Aa
constant headaches
I'm confused by all the different headache types and symptoms out there so I thought I'll post my questions here.
Been suffering headaches on a regular basis since approx 2001. Got an MRI in 2003 when it got unbearable. No I don't think I had any type of head truama then. 2003 is also when I found out I had double vision and got prisim glasses.
The opthamologist ordered an MRI and while he found a few tiny abnormalites (dont recall what) there was nothing majorly wrong. My family doc used the MRI results as well to check into headaches. Neither doctor could explain why I have adult strabism nor headaches.
After stumbling around on various meds for tension, stress, and cluster headaches.... a beta blocker injected into the back of my back finally helped. That lasted about a year.
I moved to a different state. Very rural, crappy insurance, and high doctor turnover rate here. Little by little my headaches came back. Between lack of medical resources and heavy vodka drinking... I brushed it off to hitting the sauce a bit too darn much. Slept alot to get thru my headaches. Sadly, hangover headaches were much more bearable than the ones when I've been sober for months.
However around 2006 or 2007, I got hit by a lightening bolt headache one evening at home. It slammed so hard I fell to my knees & stayed down holding my head for a good 5 mins or so according to my hubby. Felt like the worse headache ever. I had been sober over a year then.
Best I can describe that headache was a sledge hammer actually hitting the top of my skull and splitting it.
Went to bed shortly afterwards despite the fact I had only been awake a few hours and don't remember much of anything after that.
That was the year I lost my medical insurance so I never talked to a doc about it. I hear that may have been a seizure. No, was not on drugs, marijuna, meds, or drinking for a year at that time.
Started back finding a doctor to deal with my headaches last summer, lots of pain meds and etc but nothing worked for long. By Fall my headache was almost a daily thing.
Worse when I woke up and all light hurt my eyes. Hearing fluctuated (yes I am deaf but I still have some hearing) and kept hearing bells or dog barking in my head. I'll list symptoms below. Anyways got put on a mix of naproxen, blood thinner, and but/apap/caftab and got injections in back of neck.
That cut down on the headaches for about two or three months. Now its not working. I feel like I have migraine especially since both my mother and brother had them. I don't understand why doctors keep brushing off the possiblity it may be migraine related. I notice meds for that is a whole different world from tension, stress, or even optical nuerology headaches which one doc diagnosised me with. Also family doctors keep saying that I don't need to see a neurologist.
Oh, I also went to see an othamologist recently to check my eyes and see if anything is causing headaches. Glass perscription was fine and he saw nothing. Brushed me off when I asked about neurogolist.
Here are my symptoms -perhaps u can see why I am confused. And yes, have been sober for a year if that helps.
Wake up with moderate to severe headaches. I don't usually wake up in middle of night bec of head pains, just after a good long night sleep. However I have woken up a handful of times bec of headaches.
Wake up w headaches on avg of 2 to 4 days a week.
Feeling nauseated when quickly turning head or tryng to focus on something with busy background if I have headache.
Lights hurt, especially pulsing, strobing, or flashing lights while headaching. Sometimes eyes start to hurt from light before I even get a headache. I'll lose my balance too if too much flashing lights.
Frequent neck aches, esp on left side.
Most of my headache pain is on my left temple, brow, eye, and forehead. Rarely does it move to the right side and feels weird when it does. Back of skull also gets some pain. Basically while my headache rotates it still mostly stays on left side where my eye has that double vision.
Hearing sensitivity. Shortly before I get headaches I notice everything seems too loud or startling. Aggivates me. Then when headache hits, sounds are too much. Thankfully my family keeps the house quiet and dark all the time.
Hard time focusing on reading, or keeping track of converstations lately. Especially if head hurts.
I have headaches nearly daily however for periods of time it is mild enough to ignore until something triggers it such as bright light, sunlight, flashing lights. Yes, light has alot to do with my headaches. I feel I have to balance TV or computer screen with another dim light nearby otherwise both items flash a bit too much.
I feel fatigued all the time and my vision easily blurs lately. Often have low grade fevers when head hurts moderately to severe.
Strange burny or spidery senstations on my head. Hard to describe but it feels like a few spiders start at the top of my head and crawl down to the back of my neck or upper shoulders sometimes. Seem to happen mostly before I get headaches. Just strange feelings of things that are not there.
