Headaches after Miscarriage

[Lil Pig]

I recently had a MC, about 2 weeks ago. It started on a Friday (Aug 17), and the following Wednesday (Aug 22) I developed this massive headache, which I've had on and off to various intensities for over a week now. I used to get migraines all the time before I was pregnant, but I haven't had one since I was pregnant. But this new headache is like a pounding, pounding, pounding. It's worse if I move around even a little, or move my head. It feels like my heart is beating in my head, and sometimes I even feel nauseated. Has anyone else experienced this after M/C? Maybe it's not even related. Could I be deficient in something as a result of the MC? The obgyn put me on a 5mg folic acid prescription, and I started taking it the day before the headahces started. Could this be causing it? Is it just a tension headache? I'm just looking for anyone out there who may have had the same experience and some advie!!!!

[kbrownhh]

It could very well be hormones.  I get migraines around the time of my period.  I never had them while I was pregnant, but once my cycle resumed I got the headaches like clockwork.  Hormones can definatley cause headaches.  I doubt it is the folic acid.  I am sorry for your loss.

[Lil Pig]

Thanks!
I actually had a dr. appt. today and asked her about it. She checked my blood pressure which was low, and can also be contributing. I think there may be more than one thing at work here :)

[hdr2]

I have the same kind of headache and I'm about one week from the start of my miscarriage.  The pounding is terrible!!!  I'm looking for answers as well.  I get migraines from hormones during periods/pregnancies/etc., but this one is different.  

[sprtbikeprincess]

I am expieriencing the same pounding. I also have low blood pressure and feel dizzy as well. I called mt doctor after I almost passed out a few times and he said this was normal after a m.c. and should last about a week or so.  I lost so much blood that I was told by the ER doctor that I would need a blood transfusion but was sent home the same night with a iron pills instead. Im sorry for your loss as well.

[jrx2always]

I had a miscarriage and a Dnc.  Then a week later I passed out and my headaches began.  I have had blood work, a cat scan and all came back normal.  I was sent to a neurologist and told it is a hormone induced migraine.  It was been going on for almost 3 weeks.  He started to on a steriod pill and some supplements to stop the cycle of the migraine.  Until the miscarriage and DNC I had never had one.

Sorry for your lose and the pain you are in.

[lynzetta]

I am in the middle of my m/c woke up at 2 am with the same pounding headache, Found comfort in knowing that I am not the only one, I am definitely scared.  Thanks for the comfort...this sucks

Sorry for your loss...

[Trunte]

So glad I'm not the only one! I am sitting here, two weeks after my MC thinking that I was going to pass out from the pain, dizziness and nausea. It has been on and off in the last week, but not as bad as tonight! Tried to read a book to get my mind off it, but it made it worse, and twice I couldn't read the words. I got so scared, and despite taking 800 mg of Ibuprofen, there has been little reduction in pain level. I did have mild migraines before my pregnancy, but this is not like them. Thank you for this website and all your entries...They all helped alot! Guess I just have to work through it...and yes, it sucks!

[Jobbie]

Thank god for sites like these, I miscarried just over a week ago having got to 11.5w, for the past 5 days I have had a blinding headache and no amount of pain relief seems to touch it. I've had one day being headache free and that particular day I bled a little - I started to think I may have a tumour (I know hypercondriac) but having read some of these comments I'm feeling more normal!!

I agree this sucks.

[marjens]

I feel better that I read these comments!   I had a miscarriage a little over a week ago and have had a headache ever since!   It's like a pounding, headache that tylenol doesn't even touch.  Feels like something is loose in my head!  Weird but true.    Hopefully it's just the hormones.

[wilitend]

Thank you to all who have posted comments - Although still despaired by headaches compounded by my heartache, I am somewhat comforted finding this forum to see I am not alone in my symptoms. Similar to others I am coming up to 2weeks after miscarriage/D&C and have been suffering persistent pounding headaches for the last week despite trying all possible over the counter meds plus medical reassurance that it is not a symptom of anaemia. Trying acupuncture tomorrow...

[coffeeconvert]

I also had a miscarriage a week and a half ago.  It was a "missed miscarriage" so I had a surgical management, and then
I had a persistent headache until yesterday afternoon that no amount
of tylenol seemed to help.  The headaches
felt to me like caffeine withdrawal headaches, which I knew they
couldn't be, since I haven't been drinking any caffeine for a long time.
But yesterday I was desperate and willing to experiment, so I tried
having a strong cup of coffee, and, lo and behold, it made the headache go away!  I am still feeling fine this morning, but if it starts up again this afternoon, I am heading straight for the coffee.  This might sound wacko, but I think there may actually be a reasonable medical basis.  I tend to have low blood pressure, and after the proceedure last week, it fell even further.  Apparently, a lot of headaches are caused by painfully widened veins in the head, which is related to low blood pressure.  Caffeine is a vasoconstrictor, so
it helps cure these headaches.  That is why it is contained in some headache remedies.  Anyway, I was really at wit's end, and now I feel positively giddy and not having a persistent headache any more.  

