Headaches everyday, losing hope

[moot0009]

I'm a 25 year old female, and I'm having daily headaches. It's been this way for about 3 months now, and I'm really beginning to lose hope (there was no trauma to any part of me). I've been to my GP and he was zero help. He gave me fiorcet, which does not help. I went back again and requested bloodwork and a CT scan, all of which came back normal (the pain is so bad I was literally praying for something to show up). I've been to a nuerologist who perscribed depakote, which made me too out of it to work. When I told him that he told me I should "Get over it" and just take it anyway. Since losing my job isn't an option (as it provides my insurance), I had to stop. I wasn't on it long enough to know if it would help or not.

I've suffered from depression for more than a decade now and I'm disipramine and mirtazipine to control it (both of which I've been on for a couple years now, with no recent dosage changes). I also use depo-provera as my birth control (which I have been on for 2 years now). The only recent medical oddity is that my blood pressure is low (90/50), and that's just when the doctors can actually get a reading, which they usually can't (and we're talking everyone in office tries and can't get it. Not from my upper arm, lower arm, thigh, calf... I doubt this has any signifigance but I'm grasping at anything). I am overweight too, if that matters.

The headaches usually start around the same time each day, around mid-morning. Generally, I have a sharp drop in energy and then it starts. I've kept a food journal, a headache log... I've varied everything but the headaches still happen. Some days it's already started when I get up.

The pain is constant, with severe pressure behind my eyes. Sometimes it's not so bad, and sometimes it's so severe I feel like my head will explode. While the severity changes, the frequency never does. I haven't had a pain free day in months. No medication (OTC) has helped. I generally take half of a muscle relaxer after work (Tizanidine), which helps relax me. It does not, however, get rid of the headache (which seems to improve in the evening).

I'm starting to run out of hope. I've been put on topamax and it didn't help. None of the abortive medicines have worked. I've tried B vitamins, magnesium, no caffeine, extra caffeine... I've gotten my eyes checked. I had bi-lateral ocipital lobe injections. I've tried NSAIDS, asprin, tylenol... I'm already on an anti-depressant that is used for chronic pain... I don't know what to do. It's really starting to ruin my life and I don't feel like anyone around me understands how horrible it is.

Please, if anyone can help me figure out what this is from or what I can do, I would be beyond grateful. I just need an answer.

[Dr Santos]

Hi,
Try not to lose hope and hang on. One good thing is that the CT scan result  was fine.  You can also try complementary and alternative medicine such as biofeedback, self-hypnosis, acupuncture and other relaxation techniques. For some who do not experience such kind of headaches, they may not understand how it feels like, this is why you are right in setting an appointment with a neurologist/ headache specialist. Take care and do keep us posted.

[moot0009]

Thank you all for responding. Although I don't think it's hemicrania continua (because it is on both sides; although it does feel like it starts behind my right eye), I haven't tried the indomethacin. I will ask about this next time I go to the doctor.

Lisa, I have tried triptans, and they do not help. I wish they did (really, I wish anything would!). I agree about the exercise, but I do find it hard to do. I will try to get up earlier and tackle it in the morning, because after it starts it's impossible. I hope you are doing well. I am so thankful I'm already through college, because I don't think I could make it to class everyday. Thank goodness, I work with from home so I don't have to try to drive like this. I'm sure if I did I would never make it.

Horselip, I did go to a pain management center, but after some time and many failed attempts at a solution, the doctor I was seeing there said he didn't think he could help me. His best advice was to go back to a nuerologist to see if they could find the cause of the headaches. Much like you, I've decided there probably isn't a "fix", just a management.

I made an appointment with a nuerologist who is also a headache specialist. The appointment isn't until late next month, but I am hopeful she can help. I'm just concerned about what to do if the medications she puts me on make me "spacey" or "out of it." I have short term disability through my job... do ya'll think that would qualify me for it? I'm really anxious about it, and I'm not sure that chronic headaches are a "good enough" reason for it (although anyone who is suffering like this would know it's beyond reasonable; everyone just thinks I can take an aspirin and move on). I'm just not sure how common that kind of request would be for headaches, and I don't want the new doctor (the one I haven't seen yet) to think that's all I'm after.

Again, any help is so greatly appreciated.

[horselip]

Hiya-
Are you being seen by a pain control center? They will really work with you to try and find medication that helps you right now. They will also try to figure out what type of headaches you are having and if there might be a more permanent fix, This process is slow and thorough as there are referrals, lots of different tests, all sorts of scans and other doctors opinions. The process just takes time and patience.

This is what I am doing and we've ruled out a lot of things. There are still many possibilities. There may not be a way to "fix" what I have. But, I will know that I've tried everything if it ends up that I need to stay in pain control.

[LiSaVfree]

Hi moot,
To be honest, you sound a lot like me. I've tried many medications and alternative therapies only to be disappointed and dealing with side effects. One thing you didn't mention--have you tried triptans? Do they help? As far as migraine prevention goes, I've found that cutting out caffeine all together helps in stabilizing my blood vessels. Also, regular exercise cheers me up and is supposed to help prevent some migraines, though I know this is sometimes impossible to do when you aren't feeling well, so consider the morning before the pain begins. I'm right there with ya trying to get through school with frequent migraines--hang in there!  

[Dr Santos]

Hi,
How are you? One differential is Hemicrania continua, a rare form of chronic headache marked by continuous pain on one side of the face. Associated symptoms include runny nose, tearing, eye redness, eye discomfort, sweating, nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound. Unfortunately, the cause of this disorder is unknown. Indomethacin, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), usually provides rapid relief from symptoms. Talk to your doctor about this. Take care and do keep us posted.