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To much pressure in my head - normal?

urgh, this is getting ridiculous now:

For the best part of a year, I've had some really bad headaches. I've so far been told it's tension headaches and migraine. I got my eyes tested just before to ensure it was nothing to do with that.

According to the first GP I saw, it has nothing to do with the cysts on my brain and to just take some paracetamol and ibuprofen, which didn't work.

Since then, I've been on:
- paracetamol and aspirin
- imigrain
- amtriptylne (sp)
- gabapentin

I've had one MRI and blood test done. MRI scan showed no change from 2 years ago and blood test was normal.

I was put on 100mg of Gabapentin 2 times a day to begin with, then that was increased to 100mg 3 times a day, then 100mg 2 times a day and 200mg in the evening. That was then increased to 300mg 2 times a day, which meant for the best part of 3 weeks, I was getting a lot of pain in the after when I would have normally taken a second dose.

No-one seems that concerned over the frequency of my headaches (almost daily) or the constant feeling of pressure in my head. The GP I saw yesterday claims that's "normal?":confused:

Not sure what to do now. I've seen every GP in my surgery over this apart from 2.

I am also concerned over the amount of medication I'm having to put into my body just to function and then there's having to take other stuff because of the side effects.
Original post by OU Student
urgh, this is getting ridicu.


I'm sorry, but I dont think this is the right place to post this. Unless a student comes along who is doing a medical course specialising in headaches, I don't think you'll get a good answer. Try putting this up on a medical website of some description - there are lots around - and maybe get in contact with the NHS directly to see if you can contact someone who specialises in the area.

As for the constant pressure, I think you're describing a constant headache - the type that aches more when you move suddenly? I get these occasionally, but I dont think you should have one all the time.

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Original post by OU Student
urgh, this is getting ridiculous now:

For the best part of a year, I've had some really bad headaches. I've so far been told it's tension headaches and migraine. I got my eyes tested just before to ensure it was nothing to do with that.

According to the first GP I saw, it has nothing to do with the cysts on my brain and to just take some paracetamol and ibuprofen, which didn't work.

Since then, I've been on:
- paracetamol and aspirin
- imigrain
- amtriptylne (sp)
- gabapentin

I've had one MRI and blood test done. MRI scan showed no change from 2 years ago and blood test was normal.

I was put on 100mg of Gabapentin 2 times a day to begin with, then that was increased to 100mg 3 times a day, then 100mg 2 times a day and 200mg in the evening. That was then increased to 300mg 2 times a day, which meant for the best part of 3 weeks, I was getting a lot of pain in the after when I would have normally taken a second dose.

No-one seems that concerned over the frequency of my headaches (almost daily) or the constant feeling of pressure in my head. The GP I saw yesterday claims that's "normal?":confused:

Not sure what to do now. I've seen every GP in my surgery over this apart from 2.

I am also concerned over the amount of medication I'm having to put into my body just to function and then there's having to take other stuff because of the side effects.


I'm not entirely sure what you're hoping for I'm afraid. It seems to me that all the appropriate steps have been taken - you've had an MRI which hasn't shown any change in your cysts, so you don't need another scan at the moment. They've also gone down the proper path of managing your pain - gabapentin is usually the medication that is used for difficult to control pain that hasn't responded to other things and you've had your dosed altered as you've been seeing your doctors about it.

Why do you feel that it's not being taken seriously? They've been taking all the correct steps and it sounds like they've been very thorough. I'm assuming you've seen a neurologist too?

As for the medication/side effect issue - that's something you need to work out for yourself with your GP. Do you want to continue the headaches without the analgesia, or are you willing to put up with some side effects if the medication can help the headache? Its your decision in the end.

Have you considered your stress or anxiety levels at all? Although they may not be causing the headaches they may well contribute to the difficulty in managing your symptoms. Perhaps something you need to think about?

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Reply 3
Is your blood pressure normal? If it's either too low or too high, it can cause headaches.
Original post by Ciel.
Is your blood pressure normal? If it's either too low or too high, it can cause headaches.


Well, not really. If high blood pressure is causing a headache - then it's dangerously high and needs urgent treatment. It's a very common misunderstanding.

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Reply 5
Original post by Mushi_master
Well, not really. If high blood pressure is causing a headache - then it's dangerously high and needs urgent treatment. It's a very common misunderstanding.

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Depends on the person, some people are more sensitive. But yeah, really low blood pressure is a much more common cause of headaches, contrary to high blood pressure.
Original post by Ciel.
Depends on the person, some people are more sensitive. But yeah, really low blood pressure is a much more common cause of headaches, contrary to high blood pressure.


Genuinely, it is pretty much an old wives tale unless it's dangerous. Blood pressure isn't the cause of headaches that everyone thinks it is.

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I wish TSR cured headaches but I'm afraid it causes more headaches:frown:

But seriously you have gone through everything, I don't see what more the doctors could do....
Have you maybe considered your stress levels and diet?
(edited 9 years ago)
Original post by LostGear
I wish TSR cured headaches but I'm afraid it causes more headaches:frown:


Now that is a valid cause.

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Reply 9
Original post by Mushi_master
Genuinely, it is pretty much an old wives tale unless it's dangerous. Blood pressure isn't the cause of headaches that everyone thinks it is.

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No, I was speaking from experience. The medications I take often lower my blood pressure too much, and when it happens I get terrible headaches.
Original post by Ciel.
No, I was speaking from experience. The medications I take often lower my blood pressure too much, and when it happens I get terrible headaches.


Some anti-hypertensive medications do cause headaches yes, but not because of dropping your blood pressure too much, rather because they cause dilation of blood vessels in your brain (same kinda reason that nitrates cause headaches).

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Reply 11
Original post by Mushi_master
Some anti-hypertensive medications do cause headaches yes, but not because of dropping your blood pressure too much, rather because they cause dilation of blood vessels in your brain (same kinda reason that nitrates cause headaches).

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It was confirmed by a doctor. Plus I have a blood pressure monitor, which pretty much proves what I'm saying - I take the medication everyday, most of the time I'm fine and my blood pressure is ok. Often I get headache and measure my blood pressure it's deadly low.
Original post by Ciel.
It was confirmed by a doctor. Plus I have a blood pressure monitor, which pretty much proves what I'm saying - I take the medication everyday, most of the time I'm fine and my blood pressure is ok. Often I get headache and measure my blood pressure it's deadly low.


I'm not disputing the symptoms you've been experiencing - I'm just saying low blood pressure is not a classic cause of headaches, and that when people take medication that lowers their blood pressure, some of those medications can cause headaches, and by a similar mechanism lowers blood pressure (ie it's not the low bp per se causing it). Anyhow, this doesn't help the OP at all, as either way his blood pressure will be measured at some points, so I'll stop being off topic.

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Reply 13
Original post by Mushi_master
I'm not disputing the symptoms you've been experiencing - I'm just saying low blood pressure is not a classic cause of headaches, and that when people take medication that lowers their blood pressure, some of those medications can cause headaches, and by a similar mechanism lowers blood pressure (ie it's not the low bp per se causing it). Anyhow, this doesn't help the OP at all, as either way his blood pressure will be measured at some points, so I'll stop being off topic.

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It's fine, all I wanted was to make sure that the OP is familiar with every possible cause of his headaches, even if it's an unlikely one.

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