So right now I have a really bad headache. While I sit here, it's a fairly dull pain, but every time I get up and walk around or physically exert myself in the least bit, my head gets really tight and starts throbbing in the front, especially the left side. My head also has a dull pain at the base where it connects to my neck. Yesterday I woke up with the throbbing pain (even without moving really), and I slept for another 2 hours and it was gone. Then today I woke up with it again. Slept another 3 hours, and it still hadn't gone away. Now it's just a dull pain unless I move. I took like 400 mg ibuprofen. I feel a little bit nauseous but don't think I'm really going to throw up or anything. I get this kind of headache fairly regularly... maybe every month or two. I kinda posted about this before but this time I have no shakiness or anything. Anyone get anything familiar? I was thinking it could be a migraine but idk. I don't really get auras or any other symptoms and it doesn't seem to last too long (thank god!), but it's very "debilitating" while it lasts. I don't want to even move. I've been pretty lucky every time I get them I don't have school or any prior commitments...
Yes it sounds like a migraine to me. The debilitating effect is extremely common amongst migraine sufferers. Now, there are 3 things you should do here; 1. Get some rest, drink plenty of fluids and wait it out until the migraine passes. Avoiding computers and things that emit microwaves is a good idea too, as I believe they can stress migraines further. 2. Talk to your doctor. I've seen you post here on EC a few times now about your bad headaches, and they seem to be occurring unusually frequently. Your doctor may be able to give you some medication to stop the migraines from occurring so frequently. There is a very good reason why you should do this however, which I'll explain in the third point below. Don't have an attitude of "it's not that bad I need medication," because migraines can indirectly kill people. 3. Don't take painkillers. A migraine is NOT a headache, and it shouldn't be treated as such. Painkillers can actually increase the time you have a migraine, it causes much more damage than it's worth to relieve the pain of a migraine. When you have a status migrainosus (migraine that lasts 3 days and onwards) you can get a white spot on your brain. The white spot itself is harmless, but there has been a correlation between strokes and white spots. The more white spots you have, the higher chance there is of having a stroke. That's why it's important to make sure you don't have status migrainosus so frequently. All the best.
It does sound like migraine. If it is a migraine, you will find that it will change over time. Most people who are diagnosed with migraine say that their headaches started in their teenage years and worsened as they got older. Not every one gets aura or prodrome. Not everyone throws up. But there are common features- a headache that doesn't have an explanation (i.e. hangover, sinus inflammation), irritability, fatigue, feels like it makes your brain not work right, sensitivity to light/sound/strobe effects, tensing of muscles in the neck and head, etc. Since it sounds like you have a history of these headaches, it's probably time to see a headache specialist and find the right rescue med and prophylaxis for the headaches. There are some simple things that offer some relief- like massage- but some of the time, the headaches do need to be treated early since they tend to get worse and may last for several days if untreated.
Thanks for the advice. My headache is already pretty much gone and had been for an hour or two, so it just seems weird, I thought migraines lasted longer? Maybe it's the painkillers though? Well, I still feel a lil bleh but not my head lol. I'll see a doctor sometime... Probably should start keeping records. I guess I just get a little pessimistic because headaches can be anything from tense neck muscles to dehydration to brain cancer. I figure it'd be hard for them to actually figure out what's causing it or if it's just migraines or whatnot. Maybe I need to have more faith. ---------- Post added 17th Jan 2013 at 10:20 AM ---------- Thanks Kara I didn't see ur message before I responded. That's sorta depressing that they are going to get worse Dx I thought I read they got better with age =((((
Unfortunately, Kara is correct. The migraines will only worsen with age, which is another reason to get medication ASAP. Also, migraines can last as little as 4 hours, if they turn into a status migrainosus (3 day+) then it starts getting dangerous and should be looked into. Just remember not to take painkillers for migraines in future Pessimism and cynicism are manipulative bitches. I've been cynical for a quite a while (as my personal title suggests), they make you think you're 100% correct in not trusting people, and that everyone is the same. Migraines actually aren't hard to diagnose, there are generally set symptoms for a migraine, and the pounding headache is usually unique to a migraine, apart from a severe blow to the head. Doctors are paid to recognize what symptoms are a result of what, and then treat you accordingly. It may seem unlikely that doctors know what you have no matter what it is, but the course takes many years to complete, and most doctors are very good at diagnosis. All the best.
