Headache for 8+ days...Migraine?

I'm really starting to be worried. I've had a headache for about eight days now and can't seem to shake it. I have moderate to sever pain that moves around from place to place but never does my whole head hurt. I'm having moderate sensitivity to light and nausea as well. I also get a sharp pain in the top of my head when bending over. Lying down almost always gets rid of the pain within a few minutes.

I went to my doctor and they diagnosed me with Migraine and prescribed SUMATRIPTAN 50mg. When I got home a took one and went to sleep. When I woke up I still had a slight headache but did feel a little better so I took another one and went to bed for the night. I'm not sure if it was the medicine that helped or the lying down since lying down seemed to help before. Since then I haven't had a thumping knock-down type headache but I still am experiencing the same symptoms but just not as severely. I haven't taken any more SUMATRIPTAN since my doctor advised me not to unless the pain was severe. He said if things didn't clear up he'd send me to a neurologist and/or to have a head scan.

Has anyone here had a similar experience? Does this sound like a Migraine to those of you with Migraines? Should I take more SUMATRIPTAN? Should I just take some over-the-counter meds like Ibuprofen or Excedrin? Or could it possibly be just a Tension Headache? And although I don't have drainage or fever, could it just be sinus related? Should I go the the emergency room and have them scan me? Should I be as worried as I am? Please, any help/advice would be appreciated. Thank You.

Post Edited (lcase373) : 8/28/2015 4:01:50 PM (GMT-6)

BnotAfraid said...
Does sound like a migraine.

Have you had any head trauma l recently?

If not skip the ER and save the money. Go through you doc, go to a Neuro and get the scan. migraines are annoying and painful, they rarely show anything on scans.

Try drinking lots of water, stay away from sodas and redbulls and stuff like that.

In the resource thread at the top of this forum is a migraine diet link. I strongly suggest you take a look.

Peace
trina

Thank you for your response. Yeah, it's been rough. I'm 35 and have never had migraines before and I haven't suffered a head injury. I do, on the other hand, have a visual disability. I am legally blind, 20/200+ vision, with achromatopsia (a disorder that causes light sensitivity and complete colorblindness). I've had headaches before but nothing approaching this.

This all started with a headset. I bought a Turtle Beach headset for my Xbox and noticed a headache after wearing it for a few hours so I stopped. A few days go buy and my head felt better so I started using them again. That's when the fun started. I developed a really bad headache that night that wouldn't let up. A pounding type headache in the back of my head but that would also move around occasionally. This is also when the nausea and (increased) light sensitivity started. I tried to sleep it off for a day or two with no result. So I go to my doctor and describe my symptoms and he diagnosed me with migraine. That was on the 21st. He gave me the SUMATRIPTAN and something for the nausea. While I haven't had a massive headache since taking the sumatriptan the headaches, nausea, light sensitivity and cold flashes have persisted.

I did end up going to the hospital this Sunday. I hadn't been able to eat and I was feeling particularly nauseous and lightheaded, my heart was racing and I was feeling as if I was going to pass out. They did blood work, a chest xray and did a CT scan of my head. All of which they said looked normal. The ER doc also thought it was just a migraine and treated me for mild dehydration/malnutrition and referred me to a neurologist. He also put me on KETOROLAC for the headache, ONDANSETRON for the nausea and PANTOPRAZOLE for my upset stomach. Even with the ondansetron and pantoprazole I'm still finding it difficult to eat regularly.

I'm still not sure it's a migraine and am still a bit concerned. But with no other options, and two diagnoses I'm just treading water until I can get in to see the neurologist. What's still confusing me is, my headaches go away when I lay down for a few minutes but the nausea and cold flashes remain. If I get up and try to do anything my headaches come back. Is this normal for migraine?

Again thanks for your help. I will take a look at the diet but as I said I'm finding it very difficult to eat at all.

All input is appreciated. If you or anyone else has any advice or have experienced something similar I'd appreciate hearing from you.

Post Edited (lcase373) : 9/1/2015 4:04:43 PM (GMT-6)