Diagnose me - Headaches - almost every day
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Did you check out your eyes? I had this problem a year ago...my head hurts so much...so times i can't sometimes finish a task from my headache and couldn't find out what it is until i realized that my headache gets better when i wake up (in the morning or after a nap) and so i discovered it is from my eyes...i had them checked and it turned out that i need glasses. My headache disappeared after 4 days of wearing glasses0
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"Migraines" are caused by a lot of things, including foods, smells, light, really anything you can think of. There are a lot of books out now that can help you diagnose your triggers (your local library will have them I bet!)
My neighbor and brothers GF have sensitivity to processed chocolate, and since avoiding have been headache free. My mother had chronic migraines for many years (before I was born) and regular visits to the chiropractor for a year or two fixed that.
Think about what foods you eat on a daily basis, and if there are days where it's worse than usual retraced your steps. Were you wearing a particular perfume, eat something different? Did you wake up feeling sluggish, have itchy/puffy eyes or have a particularly bad night of sleep?
Also, go to a Chiropracter. Even if you don't think you have back pain, headaches can often be caused by muscles in the neck just being unhappy. Go and talk to a chiropracter and let the know you've been having headaches.0 -
Scurvy? I know it's more a pirate type ailment but maybe you're the exception to that.
I believe scurvy is a vitamin C deficiency. I live in the sunshine state and eat lots of citrus :-)
Citrus could be the problem. Citrus triggers headaches for me. Look into foods that cause or trigger headaches and see if you're eating any of them. I went to a neurologist for my headaches and he gave me a print out of foods that cause headaches. Most of them I didn't eat but the big ones for me were grapefruits, oranges and lemons. I used to put a lemon wedge in my water every day and ate at least one orange a day as well as a grapefruit for breakfast. It took a few days once I quite the citrus but I haven't had any problems since. Give it a try. Of course keep your appointment with the neurologist. Its always worth having a neuro look into this sort of thing.0 -
For some people it is related to a food allergy--have you tried keeping a log of how often the headaches occur and what you are eating that may trigger them? it is just a thought? I know if I eat to much sugar my head feels like it is going to blow off!!! I am a migraine sufferer and have noticed that stress does play a huge role in how often they appear!!! Good luck-I hope you get some relief!!!!0
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I stopped all artificial sweeteners and my daily headaches disappeared.
Actually, stopping using artificial sweeteners can cause daily headaches too. I learned this when I cut out splenda. They lasted about a month, and I'm someone who rarely got headaches prior to that.0 -
My sister has suffered with migranes every day for the past 20 years. At the age of 41 was diagnosed with macular degeneration in her right eye. Very uncommon in someone her age. Its an old persons disease.
She no longer has central vision in this eye. He doctor figured that the onset of this disease started with the migranes for all these years and because the eyes were not thoroughly examined, the MD just got worse. She is not to far away from losing complete vision in her eye.
Get your eyes checked again from an ophthalmologist, not an optometrist.0 -
Hey I'm a medical student and about 80% of chronic headaches have no treatable cause and are just there, I'm very sorry to say!
Sometimes over-taking analgesics such as paracetamol and codeine actually causes the headache, so if you are taking a lot cut back or take a different pain killer.
Other non-pathological causes of headaches can be involved in a poor diet, tension headaches from stress, and the classic causes such as coffee, chocolate and cheese.
Otherwise head to the doctor.0 -
I had the same issues. went to eye doctor and okay. went to neurologist and he did all the tests. told me probably migranes brought on by lack of sleep. mentioned to my doctor and also that my wife noticed snoring. he sent me for a sleep study. they diagnosed sleep apnea. now i use a cpap machine and the headaches are gone.0
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Hi I have migraine since I was like 8 y/o, I used to take medications but just stopped taking those for some health and personal reasons. But my doctor advised me to try logging whatever triggers my migraine. These may or may not be applicable to you but you may wanna consider.
1. Sodium - Since I am logging my food now, I'm more aware how much sodium I've taken.
2. Brightness - This happens mostly when I drive, so I have to make sure I wear sunglasses even if there's just a little bit of sun.
3. Too much sleep (I know a lot of people will say WHAAATTT??? but I shouldn't be oversleeping, 6-8hrs is enough for me)
4. Milk and chocolates - Dairy foods I guess so I try to limit myself.0 -
smoke some pot the headache will go away....lol
You should go get your eyes checked, did you stop drinking soda,alcohol, or smoking cigarettes?Withdrawel causes headaches0 -
Definitely a lot for me to think about here and that was exactly what I wanted. THANK YOU so much to everyone who kindly shared your experiences and ideas.
And to the few, yes I know no one here can diagnose me. Thanks for your input too, lol.
I'll try to answer a few more questions.
I've been having headaches for as long as I can remember.
Over the past couple of years they seem to be getting worst and more frequent. Over the last year I am finding it increasingly difficult to concentrate. I thought it was just because I am burnt out on my job but maybe not.
