BG Medical: Chronic Headaches

[Rowe]

Nasal Saline Solution, might help.

Sounds in some way Sinus related. I get pain behind the eyes radiating up into my forehead in the winter when the air is dry. I spray the saline solution up there and it helps. If the sinuses are dried out and irritated, it's not infection therefore it's harder to see.

It could be fungal though. A friend's room-mate had a fungal infection in his sinuses for 3 years went to the doctors several time finally he went blind in one eye. They thought it was a brain tumor but it was a tumor in the sinuses caused by fungals because the lazy assholes wouldn't fix the leaky faucet in their bathroom. Thing grew to the size of a golf ball and took 2 surgeries to remove.

[setzer]

I had similar problems a few years ago. I had an MRI done and went to a few doctors but nobody could help me until I was at the dentist one day and the subject came up. My dentist asked me if I been grinding my teeth at night, which I've always done, and he asked me if I'd want to try a night guard. It's a plastic mold that protects your teeth (similar to what athletes wear) from, well grinding against each other at night and wearing down. I got the mold made and, although it took awhile to get use to, the headaches stopped shortly after.

I'm not sure if that applies here but thought I'd throw it out there as another idea because it worked for me. Good luck.

[Titanss]

stop smoking weed

actually you need to start smoking weed, i know a person who gets these and it is the only thing that helps them. and yes they got bank and went to shit tons of doctors

[SamanosukeShiva]

lack of sleep? how many hours are you sleeping daily?

[antihero]

cancer

[Nirokun!]

I know a girl who has constant headaches. Smart, privileged, beautiful, hot bf. But I don't envy her for a second because she has constant headaches. I don't think they're migraine-quality, but she takes excedrin/generic to help her, but she's never headache-free. She's also been to several MDs as well as a Headache guy, and they can't do anything for her, so she's just had to deal. She manages well most of the time, perky and fun, but when she's not in front of people she's usually leaning over with her hand on her head, working to stay busy. Not envious at all.

[Brill Weave]

I have migraines every single day. I feel your pain. This isn't something to ask BG(no offense bitches!) Go to your doctor and ask for a referral to a neurologist. They'll run a few tests and might be able to pinpoint what the problem is. It could be something as minor as posture. In the end it at least gives you an answer and some piece of mind.

[Bipolargod]

Try to consult a cardiologist to see if maybe your heart is pumping blood too hard. With all the medication you've mentioned taking your blood might have thinned and your heart worked harder to compensate. Prior to that the headaches seem to definitely be blood-pressure related and I'm surprised they didn't check it.

It could also very well be a parasitic infection, but that's stretching it and I doubt visiting a parasitologist is going to help you.

You mentioned when you're hot it hurts worse and when you're cold it hurts less. This is usually indicative of extreme vasodilation and could explain the pressure you're feeling. When your vessels swell it puts pressure on you, which since there are so many in your head, can resemble a headache. The coolness helps alleviate this swelling as it reduces the immune response to the area. Heat obviously makes it worse.

I'm thinking it has something to do with your circulatory system. Consult a cardiologist or an immunologist and get your blood screened and your vessels checked out. A general physician isn't going to do anything for you.

Ha, I was going in that direction before I had to step out!

[Karshe]

Lots of responses... I don't want to do a huge quote dump, so I'm just going to try and field some of the bigger questions.

I have been to a neurologist, I had a second CT scan and MRI under his care, as well as trying several different medications. He ended up telling me, "I don't know what's wrong with you, go see this guy..." as I've heard so many times in the past year or two. I was then referred to the "Headache Clinic" at UW, which has been my most recent physician. I have never been to a cardiologist, so that is definitely something to consider.

I don't know whether or not it's an allergy to something I'm exposed to every day. I haven't looked into dust or mold. However, I have moved three times in the last four years (since the headache started) so I'm hesitant to think it could be something environmentally related. On a related note, I have considered things like diet (caffeine), lack of sleep, hobbies (video games), etc. But I can honestly say that the headache has not gone away in 4+ years, and all of the things listed above change from week to week.

Anti-inflammatory's (and anything else over the counter I've tried within the last several years) have zero effect on me now. Towards the beginning of the headache I would take aspirin "as needed," which ended up becoming "always." A year ago I was taking three pills with each meal, and a fourth dose on the weekend if I were staying up later. They weren't even helping, and looking back I don't know why I was in that habit. As I've said previously, I'm sure my body became dependant on the pills... but I've been pill free for quite some time now, so I don't think it was medication preventing me from getting rid of the headache.

I sleep 6-7 hours per night during the week, 8-10 hours during the weekend. It's definitely not the most healthy sleep schedule ever... but with having a one year old in the house there's little room for improvement. My sleep schedule hasn't always been this bad, though, and two years ago from now I had a pretty standard 8 hours per night so I don't think it's the cause of the headache.

