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1319653 tn?1274326692

21 and CHRONIC Headaches

Hi. I am a 21 yr old female, overweight(230lbs, 5'4"). For the past year or so I have been having these HORRIBLE headaches, I don't even know where to begin with the symptoms that seem to just keep piling on. I'd never been sick before in my life, rarely a cold, the odd flu, but that's about it.
Around last summer, I became very sick, I would get very dizzy and a simple sneeze would almost have me on the floor. This lasted WEEKS. Somehow I got my strength up some, but I was never near the same as before I got sick. I went through many blood tests, all coming back normalNormal saline flush. My blood sugar does have some trouble with going up(only hitting around 14mmol/L max) and coming down. But I just have a meter, and can regulate that myself and am not insulin.

I have short term memory loss, and often can't focus on a particular thing someone is asking. Eg. If it's a Wednesday, and my manager asks me what I worked on Monday, I won't know. It will take me a long time to figure it out......It's so embarrasing! Is this normal?

Often my headaches can be so bad I want to scream, and I just want the pain to stop. I've been given medication for Major Depression Disorder. Wellbutrin XL(150mg), Pristiq(50mg), and Ralavia. I've been taking these for a month. I took Cipralex(10mg) for 2 weeks with vomiting side effects, before being switched to this new stuff.
About two months ago I went to McMaster Hospital in Hamilton,ON and had a basic CT scan done. I waited hours, and was then told "At first we thought we had found a blood clot in your brain, but we had more doctors involved and ruled that out, then we thought you had Sinusitis, that was putting pressure on your brain, but ruled that out. We have talked about it, and have decided that you are free to go home"
That's it, no answers or anything. I told him I can't live with headaches like this. He asked if they're migraines(not sure EXACT definition of a migraine
, so I said no). I have an appointment with a Neurologist in August 2010, but it seems so far away. I'm hoping to have an MRI scan though.
I was recently(6 mnths ago) promoted to a FT manageurial retail position, but it's so hard to focus on my job with these horrible headaches. Tylenol anything doesn't work, or Advil, Aleve, anything! I've done diets, exercising, nothing seems to work. The only time I don't have a headache(or notice one) is when i'm sleeping, I get about 7-8hrs/night.
I also feel nauseas frequently. After almost every meal I feel sick to my stomach, especially restaurant foods, it's worse.

I face these headaches every single day, they're worse in the mornings, and fluctuate throughout the day. I just want more attention paid than just "here take these", or "change your diet"....

Please help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks

Also just forgot, I have been on muscle relaxants awhile back, but they didn't really help. And I was also on some anti-inflammatories(Sulindac) which also didn't really help too much.
Sorry, I forgot, see this is what i'm talking about!!!! I feel like I have the mind of an 80yr old with Alzheimer's, but i'm 21!!!
4 Responses
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1319653 tn?1274326692
Hey everyone,
Thank you for all of your input. I've made a trip to my doctor's in Toronto within this past month, I am now taking Flunarizine, which is a medication that is supposedly stop my constant 24/7 migraines. I can't say it's done anything but apparently it should take about 4wks to kick in, and I've only been on it for about a week and a half.
Unfortunately my body started rejecting food about a month ago as well. This lasted about 5-6 days. I was mostly vomiting breakfast, but it really was any meal at random. When the
"Ralivia" began to kick in, I stopped vomiting but about two wks into it, I got the rare side effect of breathing troubles. I ran out of the medication, and the breathing troubles ceased, but I also ended up with the cycle of vomiting again. So I got my prescription filled asap and again I stopped vomiting, and just yesterday I got the breathing side effects again. I know I can't stop the side effects, but I don't know why I'm vomiting without the medication. Is it directly related with my migraines?

My neurologist appointment is still far away in August. It seems like it can't come fast enough! I just want ANSWERS!!!
Also I was wondering, if I've had a CT scan with my results listed above(in my story) then could a MRI show more description, and have possibly different results?

I've also researched DHE Treatments, they seem quite risky and the results seem to be completely dependent on the person's body, and how it reacts to the treatment. I've read many stories of people not having any relief, or people's veins collapsing, etc.
Well, I guess you can't by-pass side effects!!

Please write if you have any suggestions, or life stories that are similar to mine!!
Any feedback would be appreciated!
I can't STAND these migraines!!!!

Thanks,
Lauren  
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
since I was 20 Ive had Migraines. thats what it sounds like you have. My migraines get so bad, I get dizzy, numb face and hands, cant see straight, vomit and feel like Im gonna die. Its usually a sharp pain in the inside corner above my eye. They dont know the cause of my migraines, but I usually get them if I sleep on my neck wrong. When I used to get them id have to go to the ER and theyd give me a bunch of different shots, and Id still sometimes walk out still in pain. I am now on Immitrex and if I take one when my migraine first starts, it almost always goes away. See if u can get prescribed Immitrex, and see if that works.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I had a very similar problem with the headaches. It was a constant headache that never went away for over 2 years, and I am now 23. My neurologist called it Chronic Daily Migraines/Headaches. I was having to take 10mg Lortab 2-4 times every day just to take the edge off the headache, but never got rid of it. Finally they did what is called a "DHE treatment" in which I had to stay in the hospital for a few days while the medicine was given through and IV. What is does is it breaks the cycle of the never ending headache. It worked great for me. I still have a couple bad migraines/headaches a week, but it's not the constant headache it use to be. I would at least mention the DHE treatment to your neurologist and see if he thinks that may be an option. Best of luck!
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Avatar universal
Are you still experiencing dizziness?  Did all of this start after a virus or being sick?
Helpful - 0
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