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Lupus & headache????

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Posted 4/21/2007 3:28 PM (GMT 0)
Hi,

I was just wondering what the difference is between lupus headaches & migraine. Last night I had the headache from hell. It had been lingering all day then around tea time it became really severe. I tried to deal with things as normal but had to go lie on the bed. The headache got so bad I couldn't move my head. Then I started vomiting, and didn't stop for hours. The pain was all on one side and went through to the back of my head. This morning it's nowhere near as bad, but still not gone. I've tried painkillers (tramadol & nurofen). Any help or advice, thanks x x

Posted 4/21/2007 3:43 PM (GMT 0)
(((((( Lion ))))))) I get headaches too but don't know the difference between lupus headaches and migraines either, I just blame all of mine on lupus.

I do know migraines make you sensitive to light and sound and can experience nausea & vomiting. My son has suffered with them for years and they run in both sides of our family. Since I can't take anything when I get them other than my regular meds I try taking Tylenol but that doesn't do much, I get a cold washcloth and wrap it around my neck or apply to my forehead and sleep, sleep, sleep. Go to a dark quiet room, that should help too.

I hope you get some relief soon! Take care
Posted 4/21/2007 4:07 PM (GMT 0)
Lion, that's a great question, one that I've wondered about over the years. I'll also be anxious to know if anyone here has an answer.
Posted 4/21/2007 5:38 PM (GMT 0)
Lupus can cause migraine/headache. It sounds like migraine to me. I used to take Imitrex, and it is very good, but u need to talk w/yr doc because we have raynaud. If u feel funky, u need to stop. Because I cannot afford Imitrex, I now used Advil. At the very first sign of yr headache, take two immeidately. It helps me. It won't make me sleeply also. I tried Tynoel extra stength, somewhat helped, but not much. Better than nothing. Mine could last for 3 days non stop.
Posted 4/22/2007 2:24 PM (GMT 0)
lion, I've had the same question too. I can get terrible headaches since I've had lupus and I'm not sure if they are migraines or lupus headaches - I think they are really similar though. I have nausea but don't vomit with mine. I agree that a quiet dark room and lots of sleep and some pain meds are probably the best things. Please do talk to your doctor about this though and he might have some meds for you. I hope you have gotten some relief and that the terrible pain hasn't come back. Take care
Posted 4/22/2007 2:38 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, thanks everyone. The pain is no where near as bad as it was, but my headache is still there. This is the third day and I am totally fed up now! At least the vomiting has stopped, I threw up that much I think must have lost loads of weight! This headache now is just lingering on, and my sight in my right eye is still a little blurry. I feel like I need to keep rubbing it. I will talk to my doctor about it. Maybe we'll never know if it's migraine, headache or lupus? Thats the annoying thing about lupus, all the docs ever seem to say is it could be lupus. Seems like everyting could be from the lupus. I have loads of spider neivi, one particular one on my nose which is very unsightly. People think I've got something stuck on my nose! That could be from the photosensitivity from the lupus, or it could be hormonal, or it could be blah blah blah. So, I'm waiting to see if the NHS will remove it for me, but it might be classed as cosmetic. Fingers crossed. I'll let you know about the headache and what the doc says. Thanks x x
Posted 4/23/2007 1:38 PM (GMT 0)
I have had migranes since I was twelve, and Lupus for a little over a year.  What you described was a migraine.  There are great meds out there for those now.... Zomig (the one I take), Imitrex, Maxalt, Relpax.... ask your doctor to give you a sample to try if it happens again.  Did you by chance have a "light show" or aura in your vision before the headache hit?  I have auras before the pain hits with mine and its a blessing because I know when to go and take my migraine medication.  Sometimes I time it that the med kicks in before the pain, and I am saved a lot of misery.

Definitely mention to your doc, because these things are much more manageable than they used to be.  Also, check what you ate the day of, or the day before, because there are lots of foods (and smells, and lighting, etc..) that can trigger an attack.  If you have had more than one of these, try to keep a diary of the foods and situations the day of the attack... this will help the doctor (and you) a lot.

Blessings!

 

Posted 4/23/2007 2:04 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Lion, I'm sorry you have been having such a terrible time with headaches. Headaches are bad enough but puking with them is worse! I get a lot of headaches since they started looking for lupus. Until than I never had headaches. Once a year maybe. It does sound like a migrain with the vomiting but I'm no doctor. Than again maybe it's a lupus migraine? I know it's so frustrating to hear well it could be this or that. With all they know it seems like they just don't know very much.

I hope you get somthing to help you. I can't imagine having a headache for 3 days! bless your heart!

Love

carol

Posted 4/23/2007 2:16 PM (GMT 0)
I'm taking a guess also and thinking that you are having migraines. I have had migraines and there is always nausea, I have only gotten sick once though.

These lupus headaches is interesting though. I didn't know that lupus caused headaches but it makes sense now that I think about it. Headaches for me are weird. I can go for a couple of weeks without one headache but when I finally do get one, its like hiccups, they just keep coming and I will have either one continuous one or many over many days and then none for a while again. I can't point out the triggers and they don't necessarily run with my cycle so I'm not sure.
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