weird headaches... im concerned...

[Mayasmydobe]

Ok so about 3 weeks ago I got this headache that just would not go away. I tried evverything, tylenol, exedrin migraine, ibuprofin... but nothing would make it go away. On a scale of 1-10 I would have rated it at a 5 or 6
After three days I went to the doctor who gave me a shot of Torridal which made the headache go away.

Last saturday I got another headache that again, would not go away. This time it was much worse and I rated it at a 9. I was very light sensative and the headache was all over my head but more painfull behind my eyes and nose area. So I went to the emergency room and got another shot of torridal. Came home and took a two hour nap and my headache was almost gone and by the time I went to bed it was gone completely.

Well now I have another headache. This time it isnt severe at all. I would rate it at like a 3. But, nothing is making it go away. I am thinking I should go in and get another shot. Thing is, I wont have a babysitter tomorrowso I would have to go in to the emergency room tonight for this shot. I am afraid that I am going to wake up tomorrow with my headache being much worse if I dont get the shot, but I dont think that this is urgent enough to warrent a trip to the ER.

I am very concerned by these headaches becuase I have never had these kind of headaches before the first one a few weeks ago. I asked my mom who is a nurse and she said that it might be migraines. She also told me that my older brother used to suffer from migraines alot but he "grew out of them"
When I was in the doctors office the first time, the doctor said that if the headache didnt go away by morning to come back in for a CT scan to make sure that everything was okay inside my head. So obviously he was concerned as well.

What do you think I should do? Should I go to the ER right now and get a shot? or just wait it out untill tomorrow night (i wont have a babysitter untill at least 6PM) and if the headache is still here go in then?
Also, any ideas why I might be getting these headaches???

 

[MaxsMom]

I've never had one, but the light sensitive thing does sound like what I've heard about migraines. Isn't there some OTC med now that's supposed to be just for migraines? Seems like I've seen something like that advertised on TV. If you think you might be in pain all day tomorrow, a trip to the ER now might not be a bad idea, but I'd ask the doc about those migraine meds. Good luck.

 

[Buddy'sParents]

You need to go to the doctor.

Concerns regarding your head are not something to scoff at.

 

[Barb04]

I hope you're feeling better. When I was younger, I always got migraines. My dad always got them too. As I get older, they seem to come less but I do get my sinus headaches. Let us know how you're doing.

 

[Kase]

I'd go to the doctors too, I hope you are feeling ok now!

 

[malmo]

You'll feel better if you go ahead with the CAT scan. It'll soothe your worries.

When I have migraines, I can take any and every medicine in the world, but unless I also sleep, the headache is not going to go away.

Causes of headaches are neverending -- stress, dehydration, new puppies... oh, wait...

 

[Debi]

strange that nobody in the ER recommended you have further testing done. have you seen your regular doc..and does he know about these ER visits? my daughter was diagnosed at age 6 for migraines. she went thru massive testing at Children's hospital, because she would vomit so severely that she even broke blood vessels. migraines often have 'triggers', which are difficult to determine. sometimes it's foods, sometimes even a certain smell, sometimes heredity, etc. she would become severely ill, and only after sleeping for several hours in the dark would she feel better. there was a 20 minute 'window' that we had from the onset of the migraine to the severe vomitting. only the extensive testing can determine if it's migraines (for which there are options medically available now), or something more to consider. SEE YOUR DOC. hope you feel better soon. they said my daughter would possibly grow out of them.......they have become less frequent, but at age 34 she still suffers periodically.

 

[Charliesmommy]

It sounds like migraines, but if you have never had them before, and now you are having them frequently, that is something to be concerned about. I would have a CAT Scan just to make sure everything is OK.

 

[labman]

I get the same headaches too and there seems to be alot of causes for them.I get a headache sometimes from just plain thinking too much

 

[smkie]

they will frown on giving you those shots and begin thinking you are just looking for good drugs after a few more trips. IF it is migraines you need to start a diary to figure out your triggers. Migraines can be started by just about anything from the weather to different foods. After that you can take that into your doctor and ask for specific perscriptions that you take at the onset of the migraine (if you wait until it is full blown you will not get the same results)..maxalt is a tongue dissolving pill that works wonders for me. I usually find that when i get overly talkative, and hyper, and sometimes unusally hungry a migraine is on it's way. When the first wave of pain hits, i take the maxalt and within a few minutes it may not be gone completely but is much more tolerable and i can go on with my activities of daily living.

 

[Charliesmommy]

they will frown on giving you those shots and begin thinking you are just looking for good drugs after a few more trips.

Toradol is not a narcotic - it is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory. My doc gives it to me for migraines. It is NOT something you can get high off of so I don't think the ER docs would think she was drug-seeking.