So you might just try a strong cup of coffee.  Good luck.  You are
definitely not alone.

[coriola]

I saw all your post t around the miscarriage and Dnc, Thank you for all your comment.  I have the same issue.  I had my Dnc in Nov 15 and 3 days after severe migraine and since then I have been dealing with headache till now.   how long did it take for you to get better and what did you use please.  Any answer will be helpful It is really affecting my quality of life.

Thank you so much.

[Jenny979]

i had a horrible, horrific, terrible miscarriage 4 days ago. i was 11 weeks along, and i have never ever ever seen so much blood and "tissue" and clotting come out. i was shocked that i could lose so much blood and still be alive. i literally lost pints and pints of the stuff, including about 35 or more lemon-sized blood clots. it was so awful. i was at the emergency room for 12 hours on monday, finally went home, and passed more clots all night long on monday night. my bleeding finally got much better on tuesday and the rest of the week, but on tuesday i also developed the worst headaches ever. i have never really had headaches before, and these were awful. felt like i imagined migraines to feel. i took tons of ibuprofen and it didn't work at all. all i wanted to do was sleep in a dark room. finally this morning i took the advice mentioned here and drank two cups of strong coffee. voila, my headache went away. it is not 9:30 pm and my headache is still gone. i will try sleeping tonight and hopefully the headache will stay away. if it comes back i will try more coffee. i also bought excedrin migraine (with caffeine) and might take that instead, if the headache comes back. just wanted you all to know the coffee definitely worked for me.

[Melburry18]

I too had a miscarriage on Feb 22, and 23. I went to the ER on saturday for brown spotting. Anyways, they don't prepare you enough for the pain. I am so frustrated. No pain pills... NOTHING. I started having a headache on monday afternoon, which I mentioned to the Doctor on tuesday. He didn't think anything of it. But combine the headache with some cramping... Cause is not them having to deal with the pain. Yeah is normal, normal.... BUt what makes the pain go away.... NOT EVEN TYLENOL. Yeah I am told it is normal. I am not a pill taker. I hate them. But at this point I need something stronger than tylenol to get rid of them until they go away naturally. I wish I was closer to Mexico right now and go get something from the pharmacy to make feel better, instead of dealing with these losers that only base themselves on text books, but since they are men, they don't know how it feels to have cramping and on top a pounding headache. Even the female nurses, they say is normal. I don't care if it's normal or not, I still have the freaking headache. I am definately investing in some air fare and go to a doctor in Mexico and have myself checked up. The Doctors here suck big time, is all about how much they can get out of the insurance company.

[kelcy400]

Thank you!! I had a miscarriage last week and have had very BAD headaches since then. Nothing has worked for the pain. I tried a cup of coffee - and headache is GONE. Thanks so much for the suggestion.

[Jat65]

I too had a miscarriage. This is my 2nd in 5 months. With the previous m/c I had very bad headaches for over 2 weeks.  This is happening again to me. 4 Ibupropen are not work or Imitrex.  My head is poundding and it is coming and going when you least expect it.  This m/c the headaches started before I know I was miscarrying. It is miserable right now on so many levels.

[castlekeep]

I too just experienced a miscarriage on March 24th and have had a persistant headache for several days now.  It is clear to me from reading everyone's posts that the headaches are related to the miscarriage. Maybe it's the rapidly dropping HCG levels?  Thanks to everyone for sharing.  I'm about to try some regular coffee to see if that helps.  I'm am so sorry for everyone's loss.  

[nikcharr]

I started to miscarry on tuesday (9wks 1day) with some light bleeding, backache & headache. No heartbeat on the ultrasound. Passed everything late friday night & have been in SO much pain ever since. The best I can compare is a red wine hangover. Mostly it's my head that hurts, but my back & body ache too. THIS *****!!!! Thankfully, my Dr. prepared me for the possibility of all of this pain. She prescribed some Vicodin for me. Only took it when the pain was at it's worse friday & then once this morining. Think that the caffiene/excederine remedy will be able to manage the pain from here on out. Sorry for everyones loss. Hope this post helps someone else trying to find a way to manage the pain.