Don't know if this helps but felt I should add this as well -
In 2009 I had seziure when I quit drinking and taking xanax for a few days (had been doing both for 2 or 3 months and quit 4 days prior).
Don't remember the seizure at all and the rural hospital just assumed drinkin related and no scan, MRI nor referral to neurologist. I was so disorientated when the ambulance arrived (was at home watching TV with my son at the time) I couldn't even recall which year or president it was, never mind taking me to the better more modern hospital 50 minutes away instead of the rural bad reviewed hospital.
Rule around my tiny town is no one goes to our rural hospital unless there is absoutely no choice. Heck they couldn't even diagnosis a strangulating hernia I had 3 years ago in my tummy. Had to go 50 minutes away to get it found. Thankfully it was fixed in time.
Sorry this is so long. I am just so frustrated and so is everyone around me regarding my headaches. I feel like I should see a neurologist or at least get a mirgraine diagnosis or something.
I feel there MUST be something wrong if I am having headaches daily even though Im still on meds especially if its getting worse lately and there is not much stress happening in my life. Tired of family doctors here not looking into it more.
Thank you for reading and hopefully others had similar situation and some advice on what to do next.
Been suffering headaches on a regular basis since approx 2001. Got an MRI in 2003 when it got unbearable. No I don't think I had any type of head truama then. 2003 is also when I found out I had double vision and got prisim glasses.
The opthamologist ordered an MRI and while he found a few tiny abnormalites (dont recall what) there was nothing majorly wrong. My family doc used the MRI results as well to check into headaches. Neither doctor could explain why I have adult strabism nor headaches.
After stumbling around on various meds for tension, stress, and cluster headaches.... a beta blocker injected into the back of my back finally helped. That lasted about a year.
I moved to a different state. Very rural, crappy insurance, and high doctor turnover rate here. Little by little my headaches came back. Between lack of medical resources and heavy vodka drinking... I brushed it off to hitting the sauce a bit too darn much. Slept alot to get thru my headaches. Sadly, hangover headaches were much more bearable than the ones when I've been sober for months.
However around 2006 or 2007, I got hit by a lightening bolt headache one evening at home. It slammed so hard I fell to my knees & stayed down holding my head for a good 5 mins or so according to my hubby. Felt like the worse headache ever. I had been sober over a year then.
Best I can describe that headache was a sledge hammer actually hitting the top of my skull and splitting it.
Went to bed shortly afterwards despite the fact I had only been awake a few hours and don't remember much of anything after that.
That was the year I lost my medical insurance so I never talked to a doc about it. I hear that may have been a seizure. No, was not on drugs, marijuna, meds, or drinking for a year at that time.
Started back finding a doctor to deal with my headaches last summer, lots of pain meds and etc but nothing worked for long. By Fall my headache was almost a daily thing.
Worse when I woke up and all light hurt my eyes. Hearing fluctuated (yes I am deaf but I still have some hearing) and kept hearing bells or dog barking in my head. I'll list symptoms below. Anyways got put on a mix of naproxen, blood thinner, and but/apap/caftab and got injections in back of neck.
That cut down on the headaches for about two or three months. Now its not working. I feel like I have migraine especially since both my mother and brother had them. I don't understand why doctors keep brushing off the possiblity it may be migraine related. I notice meds for that is a whole different world from tension, stress, or even optical nuerology headaches which one doc diagnosised me with. Also family doctors keep saying that I don't need to see a neurologist.
Oh, I also went to see an othamologist recently to check my eyes and see if anything is causing headaches. Glass perscription was fine and he saw nothing. Brushed me off when I asked about neurogolist.
Here are my symptoms -perhaps u can see why I am confused. And yes, have been sober for a year if that helps.
Wake up with moderate to severe headaches. I don't usually wake up in middle of night bec of head pains, just after a good long night sleep. However I have woken up a handful of times bec of headaches.
Wake up w headaches on avg of 2 to 4 days a week.
Feeling nauseated when quickly turning head or tryng to focus on something with busy background if I have headache.
Lights hurt, especially pulsing, strobing, or flashing lights while headaching. Sometimes eyes start to hurt from light before I even get a headache. I'll lose my balance too if too much flashing lights.
Frequent neck aches, esp on left side.
Most of my headache pain is on my left temple, brow, eye, and forehead. Rarely does it move to the right side and feels weird when it does. Back of skull also gets some pain. Basically while my headache rotates it still mostly stays on left side where my eye has that double vision.
