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Severe Pounding Headache During Bowel Movement

I have had a problem for some time now and am now very worried.

Background:
I have had this on and off for quite some time, over a year.

I'm a 33 man and at the time it started I was 194 pounds and had cholesterol of 216. I admit I was out of shape. One thing to note is my tolerance for pain is very high.

I was tested for everything, CAT scans, bowel X-rays, scoped from one end to the other. Tried fiber, lots of fiber, Nothing. I gave up on answers about the time the symptoms subsided.

Since then, I shaped up. I am now 165 pounds, cholesterol of 136 and can run 4 miles a day. At no time during the workouts or other strenuous activity do I experience this issue or other issue.

Symptoms actually went away for quite a while, several months in fact, but are now back as of this last week and worse. I now can tell when I need to have a BM because it starts very mildly.

During the BM, without straining at all, it starts. It will start on the back of my neck as a small soreness or stiffness and very quickly I will feel my heartbeat in my neck. Within seconds the pounding in my head starts on the left side and goes up to the top and down the bottom. With each heartbeat there is excruciating searing pounding pain. A pain that feel like someone hooked a bicycle pump to the left side of my neck and is pushing pressure very hard into my head. Each heartbeat is torture and afterward it slowly subsides over a few hours until only a stiff sore neck remains. However this last time the dull headache lasted into the next day.

The pain is so severe I have blacked out once however I fight not to. I am not straining, pushing, or doing anything. Most of the time I am trying to relax. This happens with hard or soft movements and diarrhea. I would consider this pain to be a 8-9 out of 10. (A motorcycle accident with broken bones was a 6 to me for comparison sake)

I have tried to identify changes or habits that may have changed or repeated and so far cannot find something. I am truly worried that I will have a stroke or brain aneurysm during a bowel movement to the extent that I call my wife on the phone.

