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Pressure Headache vs. CSF Leak Headache
How do you know the difference?
Stand up head hurts. Get one 2 to 3x a month. If I lay down and rest and push fluids and caffeine it fades away! I've been calling it pressure headaches but is it possible to be fighting CSF leaks?
Dr. confirmed a small leak 2 months after my surgery, but it worked itself out with 6 days of laying down. I'm coming up on 6 month mark for post surgery!
I worry about it as Im getting one of those headaches starting and I am blessed with getting a summer cold! YUCK!
Stand up head hurts. Get one 2 to 3x a month. If I lay down and rest and push fluids and caffeine it fades away! I've been calling it pressure headaches but is it possible to be fighting CSF leaks?
Dr. confirmed a small leak 2 months after my surgery, but it worked itself out with 6 days of laying down. I'm coming up on 6 month mark for post surgery!
I worry about it as Im getting one of those headaches starting and I am blessed with getting a summer cold! YUCK!
awe! back at you! long road, but sure helps to have a chiari community to help out
COMMUNITY LEADER
LOL...glad u like it...whenever I took DD newhere she'd ask r we hopping, skipping or jumping...cuz I had to say when she asked how far, that it was just a hop, skip and a jump away : )
And I am sure u r getting close .....I pray u r : )
"selma"
And I am sure u r getting close .....I pray u r : )
"selma"
COMMUNITY LEADER
I hear u Jen...hang in there.....u just may be jumping now......
( DD and I use the Hop, skip and jump to say how close we r)
( DD and I use the Hop, skip and jump to say how close we r)
Head rushes, I get them so often!
I feel like a little kid saying "are we there yet"? Over and over again! LOL
I feel like a little kid saying "are we there yet"? Over and over again! LOL
COMMUNITY LEADER
Hi Jen..seems like Carolyn may have figured out the type of HA u r getting......
Just what you said, I stand up the pressure it so much it about knocks me out!
Sometimes I just get those, and when I'm struggling I get those but the headache stays till I lay down.
Sometimes I just get those, and when I'm struggling I get those but the headache stays till I lay down.
HI
From what I have read in the past, a headache upon standing is a low pressure one whereas a headache upon lying down is caused by high pressure. However, I have both since surgery! Mine though, throb when I stand up but then it dissapates...so it's more like a rush. Are yours like that or do they last?
I agree with Selma though, I think if you had a leak they wouldn't come or go. As for caffeine it doesn't just help headaches with CSF leaks...it also helps migraines of any sort.
Some interesting info: Caffeine blocks Adenosine (which is a neuromodulator so it moderates neurotransmitters in your brain, causing dilated blood vessels and basically,pain) so caffeine has the opposite effect, it constricts blood vessels and increases the release of excitory neurochemicals in the brain. That is why we see relief with caffeine and headaches, however, our bodies get used to the caffeine (if we drink it all the time) and actually responds by increasing adenosine thereby causing the well know "caffeine headaches".
I thought that was interesting..I always noticed it helped my headaches so now I know why!!
I would think your headaches might be sinus related as we all seem to have issues with that as well!
Take care I hope you feel better soon!
Carolyn
From what I have read in the past, a headache upon standing is a low pressure one whereas a headache upon lying down is caused by high pressure. However, I have both since surgery! Mine though, throb when I stand up but then it dissapates...so it's more like a rush. Are yours like that or do they last?
I agree with Selma though, I think if you had a leak they wouldn't come or go. As for caffeine it doesn't just help headaches with CSF leaks...it also helps migraines of any sort.
Some interesting info: Caffeine blocks Adenosine (which is a neuromodulator so it moderates neurotransmitters in your brain, causing dilated blood vessels and basically,pain) so caffeine has the opposite effect, it constricts blood vessels and increases the release of excitory neurochemicals in the brain. That is why we see relief with caffeine and headaches, however, our bodies get used to the caffeine (if we drink it all the time) and actually responds by increasing adenosine thereby causing the well know "caffeine headaches".
I thought that was interesting..I always noticed it helped my headaches so now I know why!!
I would think your headaches might be sinus related as we all seem to have issues with that as well!
Take care I hope you feel better soon!
Carolyn
Thanks! So far I've had no nose issues! I'm just starting a cold, my family all has it! Coughing a lot, which you know hurts!
Started getting that pressure headache today! Back of head is so hypersensitive!
Started getting that pressure headache today! Back of head is so hypersensitive!
COMMUNITY LEADER
I am glad...u need to stay as relaxed as possible to help relieve those types of HA's too!!
Use the BP kit if u have another episode of this.
"selma"
Use the BP kit if u have another episode of this.
"selma"
No I didn't check bp, but have a bp kit here.
Well you gave me a piece of mind with the leak, i'll keep calling it a pressure headache. i'll have to look into sinuses!
Well you gave me a piece of mind with the leak, i'll keep calling it a pressure headache. i'll have to look into sinuses!
COMMUNITY LEADER
That sounds like it could be vertigo???
No...a CSF leak shouldn't come and go...once it is gone it should be gone.....mayb a visit to a ENT to check out ur sinus and ur ears may be in order.
Have u been able to check ur BP when this happens?
"selma"
No...a CSF leak shouldn't come and go...once it is gone it should be gone.....mayb a visit to a ENT to check out ur sinus and ur ears may be in order.
Have u been able to check ur BP when this happens?
"selma"
When I get them, they are bad and it is very difficult to stand up. The room spins and I feel like I'll pass out. Sometimes I get nausea with it, but not always.
When they said I had that small one, they said it resolved itself by me laying down. My question is does that come and go? I get them, I stay down and it's gone. It's just ongoing and frustrating!
Could be a sinus thing, as my ears hurt with it at times as well.
When they said I had that small one, they said it resolved itself by me laying down. My question is does that come and go? I get them, I stay down and it's gone. It's just ongoing and frustrating!
Could be a sinus thing, as my ears hurt with it at times as well.
COMMUNITY LEADER
HI Jen...a CSF leak would be constant...it doesn't let up....do u have vomiting with it?
Could be u have a minute leak that only affects u when u have pressure build up????
My leak was bad I could not get out of bed...needed to be in the dark and needed help to get to the bathroom.....no fun...took 5 days in bed and then nothing since.
I am so sorry u r still dealing with this...have u asked the dr about it?
Mayb it is ur sinuses....many with chiari do have a sinus issue....mayb it is that and not a cold?
"selma"
Could be u have a minute leak that only affects u when u have pressure build up????
My leak was bad I could not get out of bed...needed to be in the dark and needed help to get to the bathroom.....no fun...took 5 days in bed and then nothing since.
I am so sorry u r still dealing with this...have u asked the dr about it?
Mayb it is ur sinuses....many with chiari do have a sinus issue....mayb it is that and not a cold?
"selma"
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