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Title: Hi .... and help Post by TonyB on Dec 6th, 2007, 5:14pm Good Afternoon, History - never had headaches except an occasional sinus pressure headache above my eye or nasal cavity. 39 years old. About 7 weeks ago, I started experiencing sudden sharp pains in the Back of my head (about 3-4 inches behind the ear). It would happen about once a day and would actually hurt so bad and come on so suddenly that I would suddenly suck in air and grab my head. It would last only a second or two and felt like a combination of a stab and a seizure in blood vessels. The frequency began to increase and would happen every couple of hours. I went to the doctor and they ran blood tests and were concerned that I have a cholesterol level of over 300 and triglycerides at 770. The Doctor told me to stop the caffeine, sugar, and smoking immediately and referred me to a neurologist. 4 days later (On Friday), I go to the neurologist. The pain is now almost constant and I think something in my head is going to burst. I now also have the same seizure / stab sensation in a second location (directly above my ear) and occasional seizure / pain sensations creeping up my skull. At this point I am taking 1000 mg of ibuprofen every 4 hours and I am not sleeping hardly at all. The nuerologist is of no help as of yet and I am still waiting for another appointment, All he did was a physical check (walk a straight line, test reflexes, etc.). They are supposed to call me first thing Monday morning with an appointment to get an MRI / MRA done. I keep popping pain killers over the weekend and come to work on Monday and after waiting all morning, I call the neurologists office to find out if they have made the appointment. They tell me that it may take a few days now since they are waiting on my insurance company to OK the test! I go to the emergency room later Monday afternoon. They perform a CT scan and additional blood tests. Results are I am not going to pop. I explain to the ER doctor the series of events that have led up to me being there. He tells me that quitting sugar, caffine and nicotine all at the same time could be adding to my problem. He was right. I went home and downed a 24 oz Pepsi. Within hour the spasm attacks and subsided. For the last 4 days, I am now back to the point of having only a few “hits” a day instead of the constant pain. I am now on 3 – 24 oz Pepsi’s a day and I am trying to find out if something I eat triggered this (milk, etc.). God I hope this is some kind of food reaction but I doubt it. Here is the big but….. but now I am starting to get the seizure / stab pain on the left rear side as well. Also a few muscle spasms (stomach muscles, arm muscles tightening, etc.) and am really starting to get worried. I go back to my primary doctor on the 11th (5 more days). Does anyone have any advice on what I should try to have them check for next? This is really starting to scare me. |
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Title: Re: Hi .... and help Post by DennisM1045 on Dec 7th, 2007, 7:43am Hi Tony, What you describe doesn't sound at all like CH. I have no experience with the symptoms you mention. But sounds like you are doing all the right things. Cutting down on caffiene and quitting smoking are good things to do - just not all at once. Especially in the presence of these other headache symptoms. It seems that radiology hasn't turned up anything terrible. That's good news! Nurologists are notoriously not easy to get to. Two weeks is not an uncommon wait even for emergency situations. Be patient but trust your instincts. If you feel an ER visit is in order, go! I hope you find some answers and some relief soon. -Dennis- |
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Title: Re: Hi .... and help Post by Rosybabe on Dec 7th, 2007, 8:18pm sounds to me like ice picks pain, but I am not a Doctor. I think you are following the right steps. Don't drop caffeine all at once since you pain could be trigger by stress (hence the muscle pain). Don't take as much Ibuprofen since it will only damage your stomache. Maybe a naproxen can help to relax your muscles but don't take anything unless you are sure it is safe for you. Hope you find very soon what is causing the pain. Best wishes. Rosy. |
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Title: Re: Hi .... and help Post by lorac on Dec 7th, 2007, 8:59pm tony... did they look for aneurism.. , It sounds like a friend of mine had.,,,, they kept telling him it was sinus. Good luck..and don't give up.. till they give a real diagnosis... lorac Easy on the cafiene my friend ....You know its not good! |
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Title: Re: Hi .... and help Post by Bob_Johnson on Dec 7th, 2007, 9:40pm Taking so much OTC pain med can quickly lead to rebound headaches and keep the whole cycle going. If, as you say, it doesn' help, then stop and see if, in a few days, you don't have some improvement. That's the test for rebound caused by pain meds. Your whole sympom picture is too complex for Cluster, I suspect. Getting the diagnostic testing done is the best route for now. |
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Title: Re: Hi .... and help Post by Charlie on Dec 9th, 2007, 9:01pm Tony: CH hits you in front, makes your face hot, eyes red, nose run and want to scream. Yours sounds different. Keep after it until your doctors play ball. Good luck, Charlie |
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Title: Re: Hi .... and help Post by clusterwife on Dec 13th, 2007, 7:26pm While at the ER, did the doctor try 02 with you, and how well did it work? Leah |
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