Can someone help? No doctors around here are able to.
49 Responses
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Avatar universal
I know this is an old thread, but I suffered for several years with this problem. It would come and go sometimes for more than a year, just to return and last for weeks. Every doctor I saw just thought it was migraines and ct scans never showed anything.  I thought i was dying from a stroke or anyeurism the first time this happened and went to the ER. I couldn't believe that these were migraines because they were so severe and only with bowel movements, sometimes. I finally found that if I lower my chin all the way to my chest, I don't get any pain at all. It's a strange remedy and I don't know why it works, but it did and I haven't had the pounding since.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hello. This has happened to me twice. I was doing a bm standing up(public toilet) and not really straining but had a big headache when I had my head bending down.as soon as I lifted my head it went away. I do have issues with my neck (pain , dizziness etc) for years I dont know if thats the cause.
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Avatar universal
It changed all my apostrophes to crazy HTML codes. Ugh..
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Avatar universal
I just had this happen to me. I am very constipated and haven't been able to go number two for days. So I tried a laxative.. the little bulb thing you squeeze... I am having a hard time remembering words right now and the light feels very bright. Anyways, after I used it I didn't have the usual severe urge to go so I tried to get up after about 2 minutes and push the laxative back out. I don't remember wether I was straining or not when it hit... for the second time in my life.. it starts slow.. you can feel the pain in every single heartbeat. Like a searing sharp burning pain full of real pressure. Not like a usual headache where you can't pinpoint location or cause, but a headache where you know exactly where the pain is with every beat and it literally feels like something pops each time... after reading all this... I conclude maybe this comes from taking laxatives when the body is severely dehydrated. It's been about 3 and a half hours now and my neck is very stiff and hurts really bad. I'm having sever anxiety that it will come back at any moment. I literally felt like I was going to die and knew that this was actually something serious, for once.
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1 Comments
Any luck finding what is going on? Same issues and I am super freaked out
Avatar universal
https://youtu.be/ZXHZt2PEjNk please watch this video, I have had the same issue and this is the only thing that makes sense in regard to our issue!
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Avatar universal
The first time I had a massive headache with BM, I hadn't gone in days and then suddenly there is tons of gas, cramping and spasms in my gut that push out a ton of stool without me straining....I am just holding on for the ride. Then my head began to pound with a pain that was unbelievable in intensity. I asked my daughter to call 911. I was drenched in sweat but freezing cold. I'd removed all of my clothing due to the feeling of being overheated while moving my bowels. When the paramedics arrived, I was simply covered in 2 towels on the toilet. I told her what happened and she said that she thought that my headache was due to a sudden drop in blood pressure when tons of water was drawn into my bowels to flush them out. By the time she had checked me out, I felt better so I declined to go to the ER but she thought I should go. The second time it happened, I knew I wasn't having a stroke. Since, I have been eating better and cutting out most processed foods and drinking plenty of water. I normally don't have problems with retaining stool. That seems to be my problem. I eat horrible and drink a lot of soda and my body hangs onto all that junk trying to eke some nutrition out of it and then something irritates my system and my body is trying to suddenly flush out irritants which leaves me with diarrhea even though I am totally stopped up. The process of cleaning me out seems to take a massive toll and I get that massive headache. So a month ago I had surgery and it seems that my surgeon decided to help me out (to prevent hemorrhoids) and reduced the diameter of my colon. So I am now stopped up a lot and I have been taking tons of fiber supplements and miralax, etc as he suggested. Today my body attempted to empty me out suddenly once again....and another massive headache. I wonder if the earlier post about the orange juice was helpful due to the sugar, salt, and liquid. I came here to see if anyone had any remedy to help the headache subside. I will try the orange juice. I just drank 2 bottles of water to replace the fluid that exited my bowel and it helped some but still have a mild throbbing. To answer the people who are regularly stopped up, you need to give your body the nutrition it needs: plenty of water and vitamins and minerals without all the chemicals and broken down nutrition in processed foods. Plenty of organic fruits and veggies, whole grains (check your labels, should have 5 whole grains minimum per serving), and chemical/hormone free meat. Then move your body every day! You will feel better and have less health problems.
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1 Comments
I had all the same exact symptoms as you did. Very scary to feel, hot,cold,shivering,head & stomach feel like it's gonna explode.To much pain. I didn't know whether to sit or stand pain was horrible.
Avatar universal
I am having the same issue now and to hear that its not just me makes me feel a lot better.  It started Sunday and it is still going on.  been to the ER twice and had 2 ct scans done and nothing according to the hospitals I am a healthy normal person.  Yeah right.  My pain is in the back of my neck and the front of my head and behind my eyes.  My left eye gets to where I can even open it and the pressure feels like its gonna pop my eye out.  The pain causes me to not be able to swallow, dry mouth, slurred speech, loss of breath total body pain.  They are referring me to a neurologist so I hope they will find something but I am so scared to go to the bathroom because my body is so tired and sore form this for a whole week of pain.  The pain is so bad that It changes my mood swings severely to anger that you would think I am insane.  My fiance says the look I get is scary and I try to claw the pain out of my head and he has to hold my hands down.  The hospitals have seen my reactions and say oh its just a migraine and give me pain relievers.  I haven't sleep in a week and I'm scared to drive just in case it happens.  Idk what else to do I'm losing my mind.  I just cant take the pain anymore.  It has made me very depressed and with everyone telling me there is nothing wrong I feel like I'm crazy and imagining it but I know I"m not I just don't understand why no one will listen to me or help me.  I just want the pain to stop. I just want someone to help me cause I don't want to die.  I don't understand why none will do an MRI on me or do everything they can to figure it out.  I think its because I cant afford insurance but I am a good person and I think that my life is as important as the rest.  
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2 Comments
I am wondering if you found out anything? I am going through the same thing now. Exact same!
Hang in there I'm going thru the same thing. You need to ask for an MRI. If you don't have insurance it could be difficult to get one. I have insurance & it's like pulling teeth to get an MRI. I have an appointment Monday & I'll be asking if I had an aneurysm, psuedoaneurysm, or chiari malformation.
It's really crazy how identical my symptoms are to the original poster & most of you. Maybe we have a rare disorder. I will be showing this thread to my doctor since some of you have gone into better detail than I could've explained.
Avatar universal
I feel your pain  it's on my right side in the back of my head and I barley push at all but it's like pound pound pound 5 or six times of pain like the blood vessel will burst and then it's done I've tried searching what it was and only got to this I will be seeing a doc Tuesday and will ask him while I'm there checking other things out and keep ya posted if I actually get any news it does make me wonder of aneurism sorry if that is even spelled right feels like it's something just waiting to pop but the pain subsides almost as quick as it appears
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1 Comments
Did you ever find anything out? Are you better? What I experience sounds just like your scenario. I haven’t seen a doc yet so I’m totally clueless. Thanks and hope you’re doing better
Avatar universal
Sounds neurological. I've passed out from painful bowel movements and never experienced severe headaches like this. My abdomen is a mess. It sounds like something is triggering the headaches, similar to how I experienced Vasovagal reactions with severe abdominal pain. I'm not sure what's happening to you has anything to do with your stomach or abdomen. Focus more on your brain.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I just wanted to add that the bowel movements are normal and regular so its not strain or constipation or diareah related. Also wanted to add that the one minute headaches are excruciating, and even though they only last one mnute , it feels like my head is going to explode any second.
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1 Comments
Check to see if psuedoaneurysm fots
Avatar universal
I have been having these for years except my severe throbbing headache only lasts about a minute. I have not mentioned it to my doctor yet. However as the pain starts creeping up my neck I will roll my head in a circular motion(stretching my neck) and most of the time, my pain goes away before it gets to my head. Mine does not come from constipation or any straining.
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Avatar universal
Sorry, I didn't read enough... I don't have the bloating and constipation. Never have.. Just (top of my head) exploding headaches.
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Avatar universal
I'm having EXACT symptoms as mt_100 and its very strange and painful!! Help us out doc? I'm slowly goin civilian as i'm currently treated by the V.A.
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Avatar universal
an MRI of the head to rule out tumor--sharp headache with bowel movement can present this
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Avatar universal
I have had the same problem as you, I had been suffering from this for years, people ask if your straining or if the bowel moment is too hard and they try to tell you to take laxatives to help but it doesn't help, but I have just got over having a common cold, now I know that your going to ask what does a cold have to do with all of this but when I had the cold i drank loads of orange juice and the intense pain stopped, so I have been expecting with it, and it is definitely the Orange juice that has stopped the pain, I have cut out all fizzy drinks and I only allow myself to have two cups of coffee a day, the rest is orange juice and I have been pain free now for 2 weeks I can't tell you how much of a relief it is that I don't have to worry about going to the toilet anymore. I do hope that this works for you to, I thought that I was the only one going through this but I have found that I am not so I wanted to pass my information on to you
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
have u ever seen a doc specifically for your pancreas and endocrine system?  it may be worth a shot.  the abd distention etc concern me for something in your gi tract not just your bowels.  also, did u have a full colonoscopy or just a partial scope?  (i can't remember the full name of the procedure, but it checks all 3 branches of the colon, ascending, transverse and descending)  sometimes what is commonly referred to as a colonoscopy is only a partial view.   you may also want to ask for a endoscope of your throat and stomach. an ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography).  will show things like your esophagus, pancreas and great vessels that are all involved in the digestive process.  i am not an md, so some of these terms are probably not the most technically accurate, but it should be a good starting point for a discussion w/ your md.  the gist is you need to have your entire gi tract checked, up and down!
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Avatar universal
topomax helps for migraines, preventive. I take it.
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Avatar universal
I started getting these bowel headaches in August 2013-September 2013. They ended then started back up this month(February 2014). I've had MRI, MRA, CAT scan, blood work and my Neuro has no idea what is going on. My symptoms are so much the same of all of y'all. I'm not straining. In fact, the easier it is to go is when it happens. I can feel it in the back of my neck creeping up. Then bam! Out of no where it feels as if some one has put an ax in my head. I've passed out a couple of time and had many panic attacks. I'm a frequent flyer at my hospital. I'm absolutely scared to death if going to the restroom. I've even gone as far as driving myself to the ER and using their restroom just incase it happens, I'm already at the hospital. Those who have never had this amount of intense pain laugh, but I thought it was pretty damn smart. If anyone has any answers, please help. Thanks!!
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
Psuedoaneurysm
Avatar universal
i failed to mention that i have a low pulse and heart rate normally, but when i get hit with these migraines from having to go to the bathroom my heart rate goes up to over 180.
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Me too normally low blood pressure but she this happens it goes up high.

