Any Suggestions for Headaches?

[She Cat]

It's been 2 weeks and I am at the end of my rope with headaches. Some days they turn into migraines, other days they aren't too bad, and some days they are on the verge of a migraine but don't quite make it.

I have tried everything I can think of including.

Acetaminophen on a regular basis.

Soma (a muscle relaxer) taken when I am home and not going out. It makes me like Gumby. I call it a Soma vacation... LOL!!!

Darvocet every 4 hours.

I even went out and bought a Netti Pot (omg one of the other members is going to shit laughing when they read this) A Netti Pot is for cleaning out your sinus cavity.

Then the normal heat and ice, and rest. Nothing is working, I still have a headache. Yesterday I spent from 2pm till bedtime on the couch with ice packs and heat....

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated....

Thanks.

[pandora]

Hi she.....

Well as you know I share your headaches.

Amitryptiline.....also used for headaches. It can make you sleepy and cause weight gain. I can't remember exactly but I think it is an antidepressant or classified as that.

I was put on neurontin or gabapentin...this also helps with headaches.

If you go see a pain control specialist.......I started to have cervical epidurals along with nerve blocks on either side of my head.....they have actually helped my headaches.

I hope you get some much needed relief soon...I FEEL for you...I really do. I hope this gives you a few more reatment options but pain control clinics have really helped me.

[pandora]

Oh and she.....I think darvocet (we have percoct here in canada) also has acetaminophen or tylenol already in it and if you take too much tylenol there is something called rebound headaches. Make sure you are not taking too much tylenol in a 24 hour period.

[nic]

Topamax used to work really well for me...but then I started getting kidney stones...ouch!

[2quilt]

I took Amytriptiline as an antidepressant and it made me so constipated that i could not go for over a week.

Tylenol makes your blood pressure go up through the roof. That can make a headache!

I take Topamax to prevent migraines, 50 mg twice a day, and i do have a kidney stone in my right side, upper pole, and when i see my new primary care the end of March I am going to ask him to either should we take me off Topamax or reduce it or remove the stone or something.

I give myself shots of Imitrex when i get a migraine, which can be 2wice a week or twice a month depending on how upset i am.

I also get acupuncture.

Can you get to the doctor or pain management doctor? If you want to give yourself a shot of imitrex, i can mail you some to try.

[She Cat]

Thanks everyone for all of the advice.

Pand, I do know about rebound headaches so I try to be careful, but I didn't know that Darvocet had acetaminophen in it. I will be more careful with that.

2quilt, I am med sensitive and Amytriptiline made me SLEEP and groggy all day long, even at 7 1/2 mgs. Couldn't take it at all.

Nic, I will have to make an appointment with Dr to consider new meds. I am just so med sensitive that I absolutely HATE having to try new things, only to get sick from side effects and have to come off of it anyway.

I do need to do something though as these headaches are getting out of control. Today I feel like ramming my head into a wall.

[linasmom]

She Cat,

My husband gets migraines and our doctor prescribed him Propranolol, which just happens to a medicine they are attempting to use to treat PTSD.

Best,
Rachel

[Grama-Herc]

I don't know if this will help or not, but is does work for me Most of the time. Since most of our H/A's come from stress, we need to learn how to relax.

I have been able to lay down and begin to concentrate on my feet until I feel them relax and the move up to my calfs and so on. My H/A is usually gone beofre I get to my torso.

Just concentrating on relaxing the various muscles works for me. Maybe this will help you too

[She Cat]

Herc,

The relaxing part is one of my bigger issues that I still deal with. Although I do have a tape that is guided yoga from the Kripula Healing Institute here in the Berkshires. I guess I need to plug it in and relax. God I just want to cut my head off, put it in a corner till it feels better....Believe me....If I could...I WOULD!!!!!!

[She Cat]

I am on my way to the hospital. I have just realized (upon trying to bend over) the 101 fever, and the many trips to the bathroom today......Diverticulitis will be added to the frigging headaches.

This is probably my 15th time having it in 30 yrs, I have been lucky so far that nothing has ruptured and I haven't needed emergency surgery.