 

[smkie]

they don't like you coming in tho, and frown upon frequent trips. Before i knew mine were caused by tmj i was frantic. Truly start the diary it will help you find the clues to what is causing your pain. THere are so many good medicines out for migrianes now, it isn't like the horror of 20 years ago.

 

[bubbatd]

No fun for you ...that's for sure !!! I hope your doc does have you scanned !

 

[sparks19]

You might even consider seeing a chiropractor.

I had terrible shoulder pain and awful headaches for a long long time. The dr's took x rays of my shoulder and couldn't find anything. they gave me pain med after pain med and nothing worked.

FINALLY after nothing worked a Dr suggested a Chiropractor take a look at me. Turns out that is exactly what my problem was. My neck was completely out of whack and it was pinching nerves causing this pain and inflammation in my shoulder and these terrible headaches.

If you have someone around to give you a little neck rub try that and see if it helps at all..... also try putting some heat on your neck. it might help.

I would definitely see a Dr in the meantime but perhaps give a chiropractor a shot. It's amazing what can cause a headache that the Dr;s won't look for.

 

[savethebulliedbreeds]

Yup, they sound like migraines. I would also start a diary and visit a chiropractor.

I get them from too much stress or if Scott gives me a neck rub (I think it actually tightens everything up), or if I have too much sugar or caffine.

 

[SharkyX]

Something in your life has changed in the last 3 weeks to trigger it.
It can be environmental, food related, stress (which include work, family and so on) or something going on within your own body.

See a doctor... they may be helpful... but they may not be and you might have to go to a specialist.

Go to a pharmacy and try to find the drug Mersyndol, it is very effective, but you will have to ask for it, it's not on the shelf.

There are other options, there are a number of drugs sold OTC that you simply have to ask for that would be more effective for treating your migraine then whats sitting in plain sight, including drugs with codiene in them (if that works for you... some of the population codiene does nothing for (I'm in that group), however ask a pharmacist for a recomendation or what they can sell you OTC.
They would also have a list of any other scripts you might take and as such would be able to advise on any conflicts.

That'd really only be an interim fix though... you'd need to try and find the root cause of your headaches to effectively solve the problem.

 

[M&M's Mommy]

Please go to see the doctor as soon as possible. Check yourself into the hospital if you must. I don't mean to scare you, but a 26-years-old friend of mine experienced something similar like you've described, except that her headache got more intense as time went by. Finally when she decided to check herself into a hospital, she was diagnosed with an acute brain aneurysm. She slipped into a coma soon after, and died 1 week later.

So, please do not take headaches lightly, specially when they're recurring & getting worst each time it happens.

 

[bubbatd]

^^^^ Agree !

 

[jjsmom]

As a migraine sufferer for many years, they sounds like Migraines. You need to get in to see your doc and get a referral to someone who can address your headaches and what the best treatment options are for you. As someone else mentioned you NEED to start a diary. Keep track of the following things:

What you eat daily/ drink, what your sleep schedule was for that day, how much stress you feel under each day and also weather is like. Also how close to your period you are, etc. There are 100’s of things that can trigger migraines in people and everyone is different. I have never been able to identify any food triggers, but mine are mainly hormone driven and weather pressure change driven (especially bad when I travel on a plane). But my stress level and sleep pattern changes are also triggers at times for me.

As far as waiting or not to go to ER, only you can decide how much you are being effected by them. I am currently not on prescription meds for them and I have found that a combination of things for me gives me relief often without the side effects I sometimes get with the different meds.
Here is my migraine routine and some of these things might help (I am being pretty blunt here… sorry about that guys):

A combination of the following:
1 advil
1 tylenol with caffeine (Excedrin TENSION FORMULA is JUST Tylenol and caffeine, so I take one of these. Otherwise I take a regular Tylenol and drink a high caffeine drink)
1 benadryl

I often eating a plain hamburger or something else high in protein helps, especially if I am starting to feel sick to my stomach.

If I can have a bowel movement this sometimes helps relieve some headache pressure

A hot shower with my head under hot steamy water fro 20 minutes and a warm wet washcloth covering my face. (NOTE- most people do better with cold showers, but I am one of the folks that gets more relief from the really hot ones)

Then after my shower, I have an orgasm and try to fall asleep.

90% of the time a combo of the above or all of them wipes it out within a couple hours.

Again, I stress though… get in to see your doc about these to get on a treatment plan and keep that diary…

 

[savethebulliedbreeds]

WOW, what a cure for a migraine LOL. Sorry it isn't a laughing matter. That routine sounds like it takes a while. I am glad it works for you. Sounds like most if it is a tension reliever.