Headache frequency/intensity

[briansmome]

So help me out here; I am beyond understanding, I think. I guess I don't really have it that bad, but thinking of having to deal with this for who knows how long is starting to get me down a little. My headaches (the bad ones, anyway) come roughly every two weeks, last about two days and are accompanied by vomiting. I am currently using Neurontin and Fioricet. Yesterday I took the Fioricet three times with little to know relief. I don't know where to go now. I was using Meclizine for the nauseau/vomiting but as that came regardless, I quit. One less thing to have to pay for.

[Cheryl R]

Meclizine is usually used for vertigo/dizziness.       You might see if can get some Reglan, Phenergan or maybe even some Zofran.    There are others used also.          I hope you can get relief from the headaches also with what ever medicine does end up working for you.
                                         Cheryl R

[Syl]

It is good if you have a two-week run without headaches. However, headaches that last for two days & are accompanied by vomitting don't sound like fun to me. May I suggest ginger candies or ginger tea to help with the nausea/vomitting.

I've been getting nausea more and more often. I used to get it maybe once every few weeks. It accompanied a headache & I did vomit. Now, I'm getting the nausea a few times/wk , but without the headache. I either chew on ginger candies or make ginger tea. I don't vomit, just feel nauseous for a bit.

A heating pad works wonders for my headaches. For the past few weeks I was waking up with a headache every night & every morning. I think stress around my neck & shoulders caused these headaches to return. I was getting these maybe once or twice/month. So with the return of these a.m. headaches, I have resorted to sleeping with my heating pad on & under my neck. It works. I haven't woken up with a headache on the nights I use the heating pad. I do worry that I could cause a fire in my sleep.

Syl

[Lizard]

Syl,
I live for my heating pad, have one plugged in near the couch and one in my bed.  It helps so much when the neck and shoulders are a mess.

Briansmome,
I just wanted to mention that perhaps you should keep a headache journal, include intensity 1-10, duration, medication taken and its affect, food you ate or if you were stressed etc... Just generally how you were feeling before the headache set in as well as anything else you find interesting or odd when you get/have the headaches.  This can be used as proof of your pain, as well as great tool for your Dr.  I hope you are being seen by a headache specialist, but if not you should find one ASAP.  nobody should have to endure pain without any relief.

Liz

[Captain Deb]

Have you ever tried a triptan?  Imitrex, Relpax, Zomig, and Maxalt are just a few. They are migraine abortive meds.  Try to get a few samples from your doc.  The pills take longer to work and some of these come in nasal sprays and injectapens, which get the meds into your system way faster.  These meds are much less effective if you wait till your headache is really bad to take them--you have to take them at the first sign.

Hope you are seeing a headache specialist, and if you aren't start looking for one and meanwhile start a journal.  Good Luck!

Capt Deb

[briansmome]

Yeah, tried the Imitrex, but it had no effect at all on the pain. My GP told me to take at the first sign of pain as well, problem is I don't normally feel them coming on and they start at night and the pain wakes me up. So by then it is pretty bad. But anyway. Not sure what you guys mean by Headache Specialist?

[CHD63]

Although I have not been troubled with post-AN headaches, if you do a Google search on headache specialist and put the name of your city or closest larger city, it will pop up with doctors specializing in headaches ..... very often a neurologist.  Probably the best way .....  is to try to find someone in your community who has benefitted from a pain or headache clinic.  Maybe others on here can give you better suggestions.

Clarice

[Captain Deb]

Yes! I can relate to the waking up in the middle of the night with a full=blown migraine.  Injectable Imitrex is worlds different than pill Imitrex--gets in your body in 5 mins compared to 45 mins or an hour.  What kind of doc are you seeing for your headaches--your GP?  The surgeon who treated you?  Many major cities have headache clinics--I saw one for 2 years, but now I am seeing a pain management specialist--we've figured out my headaches are occipital neuralgia caused by irritated nerves in my neck.  I am beginning the process of having these nerves ablated e.g. "put to sleep" semi-permanently.  

There is a great  audio CD of a headache workshop given at the last ANA symposium in Chicago by Dr John Leonetti.  It is available here:

http://www.ctran.com/cgi/relycart.cgi?DN=ctran.com&FILE=/orders/ANA/orderform.htm

#809-07

Believe me, briansmome, you do not have to live like this!  And believe me, too, I lived like that for years and it is life-altering.  There is help out there, you just have to do some research, be your own advocate, and find it.  Doing a lot of reading of past topics in this section is helpful, too.

There are many of us willing to have phone conversations with you, too.  Feel free to personal message any of us for our phone numbers.

Hugs,

Capt Deb

[kkgriffin]

I am having tremendous headaches since having cyberknife in Nov.  Has anyone had this experience.  I have not been able to get medical help from my ck Drs.  I am in such pain and so frustrated.  Can anyone give me ideas>
Karen

[cin605]

Have you tried gabepenton?or a muscle relaxer?They make this over the counter med here it called Bc
its basicaly asprin and caffien but works fast,
have you seen a headach specialist or pain consultant?