Headache Relief

[Snowman5933]

I notice that you skipped over my post. You're perrogative, but I'm telling you, you're playing with fire. Keep popping those hard-core meds like this and you're going to end up with a whole new set of problems.

By the way, these meds can also produce a rebound when you take them this way.

I speak to you with years of experience and research.

I'm sorry. I wasn't skipping your post or ignoring you. Thanks for taking the time to answer me. I am very nervous about the amount of medication that I am taking, but I have some promising news...at least I hope so.

I called the Neurologist's office again today and pleaded my case again. This time I got somewhere. I now have an appointment this Wednesday @ 1:00 p.m.

I have taken 2 Imitrex tablets today...I think they are losing there effect. I'm getting ready to take an amitripoline so I can get some rest. It was after 1:00 a.m. when I got to sleep last night. Thanks again for all the info and concern. I let you know what the doc says.

Snowman

 

[bazm]

My first post!
As a lifelong migraine sufferer some tips for you;

keep a diary, you'll be surprised;
bananas are lethal;
try nasal flushing, can often stop a migraine early on. Infected sinuses can give you a migraine for weeks;
have you tried beta-blockers?;
watch your sleep patterns - too much or too little can cause one. Thats often why you can get one at weekends;
I actually like Maxalt, it works for me
Try trigger point therapy, esp on the sternocleidomastoid neck muscles. These can be so tender you can barely touch them and when you do the referred pain is like a migraine. Grab and squeeze tight for 10 seconds, repeat regularly until pain is gone.

Good luck

 

[TheSnowCrystal]

I'm sorry. I wasn't skipping your post or ignoring you. Thanks for taking the time to answer me. I am very nervous about the amount of medication that I am taking, but I have some promising news...at least I hope so.

I called the Neurologist's office again today and pleaded my case again. This time I got somewhere. I now have an appointment this Wednesday @ 1:00 p.m.

I have taken 2 Imitrex tablets today...I think they are losing there effect. I'm getting ready to take an amitripoline so I can get some rest. It was after 1:00 a.m. when I got to sleep last night. Thanks again for all the info and concern. I let you know what the doc says.

Snowman

I was just concerned that you weren't aware how dangerous it is to continue taking that sort of medication the way you have been. I'm not a doctor, but I have suffered from migraines since I was a kid - I'm now 35. I mentioned earlier that I was over-prescribed medications when I was a teenager - something we found out that doctor was notorious for. Since then I've educated myself extremely well on the subject of migraine.

The thing that really scares me in these situations is that far too many people automatically give "God" status to doctors. It's important to remember that doctors are people, just like everyone else. As in any either field, some of them graduated at the top of their class, and some of them at the bottom. We also never know what motivation any one doctor has for being in that profession. We rely so much on them, but it's so important to remember that they're like anyone else in all of these ways. It's also key to keep in mind that they get money for prescribing drugs.

That being said, we all have to take a certain amount of responsibility for our own healthcare. The internet is an amazing resource, if used properly. Also, if something doesn't seem right to you, by all means, question it.

I'm am so happy to hear that you took the reigns and were able to get yourself an appointment so soon! I really hope that nothing is found, but with such sudden and severe headaches you honestly have got to have an MRI done as soon as possible. It literally can be the difference between life and death. I can't understand why your GP wasn't making sure that this happened sooner. But, like I said, hopefully it's all clear.

If, in the end, the story comes back to migraines, you'll need to get yourself informed about the difference between preventative (daily) and abortive (occasional) medications. Imitrex and other abortives can have serious concequences if taken too often, like stroke and heart attack. Plus, the more you know about migraine, the better you'll be able to manage it!

Please let us know what happens at your appointment! Good luck!

 

[Snowman5933]

The doc is going to have to prescribe a different med. I found out that my insurance will only cover 27 tablets of Imitrex every 90 days. Since the pain has gotten worse, I have been taking 2 tablets per day. Safe or not, that's not going to work.