My eye dr. is an ophthalmologist not just an optometrist. I see him yearly. I don't think headaches are related to my vision.
I had not thought of sleep apnea though my husband has it and uses a cpap. He tells me I snore though I don't believe him.
As far a diet, I don't use artificial sweeteners. I try to eat whole/natural foods as often as possible. I hadn't thought of a particular food being a trigger though.0 -
I suspect brain cancer.
Seriously - see a doctor.0 -
Have you looked at food intolerance? Lactose used to give me migraines ( I don't ingest lactose anymore).0
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I haven't read all the replies so sorry if this has been said.
SINUSES. I always got migraines/sinus headaches. a LOT. When I was 21, I had to have a tonsillectomy and the doctor asked me about my sinuses and whether I got sinus headaches, and when I said yes, he said he'd also do a FESS procedure which clears out the sinuses.
It's been nearly 3 years and I can count on one hand how many severe headaches I've had.
Dehydration. Now that I pay closer attention, if I feel a headache coming on I chug 2 glasses of water (or more). Sometimes that helps, sometimes I take 2 Advil with it. 64+ oz of water a day will keep you from getting dehydrated.
Good luck! I was in shock and disbelief when I went a week without a headache. Then two. And now I get them rarely.0 -
I suspect brain cancer.
Seriously - see a doctor.
I'm not saying that's not an option but there are dozens of people telling me similar headache stories and what they found the cause to be. None of them mentioned cancer. Is there any reason in particular that you suspect cancer?0 -
My boyfriend also his this problem and we found out that it's because he GRINDS HIS TEETH AT NIGHT! Why? Because of stress!! Maybe look into that?0
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I think she's joking.I suspect brain cancer.
Seriously - see a doctor.
I'm not saying that's not an option but there are dozens of people telling me similar headache stories and what they found the cause to be. None of them mentioned cancer. Is there any reason in particular that you suspect cancer?
Not a good joke, though.
I would talk to your doctor more, though.0 -
Migraines run in my mother's side of the family. We've recently discovered that it is caused by food allergies/intolerances. I had what was essentially a year-long migraine until I had a blood test done for food intolerances. I've since cut out the foods that popped up on the test and I haven't had a migraine (or other very nasty symptoms) since, unless i ate some of those foods again.
You may want to look into getting a blood test done yourself.
That is actually very helpful. What kind of doctor would do that type of testing? My GP does not believe in doing anything other than handing out pills.
No doctor really will, as there aren't many treatment options for headaches. If you have them consistently, however, a neurologist can determine whether there's a neuro-anatomical reason (say, herniated disc in your neck) or send you for an MRI to see if you have white matter changes, a tumor, or structural issues with your brain or sinuses.
There are supplemental thinsg you can do to relieve stress, like yoga or meditation. You can track your food to see if you're eatign soemthing that triggers it. Or, have more bloodwork done to check levels of important nutrients.0 -
smoke some pot the headache will go away....lol
You should go get your eyes checked, did you stop drinking soda,alcohol, or smoking cigarettes?Withdrawel causes headaches
The pot is probably not a bad idea. Seriously, don't know why people get all uptight about it.
No, no withdraws here. I rarely drink soda, I don't smoke, and alcohol is occasional so wouldn't factor into regular headaches. Oddly enough my hangovers never really gave me headaches.0 -
Migraines run in my mother's side of the family. We've recently discovered that it is caused by food allergies/intolerances. I had what was essentially a year-long migraine until I had a blood test done for food intolerances. I've since cut out the foods that popped up on the test and I haven't had a migraine (or other very nasty symptoms) since, unless i ate some of those foods again.
You may want to look into getting a blood test done yourself.
That is actually very helpful. What kind of doctor would do that type of testing? My GP does not believe in doing anything other than handing out pills.
No doctor really will, as there aren't many treatment options for headaches. If you have them consistently, however, a neurologist can determine whether there's a neuro-anatomical reason (say, herniated disc in your neck) or send you for an MRI to see if you have white matter changes, a tumor, or structural issues with your brain or sinuses.
There are supplemental thinsg you can do to relieve stress, like yoga or meditation. You can track your food to see if you're eatign soemthing that triggers it. Or, have more bloodwork done to check levels of important nutrients.
There are many treatment options for migraines from daily preventative meds to actual migraine meds like imitrex. If you get headaches daily it may be time to try some type of medication.0 -
Could you have a chiari malformation?
I have a horrible headache or a migraine every day and I don't know if it's more common for people with EDS (like me) to have a chiari malformation or if the general population is susceptible too, but I thought I'd throw it out there just in case it might be helpful. I haven't been diagnosed as having a CM, but I'm looking into getting a referral for the MRI soon.
Just thought I'd throw something rare-ish and random into the mix. :drinker:0 -
Scurvy? I know it's more a pirate type ailment but maybe you're the exception to that.
I believe scurvy is a vitamin C deficiency. I live in the sunshine state and eat lots of citrus :-)
If it's even moderately sunny and I don't wear sunglasses, I end up with a headache every single day from squinting. Could that be part of your problem since you live in the sunshine state?
