Post-Coital headache that causes many symptons

[darren4441]

Hi.  I have an Aquired Brain Injury from about 4 years ago.  Because of lack of insurance until recently, all I have done is had done is an EEG(I think) and a MRI and the neurologist ruled out what he could from that.  I also take psych. meds to help get and stay asleep and for depression.  I was prescribed indomethacin to help with post-coital headaches.  While this mostly aleviates the headaches, I still have symptons.  I take my other meds at bedtime and always right b4 the indomethacin and go to sleep right after sex as this seems to help with the symptons.  My symptons,by the way, are what I would describe as a secondary brain injury where sleep is more interupted, I'm irritable, my decision-making is worse, more lethargy than usual, and more prone to mild panic attacks(a problem I've had at times prior to the injury but with the meds I'm taking the last 4 yrs hasn't been).  Many of these are the virtually the same as the initial symptoms of the brain injury.  These symptons improve over time and after a week or two(without sex), are back to normal.  This last time, after driving in bad traffic (which really stressed me out) to my girlfriend's, I took the meds with indomethacin and decided not to go to sleep right away after sex.  After 5 or 6 hours with almost no adverse symptons I went to sleep.  The next day the symptons were a bit worse, and this time I had a pain under my left pectoral muscle that wouldn't go away and seemed worse with even minimal stress.  This pain was not bad but uncomfortable and it was as if my brain would not allow me to relax or my muscles???  This lasted about a month and a half, along with a few quick sharp pains on my lower right side just above my waist, before finally going away.  Since I'm already taking the maximum dosage of cymbalta, 120mg, along with 150mg of trazadone, and 150mg of seraquil each night, I'm worried that next time I have sex that the symptons will be worse or that I will cause damage to my brain that won't get better EVER!  And at the same time, I'm obviously hoping for meds that will allow me to have sex more often.  After seaching online, I've seen alot of articles and forums that talk about post-coital headaches for people with a TBI or ABI (aquired brain injury), but nothing about the symptons I have along with the headaches (which were awful and would last for couple days), I got before taking indomethacin.  Any help would be greatly appreciated as my neurologist didn't seem to want to help at all.  And is it safe to have deep gum cleaning with numbing med before I hopefully can get more tests done thru a new neurologist?   Thanks,  Darren

[darren4441]

Thanks very much for your help.

[selmaS]

  Hi....I am not sure I can be of much help, but will do the best I can.....

I too had similar headaches with most types of exertion.....coughing, laughing, sneezing, eliminating and yes the same as you....however, mine was caused by a congenital condition that caused many neurological issues....

The Condition, Chiari Malformation can alaso be acquired by a trauma to the head or neck...such as in a MVA....

I would start by getting copies of your MRI and the report to see just what is going on and could something have been overlooked/missed?

Outside of getting those records and ruing out a condition like Chiari or Syringomyelia or whip lash....I really am at a loss but I know those 3 can  cause some of the discomfort you mentioned.

Good Luck and keep us posted.