I went to the hospital and got the films from my CT Scans. I am taking them tomorrow for the doc to see. I also have notes that I have been piecing together the last couple of days.

Thanks again. I'll let everyone know what happens.

Snowman

 

[Exciteher]

The doc is going to have to prescribe a different med. I found out that my insurance will only cover 27 tablets of Imitrex every 90 days. Since the pain has gotten worse, I have been taking 2 tablets per day. Safe or not, that's not going to work.

I went to the hospital and got the films from my CT Scans. I am taking them tomorrow for the doc to see. I also have notes that I have been piecing together the last couple of days.

Thanks again. I'll let everyone know what happens.

Snowman

Wow man, good luck at the doctors. Getting the CT film and making notes is a sharp thing to do.

You know, that the Imitrex is not controlling things very well, and given that this hit you in your sleep, seems to maybe even worsen when you are prone..my guess is that this is not migraine, and IS associated with an increase in intracranial pressure for some reason. The causes can be varied and many.

Anyway, I hope all goes well for you and you get this formally diagnosed...then the correct medications/therapies can be chosen. Yes, please report back in how you are doing!

 

[Snowman5933]

I saw the Neurologist today. He spent about an hour talking to me about whats been going on. He looked at the films I took and read my notes. H performed a series of physical examinations to check my neurological status and said that everything looked great. He was not surprised that Imitrex was not knocking out my headache and just as I thought said I wouldn't be taking it anymore. He is starting me on a pretty aggressive med plan to see if we can knock the headache out.

Here is what he prescribed:

Indomethacin 25 mg (Three times a day)
Phenergan 25 mg (Three times a day)
Inderal 20 mg (Three times a day)
Elavil 10 mg (Three times a day)

He also gave me some samples of Relpax 40 mg as a rescue drug. He wants to do a follow up in 3 weeks and if I'm no better he mentioned putting me in the hospital and giving me DHE-45.

I let everyone know how it goes. Thanks again.

I've taken my first dose of meds and I'm getting kind of tired. My head is still hurting...hopefully I can avoid using the Relpax. Talk to everyone later.

Snowman

 

[SesameStreet]

I saw the Neurologist today. He spent about an hour talking to me about whats been going on. He looked at the films I took and read my notes. H performed a series of physical examinations to check my neurological status and said that everything looked great. He was not surprised that Imitrex was not knocking out my headache and just as I thought said I wouldn't be taking it anymore. He is starting me on a pretty aggressive med plan to see if we can knock the headache out.

Here is what he prescribed:

Indomethacin 25 mg (Three times a day)
Phenergan 25 mg (Three times a day)
Inderal 20 mg (Three times a day)
Elavil 10 mg (Three times a day)

He also gave me some samples of Relpax 40 mg as a rescue drug. He wants to do a follow up in 3 weeks and if I'm no better he mentioned putting me in the hospital and giving me DHE-45.

I let everyone know how it goes. Thanks again.

I've taken my first dose of meds and I'm getting kind of tired. My head is still hurting...hopefully I can avoid using the Relpax. Talk to everyone later.

Snowman

Based upon the meds that he has prescribed it looks as if he is seeing stress as the cause of your headaches. I am familiar with three of these meds. The Phenergan is to prevent nausea. But it will make you drowsy. The Inderal is a Beta Blocker that can be used for high blood pressure or simply to slw down the thinking processes to relieve stress. it can also make you drowsy. The Elavil is an anti-depressant. I would try and reduce as much stress in my life if I were you. Is finding a new job out of the question?

 

[SweetErika]

I'm glad you have a healthier plan and doctor who will help you solve this, Snowman. I hope the meds give you relief.

