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Migraine Headache
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Posted 11/4/2005 10:00 PM (GMT 0)

Hello,

I'm new.  I was inspired to join because of the unique and horrible headache I had all last week.

I get headaches, always have and probably always will.  I sorta feel like it's just a way of life for me.  however this time was different because I not only had a headache every day, but i was awakening with it.

To make matters worse I had the sensation that my forehead was tensing as if I was squinting my eyes.

Does this make sense?

It was the worst feeling because no matter what I did I was unable to relax my forehead to release the feeling.

I still don't know what it is.  It has gotten a little better but not 100%.

This headache has lasted about 8 days and I was so desperate about it I did a search trying to find anyone who had had a headache that long or longer.

And I found this, and here I am.

Laur

Posted 11/5/2005 2:12 AM (GMT 0)
I went to a physical therapist for some manual work on my neck and head. He pointed out that i had a lot of tension in my neck and shoulders and that my face was always in a tense position and that my forehead was always scrunched up like I was upset or like I was squinting...

I consciously tried for days to not make that face ...I couldn't do it, it was a natural thing. I have a very expressive face and I was constantly doing something and could not relax it for anything.

I have noticed now that the only time I am completely relaxed is after a pain pill...when it is chemical relaxation and not something that I have done.

Just thought I would share that information from the physical therapist...

 

Posted 11/7/2005 12:57 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Lauren,

From your post it sounds as if you have been having headaches for quite some time. Have you ever been evaluated for these by a physician? Even if you have, whenever there is a change in the pattern or intensity of your headaches it is a good idea to see a doctor to make sure that nothing serious is going on. By calling your present headache unique it certainly sounds as if it is different from any that you have had in the past. As an emergency physician that was a question I asked every headache patient: "Is this different from headaches you have had in the past?" If they said yes, then in nearly all cases a CT scan was indicated. Even if they had had migraines (or some other type of headache) for years. Another question was whether they woke up in the morning with the headache -- another reason for a CT. So I would suggest that you see your doctor, especially if you are still having your symptoms, but even if you are not. If you do not have a doctor and are still having this headache, it warrants a trip to the ER -- because it is different from the old headaches and you are waking up with it in the morning. Good luck and I hope this is helpful.

Laura L.
Posted 11/7/2005 5:02 AM (GMT 0)

Hi Lauren,

I'm with Lauren. Whenever a headache changes it's always a good idea to visit your doctor, especially if one won't go away. That way you can check there isn't something serious going on or at least get something to take away the pain.

To throw another thought out there, could this be a rebound headache? You mentioned that you have headaches for a long time. Do you take a lot of medications? especially over the counter medications? triptans? or narcotics? all of these can cause rebound headaches. There is a message thread called Rebound Headaches with more information on this site.

Good luck. Let us know how it goes.

Posted 11/8/2005 6:48 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you everyone,

I did end up going to the doctor.  He gave me midrin.  Has anyone had any experience with that one?

I am doing lots better this week.  Last week was hard to say the least.

My doctor also gave me an order to receive an mri.

Here is my question, what would they be looking for on the mri? 

It's so nice to know others suffer from the same thing as I do.  It's so hard to be at work and tell people I have a horrible headache and hear "oh really?  I've never had a headache before."

are you serious?

Lauren

Posted 11/9/2005 4:02 AM (GMT 0)
RANT WARNING: devil

THE FOLLOWING RANT MAY BE HAZARDOUS TO YOUR HEALTH... nono

I get so irritated I could rip someones head off and throw it down some stairs when they say "I have a headache or even worse I have a migraine" well, not so much that I doubt that they have some type of head pain....but because I know that these people...(especially family members) have no type of head pain compared to the head pain that I have. I know that sounds horrible and selfish...but please when you have a "normal people" headache compared to the kinds of head pain that we have that at times literally makes you want to take your own life or bash your head into a wall....or when you have 9 doctors appointments in one week to try to find something, anything that will give you some kind of relief, or when you lose your car, your house, your entire life and relationships to a "headache" then feel free to use the term as loosely as you do.

If these people could only be in our position and feel the extent of this pain and discomfort. Would they turn every light in the house on? Would they slam the front door and turn the tv to the max volume? Would they wear the perfume and cook that strong food you have begged them not too? I doubt it, and after having a REAL migraine, the kind you and I have...for what, 7 days straight, they would look terrible too, and be emotional about everything and want to cry...and the medication would make them like that from day to day also....and maybe then they would understand a "dopamax moment" and not give you that "your an idiot" or "are you faking" look. I just wish someday they would truly understand how you and I feel...

I guess that might be a little much to ask.

P.S. Its past my bedtime, I have had a migraine for days and the meds haven't kicked in yet....I'm not generally this bitter????  Goodnight all!

 

Posted 11/9/2005 6:35 AM (GMT 0)
Wow, Sara - sounds like you are having a seriously bad ?week. I am sorry things are not going better for you. I do know what you mean about people calling just any old "bad headache" a migraine. I used to hear that all the time in the ER. I would have to ask them if they had actually been diagnosed as having migraines and if not I would have to go through all the criteria to make sure....Usually they just meant they had a bad headache when they said "migraine." I would try to educate them about the difference (especially after I started having migraines!!) So I understand your ranting and feel free to do so (where else can we rant??)

In answer to a question Lauren asked about Midrin, it is isometheptene - a medicine that constricts your blood vessels (which tend to dilate [in the scalp, at least for a time] during a migraine); it also contains a mild sedative. Your doctor ordered the MRI to make sure there is no structural lesion like a tumor of the brain or its lining (don;t worry - that sort of thing is vanishingly rare) or a blood vessel or spinal fluid abnormality or area of infection, etc. I'm sure your MRI will be fine. I am glad you are feeling better. The fact that Midrin improves your symptoms makes one of those structural problems less likely, also. Take care and keep us posted.

Laura L.
Posted 11/10/2005 3:36 PM (GMT 0)
So I wonder why there isn't a forum on here for insomnia???
Has anyone here struggled with that along with the headaches/migraines??
I would say my major health conplaints are all summarized into three words. headache, sleep, and energy.
I wonder if they are related. I would say yes.
Would anyone here agree?
has anyone here had a good or bad experience with ambien??
Lauren
Posted 11/11/2005 1:50 AM (GMT 0)

I had a great experience with ambien...I have really bad problems with sleep...either I sleep really well and want to sleep all the time, THANKS DEPRESSION...lol OR I don't sleep and can't sleep for anything its a pendulum swing from one extent to another....

During a really bad phase I was prescribed ambien and took I think 10mg, don't quote me on that though...I did really well on it. But I found that once I started taking it I didn't want to quit, NOT THAT I WAS ADDICTED OR DEPENDENT...just that I liked the fact that I could take it and be tired and ready to go to bed within a certain time frame...usually I would need to go to bed and then go lay down and have to lay there forever and try to mentally unwind and shut down and try to put everything out of my mind and eventually fall asleep some horribly long amount of time later.

From what I understand it is only recommended that you take ambien for a short period of time (I am guestimating two weeks or less at a time??? something like that?)

I have absolutely nothing bad to say about ambien-PROVIDED you get 6+ hours of sleep...

Keep me posted?

Sara

Posted 11/11/2005 1:56 AM (GMT 0)
ALL...

First....That rant was supposed to be posted elsewhere...lol  I apologize...I was having a really bad day, and a really bad week overall!!!  I am sorry, but again, this is the place where you can come and say what you need to (within reason) and feel at home with people who understand you...  so I hope you all do understand and are not upset or offended!

Laura L-

Did you work in the ER???

If so, email me. I have a question about a few things...

Sara

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