Headache with other disturbing symptoms

by Krista
(Knoxville TN)

It started Feb 4th...mild headache that by the morning of Feb 5th was pounding. It is on the Right side top area of the head. It was associated with nausea, vomiting, confusion, dazed, trouble finding words, and short term memory problems. The pain was severe and throbbing in nature as if someone was boring a hole in my head. Went to ER..was giving Thorazine, Toradol and Benadryl with some relief though the headache never fully went away.

CT scan was negative. The headache persisted though had dulled to what I say feels like someone stuck an egg in my head and left it there. I went back to the MD because I was still having the word recall issues, and the memory issues along with some inability to transcribe numbers and words. He had ordered an MRI which my insurance denied...he gave me meds for the pain and treated me for a possible sinus infection. I am distressed because I usually have an excellent memory...and have never had a headache like this before.

I am female, 41, never smoked. Am currently on Tramadol as needed and still have no answer..

Krista

Answer:

Hi Krista,

You sound like you have classic migraine headache symptoms. If you do not have uncontrolled hypertension or any coronary artery disease, there is no reason why you could not take a triptan like Imitrex. If it takes the headache away or even brings it down, then it is a migraine as triptans only work on migraines or cluster headaches.

It is quite common to have confusion and memory loss when in pain, no matter what the source of pain may be.

Another option is to ask your doctor to put you on steroid for a week or two. That might really help.

If this is new onset of headache for you and you have never had headaches before, then you should consider seeing a neurologist. Sometimes, with some insurance companies, they will not allow a PMD to order an MRI, but a neurologist can. An MRI can rule out the rare possibility of an aneurysym.

Good luck!

Mary Kay Betz MS RPA-C

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Reacuring headaches with other symtoms
by: Ali

I have had headach since my earlt 20 after I had babies , I also had symptome of vertigo before that. The dizzyness had stopped but I get a faint feeling some nausia. I have a heavy feeling inmy head and lack of consentration. Sometime I have trouble putting thoughts together or speaking. Seems the pain goes around my head sometime and other time it seem to be in the left side around my ear the most or even sometime just in the eye. The have not alway been this disturbing and seem the dicomfort is less painfu and more affecting my abiltity to funtion normally. I really have a hard time relating how it is making me feel. imitex didn't help the only thing that has is butalbital and that realy just calms my frustration more than help with the discomfor. I am 40 I live in Or. I has a catscan years ago and nothing.

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Further update
by: Krista

Well so far, most all the prior tests have been negative until now. I did phase one of my sleep study and failed. I don't have sleep apnea, I have sleep hypopnea wherein I breathe too shallowly while sleeping. This caused my oxygen saturations to drop into the low 80's. I have to go back for phase two of the sleep study this coming weekend on the 9th. While not a definitive cause of the headache, such could be a contributer or a catalyst for such.

All I know is that it has been almost a month worth of a headache now that waxes and wanes in intensity. My current treatment is Flexeril, Ultram, and Phenergan which ease it to a dull pressure but make me feel stoned out when I take them so I do not take them in the day time.

That is it so far. I have an appt in May with a neurologist/headache specialist.

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The Mind Assists In The Healing Process
by: Frank

In the healing of migraines the mind is almost always left out of the equation.

The usual reaction of both the doctor and patient is uniformly to find a way to quickly relieve the pain through a choice of pain relievers like triptans.

This is all right as it does offer immediate relief from the pain and discomfort. But it hasn't answered the real cause of the migraines.

I think that for the most part migraines are triggered by stress in the subconscious part of the mind. I'm interested in the unseen parts of the human being where these triggers, usually emotional conflicts, arise.

If this is the case, then healing must involve a recognition and importance of these aspects in the treatment.

When there's no uncontrolled hypertension or other tell-tale symptoms the answer could be found deeply embedded in the subconscious and a reexamination of the lifestyle as well as the mindset of the sufferer may be necessary.

http://29-classic-mindbending-essays.com/

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Update
by: Krista

Well...went back to ER last night. Got another shot of Torodol and some Reglan. It's been 10 total almost 11 total days of headache now. They ran an MRI it was negative. Called my PC doc this morning and they scheduled me an appointment with a neurologist/cephalgia specialist. It's in May and I am on the waiting list in case someone cancels before hand. I go meet up with the sleep study dept on the 22nd of this month to see what they say.

Will post further updates when I know something

Answer:

Good luck! I still think a course of steroid would help.
Mary Kay

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