 

[Exciteher]

I saw the Neurologist today. He spent about an hour talking to me about whats been going on. He looked at the films I took and read my notes. H performed a series of physical examinations to check my neurological status and said that everything looked great. He was not surprised that Imitrex was not knocking out my headache and just as I thought said I wouldn't be taking it anymore. He is starting me on a pretty aggressive med plan to see if we can knock the headache out.

Here is what he prescribed:

Indomethacin 25 mg (Three times a day)
Phenergan 25 mg (Three times a day)
Inderal 20 mg (Three times a day)
Elavil 10 mg (Three times a day)

He also gave me some samples of Relpax 40 mg as a rescue drug. He wants to do a follow up in 3 weeks and if I'm no better he mentioned putting me in the hospital and giving me DHE-45.

I let everyone know how it goes. Thanks again.

I've taken my first dose of meds and I'm getting kind of tired. My head is still hurting...hopefully I can avoid using the Relpax. Talk to everyone later.

Snowman

Wondering how it is going today Snowman5933. Assuming no evidence of thrombosis, hematoma or tumor in your films, the meds your doc prescribed seems like a rational start, a non-steroidal anti-imflammitory, an anti-histamine, a beta blocker, and a tricyclic antidepressant/anti anxiety drug that is also effectively used as a palliative for chronic pain and nausea control. (as is the Phenergan) May take a few days for the effects of this cocktail to become apparent, so hang in there.

I am hoping your doc told you to come back ASAP if your headache pain increases. The Phenergan and the Elavil may interact to make you feel VERY drowsey and tired... so that is not surprising. All these meds have long histories, and their idiosyncrasies and interations are well known... a good thing.
This combination of meds seems like a "broad" approach to stop the pain cycle, seems to be weighted toward reducing inflammation and ICP while still providing pain control.

DHE-45 is a hardcore drug, think I would want a MRI first because MRI in studies has shown a far better resolution than CT scan for finding any structural abnormalities in soft tissue that could be producing your problem, CT scan is actually a form of X-ray while MRI actually "flips" the electron spin of the atoms causing photons to be released and imaged... both take tomographs...I know cause I'm an engineer and worked on MRI in its development. CT and MRI complement each other actually. PET scans can actually image metabolic processes, biggest reason it is not used more is because they are just now finding out what normal "baselines" look like for various pathologies. Interpertation is everything, would want to have the most experienced radiologist I could find to read my films (files nowdays..lol!) , I have seen a lot of stuff missed. I digress.

Am wondering if you have seen this excellent site:

www.patient.co.uk/showdoc/40000728/

In anycase, keep up with your diary, learn as much about the meds etc as you can, and headache and migraine as you can on the net... without obsessing about it too much. Have not seen you specifically mention it, but are you stilll working? If so, I think it would be wise to take a few days for yourself to let the meds do their thing and maybe do some things that you find relaxing. Good luck.

 

[bobsgirl]

I'm glad you have a healthier plan and doctor who will help you solve this, Snowman. I hope the meds give you relief.

I'll echo this sentiment. Try to rest and I hope you feel better.

 

[Snowman5933]

The new medication cocktail is dulling the pain, but not completely relieving it. For now I'll take what I can get. Yes, I'm still working 2 jobs 5 days a week. I told the doc that hospitalization may be the only way for me to get a vacation...we both had a good laugh about it. Before everyone pounces on me about taking care of myself and making time for myself....I've thought about it. I'm getting my department prepared for our annual state review (hospitalization or death would be the only way my boss would let me off the hook). The doc wants me to try the new meds until my follow up appointment on August 1, 2006. If I am still having pain when I go back he said we would discuss more aggressive measures (mainly dhe-45).

Well, time to go and take my meds. I am being very diligent about taking the meds on time.

Snowman

 

[limpdickie]

Just my 2 cents, I run a PC game center and at least a few days a week, the rowdy kids combined with stupid IT problems sets off the jackhammer in my head. My "sure thing" is a bottle of Redline. It's an energy drink you can get a GNCs and most PC game centers. Gets rid of the headache and gives you a nice boost in energy too.

