Chronic daily headache/migraine

[Helpme155]

I am a 28 year old female. I was diagnosed with graves disease in 2005 and was treated with radioactive iodine. This has given me an underactive thyroid for which I take 150mcg thyroxine daily. I had an eye test in Oct 2007 and was told I had a slight deterioration but my prescription did not need changing. I purchased new glasses on the 10th May 2008 and on the 6th June 2008 went to my GP complaining of a headache for 3 weeks. It has never gone away.

The pain is situated on the left side behind my eye and aund my temple. I have seen a neurologist who has diagnosed chronic migraine. I have tried anti depressants, NSAIDs, beta blockers and am now on anti epileptics all of which have not helped.  My current dose of gabapentin is 900mg.

I saw my GP and asked him why I am on preventative treatment as I always have my headache (the longest period I have been without it is probably for half an hour when getting up in the morning), and asked about abortive treatments.  He has prescribed rizatriptan, I took one and got quite tight chest and throat pain, but this subsided after about an hour.  It unfortunately didn't seem to help the headache.  I have also tried physio and chiropractic therapy.

Recently I have pain in my eyes when looking up, this also worsens my headache. Could my glasses be part to blame? Without my glasses on, my left pupil is larger than my right, only a small difference but definately there.  I am at my wits end as it is affecting all aspects of my life. I was not stressed until my headaches appeared and have a happy home and work life.  Before this episode of 6 months I had never suffered from a migraine, I have no nausea, photophobia or aura.  Please help, any suggestions would be appreciated.

[Carol in PA]

Double vision is a serious symptom.  He should have done more than "give you a funny look."
Okay, you seem to have symptoms of a pineal cyst, as I pointed out.
How did you phrase the question to him...if you said, do I have a cyst, then he might not have made the connection.

This is where you need to read up about the problem, so that you know enough to evaluate his answer, when you say, these are symptoms of x....., can you show me WHY I do not have this condition.

Make a list of your symptoms, don't just casually ask about a serious problem as you are finishing up the appointment.  Your doctors are so pressured for time.

Carol

[Helpme155]

Hi , I have seen my doctor.  I have to stop the gabapentin over ten days then start topiramate (another anti epileptic).  He is going to write to my neurologist so I will probable have an appointment to see him in the new year.  I expect then I will get an MRI.  I can't see these new tablets working, if the other anti epileptics have failed??  He doesn't think it is my glasses or a cyst!!  So I suppose I try these and wait, still going to my eye appt tomorrow but unsure whether to purchase new glasses!  He just gave me a funny look when I said about my double vision aaah!

[Helpme155]

No, I haven't had an MRI as yet but I expect that will be the next step.  I have a doctors appointment tomorrow and the extensive range of drugs the neurologist has recommended haven't worked so I guess i'm to be referred again.  Would this type of cyst not show on a CT scan, I had one of those which was normal.  What is this cyst?  Can it be treated?  Thanks for the input, I will ask tomorrow

[Carol in PA]

"It hurts when I look up with or without my glasses...."

You need to ask the neuro-opthalmologist if this symptom may be due to a cyst on the pineal gland.
From what I've read, a small cyst doesn't cause problems, but a larger cyst can cause paralysis of upward gaze, headache, and double vision.
Have you had an MRI?

Wishing you the best,
Carol

[Helpme155]

Hi again, since my appointment with the optician I have been wearing my contact lenses more.  I haven't worn my glasses since yesterday at 6pm.  Last night I was reading with my contact lenses in and I started suffering from double vision, the words on the page were also blurring.  I haven't suffered from double vision before.  I'm so confused, I wore my contact lenses all day today and have still suffered from a terible headache.  It hasn't changed.  If I close one eye for a while and then swap so i'm looking through the other it is terribly blurred and takes some time to rectify.  I don't know what to do, I don't want to purchase new glasses if there is no need to.  Could this be related to my thyroid?  It definately feels like something to do with my eyes but I really don't know where to go with this next?  Endocrinologist? eye specialist? neurologist? Please help!

[Helpme155]

Hi all, I have been to see the opthalmologist.  She thoroughly examined my eyes, looked at my glasses and noted a few things.  Firstly I have a degree of astigmatism which I have never had diagnosed.  Also she said my glasses were - -5.25 in the right eye and -4.5 in the left!!!!  She feels they are too strong.  As you know I believed my px was a lot lower than this and my contact lenses are actually -3.75 and - 4.25 (completely different to my glasses).  I asked my normal opticians and they have said my px is -3.75 and -4.25 so either my glasses have been made wrong or my contact lenses are wrong.  She said I have to go back in  a week with my old glasses, contacts and px details from my original opticians.  The thing is since my new glasses I haven't worn my contacts as much, maybe 3 x weekly, rather than daily.  I think she is right saying my px is too strong, what are your thoughts??????