I do have a non-eventful desk job in front of a computer working with life insurance, and it's common to go home and unwind with a few hours of 360. But as I've said above, there are plenty of days where I have little-to-none exposure to a monitor/screen, and on those days there is no improvement to the headache.

This is already tl;dr so I'm gonna wrap it up. Thanks again for the continued responses.

[Bipolargod]

I do have a non-eventful desk job in front of a computer working with life insurance, and it's common to go home and unwind with a few hours of 360.

That's it! Extended hours of high-concentrated light can permanently damage the eyes and or muscles, due to the strain/use of focus for extended periods of time. Have you told that to your physician?

[Takedown3]

possibly lupus?

[Kyte]

Have you had a urine and/or blood test? The dehydration idea isn't a bad one (as would hyperhydration, actually, but that's far less common). Sodium concentration in your blood plasma and urine would be a indicator of poor blood osmolality.

[Elesirdur]

Good point about hydration. Air conditioned offices (be it summer or winter) tend to have very dry air and always leave me pretty parched. If you're drinking coffee during the day too, the diuretic effect will make you a little more dehydrated. Try keeping a canteen of water at your desk at all times and just drink from it regularly. Your pee should be nearly clear if you're well hydrated, and if it's not then get more water in you throughout the day.

[Mayareira]

Eyes comes to my mind first as well. Note that there doesn't need to be a problem with them, merely tired eyes caused by excessive computer usage, etc. may cause headache.

[Elesirdur]

Another thought for the OP: Do you wear contact lenses? Contacts + constant computer use = drill in the skull headaches for me. Try glasses at work.

[kuronosan]

Lots of responses... I don't want to do a huge quote dump, so I'm just going to try and field some of the bigger questions.

I have been to a neurologist, I had a second CT scan and MRI under his care, as well as trying several different medications. He ended up telling me, "I don't know what's wrong with you, go see this guy..." as I've heard so many times in the past year or two. I was then referred to the "Headache Clinic" at UW, which has been my most recent physician. I have never been to a cardiologist, so that is definitely something to consider.

I don't know whether or not it's an allergy to something I'm exposed to every day. I haven't looked into dust or mold. However, I have moved three times in the last four years (since the headache started) so I'm hesitant to think it could be something environmentally related. On a related note, I have considered things like diet (caffeine), lack of sleep, hobbies (video games), etc. But I can honestly say that the headache has not gone away in 4+ years, and all of the things listed above change from week to week.

Anti-inflammatory's (and anything else over the counter I've tried within the last several years) have zero effect on me now. Towards the beginning of the headache I would take aspirin "as needed," which ended up becoming "always." A year ago I was taking three pills with each meal, and a fourth dose on the weekend if I were staying up later. They weren't even helping, and looking back I don't know why I was in that habit. As I've said previously, I'm sure my body became dependant on the pills... but I've been pill free for quite some time now, so I don't think it was medication preventing me from getting rid of the headache.

I sleep 6-7 hours per night during the week, 8-10 hours during the weekend. It's definitely not the most healthy sleep schedule ever... but with having a one year old in the house there's little room for improvement. My sleep schedule hasn't always been this bad, though, and two years ago from now I had a pretty standard 8 hours per night so I don't think it's the cause of the headache.

I do have a non-eventful desk job in front of a computer working with life insurance, and it's common to go home and unwind with a few hours of 360. But as I've said above, there are plenty of days where I have little-to-none exposure to a monitor/screen, and on those days there is no improvement to the headache.

This is already tl;dr so I'm gonna wrap it up. Thanks again for the continued responses.

Stop with the caffeine. Stimulants will play havoc on your blood vessels.

Also, how are your teeth? Have you had any dental exams recently? Have you had any root canals, fillings, or other dental problems?

[Kyte]

I wouldn't say anything about the effect caffeine is having without looking at more physiological indicators, unless the OP is understating his caffeine use.

[Elesirdur]

The trouble with caffeine is that you get withdrawal symptoms, so if you're going to try and go caffeine free, then commit to it for at least two weeks to see if there's any improvement. Considering the OP's problem, I doubt reducing or eliminating caffeine would take the headaches away, but it might provide some relief or a reduction in the symptoms.

[Kyte]

On a related note, I have considered things like diet (caffeine), lack of sleep, hobbies (video games), etc. But I can honestly say that the headache has not gone away in 4+ years, and all of the things listed above change from week to week.

I suppose if it's really inconsistent, then there's a possibility. However, I would think that the aspirin would have potentially dealt with a periodical lack of caffeine from other sources.


In addition to urine tests and/or blood tests, what's the OP's alcohol use like? How old are you? And do you have any general dietary proportions that you stick to?

[Monkor]

Were you a twin in the womb and consumed the weaker sibling?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Dark_Half