 

[Snowman5933]

Update

I've been taking all the meds the Neurologist prescribed on schedule and was feeling pretty good until Monday morning. The pain came back even stronger than before. I tried calling the docs office, but he is out of town for a week. I struggled through the day and on Tuesday I couldn't stand it anymore. I went back to my family doctor to ask for help...actually what I wanted was a shot to stop the pain. To make a long story short...I didn't get a shot. My family doc said I was at risk of rebounding from the narcotic pain killer. He said it would have a positive effect immediately, but 12-24 hours later it would be like having the worst possible hangover imagineable. So, I asked what I was supposed to do. He told me to double all my meds 3 times per day, and call the Neurologist Monday morning when he is supposed to be back in town. He thought I will probably have to be admitted and be given the DHE as well as have an MRI and bloodwork run.

So, I have now had 5 double doses of the medications and I still feel the headache. I'm struggling to stay awake at work...I took a two hour nap today with my door locked....shhhhh, don't tell the boss. My second job is driving...this is not working out at all. I've had to bring in a substitute driver until I can contact the doc and see what he wants to do. I can't put my safety or the safety of my 13 passengers at risk. It's going to be a long couple of days until the Neurologist comes back to town. If I can just make it through Thursday and Friday, I can lay around all weekend if I have to.

Everyone take care!

Snowman

 

[SweetErika]

I struggled through the day and on Tuesday I couldn't stand it anymore. I went back to my family doctor to ask for help...actually what I wanted was a shot to stop the pain. To make a long story short...I didn't get a shot. My family doc said I was at risk of rebounding from the narcotic pain killer. He said it would have a positive effect immediately, but 12-24 hours later it would be like having the worst possible hangover imagineable. So, I asked what I was supposed to do.

Yeah, you might rebound, but you might not. I get a shot of Demerol on occasion, and some docs send me home with something like a tylenol/codeine/valium/caffeine mix prescription, just in case. I think I've only had to use it once, and that was more for the headache breaking back through than rebound pain. For me at least, it's about breaking the cycle of pain; if I can get total relief for a good 6 or so hours, I'm usually in the clear for awhile.

If it gets unbearable, I'd think the risk of rebound would be worth some relief, especially since there are some things they can try for that as well. The docs who aren't willing to give things a try, usually are the ones who have never had that kind of pain, in my experience.

Head to the ER if you're seriously considering decapitation, like I usually am, Snowman.

 

[Exciteher]

I've been taking all the meds the Neurologist prescribed on schedule and was feeling pretty good until Monday morning. The pain came back even stronger than before.......

So, I have now had 5 double doses of the medications and I still feel the headache. I'm struggling to stay awake at work...I took a two hour nap today with my door locked....shhhhh, don't tell the boss. My second job is driving...this is not working out at all. I've had to bring in a substitute driver until I can contact the doc and see what he wants to do. I can't put my safety or the safety of my 13 passengers at risk. It's going to be a long couple of days until the Neurologist comes back to town. If I can just make it through Thursday and Friday, I can lay around all weekend if I have to.

Everyone take care!

Snowman

There is really something not right here. Also, you should not be working at all.

let me repeat that: YOU SHOULD NOT BE WORKING AT ALL!

What happened over the weekend with you? You say the pain came back worse than before... before what? Is the pain greater than it EVER has been?

Are you in a small town or something? Usually if a doctor leaves for any length of time, they have someone on call for emergencies..which is what you have got on your hands right now.. If you can't see a neurologist you should demand a good doctor of internal medicine, you need someone that is a top notch diagnostician with an inter-speciality viewpoiint that can ride herd on things.... that may be best in anycase. As I understand it, you passed your neuro exam with flying colors?

You need a coherent interdiciplinary work up, as per my previous post pronto... and before any DHE. Time for biz as usual is over, IMHO. Not saying DHE is not indicated, just saying it is not at all apparent you have had the sort of workup where that has been comfirmed as a valid medication.

