This week I have been laying quite low thanks to another persistent round of headaches.
I am finding that I get to have 2 weeks of productivity and 2 weeks of headaches these days.
It’s no fun at all I can tell you!!!
I’m just thankful I’m not trying to hold down a full time job (in the formal sense) and that my children are past the “can’t turn your backs on them” stage.
(Although in light of recent events with Abbie giving herself a ‘charming’ haircut this week, perhaps I need to rethink that lol!).
So I count myself thankful that I can afford to go into “survival mode” and lay low if I need to, because a lot of my life in the last few weeks has been staring up at this here view…
I started a new medication a few months ago to try and overcome this problem I’ve lived with for years, but that in turn has caused other side effects and it’s own issues as well.
My specialist did say it could take 6-9 months on the medication to come right, but that was only with a 50% prediction it would work in the first place.
Not super great odds and I find myself questioning whether I should stick with it or not.
It all feels a bit miserable and hopeless either way if I’m honest.
But it is SO hard to do anything when your head feels like it’s in a vice and you are in chronic pain the whole day
(Especially when you can’t see an end in sight)
so I’m about at the stage I’ll try anything to move past them.
Mine are not tension headaches but hormone headaches.
Hence the regular cyclical nature of them.
It doesn’t happen every month, but certainly most months I have them.
Always the same.
Always seemingly endless.
I literally wake up with one one day and it lasts all day every day until one day it goes and isn’t there any more.
Pretty much the same day every.single.month.
Sometimes it even takes me a while to realise it’s actually gone because I’m just so used to functioning through them and trying to get on with things.
I try not to take pain meds unless they get absolutely unmanageable because I haven’t really found anything to be effective anyway and I don’t want to get addicted to anything. Nothing takes away the pain or really even takes the edge off so I figure what is the point.
Most of the time I just live with the pain and go through my daily routine regardless, but especially some afternoons, or if my vision decides to go blurry, I can’t really do much except take to my bed in the dark.
Have you ever suffered with headaches?
Any suggestions for trying to get rid of them/manage them?
I didn’t write this as a “woe is me” post… I just wanted to share my struggle really.
I try as hard as I can not to let them affect me and just live through them, but try as I might they obviously affect me and everyone around me.
Especially on bad weeks like this one.
At best I’m a space cadet.
At worst I’m completely useless to anyone.
I just wish there was a magic pill I could take to make them go away.
That is all…
Hi Kat, so sorry to hear of your headaches. I suffer from terrible headaches too. Last year I saw a specialist and he diagnosed them as migranes and put me on appropriate medication which has certainly been helping – they have been less frequent and less severe. It may be worth seeing a specialist because there are different types of headaches, different causes and different medications that they can try. THinking of you xx
I have suffered from migraines my whole life, including those induced by hormones. I was prescribed sumatriptan injections by my neurologist. It comes in pills and nasal spray too but I find the best results with the injections. The injections aren’t bad to do yourself. It is a miracle drug. Hope you can get some relief!
If they’re hormone headaches, then could you find a doctor who will fix the cause of the problem (the hormones themselves?). I have a number of hormone/menstrual issues, and I see a doctor who uses naprotechnology. headaches can be a result of low progesterone levels and part of PMS (a very real, not made up issue!). a napro doc would draw your blood levels at different times during the month to see exactly how low they are and would offer hormone therapy – which would hopefully not have as many side effects as a pain medication! you can check out more here: http://www.naprotechnology.com/pms.htm
and here: http://www.fertilitycare.com.au/?page_id=25
I hope you find relief somehow soon!!!
I am so sorry for your pain. I lived that way for many years and finally reached menopause. That has been the biggest help of all although I still have them occasionally. I have had a neurologist for years and tried about every new thing that comes along but nothing works very well and realizing it is just enduring until it is over. Honestly I finally realized that ice packs worked about as well as anything because it would actually numb the area and I could rest a little.