Hearing sensitivity. Shortly before I get headaches I notice everything seems too loud or startling. Aggivates me. Then when headache hits, sounds are too much. Thankfully my family keeps the house quiet and dark all the time.
Hard time focusing on reading, or keeping track of converstations lately. Especially if head hurts.
I have headaches nearly daily however for periods of time it is mild enough to ignore until something triggers it such as bright light, sunlight, flashing lights. Yes, light has alot to do with my headaches. I feel I have to balance TV or computer screen with another dim light nearby otherwise both items flash a bit too much.
I feel fatigued all the time and my vision easily blurs lately. Often have low grade fevers when head hurts moderately to severe.
Strange burny or spidery senstations on my head. Hard to describe but it feels like a few spiders start at the top of my head and crawl down to the back of my neck or upper shoulders sometimes. Seem to happen mostly before I get headaches. Just strange feelings of things that are not there.
Don't know if this helps but felt I should add this as well -
In 2009 I had seziure when I quit drinking and taking xanax for a few days (had been doing both for 2 or 3 months and quit 4 days prior).
Don't remember the seizure at all and the rural hospital just assumed drinkin related and no scan, MRI nor referral to neurologist. I was so disorientated when the ambulance arrived (was at home watching TV with my son at the time) I couldn't even recall which year or president it was, never mind taking me to the better more modern hospital 50 minutes away instead of the rural bad reviewed hospital.
Rule around my tiny town is no one goes to our rural hospital unless there is absoutely no choice. Heck they couldn't even diagnosis a strangulating hernia I had 3 years ago in my tummy. Had to go 50 minutes away to get it found. Thankfully it was fixed in time.
Sorry this is so long. I am just so frustrated and so is everyone around me regarding my headaches. I feel like I should see a neurologist or at least get a mirgraine diagnosis or something.
I feel there MUST be something wrong if I am having headaches daily even though Im still on meds especially if its getting worse lately and there is not much stress happening in my life. Tired of family doctors here not looking into it more.
Thank you for reading and hopefully others had similar situation and some advice on what to do next.
I am so happy to hear that you doctor listened to you! Glad that the meds gave you some relief and that you are going to have the MRI! Sorry I was not on this site when you posted, but it seems you are getting somewhere. Please let me know what happens with the MRI.
I have an appt with my Neuro tomorrow. Looking forward to seeing him. He has helped me so much and I know that he will continue. Like you light is a trigger, I feel like I have a vampire disease. My Light sensitivity never goes away, nor does the numbness in my leg and arm anymore, walking is a problem most of the time. Needless to say I now Love the night.
Looking forward to hearing from you again.
I have an appt with my Neuro tomorrow. Looking forward to seeing him. He has helped me so much and I know that he will continue. Like you light is a trigger, I feel like I have a vampire disease. My Light sensitivity never goes away, nor does the numbness in my leg and arm anymore, walking is a problem most of the time. Needless to say I now Love the night.
Looking forward to hearing from you again.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hi,
How are you? It is good to hear that you were able to see your neurologist and the medication prescribed is already working. Migraine aura or warning symptoms like visual disturbances, numbness in arm or leg, sensitivity to light and sound usually subside within half hour and then followed by severe pain. Continue your medications as prescribed and try to avoid your triggers. A headache journal or the headache tracker in this forum may help. Take care and do keep us posted with your MRI result. Best regards.
How are you? It is good to hear that you were able to see your neurologist and the medication prescribed is already working. Migraine aura or warning symptoms like visual disturbances, numbness in arm or leg, sensitivity to light and sound usually subside within half hour and then followed by severe pain. Continue your medications as prescribed and try to avoid your triggers. A headache journal or the headache tracker in this forum may help. Take care and do keep us posted with your MRI result. Best regards.
Went to neurologist, got seen by their PA and he decided I may have "Intractable Migraines with Aura".
Gave me Maxalt - Mlt 10 mg and amitriptyline. Another med is at pharmacy for me get tmw. Don't recall what else.
He is also setting up an MRI pending approval from my insurance company.
I was feeling too badly and wore hat w sunglasses so I allowed my husband to do all the talking. Afterwards we both felt dazed and rushed. However the PA must know what he's talking about because that Maxalt took away my headache within 15 mins and KNOCKED me asleep!