I think they have to start positively RULEING THINGS OUT starting from the WORST CASE TO THE BETTER CASES before applying any more medication type approaches to diagnosing this ...because depending what the real cause is, the medications you are on and things like DHE could pose a problem if the cause for this is on the edge.... the last thing you want is to NEED a medication or intervention that is contraindicated by what you are taking or doing now!

The bloodwork should already have been done! Expecially important are liver and kidney functions.. kidney problems for instance can lead to high renin (angiotensinogenase) levels (confirmed only by a DSA as far as I know) which can cause severe headache and pain... ( for reasons that are very complex and interactive with your cardiovascular system) and a condition that does not play at all well with beta-blockers!!! Not saying you have a high renin level... just trying to point out that the cause of your pain COULD be very counterintuitive (even to your doc without enough data), contraindicate at least one of your meds, and can only be found at a level of testing they have not yet done! Would you having high renin level be a low percentage bet for causing this? "Normally", you bet.. but if you have it..its a 100 percent bet for you! Get my point?

IMHO you should have a MRA (brain blood flow imaging) as well as an MRI, they are finding out that vascular and cardiovascular have a lot more to do with headache, and even migraine, than was previously thought.

Has your intracranial pressure been teated/quantified? Is it high?.. Low? Does your doc know? If not, why the hell not? Been tested for meningitis? Encepalitis? Been exposed to them?

For now, maybe try to stay sitting or reclining with your head high, (reduce ICP) even when sleeping... can't hurt. BTW, what is your BP and HR...keep track of that.

If you have any more increase in pain, spikes in BP, or any more/other symptoms you should consider a trip to the emergency room.

Slightly off topic rant:
IMHO, the "take this and come back if it does not work" way of doing things is the most expensive, inefficient and dangerous possible way to do medicine. Instead of a "systems approach", its just shooting at night with a flashlight at the most common targets. Nickel and dimeing after symptoms starting with the most statistically prevalent may be OK as a starter and if a reasonable improvement is attained... it MIGHT prove the best "guess" is accurate...but! I think insurance companies further foster this, their attitude is who cares if we lose the ones at the edges? As long as we cover the middle, or make it look like we do..all is well. Morally bankrupt is that.

But... when a condfition does not yield to the "common" approaches, that is a sure sign that a fundamental and total rerassessment should be done, using a modern cross discipline "team medicine" approach. Glorified guessing will not cut it and all and any assumptions, without fundamental, real and "state of the art" data about all the basic human systems as they are working in concert, becomes counterproductive. Specialists tend to look at a set of symptoms primarily or even exclusively through their narrow specialty.. They are not suppose to, but they do. So one can get stuck with a specialist for far too long before the specialty most appropriate is finally brought in. If one even makes it as far as a specialist that is....

FYI.. I am not a doctor, and I am not prescribing anything here. Just saying that you need a good systematic diagnostic workup. I am an engineer, and in my younger years worked on development of medical instrumentation, automated testing systems, various medical systems. Not in that field anymore... thank God,! The doctors use to drive me nuts with their antediluvian and egotistical attitudes.

A true story. PKU (Phenylketonuria) causes a type of mental retardation (and other problems) and can be almost entirely mitigated if discovered in an infant in the first 72hrs after birth. The first ground-breaking automated test for this was never even requested much less thought of... by the doctors. The doctors were complacent and content to plod along with their TWO WEEK LONG test...and lose their infants to the ravages of PKU. The first automated test took 4 hours. You do the math.

The guy that thought of creating such a test was not a doctor, biologist or professor... and not an engineer. He was a rather rich inventor...and he asked himself... what can I do that will have an impact, how can I give back? The doctors thought he was crazy and impudent when he suggested he could create such a test.. impossable! No way! Such is the tradition of the medical attitudes about integrated and systematic testing. Things are changing... but very slowly.

