Recurring Headache

by Lynn
(Atlanta, GA)

I frequently get a fairly severe headache at the back of my head, to the right of center. OTC meds do little to relieve the pain. They often last for 2-4 hours and occasionally are accompanied by nausea, dizziness/trouble balancing, a feeling of being disconnected, and sometimes a difficulty focusing my vision.

Though not yet confirmed with a final blood test and diagnosis, I have had two separate labs return "lupus anti-coagulant positive, prolonged ptt, and enlarged red blood cell." Also show a slightly above average range under Hexagonal Phase Phospholipid. Any idea what might be going on?

Hi Lynn,

Although lupus is known to be connected to migraine, your head pain sounds a bit different.

You should also know that there is a condition called "Anti-phospholipid antibody syndrome" which can also be associated with migraine.

Having said that..blood tests can be false positive so I would wait for the diagnosis from the doctor.

About the headache, what you are describing are the classic signs and symptoms of cervicogenic headache. When there is spasming on one side at the back of the head, this feeds back to the brain (through the upper part of the neck C1/C2) directly to the brain stem. The brain stem is responsible for kicking up some vertigo..hence feeling dizzy.

Any pain can cause nausea and even vomiting.

What is a little bothersome is the visual disturbances..that is more consistent with migraine.

None the less you should talk to your doctor as OTC drugs will not work for either type of headache. You also need to have an MRI of the brain if this is a new onset of headaches.

Good luck!
Mary Kay Betz MS RPA-C