Please keep me in your prayers that I will only need an anti biotic this trip too.

Just great! Both ends are F^%$#@ up now!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks....

[morgan]

My thoughts are with you She Cat. I hope you get well soon. I hope you find a solution for your headaches too.

Sending good vibes and warm wishes, Morgan

[pandora]

She, please keep us updated.

[2quilt]

yes, please let us know what happened at the hospital and how you feel now. hopefully you wont have to spend the whole night there.

[Grama-Herc]

I sure hope that by the time I tryed this you were already home from the hospital and on some meds and your way to recovery.

My prayers are with you.. Get well soon

[upstream]

For some reason milkshakes and the dark have helped me with headaches in the past, though sounds like what you're dealing with is more severe.

Hope everything works out.

[She Cat]

Hi Guys,

Just got home.....Had to have IV anti biotic's and they sent me home with more. Couldn't give me ANYTHING for pain while I was there. I was honest. I drove myself to the hospital. So I am home in my jammies and I am taking 2 Vicodin and going to bed...

Thanks for the well wishes. See you in the morning.

[pandora]

I am glad you ae back...what did they tell you was the reason you had a fever???? Was it diverticulitis???? I hope your headache is better after you get some rest.
Take Care.
Pand

[upstream]

Glad you got help, sweet dreams.

[She Cat]

Yes,

I have Diverticulitis, plus the headache. I feel so wonderful...NOT!!!! I just called a friend to take me to the Pharmacy and grocery shopping, because I am supposed to be on a liquid diet. Well I asked... She can't, so I guess I have to get dressed and do it myself.

This is one of those times that I wish there was someone around that could help. I am sick, in so much pain, and I have to drag my ass out. Ok, I am a blubbering fool right now, typing between tears isn't easy, as i am sure most of you know.

Later.

[Grama-Herc]

:kiss:I am so sorry you feel so bad. There is nothing worse than being alone when you are sick. BUT! You are not alone. Ya got "US" :Hug_emoticon:

Just wish I could help with the errands. That is the part that sucks. Hang in there and you should get better if you are a good patient!

Take care of you for us "ME"

[pandora]

Oh She.....I could have written exactly what you just said. I just had my roommare take me to get a prescription and pay a bill...I am so fortunate that she is in my life right now, i don't know what i would do without her right now.

I wish you were closer.....it would be so nice to see and talk to a person face to face that feels exactly like I do. Take good care of yourself. Are you able to take some time off of work????

[tiltmonster]

Go fragerance free, and buy an organic bed, your headache is most likely toxicological:
With all the snake oils, meds, and placebo suggestions; it took severe migranes like a cramp in the middle of my head and down the neck; to drive me to avoid chemicals, and spend a lot of money on a bed. 911 calls by my doctor, and the hospital visit, were absolutely no help for me, and made things worse. Desperation pushed me to make the best investment I can reccomend. Go fragerance free, and invest in a good organic bed. Sleep is when your brain does its maintenance cleaning. Make sure you know what "fragerance free" means. I mean complete fragerance free(no chemical fragerance, cleaners, etc, at all in your home; especially your bedroom). Once you get all the fragerance out, buy an organic bed down to the last pillow and sheet. I don't care if you have to buy a cheap metal frame, and get a single three inch mattress; everything must be organic. Strip your bedroom down to the concrete or tile floor, remove everything except the bed. Everything, I mean the clothes in the closet as well. Seal any vents with food grade sandwich bags, use a window unit for cooling. Suck clean air into a window every night, by pushing out another window or the doorway. No chemicals enter that room, not on your person(toiletries and cosmetics must be organic as well, no perfumes), not on pets, no cleaners, no insecticides, nothing enters that room. For heat-I hope you live in a warmer climate, bundle up, or try a radiant heat source. Now you can sleep, and your toxicological migrane will ease very shortly, if it is anything like mine. I went from a water bed and heater, to a cotton/wool bed. Good luck-my brain cramp went away by the second night in my new bed, after two months of severe non-stop pain.:crazy:

Note: with an organic bed, you will need to condition the room in humid climates, as mold and mildew can be a problem. Special casings are also recomended for hygene(mites and such). Even washing your hands with regular soap can keep you from getting clean sleep, your hands can find their way around your face, while you sleep; and that can be enough to disrupt sleep. Even your hair and skin can track fragerance from other sources on to pillows. If you are this sensitive, bath with organics prior to bed each night and wash bedding often. I am so sensitive at times, the Urea(Ammonia) in my own sweat becomes toxic. Not everyone is this sensitive all the time. Hope this obsessivly long paragraph helps. Don't mind the grammer and spelling.