[juniezhel]

I had miscarriage too just this month (6 weeks) few days before my bday..sooo sad..I'm experiencing headaches too at this moment..thanks for these posts, I'll try to drink a cup of coffee though I'm not really drinking coffee..

Sorry for everyone's lost..

[blessuswithlife]

Just had a miscarriage a week and a 1/2 ago and the headaches were so unusual.  Very intense in the middle of the night.  I'm glad I found this forum.
I'll try the coffee thing during the day but I have had to resort to sleep aids and vicodin at night since that is when they are the worst and it does feel like a red wine hangover, exactly.
I just hope it will pass soon.  I too am sorry for all of our losses.
A little prayer for all of us.  I can only hope for better results next time.

Thanks!!  

[CDfromKY]

I am sad for all of who had a miscarriage.

there are several things that can cause severe headaches;  hunger, dehydration ( especially after alcohol ingestion), hormone imbalance,  high blood pressure, ( in my case too much vitamin B12) , low blood sugar, blood loss( and subsequent dehydration) anemia, After my babies were born i bled extensively and had a headache so bad i couldn't open my eyes. So drink plenty of fluids, take your iron, (not on an empty stomach) treat yourself to a big, juicy iron rich steak once a week, get plenty of rest. Hopefully your headaches will diminish as your body adjusts it's hormones.

Cherry D, RN

[cchize]

I had a "missed abortion" M/C two weeks ago and have had crippling migraines for the last week. It is horrible, I feel like dying. They hit me like clockwork everday around noon and NOTHING helps. I go tomorrow for my post-op ( D&C ) appt. I am hoping my OBGYN will have some answers or remedies to help. I feel better after reading these posts and am sorry for all of your losses.

I think that the stress of it all coupled with the hormonal shifts are the cause, it does not by any means make this easier but there is some comfort in knowing that we are not alone.

[supoena]

I had a miscarriage last week and feeling very weak and having headache etc. I have to get back to work next week. I run around alot at work. Is it adivsable to go to work next week? I am afraid that I might faint and get worse any advise?

[mama2boyz]

i too had the pounding head after loosing my baby. the problem is I am still getting them months later. I found excedrine works most of the time but they come back with my cycle and sometimes at random. I am hoping it is still hormone related but am going to the dr to find some answers. I too am sorry for your loss. the heart ache is bad enough but to add the pain in your head is awful .hope you find answers soon.

[bean2326]

I just had a mc and dnc less than a week ago and the day after I awaken with the worst headache and neck ache ever. I couldn't sit up without feeling my heart in my head. It is 5 days later and my neck and head continue to hurt. a few days ago i drank some coffee (not too strong) and i felt the pain lighten. I have been drinking coffee every since. I plan on making it a lot stronger now (lol) I really appreciate the post. This has lifted a weight off of me. After everything I went through I felt like I was going to have more problems. I lost a lot of blood and had so much pain. Then to think that I had more problems really scared the **** out of me. I want to thank you all for sharing and relieving the pain a little. And I am sorry for all of your losses. Thanks

[Ralanda1]

Thanks to all for the comments. I too just had a d&c for a" missed ab" at 14wks. The day after the procedure I felt great but the second day I had the worse headache of my life. It started in the middle of the night and continued all day long. Tylenol and Aleve did not touch it. It was so miserable. I still have a headache today but not as bad, could be the cup of tea I had last night before going to bed. I appreciate your comments and tips, I too will try coffee today. It seems like this is a common thing, the doctors should prepare us for this. There is enough agony in losing the pregnancy. My condolences to all of you for your loss.

[zebrapants]

I have had headaches since my miscarriage on Nov 2-3. I was 13 weeks, 3 days.
I was freaking out until I thought about how my hormones are probably wreaking havoc and causing them.  I think the caffeine will help.  
I just hope that my period comes back soon so I can get pregnant again.  So sad since the loss of my little one.

[Gina1973]

Yup...same here.  Miscarriage about 5-6 days ago...headaches started a day or so after.  Coffee seems to help during the day but then they come back at night.  The only thing that helps then is sleep.  

I also lost a LOT of blood.  It was a missed miscarriage and I took the medication to induce the miscarriage.  I didn't want a d & c.  But, a piece of the placenta got stuck in my cervix and caused me to bleed very heavily and had lots of clotting.  I ended up passing out at the doctor's office after she finished getting everything out.  It was HORRIBLE.  I was 11 weeks along.

Sorry for everyone's loss.  This was my second miscarriage in a year.  

[Firstlady912]

I had my M/C two days ago I have had a slight headache and abdominal cramps,but what hurts the most is losing my child I was 11 wks along and trying to cope. I am sorry for your loses I know how you all feel.