Headaches

I suffer from Cluster Headaches so I REALLY feel your pain!

drink more water!

1. the blurred vision and weakness that you are experiencing is commonly referred to as an "aura".  usually an "aura" occurs half-an hour before the onset of a migraine.  does your blurred vision affect one eye or both?  as @neowulf suggested, you may be experiencing cluster headaches (formely known as cluster migraines).

*cluster headaches:  cluster headache, also known as histamine headache, is a form of neurovascular headache. Attacks usually are severe and unilateral and typically are located at the temple and periorbital region (around the eye).  the 2 existing forms of cluster headache are (1) episodic clusters with at least 2 cluster phases lasting 7 days to 1 year separated by a cluster-free interval of 1 month or longer, and (2) chronic form, in which the clusters occur more than once a year without remission or the cluster-free interval is less than 1 month. 

• pain is usually a sudden onset - peaks in 10 - 15 minutes
• duration - usually last 10 minutes - 3 hours per episode
• frequency - usually occurs several times a day for 1 - 4 months (usually at night) with a free period of pain before the next set of frequency of attacks begin
• precipitating factors (include, but are not limited too) - allergens (anything that would produce a histamine release) stress, tension, alcohol, exposure to heat or cold, hay fever, certain foods (i.e. chocolate, eggs, dairy, MSG containing foods), and birth control

2. since you are taking birth control pills this may exacerbate or cause the migraines you are experience.  not specifically cluster headaches, but migraines in general.  women may have migraines during the end of the pill cycle as the estrogen component of the pill is stopped.  this is usually called estrogen-withdrawal migraines.

3. as @Draccos mentioned above, i would advise you to seek medical help coming from a health care professional.  these types of headaches can mask underlying problems that can be life-threatening or detrimental in the long run if not dealt with in a timely manner.  the amount of Excedrin you take sometimes is also unsafe.  Excedrin contains acetaminophen (tylenol), aspirin, and caffeine.  especially the combination of acetaminophen and aspirin - acetaminophen is high hepatotoxic (liver damaging), while aspirin has the ability to cause bleeding, blood clotting disorders, and stomach ulcers.  seeking medical help will provide you with alternatives to medication, as well as different type of medication to help cope, alleviate, and prevent migraine headaches better than Excedrin. 

• when to call a doctor:  a change in frequency, severity, or features of the migraine commonly experienced;  a new, progressive headache that lasts for days;  a headache brought on by coughing, sneezing, bearing down, straining while on the toilet, and so on;  large, unintentional loss of body weight;  weakness or paralysis that last after the headache
• when to get to the emergency department:  having the worst headache ever, especially if the headache came on very quickly;  headache associated with trauma to the head;  trauma to the head with loss of consciousness;  fever or stiff neck associated with headache;  decreased level of consciousness or confusion;  paralysis of one side of the body;  seizure

not sure if any of this imformation is helpful, but let me know if there is anything i could answer for you with the best of my knowledge ^_^

 

lmao.  i think some of those doctors i see roaming the hallways ever so often. 

as far a known test for cluster headaches, their is no specific diagnostic test (i.e. MRI, CT scan, or blood work).  most doctors diagnosis cluster headaches based on the symptoms that you are experiencing.  a good thing to do is to provide the doctor(s) with a detailed description of the cluster headache:

• Write down any symptoms you're experiencing, including any that may seem unrelated to the reason for which you scheduled the appointment. Try to keep track of when you have a headache, how long it lasts, and what you were doing when the headache started.
• Write down key personal information, including any major stresses or recent life changes.
• Make a list of all medications, as well as any vitamins or supplements, that you're taking, and share this information with your doctor.
• Write down questions to ask your doctor

some questions you may want to ask your doctor would be:

• What's the most likely cause of my symptoms?
• Are there other possible causes for my symptoms?
• What kinds of tests do I need? What will these tests rule out?
• Is my condition likely temporary or chronic?
• What treatments are available? Which do you recommend?
• What are the alternatives to the primary approach that you're suggesting?
• I have these other health conditions. How can I best manage them together?
• Are there any restrictions that I need to follow?
• Do I need to see a specialist?
• Is there a generic alternative to the medicine you're prescribing me?
• What are common side effects to the medications you're prescribing?

if you do decide to go get checked out, the doctor will most likely do some blood work on you, and maybe some imaging tests (CT scan of the brain or MRI of the brain).

Whytonia if you have any other questions or concerns feel free to ask. 

*p.s. sorry for the late response(s).  i've been at work all night and this is the only time i can respond when i get home from work. 

 

Sakei,

*u also have the classic signs/symptoms of cluster headaches without the "aura".  as you stated, you were in a car wreck many years back.  did you get checked out after the car wreck? did they do an x-ray or ct scan of your brain, neck, or spine (or all of the above? if so, what were the results?  did you have to see a chiropractor for therapy? 

*as far as the Excedrin comment I made above, it is advised not to take that many especially in one setting.  i think you said, that you take 3, 4 and sometimes 5 in one setting and then 3 more a few hours later.  the recommended dose of tylenol is 325 to 650 mg every 4 to 6 hours. The maximum per dose is 1 gram (1000 mg).  The maximum daily dose is 4 grams (4000 mg). 

-Sakei and Whytonia what kind of Excedrin are you guys taking btw?

 

The doc's have improved considerably since I've been in the service...I think they've been weeding out some of the bad ones.

I don't like to give out advice unless it is asked for, for various reasons. But I would at least like to point to a place where one can start, at the least an area in which I have some expertise or knowledge. Hopefully this will lead to wisdom on your part. As is per my soon to be profession, I can say that headaches such as these, as well as most problems with our bodies, have neurological roots. Our brain is a soft tissue floating in a bowl of liquid. If you bump your head, trip, get in a car accident, etc it is likely you have caused damage to your soft brain. These sort of things go unnoticed usually, or shrugged off, it has sometimes become even socially accepted to hide such things. Doctors don't ask whether your brain has changed, because most likely you dont even know, and they may not be trained to find out. Doctors these days like to diagnose and prescribe, they hardly ever want to find out whats really wrong with you, what caused it, or if things are related. If you fit the bill, then you can be billed, so to speak. Without venturing further as to the ineffectiveness of modern (american) medicine, I will just mention that I started to look at subjects not often noticed, such as this neurological subject. Sometimes the problems you have after a car accident for example can all be tracked down to a neurological change. I am afraid I lack the skill to teach you how this works, but in any case, when you mentioned car wreck this idea popped into my head. As I mentioned earlier, and elsewhere, I will be studying to perform biofeedback therapy, in particular L.E.N.S. Again I wont begin telling you about this, but what I can tell you is if dont want to take the easy way (pills), and would like to understand the reason why you get such monstrous headaches, I would look for a neurologist who knows about biofeedback techniques. Best case scenario, they are certified to do L.E.N.S. I am not promising you will get cured or anything, as everyone is different, and I am not a doctor or whatever term legally binds me from giving advice such as this, but once again, I am merely pointing the way. If curious, read the following book: Healing Power of Neurofeedback by Stephen Larsen. It will tell you everything you need to know. Again, my apologies if this is not the place for this.

I think ive got myself in a thread way too serious and deep... *backs away slowly*

In Latvia, you put a picture of a Target on a wall, and you then face it, get ready, and smash your head into the target. The closer to the center you hit , and the stonger you hit, the better the effect.

Because everybody knows, Knockout>Headaches

Ah a thread about headaches and it has gotten popular. Ah, a lot of support here on the forums, that's a good thing. Perhaps I should start posting some of the problems that I've been having too...

JK JK, I can understand how painful those headaches can be.