[She Cat]

I don't have a choice right now... I am in so much pain, can't walk upright, fever, chills, and really feel like crap. No pun intended.

Thanks to everyone that wished me well.....It's nice to know who your friends really are. Just to say I care, I feel for you or whatever is so important when you are not feeling good.

Thanks guys I really appreciate it.....

[Grama-Herc]

Hey there lady.

Just checking in to see how you are feeling?

[She Cat]

Herc,

Been on the couch since Friday afternoon. Starting to feel like I am *MOLDED* to it...LOL!!!!! I am planning on getting off of it tomorrow, and becoming human again soon. Thanks for asking....

[hodge]

Oh Wen, you've been through the ringer! I'm so sorry you've had all this pain and trouble. I hope you're feeling better today. Are there any stores near you that will deliver groceries, meds, etc?

Please take care!

Hodge

[nor]

How are you doing She?

I too, suffer from migraines that knock me out for days. Nothing would work (even prescriptions) unless I took an Excedrin Migraine right when I felt one coming on. Then I would lie down in a dark room and close my eyes.

I had the flu the last two weeks, and had a SEVERE headache with it. Thought it was a migraine at first, but nothing helped. You may be suffering from one of the flus that are going around. I found out that there are so many different types. They all don't affect the intestinal tract-some are just the headache, aches and pains, and exhaustion. Hopefully when you went to the hospital they were able to help you out.

There were a couple of days, while I was sick, that I wanted to go to the hospital because my headache was so bad I was dizzy and couldn't stand up. But I tried to lie still and drank lots of ginger ale. Orange juice seemed to help pull me through it.

Hope you are feeling better! I know the agony a migraine can bring on.

nor

[nie]

I have a great massage therapist. She and my chiropractor have really make my headaches less frequent and less painful when they do come.

[She Cat]

Nie,

Is she willing to travel?? LOL!!! I actually just called in for tomorrow too. Just to weak, still feel like crap, and not doing well enough to return to life just yet. Maybe on Monday.

[becvan]

Ooooooh I feel for ya She Cat. Migraines are the worst.

This might sound completely nuts but.. try drinking two tablespoons of lemon juice. Straight up. I know it works for some people (works wonders on my step-mom) and not for others. Advil works for me thank god. However if acidic juices make you queasy then don't try this one!

Hope it gives you a break soon.

bec

[nie]

She Cat,

Have you done any research on reflexology? If you massage the webbing between your thumb and index finger of the hand opposite the migraine pain, it can help relieve it. You have to massage pretty hard, even to the point of some pain, but it really does work. I hope you are feeling better soon.

Nie

[She Cat]

Gee Bec....If I find that I can't drink the lemon juice because of the acidic value, should I try and make lemonade, or is this the proverbial olive branch in disguise?????


Thanks for all of the advice on the headaches everyone. Just trying now to recover from the diverticulitis.

[becvan]

Actually I've tried the diluted (with water) and so has step-mom. Does nothing. Don't ask me why drinking straight up nasty lemon juice works. Haven't got the foggiest. If you try it though, let me know if it works! My step-mom is the only person that I know that actually uses it.

Me, lol, give me good drugs and don't breathe on me.

Glad your recovering. What the hell is diverticulitis? (hell I can neither pronounce or spell that one!)

Bec

P.S. What is the reference to an olive branch? Don't get it.

[Grama-Herc]

Not sure whether to say glad you are feeling better or sorry you still feel sick. Either way, I'm thinking about ya.

