Headaches

Ok, so I've been having these really bad headaches for like over two weeks now. I've had like continual low level (not very painful headaches) pretty much all the time, and occasionally they become very very intense and painful. When I took painkillers, the pain eased up for maybe an hour or so before coming back. I've also been feeling kinda sick, and I've thrown up a couple of times.

After they'd been happening for a week I phoned NHS direct (it was a saturday so I couldn't see the GP), and they told me just to keep taking what I was taking (paracetamol or cocodamol, depending on what I had to hand), and to see the GP on monday, and phone if they got any worse. The next day, they were much much more intense, so I phoned again and they arranged for me to see the emergency out of hours GP. If you want to know how that went, see my thread "Damned NHS With Their Dyslexic Iraqi Doctors". He prescribed me very strong codeine and told me to see my GP the next day.

I went to my GP, and she told me to stop taking the codeine because they make headaches and migraines worse. She told me I was probably suffering from migraines, and gave me Naratryptan (naramig) which only works if taken right at the start of a headache, and domperidone (motillium) for the nausea. She told me to try taking paracetamol with aspirin as well, as that was more effective for migraines. she also told me to come back on thursday if they still hadn't gone.

By thursday, there had been no real change, only that the asprin and naramig were more effective at relieving the pain. She then put me on a course of beta-blockers (propanolol), and told me to come back in a week if my headaches weren't better. A week will be the day after tomorrow, and I'm still feeling rubbishy. I've still got the constant low level headpain, and the intense attacks are still occuring, albeit not as frequently.

This is really getting to be a problem because when I'm in school, I sometimes have to sit out of lessons, and I find it very hard to use the computers in the study room because the lights in there are so bright. There've been several days over the past couple of weeks when I've not been able to make it into school at all because the pain's been so bad. When I'm at home, I can only use the computer in about 10 minute bursts before being forced to come off, and so I'm not able to finish some of my work. This is really getting me down now.

The point of my thread: I'm going to the doctor on thruday as instructed. Until then, besides paracetamol and aspirin, does any one have any suggestions as to what might help the pain until I can see the doc on thursday afternoon?

Thanks!

Reply 1

apple tree

maybe do something you enjoy. I would do something I take pleasure in, it eases the mind, and directs your focus somewhere else. Take a bath/shower, perhaps read a book if you feel up to it, it depends on what you really like doing. I can't concentrate enough sometimes so I do some drawings, makes me feel happy anyway. Nice drink, sit back, general relaxation really. It doesn't always work, but some part of you might feel better for it.

Reply 2

Hullabaloo

Not sure if this will help you as your migraines seem continuous but when ever I get a really bad migraine I usually have a sleep and wake up and its a lot better.
Migraines are the worst, feel like you cant to anything and it only makes you focus on the pain more.
Good luck!

Reply 3

Revd. Mike

Trouble is, I often wake up with the headache :frown:

. Thanks for the advice guys. I'm seeing the doctor this afternoon, I hope she has something to suggest.

Anyone else like to share any palliative pearls of analgesic wisdom?

Reply 4

Fusion

banana's are great for combatting headaches because of the potassium. I used to get the odd headache when i missed lunch so perhaps you should improve your diet

Reply 5

Talya

You're lucky. I've had a constant headache since beginning of April and the Doctor just said there was nothing wrong (I've been 3 times and had tests done) and didn't give me anything :frown:

Reply 6

notsoperfect

this won't help at all, but i keep getting the same thing. i think it's because i'm so stressed with finishing my a-levels. i don't know what point you're at at school, but i bet 100% that they go away after exams, if you are taking them!

Reply 7

7Magpies

I feel so sorry for you. I get migranes too, but they're generally not continuous like your headache seems to be, so I'm not sure if this'll help.

Basically, bright lights often set mine off, so wearing sunglasses and keeping in the shade where possible may prevent the pain from getting worse. My mum gets migranes too and hers are made worse from chocolate, so avoid eating that (although since you're being sick, I guess you're probably not eating that anyway!).

Wet a flannel with cold water, fold it over on your forehead and lie down quietly with your eyes closed in a shadey room, even if you don't sleep.

Mine also usually go away if I go to sleep in a dark room.

There are these tablets called migralief which can be bought over the counter from chemists. The yellow ones are stronger than the pink, but I think you have to take the pink first (see instructions). Anyway, I take these and they help a lot. I find they're less effective if taken in the middle of a migrane and they don't take it completely away, but they're supposed to. I'm not sure if you should take it with any of the other medicines you're currently on, so you should check with your doctor. But they are good. I never leave home without them, encase I get stuck somewhere with a migrane.

Also, I find computers and TV's make mine extremly worse. Is there any way you can heve a break from them, just for a day or so?

