headaches and stomach issues

[marjoryb]

I'm still fiddling around with the right mix of medicines to ease headache pain.  I was doing fine for a few months with cranio sacral massage therapy .    Then, I changed jobs and my new insurance did not become effective for 90 days.   I was covered under COBRA, but the number of therapy sessions allowed, referrals, and coverage all became too complicated so I was in insurance "limbo" and ceased the therapy sessions.   

The headaches came back with a vengeance for a few weeks, but I have now begun a new regime and they have again abated.   My problem now is that I get severe stomach pains/burning and believe that the constant diet of Exedrin has created stomach issues.

Have any of you experienced this?

Marjoryb

[Captain Deb]

Oh yes, the tummy issues! I ruined the lining of my stomach permanently by using ibuprophen (Advil)almost daily in the year following my surgery. .  Is Exedrin ibuprophen or acetomenaphen?  Ibu will ruin your stomach, while acetomenaphen will not.  Both of these meds can cause rebound headaches as well.  Have you ever been on gabapentin?  It seems for me it is the best at taming down the chronic pain with the least amount of side effects. Read the paper on cervicogenic headaches here:

http://anausa.org/forum/index.php?topic=11368.0

I would recommend never taking meds on an empty stomach and you can also take them with an OTC product called Prilosec.

Capt Deb

[marjoryb]

Capt Deb
I can always rely on you for an answer.   Thanks.

Excedrin contains acetaminophen.     I take it when I feel a headache coming on and usually can thwart the attack.     I had been waking up frequently at 2:00 or 3:00 am with a wicked headache so now I also take Excedrin at bedtime along with a low dosage of Nortriptyline.      I have had Gabapentin, but I don't remember that drug being very helpful.    Of course, it's probably been about two years or more since I tried it.   And, these headaches have changed over time.

But, now, I have developed this stomach issue .  I take Zantac 150 when that pain occurs.   

I changed jobs in August and was talking to a new coworker about medical care.   I mentioned that I had lost my hearing on one side and, out of the blue, he asked me if I had had surgery for an acoustic neuroma.  I was so surprised ... I then learned that he had the same surgery in the 1970s.    He lost his hearing on one side too, but has had no other side effects.   No headaches, no dizziness, no facial issues, no loss of taste, no long term medical problems at all... it's amazing that some come out of this so well while others get the works!

Marjoryb

[Larry]

Mary,

As always, Capt'n Deb is on the money. Re Zantac or Losec or those sort of drugs, you should speak to a gastro specialist but advice (my wife is on Losec) from the leading gastroent..... in Oz that once you start these drugs, you need to be on them forever. Not sure about Zantac but Losec is a wonder drug for us. My wife sufferred similar issues that youi have due to anti inflamatory meds so now pops a losec every day and does not have any problems or side effects. But just taking it when it flares up isn't helpful because they usually take 12 to 24 hours to take effect meanwhile, your stomach is going through hell


cheers


Laz

[Rc Moser]

ibuprofen or acetaminophen can send you stomach into shock, I can take very little aspirin IMO it will really mess up your stomach. I too sometimes go through this, migraine, take Tylenol, laying for hours, stomach starts to get up set, take more Tylenol, now upchucking, now head is really pounding, but after several  upchucks the stomach settles down and the head slowing stops thumping. Course I try to eat something the first 4 or 5 doses, but sometimes it won't stay down.  I can't comment for any other drug, I only take over the counter so far, for me I don't want to have to deal with a possible side effect that's worse than the condition I got.

[Captain Deb]

A lot of folks give up on the gabapentin before it really starts working which can be up to a month or even longer.  I would recommend that anyone suffering from headaches for more than 6 months see a headache specialist at a headache or pain clinic.  It took me 3 years to figure that one out!

Capt Deb

[Larry]

 

but after several  upchucks the stomach settles down

Purging (slightly better description to upchuck) means you have a deep and meaningful issue with your stomach / stomach lining or oesophagus. As i posted earlier, seeing an endo.... specialist is pretty important because a burnt  oesophagus will mean that you may have permanent purging and reflux. A crapped out stomach can result in ulcers. None of which you need or helps the headaches as you are aware. I can't emphasis enough for you to check things out sooner than later before it becomes untreatable.

As a note, my wife was on anti inflam meds for some time due to a chronic back injury and these meds badly burnt her oesophagus. She is permanently on Losec and does not feel any pain or issue - nor are there any side effects.

Laz

[Captain Deb]

Is Losec a proton pump inhibitor like Protonix?  That is what I have been on for 2 years and will probably be on for the rest of my life.  A couple days without it and I am miserable.  Again those of you out there thinking OTC drugs are safe taken on a regular basis for an extended period of time--NOT!!!

Capt Deb

[Rc Moser]

means you have a deep and meaningful issue with your stomach / stomach lining" 

OK this is my opinion! I am no medical expert or claim to be (mechanical yes, but only assume what I have read and what doctors tell me on MY condition.  First off  I guess you overlooked the word sometimes?Not knowing my condition, history, the amount of over the counter pain relievers I take, what I take, how I take and when I take,  the daily, weekly, or monthly doesage I can hardly see how you come to that conclusion? I maybe the lowest consumer of drugs on this forum?

Purging in not uncommon with migraines.  Goggle migraines.  For what I have read  there is no known cure for migraines only and intervention,  At 58 I am only a few pounds over weight (10), (no high blood pressure)work 99.8%, can out preform younger lazy employees, not from stamina but from knowing how to do it the easily and efficiently. I am on NO prescription drugs and want to keep it that way for as long as I can.  They all have side effects and addiction is one of them, not always, but most likely  (not pointing to any person, condition, or problem, after all some have no choice). 

medsearch list possible side effects and IMO no one really knows the long term effects or problems that may pop up?)  I am very sorry that some has to take powerful drugs to get through a day or for conditions created by prescription drugs? I surely don't want to be in those shoes.