[She Cat]

Bec,

Well as I am a person that believes in honesty, and being up front I will start here. Most everyone that has been here for awhile knows that you and I are.....Well.... similar to oil and water. We don't quite get that warm fuzzy feeling from each other.

Actually we have ignore/not spoken to each other in probably 6 months, so I was VERY shocked to see you posting in this thread. Not that you can't, but it did have it's shock value.

The olive branch is a symbol to end the fight, and to extend the hand of friendship.

[becvan]

LOL, So true. I'm sure everyone is rather aware of that too. Yes.. I like that analogy of the olive branch. *grins* Olive branch extended!

bec

[She Cat]

Bec,

I know that we are a little off topic here, but I feel that this is an important issue, so I hope that Anthony will allow this.

We both have PTSD and we both know that trust & friendship (among other things) are huge issues for those of us. Trust is earned, friendships are built, and things don't happen over night.

I salute you for the offer, and the courage too, it took guts. To be totally honest......I am confused, a bit bewildered, and a little unsure.....All I can say........Time will tell.

Again....It took courage to offer, I haven't declined, just being cautious. I hope that you can understand.

[She Cat]

BTW.....Diverticulitis (if you haven't looked it up) Is a very painful and can be life threatening infection of the bowels.....LOL!!!!! Oh how lovely to have to explain that my shit is infected.........LOL!!!!!!

[Cindy]

I suffer from regular headaches and migraines. One of my tricks is to catch it quick before it becomes full blown. (too late for you this time)

This are all my rituals.
1st I check for soreness when I move my eyes or neck = migraine coming
If migraine - I take 50mg of Imitrex followed by another in 1 hr if no improvement. You can take up to 200mg a day.

Another trick I have learned when it is real bad - Ice pack on the back of my neck - on off every half hour.

Wet my hair down with cold water and bundle up in a blanket.

Stay in a dark room and listen to mood music (ocean waves, babbling brook, loons on a lake, ....) then try to take a mental trip: hike in the woods, snorkelling in the carribean, cross country skiing, Focussing on the rythmic actions of the activity. Focus on regular breathing.

Make sure your stomach is not empty - some fruit, crackers, yogert, soup - something light but there. Coke is another good one because of the caffiene and it's ability to settle your stomach.

Sometimes just getting 20 minutes of fresh air outside with dark glasses, a loose baseball cap can break it.

Sinus Advil sometimes will work on tension or sinus headaches where just advil or tylenol won't cut it.

Hope all is well and they got you straightenned out at both ends!

[JustJane]

Kiss your headaches goodbye.

Feverfew. It's an herb. Health food stores sell it in capsule form and in loose leaf. You can make a tea with it or take the capsules. You can even grow it in your garden and dry the leaves and flowers from it yourself to make tea. Feverfew does not work the way most pain remedies work. Just taking a capsule or having a cup of tea when you have a headache isn't going to do anything. It's a cumulative thing. You take one or two capsules a day or drink one or two cups of the tea a day - everyday. It will prevent the headaches from coming in the first place.

Don't take my word for it. Do a google search for herbal headache cure. Do another google search for feverfew. They cross reference each other. It works in almost 99.7% of people who suffer from ocassional or frequent headaches. It does not always work on people who have nerve damage along their spine or neck. It will not work if you have a steel plate or pin in your head or neck.

You will never hear a doctor tell you about this and for the life of me, I can't imagine why. I got it from a hospital nutritionist.

If you don't live near a health food store, you can also get it on ebay - just do a search for "feverefew" and it will come up. Sometimes you can find the seeds in garden catalogs. If you go the seed route, all you need is a little pot of soil, a sunny window and sprinkle it with water every few days. But before you decide to grow it and make your own for tea, see if you can find the loose leaf somewhere and taste it. It smells and tastes horrible.

I have taken a capsule every day for over a decade. I've experimented with the looseleaf version and added some of the feverfew leaves to a cup of lipton tea. That seemed to work too and spared my tastebuds a bit.

One a day, every day. You won't have headaches any more, not even migraines.

[shadowmedic]

i suffered from real bad migraines in iraq and the only thing that would do the trick was 1000mg of excedrine migraine and a 12 hour allegra-d. respectfully, SM