Also, if it's migraines vs. just headaches, I had migraines 2-3 times per week when I was a kid (to the point of laying in a dark room and still throwing up). Had every test in the book run on me, and they found nothing wrong. They eventually just went away on their own with no explanation as I got older. Perhaps it's because I learned how to control the pre-migraine headaches with sunglasses and such as I got older. Who knows?0 -
Have you tried a chilled can of soup? Lay I your back with the cool can behind your neck. It puts the perfect pressure on the bace of your scull and is cooling.I haven't read any of the replies and that is because I have a horrible head ache. Actually I only skimmed the first post but whatever >__> I have a head ache, so, forgive me if I repeat things
Could it be a migraine? Light sensitive? Sound sensitive? Does pressure help? Is it in one spot?
Try laying down in a dark room and putting a cold washcloth over your eyes, apply some light pressure to your temples and eyes.
Try taking a migraine pill- they have caffeine in them- those help me. Caffeine pill + dark room + wash cloth = my miracle cure.
Obviously I'm not a doctor...just a migraine suffererererer trying to share some ideas
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ok. Here is my story for what it is worth. This is ongoing at this moment. I went to my eye exam where pictures were taken of my optic nerves as part of my yearly exam. Immediately he sent me to a specialist, who confirmed his findings and took more pictures of my eyes. He told me that most likely it is pseudotumor intercranial hypertension (essentially high spinal fluid pressure with the absence of tumor). but he wanted to run some tests first. He also said that if we find nothing, (which happens often) that this seems to be more predominant in overweight females for some reason. so off to the testing i went, blood work, MRI. they both came back fine, so now referral to neurologist...remember, i am having no symptoms, she is perplexed because i have no headaches.. usually someone with this condition would have headaches often. she does a spinal tap to test pressure in spine and check fluid for anything abnormal... all is fine, but pressure is confirmed as high. so she puts me on a diuretic and also encourages weight loss confirming that this is more common in women who are overweight. so, back to eye drs for more testing and follow ups, they say, that there is a SLIGHT change for the good. could be from the spinal fluid the neurologist removed or the med she put me on or the loss of 13 lbs. the neurologist is now sending me to another neurologist who specializes in eyes.... so.... this can be very serious... please take it as so and go to the neurologist.0
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you could end up losing your vision. literally in a blink of an eye if the pressure is too high in your spinal fluid... this increased pressure usually causes headaches.0
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Only a doctor can diagnose, but below are reasons why i think i / people i know get headaches:
1. trigger foods
2. Eye problems
3. Migrane
4. Lack or too much sleep
5. Stress
6. Sinus
7. Dry eyes
8. Allergies0 -
Is this a recent change for you?
I would go to the neurologist. We can give you all kinds of possibilities, but you need to rule out structural changes in your brain first because those need to be caught early if that's the problem - benign and malignant tumors, bulges in weakened blood vessel walls, that sort of thing.
Reason: friend of mine had migraines since puberty. In his late forties, they became more frequent and more painful. He didn't do anything about it other than watch general migraine triggers until they became so bad no pain meds would work for him.
Finally he went to his neurologist who insisted on an MRI. Found it immediately. Glioblastoma, too advanced to be surgically removed successfully. It had spread like a net through both hemispheres of his brain.
Seriously, it's probably not anything like that, but if it is, you need to figure it out toot sweet. Then spend your time trying and eliminating various reported triggers.0 -
Migraines run in my mother's side of the family. We've recently discovered that it is caused by food allergies/intolerances. I had what was essentially a year-long migraine until I had a blood test done for food intolerances. I've since cut out the foods that popped up on the test and I haven't had a migraine (or other very nasty symptoms) since, unless i ate some of those foods again.
You may want to look into getting a blood test done yourself.
This is EXACTLY what my issue was too. Since you already track your food, start tracking your headaches too! See if when you eat certain things you always have headaches. You don't even necessarily need the blood tests, I did it "manually" via tracking!
Good luck!0 -
Welcome to my world! I used to get migraines almost every day. It sucks! I've tried all kinds of pills and stuff, and ended up having to get botox shots for migraines every three months. That, along with some high blood pressure meds (I do not have high blood pressure) and a supplement called Migrelief has helped a ton, but I still get them occasionally. Make an appointment with a neurologist.
EDIT: Try a magnesium supplement. Magnesium deficiency is a very common cause for migraines.0 -
Migraines run in my mother's side of the family. We've recently discovered that it is caused by food allergies/intolerances. I had what was essentially a year-long migraine until I had a blood test done for food intolerances. I've since cut out the foods that popped up on the test and I haven't had a migraine (or other very nasty symptoms) since, unless i ate some of those foods again.
You may want to look into getting a blood test done yourself.
That is actually very helpful. What kind of doctor would do that type of testing? My GP does not believe in doing anything other than handing out pills.
i used to get headaches everyday. started out of no where too. turned out to be the pill. once i went off it the headaches went away.0
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