A question about headaches please help!

[binny]

DH has been suffering headaches for about a year and a half. the doctor hasnt found anything wrong but I dont think he has done everything he can, he hasnt run a ct scan or any other tests, he wants to try Imitrex for awhile. Well dh takes it when he has a headached and it seems to work BUT he doesnt want to be taking it all the time. He ( dh) is worried about the long term issues. He gest headaches like this about once a week or once every two weeks. They are almost debilitating for him he gets lightheaded and all around miserable.
Does anyone suffer from these? Or know how I can help dh feel better?

 

[debster812]

binny,

It sounds like Cluster Headaches. My brother gets them. He actually just had an episode about a month and a half ago. They did everything to him. XRay, CT Scan, MRI, nothing showed up. They finally put him on high blood pressure medicine, and that did the trick.

These appear to be similar to migraine, but men generally do not get migraine, they get these. Fortunately for my brother, he only gets attacks every couple of years. They also feel his are exacerbated because he is a welder, and has most certainly gotten metal framents in his eyes. (They had to 'clean out' his eyes before his MRI to make sure no metal fragments were in there).

That's all I know. Hope your DH is feeling better.

Debbie

 

[DonnaS]

I'm assuming it is your DH's primary care physician who is treating him. Your DH might want to ask for a referral to a neurologist or other headache specialist.

Here are a couple of sites that include a lot of information on different types of headaches.



National Headaches Foundation

American Council for Headache Education

 

[Tuffcookie]

I'm on daily beta blockers. I started on them in January and I have noticed a wonderful improvement! It seems to be stopping the migraines from ever starting.

TC

 

[JulieWent]

I have gotten migraines since I was 12. Since I discovered Imitrex, my life has been mine (and my family's) again. I, too, worried about the long term effects. That was probably six years ago now. My doctor has followed all the research as has a friend who is a pharmacist PhD. Both have assured me that the long term research is looking very good, that Imitrex seems to have fewer long-term side effects than Advil or Tylenol. So, maybe that will comfort your husband a little. (The sites someone linked you to above will have links to the latest research, too.)

My friend who is a pharmacist told me once that taking Imitrex once is a great diagnostic tool. If the Imitrex works, you've definitely got migraines. I wouldn't work for any other kind of headache because it's not a pain killer or muscle relaxer. So, based on what you've said, it sounds like your DH really does have migraines.

Hope that helps a little. I hate headaches.

Julie

 

[princess lovers mom]

Has he kept a headache diary yet to see if he can figure out what may be triggering the headaches. Some things to track are caffeine intake, lack of sleep, artificial sweeteners, chocolate, smoked or deli meats, hotdogs, alcohol, smoking...

the frequency that your husband is getting his headaches does sound like he should still be on the abortive medications like Imitrex or Zomig. If he was exceeding 8-9 pills a month he may want to take daily medication such as a beta blocker ( blood pressure medication) or Pamelor low dose antidepressant - both of which work well, but often with side effects of fatigue.

I agree with a previous post that if the Imitrex is working you are most likely dealing with migraine type headaches, but if this is a new onset, new type headache a CT scan is often reassuring...

 

[believe]

I get migraines for different reasons. I get them from diabetes, stress (mostly after the stress is over) and from sinus infections. I think the majority of mine are from diabetes...since I have been controlling my diet more they have gone away, except when I go off the diet.