headaches....

[luvmyfam444]

tell me what you know about recurring headaches.
What all I can change

I don't drink caffeine now - but I don't eat well.

I get them almost daily - though usually not terrible - just aching in my forehead - Advil usually works , but they typically come back during the day.

The bad ones are at that TOM - which of course I know is hormonal.

Ocassionally they'll be fairly bad & effect my vision - but not real often (so I know those are migraines)

It's the daily ones that I driving me batty - I'd just like to not have to keep popping pills to get thru the day - I know my liver would thank me!

I know "they say" being dehydrated can give headaches - but I'm just wondering what else I can change ( I don't take any other meds or vitamins or anything)

 

[swanmom]

I had this for about 6 months - a dull headache nearly every day just as you described it behind the eyes and forehead. It seemd silly to go to the doctor for a minor headache, so I kept taking aspirin. But I got concerned that it just wouldn't go away. When I finally went to the doctor's office, he sent me to an ENT! Turns out that it was chronic sinus inflamation and swelling. He put me on a nasal steriod spray and the headaches disappeared! I used the steriod spray daily for about a month then tapered down to every other day, then every three days, etc. until I was finally off of it completely. Now, I rarely have to use it. Maybe this is what you need.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

A few thoughts....first of all, go to your doctor and get checked out. It's probably nothing serious, however your dr may want to order an MRI to rule more serious things out (I've had two of them--no big deal--and the good thing is it was confirmed that I have a brain! ).

You are very likely having rebound headaches if you're taking any kind of pain reliever more than a couple/few times a week. You'll have to break the cycle, which isn't fun, but your dr may want to prescribe a week of oral steroids to help out.

Yes, being dehydrated can bring on a headache. Same with the not eating right. I have a bunch of triggers (I have chronic migraines)--heat, direct sunlight, any alcohol (totally gave up alcohol), certain foods, etc. They think mine are hormonal and due to peri-menopause...I hope so, because then they'll possibly go away when I hit menopause, which shouldn't be too long.

 

[KAMLEM]

Have you gone to a doctor? It's not normal to have a headache every day. There could be hundreds of different causes.

 

[Leger13]

Dang! I could have written this post myself. For the last 3 weeks I've been suffering from daily mild headaches as well. A friend of mine suggested I might need glasses so I'm going to get my eyes checked this weekend. If that is not it then I'm going to get a glucose test done because I have read (and know) that headaches can be a sign of blood sugar being out of whack. Maybe you should look into those things yourself. When do your headaches normally occur?

 

[alexandria674]

I suggest going to the Dr's oftentimes, they can figure out what is wrong and what can be done. I had one once during the entire Summer and figured it was the heat, I began to drink more water and ate a little bit more of the healthy stuff, it kind of calmed down the feelings until I had my appointment.

 

[luvmyfam444]

Thanks for the replies - yes I know I should go to the dr - but I'd like to try everything possible @ home first - since I know its not anything major. Though my doc would be a great resource 'cause he just had brain surgery himself to relieve the fluid on his brain that was causing his headaches - in fact as far as I know he's not back @ work yet.

I just wanna start with the obvious 1st. I never thought about the sinus things nor blood sugar - so I'm glad those were mentioned....& I need to keep a log 'cause I know a dr will ask that. I had my eyes checked about 1 yr ago - so they should be okay.

I have them all the time - often when I wake up & when I go to sleep - but they don't usually wake me up in the night - have had that happen but its rare. Today I had it when I woke up & when I went to bed last night.

 

[golfgal]

Thanks for the replies - yes I know I should go to the dr - but I'd like to try everything possible @ home first - since I know its not anything major. Though my doc would be a great resource 'cause he just had brain surgery himself to relieve the fluid on his brain that was causing his headaches - in fact as far as I know he's not back @ work yet.

I just wanna start with the obvious 1st. I never thought about the sinus things nor blood sugar - so I'm glad those were mentioned....& I need to keep a log 'cause I know a dr will ask that. I had my eyes checked about 1 yr ago - so they should be okay.

I have them all the time - often when I wake up & when I go to sleep - but they don't usually wake me up in the night - have had that happen but its rare. Today I had it when I woke up & when I went to bed last night.

Your eyes can change fast so don't rule that out. It could be allergies. Are you sleeping well? Honestly, like others have said, there are a thousand things that could be causing them and you could spend months trying things and never get to the cause. Frequent headaches are a very good reason to see your dr.

 

[Imzadi]

I was going to mention a change in the eyes. Also, you could be starting perimenopause. It's rare but it can happen younger than women think.

 

[pooh17]

Do you drink flavored water or diet soda? If so, cut those out for a week and see if the headaches improve. Splenda and other artificial sweeteners are known to cause headaches. My neurologist gave me this advice and it helped me.

