Terrible Migraines

[krmikeb]

About 2 weeks ago i came down with a cold, which for me almost always turns into a sinus problem.  I am better from that now, I am not stuffed up, or anything.  Starting 3 days ago i began to get what i thought was severe sinus pressure behind, and above my right eye.  This pressure was enough to make me dizzy, nauseous, and simply make it hard to function.  I am beginning to doubt it is sinus pressure for the following reasons:  1) when i wake up in the morning i feel great, 2) when i go to bed at night, i feel great, 3) the pain starts at about 1 pm each day, and 4) the pain ends between 9 or 10 at night.

I do not like to take medicine, but i caved today and picked up some Ibuprofen.  So far...the pills have not gotten rid of the pain, but the pain is a bit more...dull i guess.  At least now i can open my eye, and my eye is no longer watering from the pain.

This is new to me, i have never had migraines.  I am looking for some help or advice here.  What is my next step?  Should i wait it out a few more days?  Keep popping the ibuprofen?  Try something else?  Go to the hospital?  

Any advice is appriciated, and if you have any more questions for me please ask.

Thank you

[Dr Santos]

Hi,
If there is nothing new with your diet or eyesight, how about weather changes? This can also be a trigger to headaches. Dame is right regarding the intake of ibuprofen. Aside from rebound headaches, it can also lead to more harm to the liver than good. Take care and do keep us posted. Best regards.

[Dr Santos]

Hi,
If there is nothing new with your diet or eyesight, how about weather change? This can also be a trigger to headaches. Dame is right regarding the intake of ibuprofen. Aside from rebound headaches, it can also lead to more harm to the liver than good. Take care and do keep us posted. Best regards.

[dame_wilbur]

I know that it helps, but be careful how much ibuprofen you take, and limit taking it to ~3 days/week. I'm not saying this to be mean, I'm trying to save you from a fate similar to mine. If you take painkillers too often, your body can become used to the chemical, and you can get rebound headaches, where your body will actually create its own pain whenever it sees that chemical. It's a very vicious cycle, so if you can avoid that and not end up with rebounds, it's better long term although it's definitely hard in the short term.

Good luck!

~Dame

[krmikeb]

The 1 pm thing is curious to me as well.  Nothing major has changed in the last year with my diet or activity at 1pm.  I do not wear glasses or anything, in fact my eyes are near perfect.  

I really cant identify a reason why these started other than i was sick.  Some time around 1 pm, i start to get the throbbing feeling again, and it becomes almost so bad i cant take it.  That lasts until the evening, then its gone.  First thing in the morning i feel great, then 1 pm comes around again.

Luckily i have found that some Ibuprofen manages the pain through out the day.  I am going to wait it out a few more days to see if this is the after effect of the sinus infection.  

Thank you for your comments. I will try and update as things progress

[dame_wilbur]

I find it interesting that the pain starts around 1pm every day. What time do you eat lunch? There might be something in your lunch that is triggering the pain? Also, do you wear glasses? Eye strain that builds during the day might also explain the starting of the pain in the early afternoon. It might definitely be worth getting your eyes checked just to make sure that there's nothing wrong on that front.

Good luck and keep us posted,

~Dame

[Dr Santos]

Hi,
How are you? Cluster headaches presents with pain in the vicinity of the eye. Pain frequently develops during sleep and may last for several hours with associated symptoms like tearing of eye, nose congestion, or flushing of face.  Try to avoid smoking or alcoholoc beverage drinks. If it persists, have this checked by your doctor for proper management. This scan be relieved with oxygen, ergotamine, sumatriptan or intranasal application of local anesthetic agent. Take care and do keep us posted.