidclocks · 19/08/2006 13:20

Hi imaginaryfirend, I remember reading your thread a while back and left you some headache tips but only just read what's happened since. Try not to worry too much that the headache/neurological problems could be linked physically, it could just as easily be that the worry of what's happening has caused you to have the headaches.

I really hope it goes well for you and they figure out what's up and can sort it out. Will keep an eye on your thread if u like as have a bit of neurological experience from a while back and might be able to help with any questions you forget to ask the doctor on the day. hope they give you results quickly too, they should do as the images are instant, it'll just be whether the right person is on hand to interpret them.

noonar · 19/08/2006 13:45

i think the test is pretty comprehensive/conclusive but i'm no expert. i'd ring up the neurology dept and ask if someone could give you a call so that you can ask your questions

good luck

imaginaryfriend · 19/08/2006 17:58

Thanks everyone

I've actually been feeling very rough the last few days, weak legs, bad headache, can't concentrate. Sometimes I do wonder how much is stress and how much a real 'condition' of some kind. I hope this test will give me some answers so I can move on.

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noonar · 23/08/2006 11:32

best of luck for tomorrow. will be thinking of you xxxxxx

imaginaryfriend · 23/08/2006 16:29

Thank you so much for remembering me noonar. I'm trying not to think about it today and hoping I don't get too claustrophobic tomorrow. I'll let you know how it goes

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liquidclocks · 24/08/2006 10:16

Hi IF - hope today goes well for you, just breathe and think of lovely things while you're in there and you'll be fine. x.

Surfermum · 24/08/2006 10:23

Good luck imaginary friend. Let us know how you get on.

imaginaryfriend · 24/08/2006 20:46

I can't believe how kind you all are, thanks!

Well, I did it. The spine one was by far the worst as I had to go all the way into the tube and was basically fighting panic the whole time. I'm pretty claustrophobic and didn't realise how closed in the tube would be. The head one was easier as my body was half out although I did start to feel like I was going to go crazy with the last set of repetitive noises. They're so loud! Anyhow, nothing to do now but wait for results. I can phone the neurologist in two weeks, unfortunately it was only a technical guy there doing the scan and he wasn't helpful at all.

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liquidclocks · 24/08/2006 22:50

Hi IF - glad it went ok. 2 weeks seems mean! Plan lots of lovely things to do to take your mind off it, hows your head at the moment?

imaginaryfriend · 24/08/2006 22:52

Head's shitty on and off. Nothing as persistantly awful as the one that led me to start the thread. I think they're more worried about my leg from what i can gather. I wish I could've asked more questions today - I asked which parts of my head they were looking at and the technician said there was one series which was a full head scan and one which was looking for something specific but he couldn't say what! Grrrrr ...

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liquidclocks · 25/08/2006 15:31

How frustrating for you. I hope he consultant has some conclusive answers for you when you do go back. In the mean time feel free to rant away! Having lived with headache for so long myself I know how bl*^dy frustrating they can be just by themselves and sometimes a good ol' whinge is actually quite helpful!

imaginaryfriend · 25/08/2006 15:59

Thanks liquidclocks. Are you headache free now then?

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liquidclocks · 25/08/2006 18:32

Unfortunately not, I have chronic migraine which means if I wasn't on medication I'd have them for more than 15 days of every month. Luckily I've been given the right medication now (had 5 years before I got a diagnosis - original GP said it was psychosomatic) and I get 3/4 each month, still a big chunk of time but more bearable. I trained as a specialist patient with the migraine association and I'm also an OT so I suppose I just gravitate towards people with headache problems in the hope that some of my personal/professional experience can help.

I'm sorry there's nothing I can really suggest for you, if the scan doesn't explain your headaches though I'd be happy to help in any way I can.

imaginaryfriend · 28/08/2006 20:49

liquidclocks, can you tell me what chronic migraine feels like? I know you probably already have but would you tell me again? Does it sound to you at all like what's happening to me?

And btw, does your name have anything to do with Dali?

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liquidclocks · 31/08/2006 09:45

Hi IF, only just noticed your message - sorry away withthe fairies this week packing labour bags and building cots!

