OMG - Terrible Headaches

I am scheduled for surgery in 10 days, and I am currently med-free while waiting. Needless to say, my symptoms have come back.

One of the symptoms I normally get is a wicked headache. This time though, the headache is so much worse. It is constantly low-grade, but increases to a pounding, "hide from the light" headache during BMs - even the tiny ones. It quickly returns to the low-grade headache afterward. When I lay down, it intensifies again, as well as when I stand or sit, drink etc.

I don't have high blood pressure, and the only thing that helps the headache is Tylenol with codeine.

I know I only have ten days to go, but I am curious if this happens to anyone else? I am beginning to wonder if it might be attributed to something other than UC.

Anemia is possible. I haven't had my blood checked for a few months. They took some at my pre-op appt, but I don't know what they did with it other than type it.

They only time I don't have some type of headache is when I am on prednisone. This is definitely worse that the ones in the past.

Do you think there is any reason that I shouldn't be taking Tylenol #3 prior to surgery?

I get regular headaches (Migraine) too and I am on Verapamil 240mg a day for that. I have used too much of NSAIDs so now they lead to gastric / intestinal bleeding so I can't use them. I failed to figure out in last 4 years why I get migraine but it started around the same time I was diagnosed with UC and my symptoms are more severe than yours. I get pulsating headache all over the head and really I can not do anything. I am close to a dead person.

For me, even though I get bleeding I am resorted to Ibuprofen 400mg (but then comes Pred course). I am starting butterbur soon and hoping that it will relieve me.

If you are asking, why are you getting it, I don't have answer but you could use NSAID with a lot of caution, talk to doc. Most likely it will relieve you of pain.