 

[SweetErika]

FYI.. I am not a doctor, and I am not prescribing anything here.

Maybe not, but you sure are damn knowledgeable and smart! We're lucky to have you here.

 

[Exciteher]

Maybe not, but you sure are damn knowledgeable and smart! We're lucky to have you here.

Hearing that from you means so much! Thanks you.

I learn so much from you and everyone here, so being here has been lucky for me, that's for sure. I just hope my being here makes a difference. You know, I sometimes wonder how much information is too much... or if I should just keep my opinions to myself, especially on sensitive threads such as this.

My Forrest Gump-ish sort of life put me in right place at the right time so often it seems errie to me. I credit the mentors I have had the luck to have in my life (like the creator of the first usefull PKU test system... to my dear departed SO, who taught me about life and death, passion and perspective, sex, truth, beauty, freedom and love) with 99 percent of what I know... and 110 percent of the insight that we are all, floating in space on this abundant beautiful big blue ball, together for reasons, many reasons.

I am a bit of a hard charger, was prone to sometimes putting myself last (so far my impression is that Snowman5933 is a bit like that...are you not?) . I remember being in a situation similar to Snowman5933, I felt I could not miss work, I was indespensable. My SO told me: "What makes you think you have enough time left in your life to dink around with this? Those wheels will roll without you, one way or the other... ya know that?" (She use to say that about lots of things actually... especially exqusite things..lol!)

I suppose if I have a short message for you Snowman5399, that would be it. A hand for the ship..yes, but also a hand for yourself. Have faith that if you do the right thing, like take care of yourself, the right things will happen. Give yourself permission take time out, and to be very pushy, demanding and proactive... doctors are not Gods, and the squeaking wheel gets the grease.

 

[SesameStreet]

It sounds to me as if you should just go to the Emergency Room. You need a lot more tests than apparently you have had. My first thought is a brain aneurysm that is close to rupturing. IMHO you should not be playing around with pain this severe in the brain.

 

[Exciteher]

.... My first thought is a brain aneurysm that is close to rupturing. IMHO you should not be playing around with pain this severe in the brain.

Yes SesameStreet, this is nothing to play a round with.

In light of how long Snowman5933's symptoms have lasted, that it has not resolved, and how it has not responded that well to the normal approach to dealing with headache, brain aneurysm, bleeds and also arterial blockage/plaques/clots and even tumor are all something that now have to be positively ruled out...or discovered. Even thought at Snowman's age those are low percentage possable causes, the intractable character of Snowman's condition brings the percentages up. Unless bloodwork,uranalisis etc. can point to an obvious problem, this needs to be positively investigated first, not last because if an emergency surgery were suddenly found to be needed, any painkillers, vasodilators and possably other meds would have to be out of the system to avoid interactions with the anesthesia, meds and procedures needed in that kind of surgery.

Yeah, this stuff can be scary, and can be hard to find if it is of small size, CT is often not sensative enough, so MRI and MRA are the best shot. But, for reasons that make no sense to me, those tests are expensive... all tests are... so they are "avoided".

Chances are that it is none of these, if so however, the tests are not a waste... you have a good baseline that could come in very handy in the future, and an "all clear" might greenlight certain medications and therapies that otherwise may be withheld because to any good doc the potential of these kinds of things always are in the back of his mind, low percentage not withstanding.

 

[i_jenjen_i]

I have a freind who used to have headache for days. The doctor told him it is likely due to stress & pressure and only could help him by giving him painkillers.

After months of suffering, they finally found out that this headache were caused by his eyes. I am not technically expert in explaining the reason why, but i know after an operation and medication, he is now back to his norm.

I am not sure this is applicable to you.. but well, just an info that you may want to remind your doc to check on it.