What I experience doesn't sound like what's happening to you though that doesn't rule it out I'm afraid, it's a difficult one for doctors to diagnose. Migraines tend to be, but not always, restricted to one side of the head/body (which sounds like it shoud be better but it just means yu've got a 'normal' side to compare the pain against). I have classic migraine which means I get 'aura' but 80-85% of people with migraine don't have aura. An aura can be seeing lights, blurred vision, hearing noise, feeling deaf, numbness or paralysis etc etc - anything neurological - it's thought to be caused by the initial restriction of blood flow to the brain that happens during an attack. You also have a definite 'beginning' to each episode. Chronic migraine is when you (unmedicated) have a migraine for more than 50% of the time. It's slightly different pain-wise as it becomes more bearable the longer the attack goes on but there's some debate as to whether that's becasue the pain decreases or your tolerance increases as you get used to the pain. Chronic migraine often happens because the initial migraines weren't treated properly and the wrong medication is given and the migraines then become intermingled with medication over-use headaches. They can also happen because there isn't long enough between attacks to recover properly, like getting a bruise and then something else hits you on the same spot, you don't recover as quick, so the next one lasts longer andyou're more susceptible to aother attack- bit of a downward spiral - this process isn't restricted to migraine though so might be relevant to you.

Sorry, I could go on for ages - it's the problem with headache really, there arelots of causes and different types. There is a really good site though that goes through the classification of headaches - see here - go to publications and click on the download in separate sections link. The reassuring thing I can tell you is that when there's something very serious underlying a headache it tends to intensify over time and never get better and that doesn't sound like what's happening to you.

The problem you have now is that you've had it for so long, it might be complicated by the medication you're taking (see here ). If you can, try and think back to what the original headache felt like and ask yourself if it's changed at all. If it has you need to go off your original symptoms to try and work out what's going on.

Could continue the essay (sorry about that) but I'll let you digest the info in the links first - feel free to ask any more questions or for more info on any of the kinds of headache mentioned. Hope you're ok and manaing the waiting - week to go so you're halfway there.

liquidclocks · 31/08/2006 10:06

btw - yes, it's a Dali reference, chose it as a yahoo name at 13 and it stuck!

imaginaryfriend · 31/08/2006 21:55

Thanks liquidclocks, you're a real help! I'm going to check out those links now.

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imaginaryfriend · 31/08/2006 21:57

Hey, have you got a little one on the way then? Your first, second, third? When's he / she due?

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liquidclocks · 31/08/2006 22:35

Hi - hope the links were helpful. And yes, have DS 22 months and expecting DS2 - any time now but due date technically 28th Sept - he keeps threatening to come early so sods law he'll be late! Mears & Tiktok been helping me hugely lately with their medication and breastfeeding knowledge so I'm just totally into MN at mo and returning favour in anyway possible - just hope it's of help to you.

imaginaryfriend · 02/09/2006 21:49

Wow, lc, so close for the birth of ds2! Have you found pregnancy or motherhood has affected your headaches much?

Mears and tiktok were very useful for me too when bf my dd who's now 4. That shows how long I've been coming on mn doesn't it???

I did find the links useful although I feel that I'm still really lacking a definitive list of symptoms for tension-type headache. I can't find anywhere any information about how / if it can affect vision etc.

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liquidclocks · 03/09/2006 16:30

MN BF advice support is so fab isn't it?! I wish I'd given lurking sooner - I'd found it when I had DS1 but was too scared to post!

Headache-wise, when pg with DS1 they were all day every day for 4/5 months then went back to 'normal' (3-4 days each week) until he was born then I went back on the meds again (hence no BF last time as very bad advice about BF/medication situation). This time I started acupuncture as soon as I was pg and got better advice with the meds so was able to carry on taking my 'reliever' medication and have only had 1 every couple of weeks - much better!

I've just had another look at the original symptoms you described as I'm trying to do a bit of thinking:

  • Pain around forehead, particularly heavy over eyes
  • Back/neck/shoulders very achy and stiff
  • Dizziness/disorientation
  • slight nausea

Are the headaches still like this? Also what are you taking for them - how much/how often and have you tried anything 'alternative' yet? How are your other symptoms now too?

I'm trying not to go on a wild goose chase for you - got some things in mind but I do want to ssay (again!) that a lot of headaches don't get 'diagnosed' as such - it's just finding the best way of managing them. I know that's probably really frustrating to hear too - sorry.

Have I calculated right too that you'll be able to get your results from the neurologist this thursday too? I've got my fingers crossed for you that you get some answers this week.

Get DP togive you a massage too - at best might help, at worst will take your mind off it for a bit!

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