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is a constant headache a symptom?

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Posted 8/11/2008 5:38 PM (GMT 0)
for the last month ive been having chronic headaches. they are just ennoying headaches and i was wondering if it has to do with UC?
Posted 8/11/2008 5:41 PM (GMT 0)
It could be a side effect of the Asacol (that you mentioned you're taking in the other thread), I did feel Asacol made me have headaches more frequently. Also it could be a sign of anemia or dehydration which are common with UC.
Posted 8/11/2008 5:44 PM (GMT 0)
should i call my doctor you think. cuase those headaches were even worse when i was on my period.
Posted 8/11/2008 6:12 PM (GMT 0)
If it's really bothersome you might want to bring it up to your doctor to see what s/he thinks, maybe they can suggest something to help. Are you on any form of birth control? When I started the pill I had less problems during my period.. Less cramping, less bleeding, less headaches.
Posted 8/12/2008 2:48 AM (GMT 0)
I'm having the same thing the past few months...they are very severe headaches too.
Posted 8/12/2008 2:51 AM (GMT 0)
Headaches are not a common symptom for IBD, as mentioned above though, some meds can bring on headaches but the disease itself does not.

:)
Posted 8/12/2008 4:36 AM (GMT 0)
Someone else mentioned it, but it could also be dehydration. I get dehydrated very easily. When I'm dehydrated, I get bad headaches, become lethargic, and for some reason really crave carbs (mostly sugar). Because of this I try to drink as much water as possible, which is a healthy thing to do anyways. Could be meds as well.
Posted 8/12/2008 11:34 AM (GMT 0)
When I was having my periods, the week before I was due to start, my headaches were actually menstrual migraines which is quite common actually. It felt like my head would explode sometimes! I also started getting headaches when I switched from Asacol to Colazal. So I believe it could be due to the medications you are on.

Btw, welcome to Healingwell :)
Posted 8/12/2008 1:13 PM (GMT 0)
I have had migraines since I was a baby and I believe there is a connection to headaches and UC. When I was on Asacol I had a headache almost constantly and I think I may not have been tolerating it well. I took a blood test for food sensitivities and since then I have had a lot less migraines and headaches. I drink gatorade and extra water when I get a bad one and it seems to help some.
Posted 8/12/2008 1:32 PM (GMT 0)
Like princesscolon, I also have migraines that I believe are triggered by UC.

I suffer a lot from headaches and also recommend strongly the importance of staying hydrated and keeping a regular eating and sleeping schedule. My regular doc said that sometimes when you have constant headaches they kind of become self perpetuating and that a short course of strong pain medication may stop the cycle. I didn't try it though so can't recommend.

Do you have allergies? The can cause headaches too.
Posted 8/12/2008 1:51 PM (GMT 0)
Headaches here too, although I thought it was the steroids. but have a dull headache most of the time. I did think it was neck related but it's fine the last few days and headache still there....most likely the Asacolon and/or not enough water....
Posted 8/12/2008 4:51 PM (GMT 0)
I've never seen anything written about a connection of headaches to IBD, it's 2 seperate entities, and not a symptom of IBD...chances are that even if you didn't have IBD you'd still have issues with headaches, or even vise-versa.

:)
Posted 8/12/2008 6:22 PM (GMT 0)
i went to the doctors this morning and i told him that i kept having headaches but that they where worse when i was on my period. he told me that i have migraines. he said i should take ibuprofen when i have them. but i heard that its not good to take ibuprofen when you have UC. is there some other anti inflamatory i can take other than ibuprofen?
Posted 8/12/2008 8:28 PM (GMT 0)
You could talk to your GP about the headaches. There are other migraine meds that are not NSAIDs that you could take. Also, if the headaches were sudden onset, it might be worth running more tests. A GI is not the doc you want doing that - most will send you to your GP.
Posted 8/12/2008 9:24 PM (GMT 0)
When I started Rowasa I had pretty bad headaches for about a week, then it went away. And then when I had to start taking double-doses of Rowasa per day I got headaches again for a week. And it's also listed as a side effect of Mesalamine:

http://ibdcrohns.about.com/library/sideeffects/blrectalmesalamine.htm

So maybe if you're taking Mesalamine it's cuz of that.

But other than medication and their side-effects, IBD shouldn't be causing headaches. And don't use NSAIDs.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/ulcerative-colitis/DS00598/DSECTION=treatments-and-drugs
Posted 8/12/2008 10:25 PM (GMT 0)
I always get headaches too during flares.Could it also be a sign that you are low in minerals or dehydrated maybe? We UCer's need to drink plenty of water!!
Posted 8/12/2008 11:40 PM (GMT 0)
i started taking iron. but is it good to take multi vitamins?
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