Psuedoaneurysm is the closest thing I've found to explain it
Avatar universal
I have been suffering from Migraines for the last 6 years, That only come on when i have a bowel movement.. I am unable to get any answers myself.  i dont have to be constipated for it to come on. if my stomach starts to hurt up high in the abdomen thats a big red flag for me. Because my heart starts to race uncontrollably. I know i can not push in anyway during this time even if i have to go. being a women its easier to assist myself  by manually moving the fecal out. I also have to strip out of most of my close to keep cool and try to breath deep and slow either leaning on the wall or tipping my neck back. i now keep a fan handy to i can turn it on to help keep my temperature down. I have been rushed in so many times by way of ambulance to the ER room its crazy i have lost count. it will start by me sitting there, then i feel a tingling in the base of my neck. there was 2  times that i literally felt a lump move threw the side of my next fast then bam i was on the floor in the worst pain of my life. the first thing i say to the ambulance people is give me oxygen, this seems to help if its early enough. I have though i had a stroke on the toilet. I now get very scared to even go. when its so bad i fall of the toilet and continue to have a bowel movement while lying there is more then i can take. And there is nothing i can do about it.  This is the first place i have ever seen or read others going through the same thing.  So if anyone can help me with a answer i would be greatful
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Avatar universal
Mt, was it the dicyclomine that made the headaches stop?  I believe that is what they just started my husband on for the same problem.  It worked yesterday then not today.  

Did you find you needed to take it a certain amount of time before your bowel movement for it to help?

Anything you can share would be appreciated!  We're 3 ct, an MRI and a cerebral angiography in already this week.  The headache on Sunday actually caused a brain bleed on top if all of this for us.
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Avatar universal
This may seem like a simple fix but I think you guys are just dehydrated. I had the same problem as all of you but I started drinking a ton just like I was told to do and now I haven't had a severe pounding  headache with bowel movements  since. It may work or may not I know it worked for me so why don't you all give it a try.
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Avatar universal
that is odd because, i had been constipated before it happened to me, but, i was on the computer, all of a sudden i had to go, i was not straining, it was water with formed stool. and a light started coming in my eyes when my heart would beat, it done that about 10 times then from the back of my head, in the neck area, i had the most excruciating headache, everytime my heart beat, that felt like an annurism must feel, like the lining of my brain was going to blow   out of my head. it hurt so bad i had to yell for my husband to help me back to the bed, after about 45 minutes, it was somewhat better, my eyes felt weak, and i had a lite headache until the next day, but i lived, i didnt think i was going to. a ct scan the next day said everything was normal, no  bleeds, nothing.
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620923 tn?1452915648

  While some HA's with a BM may be a food intolerance some can also be a neuro issue and u should go to the Dr and get checked.

I also had these HA's and was dx'd with Chiari malformation, it was not a food allergy. So do get checked  and do not assume nething.
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