Pregnancy headaches (migranes?) When to go to drs?

[PerpetualStudent]

So currently 19 weeks with DC2. Been having rotton headaches since early pregnancy - feel like nothing I've ever had before, stabbing pain above my left eye, makes my eye water and my vision go unfocused at times. At their worst I feel sick and nothing helps apart from lying down quietly. I get a bad one every 3/4 days but have now basically been bed-bound since Weds eve, head bangs and I feel weak if I try to get up.
I take paracetemol a couple of times a day and try to eat/drink as heathly as poss to come right again. Nothing seems to help them go away, though eating sugary things seems to set them off (which I obviously now try to avoid!)

I'm under 'consultant care' as had pre-eclampsia with my DS 2 years ago. It's a joke really, I never see the same Dr twice and they've never read my notes so I have to tell them my history at every appointment.
Last appointment was last week, I mentioned the headaches, that they were dehabilitating and that I was concerned. Her only advice was to drink more water and 'try not to get stressed'

I'm starting to wonder when this becomes a real health concern and what I can do about it? Am I really expected to be in constant pain for the next 5 months?!

I take pregnacare max but at my booking appt my midwife said it's not necessary and to just have the combined folic acid and vit D that they give out for free. So I switched to these for a week and had awful headaches every day . Switched back to pregnacare and headaches went straight away, so in my situation I'd think it was lack of iron. This might be the case for you so maybe try pregnacare max? But do make sure you mention it to your midwife anyway, has your blood pressure always been in a healthy range? As high BP and headaches could indicate pre-eclampsia!

Thanks, that's interesting. Pregnacare always makes me feel sick so I was on the folic acid/vid D only ones.
Dr said my blood results looked OK for iron, but will try an iron suppliment - don't fancy going back to pregnacare and swapping headaches for sickness!

BP normal so far, at every appointment and I check it myself at home in between (machine reccomended by my midwife after getting pre-e last time!) so I'm not too worried about pre-e yet. I didn't have headaches anything like this bad last time too.. though does make me weary I'm heading that way - was really hoping to do without the BP meds/endless monitoring/drawn out induction this time!

Ahh ok, maybe try iron supplements for a while and see what happens? Sounds like you're pretty on top of everything else as had pre-e in the past so you know about the symptoms to look out for :) chances are probably just hormones so just make sure you get enough fruit and veg, fibre and water, and plenty of sleep! Check back in and let me know how you get on with the iron! X

Spatone is good for iron

I've been where you are and I think because of the pain you're in and the fact it's keeping you in bed, I would see your GP. I get migraines anyway and when pregnant with dc1 went to a&e because I felt awful. My BP was up to the point where it affected my vision. They said it was caused by the pain I was in. They gave me some proper pain relief and bp went down.

I also think with your history I would try and see your gp to get your BP checked out. You can also take aspirin in pregnancy alongside paracetamol as long as it's under a certain dose.

Sorry you're in pain...you have my complete sympathy

Thank you. Third morning of not being able to get up without throbbing pain now, longest one yet. I think I need to go to the GP for some proper pain relief. No matter what's causing it I can't do the things I need to do to look after myself if I can't stand up straight!

I'm already on daily low dose asprin as a pre-e precautionary measure. It does rack all for pain relief. I've seen other threads where pregnant women with headaches have been given co-codamol, that sounds pretty good about now!

Only positive is the little bean has chosen these past few days to start kicking - I think they realise they need to throw me a bone here!!

Op I've had co-codemol in previous pregnancies. You can buy it over the counter, although the dose of codeine is fairly low. Re aspirin, I can take 600mg dispersible, and that's with the advice of my gp and neurologist. In your position I would call out of hours and see what they say. I have been where you are many times and it truely sucks.

Also, co-codemol is paracetamol and codeine so obviously don't take any other paracetamol based stuff. Sorry, you will know that but I just worry!