Persistant headache

[Helpme155]

I am a 28 year old female and have had a few health problems in the past.  I have graves disease with was treated with radioactive iodine in 2006.  Now I have an underactive thyroid gland, which I am taking 150mcg levothyroxine to treat.  I suffered from glandular fever in 2007 and shingles in 2005.  In October 2007 I went for a routine eye test and was told myy eyes were except I had a slight deterioration in one eye, my prescription wasn't changed.  On the 10th May 2008 I purchased new glasses and at first they felt strange but I soon got used to them.  On 6th June 2008 I went to my GP and explained that I had been suffering from a constant left sided headache for 3 weeks, behind my eye of a throbbing, dull nature.  Sine then I have seen a neurologist who has diagnosed chronic migraine but no medication he has prescribed has helped (anti depressants, beta blockers, NSAIDs, anti epileptics).  A CT scan showed no abnormalities.  I am wondering if it could be because of my glasses.  It hurts when I look up with or without my glasses on and the pain is always there.  I wear my glasses constantly and only take them off for bedtime.  My prescription last time was -3.75 and - 4.25.  My headache seems to get worse whilst looking a computer or concentrating.  I have also seen a chiropracter to noo avail.  Any suggestions would be greatly received, Thankyou

[Helpme155]

Has anyone heard if ginger can help with migraine?

[jenny39]

I am glad you have found some relief.  As far as side effects, I sometimes have felt sleepy and if I can have a short nap and when I wake usually feel somewhat better.  I find also the pill has a bitter taste which can leave a heartburn-like feeling but that is rather short-lived. I once had someone suggest I have my glasses checked as they felt perhaps the prescription could be even slightly off thus resulting in eye strain and headache.  Hope all is getting better. Take care.

[Helpme155]

Hi Jenny, I went to see  my GP this morning and he has put me on sumatriptan.  I took one and got quite a tight chest and throat and felt a bit dizzy but after an hour that subsided.  I still have my headache but the dull throb definately has improved, thanks for the suggestion.  I have also been put on 900mg of gabapentin and I have to see him again in 2 weeks.  If there is no improvement with that then I have to see my neurologist again.  I mentioned my glasses and he said to see a optemetrist so i'm doing that this week also.  Have you had any side effects from the sumatriptan?

[jenny39]

For me, migraines can last for up to a week or so but if I take the smatriptan (perscription) the pain usually lessens significantly.  When the migraine is around, it is constant. Ocassionally, the pain is what I think is really bad and then kicks up a notch for a short time (like what some might call a stabbing pain).  My GP also considered allergies (or sensitivities) to certain foods and sometimes I find dark, gray days I will have a migraine.  I think you should talk to your doctor about hormones or food sensitivites and ask him/her about if sumatriptan is right for you.    (Sometimes if I can do nothing else to get a little relief, I put a cold cloth on my forehead and lay down for a while.)

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

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[Helpme155]

Hi Jenny, Is your migraine constant? Mine is always there, it doesn't come on but is just a constant dull throb, from about half an hour after waking.  It never seems to worsen only when I tried indametacin which made it 10 times worse.  
Is sumatriptan an over the counter drug or do I need to see my GP? I wondered about hormones so I stopped the pill(been on same one for 10 years) which seems to have helped my periods but the headache hasn't changed.  

[jenny39]

I, too, suffer from migraines which almost always create pain on the left side of my head and especially through my left eye.  According to all I have learned about migraines, this is fairly common. I have tried many prescription medications to help with the migraines and have found that sumatriptan has been the best so far.  My GP (and my own research) says that hormones levels can be a contributor to migraines.  By the way, I am also one of those people who do not have aura before the migraine and very little really seems to irritate me (eg., light,noise).

[Helpme155]

Maybe i'm grasping at straws as I cannot seem to find any relief from it.  But before these 6 months I rarely suffered from headaches and they went with over the counter painkillers.  

[Helpme155]

I see what you mean, but I wear my glasses all day.  I cannot see a thing without them, I put them on as soon as I open my eyes and wear them constantly until bedtime.  There is not a minute of the day I remove them.  Do eye problems occur post treatment for graves disease?  If you don't believe it is that, is it chronic migraine - I have no other symptoms i.e. nausea, visual disturbances, aura and I can look into bright light.

[John C Hagan III, MD, FACS, FAAO]

It not at all likely its your glasses. If it was you would have no headache without glasses and headache with them.  

JCH MD