Question Any Suggestions for Headaches?

She Cat · #1 24-02-2008, 10:09 PM

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 · #2 25-02-2008, 12:30 AM

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 · #3 25-02-2008, 12:33 AM

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 · #4 25-02-2008, 01:25 AM

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

2quilt · #5 25-02-2008, 01:47 AM

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 · #6 25-02-2008, 03:27 AM

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 · #7 25-02-2008, 04:28 AM

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 · #8 25-02-2008, 08:05 AM

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 · #9 25-02-2008, 08:42 AM

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 · #10 25-02-2008, 10:28 AM

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....