Ice Cream Headaches

[grateful gal]

Doing well after surgery 15 weeks ago - facial paralysis nearly gone now.  But I have "ice cream headaches" - a sharp pain like you have when you eat ice cream too quickly - and avoid them by taking 200 to 400 mgs. of Ibuprofen.  When I forget and go over the four hour period, they hit me.  They last 15 minutes, and then the Ibuprofen kicks in.

My physician told me to do neck exercises - moving my head up and down 18 times, side to side 18 times, and tilting right to left 18 times.  I think that is helping.

Is this so common I shouldn't bother my doctors with it?  Thanks for any suggestions you have. Appreciate this forum.

[Larry]

Hey grateful gal,

What type of surgery did you have?

headaches seem to be very common post surgery and different people have verying degrees of pain and also for varying periods of time. If brufen does the trick then you are very lucky.

cheers



Larry

[Cheryl R]

Have you told your surgeon about the headaches?   It may be nothing to get worried about  but if he hasn't heard about I think he needs to and he can decide if any testing needs to be done.    Are you able to call the office and talk to a nurse.      I don't want to scare you but do think he needs to know if he doesn't.                       
                                                Cheryl R.

[Road Trip Dale]

Grateful gal...

I agree with Cheryl that you need to let your Doctor's know, immediately.  I had my surgery (Translab) last April and would get headaches periodically, but not as severe as some.  You have to be careful with the Ibuprofen...it can actually cause the headaches when used over an extended period of time, not to mention some other nasty side effects.  I was addicted to IBP for awhile (an arthritic neck), and if I didn't take the stuff a couple of times a day I'd get, what could be termed, Ice Cream headaches.  The Docs managed to get me switched over to Tylenol and ironically after the surgery my neck is better than it was before, go figure. 

Go see you Doc...or at least call the nurse.  Anything out of the ordinary needs to be reported to them immediately.  What we/you have gone through is bad enough without adding any possible complications.  We are only lay persons on this site (albeit experienced, well informed, lay persons), so get a good medical opinion.

Best of luck to ya!

Road Trip (AKA Mad Ivan)

[Janet]

Grateful Gal,

Where are your headaches? One side or both? Do you get other types of headaches too? You should let your surgeon know for the record and maybe they could refer you to a headache specialist if they continue. A lot of us with post-op headaches have found the most help at headache or pain clinics. I waited a year for my headaches to resolve on their own and they never did. I should have gone earlier. Keep us posted.

Janet

[grateful gal]

Thanks, Larry, Janet, Road Trip Dale, Cheryl R.  You all are great!  And I'm grateful for this forum.  Such a help.

We're like another member of this forum - full time RVers - half a country away from my surgeons at the moment.  I will give their nurse a call.  They had told me to take Tylenal and I switched on my own to Ibuprofen.  That could be the problem.

So appreciate the help.  I don't know anyone other that you all who have been through this.

Larry - I'm not sure of the medical terms, but they removed the tumor and a smaller second one by going through behind my right ear.  They got all out but couldn't save my hearing in the right ear.  My facial nerve was not severed but it was "angered" and apparently pressed to the thickness (thinness!) of syran wrap.  I had facial paralysis for over two months - but it's almost back to normal now. 

Really appreciate you all.  Bev

[Larry]

Hey GG,

Tylenol is otherwise known as panadol here and is basic headach relief - like for normal non AN headaches. Ibuprofen is a step up but again is fairly "lightweight" regarding pain control. Both drugs are available at the supermarket here. Indocid or other similar pain relievers are stronger but they tend to be nasty to ya stomach so you have to be careful there. These require a script.

You can then move into drugs like Neurontin which attacke nerve ending pain (used more for seizure control). Thats what I use and find it mildly helps me as none of the others do anything for me.


laz

[Captain Deb]

Grateful Gal,
Do a google on "rebound headaches" which are caused by daily use of OTC and prescription pain relievers. AND place a call to your surgeon/neurologist. Cover your bases.
Capt Deb

[grateful gal]

I followed your advice and called my doctor's office to ask if the ice cream headaches were a problem to be concerned about.  To my surprise, the doctor, himself, called me back and we visited.  He said that one out of three tend to have such headaches and that they do get better. He said that the Ibuprohen that I'm taking is a good solution.  Said it was nothing to worry about. 

He is an amazingly kind and personable neurosurgeon.  He called me the night before my surgery to tell me to relax and have a good night's sleep.  Isn't that neat?!

Thank you all for the suggestion to call.  I feel better now.  Hope you're all doing well.