I think I woke up for the first time in days without a headache. Yes, I do feel it looming somewhere but its much better.
Oh, I dont think I described my strange aura the night before my visit to the neurology. Came upon me suddenedly while watching a movie.
Vision splintered and everything was doubled even thru my prisim lens (yes I have strabimus) and felt like looking thru a wavy glass. Lasted 20 mins then a headache slammed in. First it happened to me and when we described it, he called it an aura. I'm going to research that.
We're just glad someone is taking this seriously and getting an MRI. I have another appt w him in 6 weeks.
Gave me Maxalt - Mlt 10 mg and amitriptyline. Another med is at pharmacy for me get tmw. Don't recall what else.
He is also setting up an MRI pending approval from my insurance company.
I was feeling too badly and wore hat w sunglasses so I allowed my husband to do all the talking. Afterwards we both felt dazed and rushed. However the PA must know what he's talking about because that Maxalt took away my headache within 15 mins and KNOCKED me asleep!
I think I woke up for the first time in days without a headache. Yes, I do feel it looming somewhere but its much better.
Oh, I dont think I described my strange aura the night before my visit to the neurology. Came upon me suddenedly while watching a movie.
Vision splintered and everything was doubled even thru my prisim lens (yes I have strabimus) and felt like looking thru a wavy glass. Lasted 20 mins then a headache slammed in. First it happened to me and when we described it, he called it an aura. I'm going to research that.
We're just glad someone is taking this seriously and getting an MRI. I have another appt w him in 6 weeks.
turns out the neurologist whom i set appt w Fri doesnt take my insurance. They are supoosed to but are waiting for confirmation. Awkward moment for us all.
Went to my family doc (thankfully he had cancellation that day) who usually just perscribes pain pills while insisting its not migraine and to watch for food triggers. I have been tryin to find a food trigger but no go. Only trigger I seem have is either lights or simply waking up.
I describe all what I wrote here and voila, he scheduled a neurologist visit w MRI for this comin Wed much to my surprised. I was expecting to beg for one.
Not sure what changed him mind but im happy. Usually Im not for describing every little thing w my doctors bec i have a big fear of doctors, hospitals and etc. I tend to freeze up or belittle aliments when finally in front of doctors.
Went to my family doc (thankfully he had cancellation that day) who usually just perscribes pain pills while insisting its not migraine and to watch for food triggers. I have been tryin to find a food trigger but no go. Only trigger I seem have is either lights or simply waking up.
I describe all what I wrote here and voila, he scheduled a neurologist visit w MRI for this comin Wed much to my surprised. I was expecting to beg for one.
Not sure what changed him mind but im happy. Usually Im not for describing every little thing w my doctors bec i have a big fear of doctors, hospitals and etc. I tend to freeze up or belittle aliments when finally in front of doctors.
Thank u for ur time. I am seeing a neurologist finally this friday. Hopefully they can figure the right meds to stop this constant headache.
Hi, An MRA is an MRI with Contrast a shot is given so docs can see what is going on inside with more clearity. I have muscle weakness, paralysis, stroke like symptoms on my left side of my body. Look up Hemiplegic Migraine on sites other then Web MD. Good Luck!
What is an MRA?
I'm googling Hemiplegic Migraine and wow, that is definitly something for me to explore, thanks!
What about "muscle weakness and paralysis causing a temporary, stroke-like paralysis on one side of the body"? I'm not understanding exactally what that means from WebMd.
Do they mean those odd jerks I get every so often in my upper body? It starts as a very warm flush down my shoulders & neck (sometimes from head) and then suddenly I feel a painless electrical bolt that arches my upper body and throws shoulders back. Lasts barely seconds and had it all my life. I'll say it happens few times a month to once a week. Painless though and no lasting effects except for strange but brief tingly feeling or slight weakness.
I'm googling Hemiplegic Migraine and wow, that is definitly something for me to explore, thanks!
What about "muscle weakness and paralysis causing a temporary, stroke-like paralysis on one side of the body"? I'm not understanding exactally what that means from WebMd.
Do they mean those odd jerks I get every so often in my upper body? It starts as a very warm flush down my shoulders & neck (sometimes from head) and then suddenly I feel a painless electrical bolt that arches my upper body and throws shoulders back. Lasts barely seconds and had it all my life. I'll say it happens few times a month to once a week. Painless though and no lasting effects except for strange but brief tingly feeling or slight weakness.
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