Persistent Headache

I've been getting headaches pretty much every day for the past six months. I've always suffered from headaches as a child so when it comes too headaches my pain threshold is pretty high! But these headaches are very different and stop me from doing things that I want too do (ie.going too the gym) I was referred to a neurologist who said they were tension headaches combined with over use of pain killers and referred me for acupuncture.. I had eight sessions of this and it didn't help one bit so off I went back to my GP. He prescribed Allegron (nortriptyline) starting at 10mg and increasing to a maximum of 100mg. At first I thought that this had worked, but no, I'm still getting the headaches! I've had all the side effects that come with this medication, dry mouth, dizziness, sickness, shakes and tremors, increased heart rate, they basically make me feel like a zombie! I've given it four weeks to see if they settle but they haven't so I have booked an appointment to see my GP again (But typically can't get an appointment till beginning of November!)

I only seem too get the headaches on days that i'm at work, or had a busy day off. There are days that I don't get a headache which is usually when i'm off work. I've had my eyes testes and she said there is nothing majorley wrong with my eye sight too be causing headaches. The other night I woke up around 4am with a really excruciating headache and was being sick. I felt truly awful, like I said i'm used to headaches so for me to be in tears over a headache takes a lot! I noticed that it hurt a lot more when I was lieing down, I took some pain killers and after a couple of hours it started too ease off.

I'm just wondering if anyone else gets headaches like these or if anyone has some ideas and advice of how too make them better. I'm getting really fed up of them! I'm only 24 but feel like an old lady going to bed when I get home from work because I can't do anything else!!

Any info would be very much appreciated!

Hi, I am 33 and have been getting daily headaches along with migraines 3 times a week for the last 5 years at least. I have had MRI scans, lots of different complimentary therapies and different medications. I had my eyes lasered too so there is no problem with my eyesight.

Last week I went to see a doctor at the City of London Migraine Clinic. I had to do a headache diary for 3 months and she has come to the conclusion that although I don't take painkillers every day, I tend to take them every time my head is very bad, that they are making my head worse. I was taking a painkiller called Syndol which is only available in the UK. It is meant for tension headaches but has caffeine within the tablet. The Doc said this is making my head worse so I need to come off these and take aspirin or paractamol only and she is giving me amitripyline to take 3 hrs before bedtime.

She also looked at what I ate and drank. I am only allowed one glass of diet drink a day and must drink at least 2 litres of water a day. She also mentioned it is good to have a snack/piece of fruit between dinner and bed as sometimes the drop in sugar levels makes you wake up with a bad head.


I have followed her advice for a week now and my head is already better. Some days the pain scale has been a 3 rather than previously 8/9 but 3 days out of the 7 I have been painfree, the best I have felt in months. I have to trial this for 3 months and see how I get on.

Whilst at the surgery I bought this book- Coping with Headaches and Migraine by Alison Frith. Has been such a good read and very helpful. Gives you a lot more info and help than other books.

You May want to try some of these tips. Understand totally how you feel, it can really get me down some days too.