Headache types being located in certain parts of the head, in my opinion, the doctor can argue me, is just an old wive's tale. yes, there is correlation, but it is not absolute - and correlation does not imply causation, and everyone is different. More questions to bother you with, had any asian food in the last couple of weeks? Your cycles ok? taking any ergotamine or analgesics? Blood pressure good? Coffee, chocolate, soft drinks, any types of meat (really any type)? You're reading ok? and are they getting progessively worse? how fast do they come on? and what chemical groups of medicine are you currently taking? wake up from sleeping with any sudden headaches?
Sorry to be so probing, but i'm convinced many doctors are morons. You don't have to respond, but this is something I know a decent amount about. And a blood sugar test is laughable, I hope they didn't charge you. But before you go through the extra "headache" of an MRI I would have them do a broad spectrum blood test to check for thyroid, anemias, kidney and liver function if you want full satisfaction the I'd also make them run a Serum catacholamines or even a 24 hour urinary catacholamines and metanephrines - but this is more a specific. Here is the good news, 98% of the time its stress.
Re: ahhh.. nutsteddybear27December 7 2005, 04:35:02 UTC
Thank you so much for helping me out with this. Here are the answers to the questions:
Asian food - Chinese takeout about 2 weeks ago; vegetable lo mein Cycles - perfect thanks to the pill Meds I'm on - the pill, zyrtec, and midrin which I take when I have a bad headaches and can afford to be knocked out all afternoon Coffee - No Softdrinks - Only diet and caffeine free (the doctors told me to cut caffeine completely out of my diet when I first started getting the headaches over a year ago) Chocolate - Not on the diet ;) Meat - I usually only eat chicken, I've only eaten red meat twice in the past few weeks (once was in tacos and once was in lasagna) I'm reading alright
They come on pretty fast. They start out like extreme pressure like my head is going to explode, so I know I'm going to get one before it happens. On a scale of 1 to 10, they are usually around a 3 or 4, but I've had ones that have been the worst pain of my life where all I could do is cry. They usually don't happen until around 2 or 3 in the afternoon. There really is no pattern to when they start. I could be in class or out shopping or just at home watching TV. The only real pattern is the time of day. Today was the first day I woke up with a headache, but I woke up at 3. They did a blood test when I came in with them over the summer because I was convinced I had a thyriod problem. Everything was fine. My cholesterol was a little high, but that's when I started dieting. I lost 30 lbs, cut out all the food I was supposed to, and it's normal now.
Ok.. so let's look at your triggers you have so plesantly listed: (1)Stress from being not happy with your position and your place. (2)Diet and caffeine free stuff - aspratame and other artificial sweetners often can be worse than caffeine - no joke. Juice is the way to go! (3)All of the meds you are on. (4)Asian food, the meat and to a lesser degree the chicken
A serum catacholamines test is to specifically check for adrenal function - but I would not worry as there is no need nor would it be practicle.
Well you must eliminate confounding variables. The pill could very well be it, but it is unlikely you were to stop taking it, however do be careful as midrin can very well reduce its effectiveness. I'm no doctor, but if you can reduce or remove the diet drinks (not only are they likely to give you headaches, they do horrible things to your GI tract and are well documented carcinogens), get a massage with the money saved, drink rediculous amounts of water, stay away from wok oil or fried anything (even noodles), and/or conisder a lower dosage hormone therapy. I would have high hopes. Too, you're getting enough iron and B vitamins, right? If all else fails, I would highly suggest a reputible doctor that specialises in accupuncture. It is very effective with such things. GOODLUCK!!!
Re: ahhh.. nutsdriver_stlDecember 9 2005, 00:48:59 UTC
so in looking at the causes and problems outlined, I seem to have come to a resolution to solving the headaches: move out to the midwest, become a vegan and a christian scientist. eh. one of those sounds nice.
More questions to bother you with, had any asian food in the last couple of weeks? Your cycles ok? taking any ergotamine or analgesics? Blood pressure good? Coffee, chocolate, soft drinks, any types of meat (really any type)? You're reading ok? and are they getting progessively worse? how fast do they come on? and what chemical groups of medicine are you currently taking? wake up from sleeping with any sudden headaches?
Sorry to be so probing, but i'm convinced many doctors are morons. You don't have to respond, but this is something I know a decent amount about. And a blood sugar test is laughable, I hope they didn't charge you. But before you go through the extra "headache" of an MRI I would have them do a broad spectrum blood test to check for thyroid, anemias, kidney and liver function if you want full satisfaction the I'd also make them run a Serum catacholamines or even a 24 hour urinary catacholamines and metanephrines - but this is more a specific. Here is the good news, 98% of the time its stress.
Reply
Asian food - Chinese takeout about 2 weeks ago; vegetable lo mein
Cycles - perfect thanks to the pill
Meds I'm on - the pill, zyrtec, and midrin which I take when I have a bad headaches and can afford to be knocked out all afternoon
Coffee - No
Softdrinks - Only diet and caffeine free (the doctors told me to cut caffeine completely out of my diet when I first started getting the headaches over a year ago)
Chocolate - Not on the diet ;)
Meat - I usually only eat chicken, I've only eaten red meat twice in the past few weeks (once was in tacos and once was in lasagna)
I'm reading alright
They come on pretty fast. They start out like extreme pressure like my head is going to explode, so I know I'm going to get one before it happens. On a scale of 1 to 10, they are usually around a 3 or 4, but I've had ones that have been the worst pain of my life where all I could do is cry. They usually don't happen until around 2 or 3 in the afternoon. There really is no pattern to when they start. I could be in class or out shopping or just at home watching TV. The only real pattern is the time of day. Today was the first day I woke up with a headache, but I woke up at 3. They did a blood test when I came in with them over the summer because I was convinced I had a thyriod problem. Everything was fine. My cholesterol was a little high, but that's when I started dieting. I lost 30 lbs, cut out all the food I was supposed to, and it's normal now.
What is a serum catacholamines test?
Reply
(1)Stress from being not happy with your position and your place.
(2)Diet and caffeine free stuff - aspratame and other artificial sweetners often can be worse than caffeine - no joke. Juice is the way to go!
(3)All of the meds you are on.
(4)Asian food, the meat and to a lesser degree the chicken
A serum catacholamines test is to specifically check for adrenal function - but I would not worry as there is no need nor would it be practicle.
Well you must eliminate confounding variables. The pill could very well be it, but it is unlikely you were to stop taking it, however do be careful as midrin can very well reduce its effectiveness. I'm no doctor, but if you can reduce or remove the diet drinks (not only are they likely to give you headaches, they do horrible things to your GI tract and are well documented carcinogens), get a massage with the money saved, drink rediculous amounts of water, stay away from wok oil or fried anything (even noodles), and/or conisder a lower dosage hormone therapy. I would have high hopes. Too, you're getting enough iron and B vitamins, right? If all else fails, I would highly suggest a reputible doctor that specialises in accupuncture. It is very effective with such things. GOODLUCK!!!
Reply
Reply
Leave a comment