On June 8, 2006 at 5:00 a.m. I awoke with the worst headache I have ever experienced. My head was pounding (it felt like my heart was beating inside my head), I was sensitive to light and noise and began throwing up by 6:00 a.m. I went to my family doctor and he gave me Stadol and Phenegren. The medication gave me temporary relief, but the headache came back the next day.

Let's skip forward...I've had a headache for 30 straight days. Last Friday, June 30, 2006 I went to see a ears, nose, and throat doctor (I thought my headaches were sinus related). One exam and a cat scan later the doctor determined that my sinus were in excellent condition and could not possibly be causing my headaches. He gave me a 7 day supply of Imitrex (take 1, 100mg tab per day) and told me to come back in a week. It took 2 days to see a major improvement, but I got alot of relief. I took my last pill yesterday and went for my follow up appointment today. By the time I got there at 9:30 a.m. my headache was a 2-3 on my pain-o-meter. The doctor re-examined my sinus (everything looks great) and referred me to a Neurologist. In the mean time he wants me to take the Imitrex everyday (I can't see the Neuro doctor until late September). He wrote the script for 90 pills with 2 refills.

Some of my co-workers (1 being a RN, and 2 others being Neuro paitents) feel that Imitrex is a very dangerous medication and should never be taken daily for long term use. I asked the prescribing doctor if the medication was safe to take everyday and he stated if I had a headache everyday I didn't have much choice. I called my pharmacist and asked his opinion and he stated that Imitrex can elevate your blood pressure rapidly which can cause alot of problems if it goes unnoticed. Your probably getting the idea that I'm a little nervous about taking this med everyday for a long period of time. Does anyone have experience with this medication? Know of any OTC meds that work well with this type of headache? Anyone had a daily constant headache for an extended period of time? How did you cope with it? I've tried alcohol, but it seems to magnify the pain. My boss thinks it may be stress related (I only supervise 10 full time employees and 45 individuals that are mentally retarded and have behavior disorders...so I don't know what would give her that idea...LOL). Seriously, I cope with stress very well. I've been doing my job for 6 years and little has changed so I don't think I became unable to deal with stress in the last month. I can't think of anything that has changed about my home, routine or lifestyle. I would really like to find out the cause of all this pain.

Let me know what you think.

Snowman

 

[Gumballs]

Imitrex is not designed to be taken daily! You can only take two does in 24 hours.

The above is both correct and incorrect.

For acute cluster headaches (which you appear to have described) Imitrex can be taken as follows...

6 mg x 1
Max: 2 doses/24 hours; 12 mg/24 hours
May repeat every 24 hours x1 if headache recurs

 

[Snowman5933]

I thought I would post a quick update. I left work last Thursday and haven't been back since. I made contact with the Neurologist this morning. He doesn't want to administer the DHE since my other meds (Inderal, Amytriptoline, Indomacin, and Phenergan) have been doubled. He set me up an MRI which I had around 2:00 p.m. today and he wants to do a lumbar puncture in a couple of days. He told me to take it easy for a few days (no work...good thing I've got a couple weeks of vacation time saved up) and keep taking double doses of the medications. The meds are making it really hard for me to function, but the are reducing the headache so I guess its worth it. When I find out more I will update my post. Thanks for all the support and information.

Snowman

 

[Snowman5933]

I Need Advice A.S.A.P.

The results of the MRI came back negative except for mild thickening of the sinus. I'm supposed to call the doc and let him know if I want to go ahead with the lumbar puncture tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. I'm not scared of having the procedure done, but I wonder if there is any real chance of finding out what is causing my headache.

I woke up this morning with no headache. I thought I was finally going to get some relief. As soon as I start doing anything (physical activity) I can begin to feel pressure around both of my temples and count the pulsing in my head. After 10-15 minutes it eases up. I think the medication at the higher level must be starting to work, but it makes it very hard to function. I would be very uncomfortable driving my car or being at work. I really want to get back to work, but I can't sit at my desk and drool/sleep all day.