I am so sorry for your pain. I lived that way for many years and finally reached menopause. That has been the biggest help of all although I still have them occasionally. I have had a neurologist for years and tried about every new thing that comes along but nothing works very well and realizing it is just enduring until it is over. Honestly I finally realized that ice packs worked about as well as anything because it would actually numb the area and I could rest a little.
I sure hope you feel better soon. I expect you have already tried acupuncture but if not a talented acupuncturist may be able to ease the pain some.
I have no helpful ideas for you, Kat, but offer you a virtual (((hug))) in the hope that you find some kind of relief soon.
Sorry to hear of your headaches. I suffer with migraines on and off. I was really bad in pregnancy which was put down to hormones but I did some research and I really think it was down to my anaemia. Have you had your iron levels checked? If you have heavy periods it may be a factor. My other triggers are skipping meals, too much sugar and tiredness. I find eating well just before my monthlys, really helps. Red meat, green veg, and nuts for some reason.
I’m sorry to hear about your headaches. I have the same kind, monthly, and I’ve noticed if I take an aspirin ( not ibuprofen, ect) it makes them go away. It’s worth a try.
Oi… I feel your pain. I use to have migraines ALL. THE. TIME. it would go on for a week sometimes go away and then slightest thing would trigger it off again.. I didn’t want meds b/c I knew with my headaches I would be taking it all the time.. so my doctor had suggested to me vitamin B6 and flax seed oil.. I took them religiously, and I want to say within a months time I noticed a difference I wasn’t getting them as much and as time went on I just stopped getting them..after I had my daughter though I got them now and then so I still keep a bottle of vitamin b6 on hand and whenever I feel a headache coming on I take that and it really helps.
That sounds horrible! I haven’t suffered from headaches, but I have noticed that when I run (jog really, I’m very slow) regularly then all my hormone-related woes improve. I tapered off running and tried other cardio exercise this past year — and I was not pleasant to be around. Just started running again and feel 100%better. Combined with all the other suggestions above, you may end up feeling like superwoman!
Very, very miserable!!!
I take a drug called Clonidine, primarily for hot flushes in menopause but as a positive side effect they stop my migraines – it has been fantastic!
Urgh, sorry, hope you can find an answer soon!
Looks like a load of great suggestions – really hope you can find something that works soon xxx
So sorry to hear that! Headaches are really a struggle if you have to function. I go with the wind so lucky me … here I am fine!
I would try alternative methods: Carniosacral Therapy, Acupuncture, Alexander technique, .. any of those and food. Hope you find something soon
Oh Kat, those sound miserable!! I’m sorry I don’t know what’s its like. I don’t remember the last time I had a headache. I would second the looking into a possible hormone imbalance & watching your diet to manage them. Have you heard of “the trim healthy mama” book? I can’t begin to tell you all the good things in the book & how many people have begun to feel amazing, gone off meds & lost weight with it! In a nutshell is a new way of eating. Mainly separating fats & healthy carbs & cutting out sugars.( low glycemic.)It’s written by two lovely Christian mamas & there is a whole chapter that is just on hormones. Great info for testing & taking charge of your health. Feel free to check out the FB group to “scout” it out & if you join the private group there are tons of ladies & questions get answered ASAP.
Gentle ((((hugs)))) for you Kat. It looks like you got quite a few great suggestions in the comments, and I do hope one of them can help. I am lucky that I don’t have many headaches. Just the occasional sinus one & usually saline spray works for that. Good luck!
OXO
My husband and their family all suffer from chronic migraines. Very painful and debilitating. We feel your pain! I can only suggest you see some specialists to get on top of it – I am sure there will be a solution for you out there! Good luck 🙂
I get migraines… I have had so many sick days I haven’t had a full paycheque in months… I’m worried about you being able to do your market stall… do you have a backup plan?
I have no magic cure, but kept thinking thank goodness the ceiling is painted white and you have a nice light fixture to look at or you would be suffering even worse. I hope that they can find a simple solution and that it doesn’t take so freaking long to find out if it is going to work.