 

[piglet50]

i had headaches several times a week for quite a while. i thought i had a sinus infection and went to the dr. turns out my blood pressure was through the roof. they gave me some kind of medication in the office and wouldn't let me leave until it came down. i ended up taking blood pressure medication daily but my headaches have disappeared. i don't want to scare you but i was told high blood pressure can cause headaches. please see the dr.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

tell me what you know about recurring headaches.
What all I can change

I don't drink caffeine now - but I don't eat well.

I get them almost daily - though usually not terrible - just aching in my forehead - Advil usually works , but they typically come back during the day.

The bad ones are at that TOM - which of course I know is hormonal.

Ocassionally they'll be fairly bad & effect my vision - but not real often (so I know those are migraines)

It's the daily ones that I driving me batty - I'd just like to not have to keep popping pills to get thru the day - I know my liver would thank me!

I know "they say" being dehydrated can give headaches - but I'm just wondering what else I can change ( I don't take any other meds or vitamins or anything)

How much water do you drink? Dehydration will give you headaches.

Pill popping will give you a rebound headache from the meds.

As far as trigger foods that cause migraines, there is long list. I can't post it here it is too big. An elimination diet is something you need to do to find your trigger foods.
http://www.webmd.com/migraines-headaches/guide/triggers-specific-foods

I would certainly go to the doctor to make sure it is something not serious like blood pressure, blood sugar, etc. Get a physical with a blood panel.

And the eye doctor. When was your last exam?

 

[bean]

I wanted to second the idea that your blood pressure should be checked. This is exactly what happened to my mom and it turns out tha her BP was really high. I've had migraines since I was 5 so I feel your pain. Headaches are no fun.

 

[KAMLEM]

Thanks for the replies - yes I know I should go to the dr - but I'd like to try everything possible @ home first - since I know its not anything major.

How do you know that? I'm certainly not trying to scare you but I really think you should see a doctor if they continue.

 

[1stluvispooh]

Ok I have to say I have had headaches my whole life. My mom use to pick me up from school and could tell I had 1 by the look on my face. At any rate they have changed over the years. You mentioned that they are worse during that time of the month. I had this happen after my second child was born I started taking B-6 and they went for the most part a way. It's something you might want to try.

 

[onelilspark]

I always get migraines. You mentioned you're not getting them, but I know if I got one a few days in a row I used to just have to suffer with one for a day to get the medicine out of my system (usually that meant locking myself in a dark room with access to a bathroom in case of nausea.) A PP mentioned rebound headaches form the medicine, and I'd start with that. If you can go a day without taking medicine, do it. See if that'll stop the headaches. If not, go to the doctor.

 

[jnykly]

I had headaches for about 3 months straight and finally went to the doc. They gave me meds that didn't touch it. Got the MRI, nada. Doc actually told me that if it was migraines, he could give me meds for it...but I didn't want to be on meds. I was finally diagnosed with tension headaches. He sent me to physical therapy and boy did it do wonders..... I still have recurring headaches, but not as often and they do not last as long. Physical Therapy taught me how to deal with them and sometimes I am able to stop the headache when it hits through what was taught. I know this is going to sound strange, but I will get my hubby to massage my shoulders (more on the back of the shoulders). There will be these spots that feel like small round knots. If the knots got worked out (usually feels like a bubble pop), the headache would go away. I have dealt with them long enough to actually know where the knots are and sometimes can work them out myself. You really should go to doc to rule out anything that could be serious. Hopefully it's just tension and can be relieved without meds. HTH....

 

[PollyannaMom]

...I don't drink caffeine now - but I don't eat well...

Did you give up caffeine recently? I know caffeine withdrawl can cause a headache.

Does not eating well include a lot of MSG? I've heard some people are very sensitive to that and get headaches.

And yes, I have definitely gotten a headache from being dehydrated.

I would also second the sinus/allergy suggestions of other poters.

 

[mickeyboat]

As much as you hate to do it, it's time to see the doctor. Is there another person in your doctor's practice that you could see?

I, too was having trouble with headaches. After months of trial and error and testing, I had an MRI and they found sinus troubles. After 3 weeks of antibiotics and 12 days of oral steroids, and twice daily sinus rinses, I am feeling a lot better.

I also have a fractured tooth which may have contributed to my headaches.

If you can't make it to the doctor's, try increasing your water intake, and use a blood pressure machine at CVS or something.

Hope you are feeling better, soon.

 

[MoniqueU]

What do you mean you know it isn't anything serious.

I was told in a huge scolding tone by my sons dr that any headache over 3 days needs immediate attention. I let his go 5 days thinking it was just a headache. Turns out he has cluster migraines and is on daily meds that now help him perfectly.