Frequent Stress Headaches

just an update. I complained about those pills to my dr and how they weren't even touching my headaches and how the topamax was interfering with my sleep, so he had me quit both of them. He scored me some percocet and scheduled a ct scan, which was a relief. The percocet's okay, but my head could still feel better. Plus I'm running out of herb and I'm a ways off from my next crop due to idiocy on my part ( I wonder if I can get a rx for weed for my headaches; I'm in a med mj state and have a real need for it, the perc's are worthless without herb).

I am glad you are getting a ct scan, maybe you will get some answers. Has the doc mentioned re-bound headaches? Headaches SUCK because they hurt and because there can be such a struggle to find out what is causing them.

I went to a headache clinic for a while and they told me it was caffeine...it could have been, but it wasn't! So frustrating! I wish you well and I hope you get some answers. :thumbsup:

update: my ct scan came back normal. I still have daily headaches and I need 4 percocets a day to keep the pain down. I've tried just taking one and combining it with a big ibuprofen, but it doesn't work for much longer than an hour. It's annoying to call every week and ask the dr. to write me a new rx (they can't just call it in cuz it's a taboo drug); I don't want to seem like a junkie or something. But it's a good medication; I feel like my normal pain-free self, and I"m able to dispense quality vibes and attitude upon my kids, and that's all that matters

You mean you feel like yourself for the hour that it works, right?

Did you have a plain CT or a CT-angio? (where they injected dye and looked at your neurovascular system with contrast). How old are you? Are there any neurologists in your area? See if you can find one who specializes in headaches.

If noise (ie baby screaming) or light causes or increases your headache you might be suffering from migraines. You have to have one to appreciate the agony they bring.

Anyway, have your M.D. prescribe you Imitrex.

An Imitrex taken with an Aleve at the very first hint of an oncoming headache will greatly reduce, if not eliminate your pain.

Good luck.

Peace

I had a sample of Imitrex. It didn't get to the pain very well and made me very irritable. I thought I was getting migraines a couple of months ago, but they evolved into these perpetual, deep, acute headaches that don't seem to fit the description of migraine.

The newborn has matured a little and doesn't spend much time screaming, especially since I've gotten to know him well enough that I can ascertain what he needs from his pre-cry body language. It was really only the first couple of weeks that I felt daily stress. Now it seems these headaches aren't any discernable result of emotional or circumstantial activity, yet they are just as painful.

Dr. Byrd I believe I had a regular ct, without the dye. I'm 25. is it likely that my current dr. will refer me to a neurologist? He's normally very quick to write referrals.

The percocet pretty effectively keeps the pain down for about 4 hours, but I have to take 2 at a time, otherwise it still hurts. Thanks 4 your time

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Originally Posted by burnable

Dr. Byrd I believe I had a regular ct, without the dye. I'm 25. is it likely that my current dr. will refer me to a neurologist? He's normally very quick to write referrals.

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He's not here at the moment, Burnable, but I've heard him say before to patients who're having headaches that neurologists know a whole lot more about dealing with headaches than GPs or internists or family doctors. A visit to someone who specializes in heads might not be a bad thing to look into if they keep up.

I remember having headaches when our baby was a newborn, now that I think back on it. I think a lot of it was tension from terror and stress taking care of him. Sleep deprivation didn't help, either. That's a rough time. Glad you're getting at least some relief. I had that same experience long ago when I took an SSRI antidepressant for seasonal affective disorder. I felt totally flattened out and dull and hated that. Won't ever take those again.

Yeah I know what you mean. The Lexapro totally neutralized my emotions, which I guess would be good for someone who's depressed or bipolar or generally doesn't like his/her self. When something happened that normally would trigger an emotional response, i would sense the emotion under the surface, but it would just fizzle out and then I couldn't even get mad about it cuz that stuff removes anger. I didn't even feel human. The percocet only has some side effects, like drowsiness, but I have full access to my mind and emotions.

Fortunately my wife volunteers to do the baby thing pretty much all night. She can function on patchy sleep, as long as it's x amount of hours. I'm a mess without my 6-7 hours of deep, uninterrupted sleep. I imagine my head would feel much worse without it.

I used to get frequent migraines, but then I got a divorce, and they mysteriously went away. No kidding!

Seriously, The above IS the truth, but i used to eat Goody's continuously. I bet the lining in my stomach is perforterated as hell.

I am not making light of anyone's situation, folks, really. I just try and make folks laugh, and maybe for just a minute or two, forget their pain. i usually tell my wife I hurt all over worse than I do anywhere else.

I feel for anyone with chronic pain/health problems of any kind. I won't go into mine - I just hope everyone finds everything they need to help with their pain.

God bless, and Peace,

Old Stoner

another update: I spoke with a neurologist and he couldn't say anything definitive about my ailment, since there was no accident and he couldn't see any tactile impairment. He took away my opiate privileges; no big deal, the generic percocet wasn't helping so much anymore. Also, I had a nasty emotional comedown for 2 days after I quit taking it.

The Dr said that numbing an inexplicable pain with analgesics is often counter-productive in finding a genuine diagnosis. So now I'm on Ketorolac for 5 days and Immipremine, with Relpax for breakthrough headaches. The Ketorolac helped my light-sensitivity some, but ultimately did almost nothing for overall pain. The Immipremine helped me sleep pretty good, but I still woke up with full-intensity headache. As far as I can tell, the relpax doesn't help at all yet.

I'm bitterly frustrated at the continual guesswork I'm subjected to. I realize it's the nature of my condition, and headaches like these are often very ineffable, and I usually have a strong ability to elevate myself above my own problems. But this pain is so deep and so acute and so pervasive, so much that I feel like it's rooted in the most unfathomable depths of my soul, and my normal personal strength is rendered totally dormant. I hate to say it, but I feel outright depressed and hopeless, and I feel like I'm not even living life anymore. I can't read to my kids or to myself or have lively debate with my wife without exacerbating the pain. Can't even watch tv.