There are webpages on the net for migranes with lots of remedies that are supposed to work, but I've never really tried them. My mum has, it's how she worked out hers were partially caused by chocolate.

Hang in there! It WILL go eventualy...

Reply 8

La Trampa

you could be having tension headaches. i had them a while ago,they go and come back by themselves and are totally random. they hurt loads and you might even think you've got a migraine. i didn't get nausea or anything but the doc ddi tell me it can happen. all you have to do is try and rest and take it easy,because stress could be causing them.and take some painkillers for pain relief but if you are having tension headaches there's not much you can do :hugs:

Reply 9

tbm

Have you had an eye test recently? Might be worth having one if you dont already wear glasses and havent had one in a while.

Also, what is your diet like? I also suffer from really bad headaches reguarly (have done since I was a teenager and my doctor couldnt ever explain the problem), but recently Ive been on a diet and cut all junk food, chocolate and processed foods out of my diet and I feel loads better- and haven't had a single headache for about 2 weeks! It might not be related but you might want to have a look at what you are eating anyway- there might be something there which is setting off your headaches or making them worse.

And when you do get a headache, try using a cool gel pack on your forehead, always works for me.

Reply 10

lskdgjsj

It's almost certainly too late for this, but this Web site is very informative, and advocates a four-fold approach to the treatment and management of migraines: http://www.migraines.org/treatment/treatctm.htm.

Reply 11

Revd. Mike

Thanks so much guys! I'll try some of these out. I went back to my doc today and told her I was still having headaches, although not as many of the severe ones, so she assumes the beta blockers to be the right course of action, and has doubles my dosage. I have to go back again in 7 days for another check up and possible further investigation :s-smilie:

Oh dear, you know it's not good when the pharmacist at Tesco recognises you instantly and greets you with "Back again?"

Reply 12

Revd. Mike

Wow, sorry to resurrect, just found this thread after months hehe. People may be interested to know (if they were following this little saga at the time) that I'm still having the recurrent migraines, although the continual pain has now gone.

I'm averaging about 2 or 3 episodes of migraine a week, most of which I'm able to stop in time by using this amazing triptan medication nasal spray (zolmitriptan), which is extremely effective.
Downside is the taste in your mouth a minute after using it is indescribably hellish.

I was moved of the propranolol ages ago, after it was deemed not that effective and was making my already low BP even lower. I was moved onto amitriptyline, which was more effective, but eventually I had to stop taking them because as the dose was increased, I was starting to become more and more sedated, and i refused to take them.

I was reffered to a neurologist, and he recommended some strategies and a new preventative medication, sodium valproate, normally used in epilepsy to control seizures. Apparently it's also quite effective as migraine prophylaxis. I'm now managing my condition as best I can, and waiting for my GP to find the effective dose with the new tablets hehe. It's looking up hehe.

Anyone else had this sort of experience, being bounced around from treatment to treatment?

Reply 13

username35227

the propanolol will help ease the migraines...i was given them for anxiety related syymptoms but they can be used to minimize migraines as well. keep clear headed and relaxed about everyting and them migraines, god willing, will fade away.
As mentioned before a bannana, the ones with black dots, nice sweet ones are good as they can help elevate moods and can help reduce migraines

Reply 14

Revenged

ganghadin

the propanolol will help ease the migraines...i was given them for anxiety related syymptoms

Propranolol is the worst beta blocker around!!!... If you insisted on taking something for anxiety, you should have asked for atenolol (or equivalent) - which has much fewer side effects... Propranolol was the very first beta blocker to be invented and so the only real reason to use it is that it's cheap... I guarantee when you start to learn how these drugs work - you'll think twice about taking such things again... Pharmocology behind beta-blocker treatment is for anxiety is dodgy... believe me...

Edit: Nothing to do with migraines btw... Propranolol can be used for migranes because it's lipid soluble so can pass the blood/brain barrier...

Reply 15

Revd. Mike

No, the propranolol wasn't really helping and it was causing nasty BP drops. Also, the neuro pointed out that the GP shouldn't have prescribed it with a history of asthma.

I'm now on 300mg sodium valproate controlled release for another 14 days, then I have to go for another assessment, then they'll put the dose up again and see how it goes for another fortnight. Getting there slowly :rolleyes:

As for the banana suggestion, I have heard that, but i can't stand ripe bananas! I like them still fairly green. They're healthier that way too, more starch and less sugar, so longer burning energy!

Reply 16

Revd. Mike

I tried a few experiments, and there was no difference in the amount of headaches in the times when I ahd no caffeine tot he times when I had my regular amount of caffeine, to the times when i had loads of caffeine, wish it was that simple :frown:

I did also try an exclusion diet, and I didn't find anything triggering them. My GP suggest a gluten or similar food intolerance, as it runs in the family and could cause migraine. She suggested trying the York tests, but they're mega expensive for something that doesn't seem likely.