I going to call the doc in a bit.....what would you do???

Snowman

 

[SweetErika]

The results of the MRI came back negative except for mild thickening of the sinus. I'm supposed to call the doc and let him know if I want to go ahead with the lumbar puncture tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. I'm not scared of having the procedure done, but I wonder if there is any real chance of finding out what is causing my headache.

I woke up this morning with no headache. I thought I was finally going to get some relief. As soon as I start doing anything (physical activity) I can begin to feel pressure around both of my temples and count the pulsing in my head. After 10-15 minutes it eases up. I think the medication at the higher level must be starting to work, but it makes it very hard to function. I would be very uncomfortable driving my car or being at work. I really want to get back to work, but I can't sit at my desk and drool/sleep all day.

I going to call the doc in a bit.....what would you do???

Snowman

I'd do the LP, and everything else necessary to find out what's causing it. Something's not right, the meds could stop working after a time, and pain relief isn't much help when the relievers destroy my ability to function, so investigation will need to happen at some point anyway.

 

[Exciteher]

The results of the MRI came back negative except for mild thickening of the sinus. I'm supposed to call the doc and let him know if I want to go ahead with the lumbar puncture tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. I'm not scared of having the procedure done, but I wonder if there is any real chance of finding out what is causing my headache.

I woke up this morning with no headache. I thought I was finally going to get some relief. As soon as I start doing anything (physical activity) I can begin to feel pressure around both of my temples and count the pulsing in my head. After 10-15 minutes it eases up. I think the medication at the higher level must be starting to work, but it makes it very hard to function. I would be very uncomfortable driving my car or being at work. I really want to get back to work, but I can't sit at my desk and drool/sleep all day.

I going to call the doc in a bit.....what would you do???

Snowman

What is the cause of the of sinus thickining? Has there been any bloodwork done?
Thinkng about viral or bacterial infection here.... White count OK?

Also, kidney and liver function as I mentioned before...

Have you discussed having an MRA with your doc? Or at least a good cardiovascular workup, been assessed for PAD, arthroschlirosis etc?
Thinking about some sort of ischemia here..

Your doc must be convinced that your intracranial pressure is OK, or he would not have cleared you for a lumbar puncture.

Tests range from relatively non-invasive (imaging, blood and uranalisis) to more invasive (Lumbar Puncture, biopsey, angiogram, DSA etc) ...
So IMHO testing should proceed from least invasive forward...and diagnosis should start from gathering a "snapshhot" , or baseline data, of ALL systems and functions.

I would want to be sure all the "easy" stuff was covered by bloodwork and chemistry, uranalisis)..etc...and that any cause of ischemia was ruled out..but if that has been done, and ICP is OK, then Lumbar Puncture makes sense, and I would do that.

Sometimes, a condition is caused not by one or two major things being out of whack, but a whole collection of little things being out of whack in almost every system, and being out of whack at levels that are hard to detect. And, poisoning, allergies ... and STRESS can cause that. Stress actually causes a type of systemic self induced poisoning by metabloic breakdown products of things like adreniline, ACTH..etc.

I know you are on Elavil, and also feeling rather "drugged" but I still think a short course of something like Vallum, to break any stress cycle... would be worth trying, and have very low risk. Medicine is only just now getting any handle on treating or diagnosing so called "somataform" conditions... which is why I think "alternative medicine" has gained such popularity... accupuncture, etc seems much better at that (for reasons that are not at all clear... perhaps because they work at subconcious psychological levels???) at effecting results with stress caused conditions, which are ubiquitious in our society.

So... IF all the bases were already covered, (ischemia not a problem, bloodwork and uranuranalisis is OK. cardio is OK, kidney and liver OK, endocrine OK, no evadence of infection..so far) I would tell my doc I wanted a short course of Vallum.. give that 48 hours...then if no 'miracle" happens...do the Lumbar Puncture, CSA. Good luck.