Hi all, not like I don't have enough medical problems as it is, now I've got something pretty weird going on. I'm a 29 yr old female.

Yesterday, I was just sitting here, smoking (yes I know, bad bad - trying to quit though), and all of a sudden, I got a SEVERE headache that felt like electrical shocks going from the back of my head on the left side, through my head to the front right side. Then the dizziness and facial numbness came. The numbness was mostly on the left side on my cheek spreading just to the outer right corner of my mouth. This lasted for about 10 minutes max.

Then last night, it happened again, only the numbness was just right around my lips. I wasn't smoking at the time. I woke up this morning with the same thing, only the headache is no where near as bad, and is mostly just in the back of my head. The numbness is only my bottom lip. It's not completely numb, more like a pins and needles type of feeling. I'm extremely tired even though I actually got plenty of sleep last night. I can barely keep my eyes open.

I'm calling my doctor first thing in the morning.. does anyone have any clue what this is??? I was thinking maybe it was related to smoking, like possibly just a lack of oxygen type thing, but honestly I have no clue. I do suffer from headaches quite often, mostly tension type, with the occasional migraine that lasts for 3 days.

Any info you can give me would be greatly appreciated. Thanks :)

I think I would go to the ER NOW. I don't mean to alarm you, but when the headache comes first, and the headache and dizziness come second, that could be a problem other than a migraine, a more serious problem. It could just be a migraine, that has happened to me before, but my doctor has made me come to the ER for CT scans and other tests when the symptoms go in the order you have described. Hopefully it is just a migraine, but you DON'T want to mess with it. DO NOT mention migraines to the ER admitting person, just say you have severe head pain, dizziness, and numbness and it is scaring you. Describe everything you did in your post, just leave out the fact that you have migraines so that they don't leave you sitting out in the waiting room forever. Please let me know what happens. Dana

beach_tiglet, thank you for replying. As you can see, I'm still alive :)

My husband was trying to get me to go to the ER last night, and I WAS tempted, but I have been a few times already because of severe migraines that I get that last for 3 days at a time. A cat scan was run the last time I was in. I think it was probably a year ago-ish? Not really sure, so I HIGHLY doubt they'd even consider doing another one.

The headache is still there, just not the electrical shock-like pain. More of an all over throb with a tight and heavy feeling in the back of my head. I'm still getting really dizzy, but only when I stand. The numbess, or pins and needles feeling is just staying in my bottom lip.. almost right in the center. Also last night, I had a pretty bad bout of double vision, but it only lasted for about half an hour. This could be a weird migraine I guess.. not sure, it's definately different from the others. I keep thinking, or maybe just trying to convince myself, that if it was something serious, something would have happened by now.

I am calling my doctor as soon as her office opens this morning.. just to see what she says.

Thanks again, and I'll keep you posted. :)

I'm glad you're hanging in there...I have complicated migraines with stroke symptoms...my neurologist has always said that if the dizziness and numbness come first, everything is ok, but if the headache comes first, get to a hospital as it could be a stroke or something serious. In my case, it was just a long drawn out complicated migraine, but it scared even the neurologist. They have never hesitated to run CT scans on me when I have strange headaches like that just to make sure. The insurance has never questioned them. It hasn't happened often, but too often for my liking, it's scary....I hope your doctor will take it seriously or that you will go somewhere soon. Please keep me posted.

How is your walking...are you having trouble walking in a straight line, tripping, etc.? The dizziness and double vision with the pain in the back of the head scare me.

This morning, I'm walking ok. Last night when the double vision hit, I couldn't walk a straight line to save my life. I felt like I was going to pass out every time I stood up and I just couldn't see straight at all. My husband had to help up the stairs last night because I kept tripping and I didn't want to fall.

I spoke too soon when I said the electrical shock like pain was gone this morning.. it just hit again a couple minutes ago, but it's not NEAR as bad as yesterday and seems to be centered in the back of my head only.

Could it be a pinched nerve maybe? I mean, could that make you dizzy and all? It just seems weird that it's all coming from the back of my head.. or at least that's where it seems to be coming from.

What makes me think it's a migraine is the fact that it hurts to touch my head back there.. just the slightest touch hurts like hell. It always does that when I get a migraine.

See, I've already got alot of medical probs going on as it is.. I've got unexplained joint and muscle pain with a bit of weakness at time. Doc thinks either Fibromyalgia, MS, Lupus, or even Lyme. I'm actually supposed to go to the Rheumatologist today to get the blood results back on the Lyme test and a few others. This has been going on for over 3 years now. I don't know if any of this is tied together with this weird headache or not. I'm wondering if NOW they'll want to do an MRI on my head. That's one test that's never been done yet.

It's normal to have trouble walking with the double vision, I was wondering what it was like walking when the double vision cleared up and its fine...that's good. I would think that they'll still want a CT scan...that's how they can tell if it's a migraine or something more serious. The part of my head affected when this happens gets really sore too, but because I have stroke like symptoms, we've had to sit down and talk about the progression and how do I know when to be alarmed and not alarmed, especially since I do have high blood pressure.

It freaked me out the first time it happened and the time the symptoms went in reverse order. My husband had a massive stroke at age 32 and so I guess I'm just hypersensitive and overcautious with things like this. Are you calling the neurologist this morning?

Well, I don't have a neurologist, so I'm just calling my regular doc.. she won't be in for another 20 minutes. I'm not sure what she'll want me to do. Only prob is that if she wants me to come in or go in for a cat scan anytime soon, I won't be able to since I have no car.. my husband has to take our only car to work each day. He's supposed to be getting out early today anway to take me to the Rheumy, but he may have to get out a little earlier if she wants tests done asap. I have no other way to get around. It sucks :(

Yeah, that does bite...when I had to go to the ER that time the doctor to me to meet him, I was so dizzy I couldn't drive, and my husband was a long ways away at work. I was at work, like an idiot, so my assistant principal took me to the ER and my husband met us there. Is there a neighbor or someone who could take you in a pinch? Maybe it won't come to that. We've almost talked until the office has opened...

I'm not really having anymore trouble walking than I normally do. I'm always clumsy on my feet - it's just part of whatever is going on with me besides this headache thing.

Right now, I'm not really DIZZY, but I swear I feel like I'm on drugs or something. If you've ever taken strong painkillers, you'll know that "high" drugged up feeling you get. That's what I feel like this morning. Kind of like I'm in a daze. It's weird. But I also get that feeling by the third day of my migraines. They ALWAYS last 3 days.. rarely 4 days, and then I'm exhausted.

When I get the migraines though, I don't have a sound sensitivity, just a little sensitive to light. Doc has never really told me if it's just classic migraine or what kind it is really. She's given me a few different things for them.. none that have helped though. There was one that I took that made it ten times worse, and I landed in the ER that night and was actually given Dilaudid and Phenergan because it was so unbelievably bad that I was vomiting constantly. I'm wanting to say it was Maxalt that I took that night, but I'm not sure though. A cat scan was done that night but they found nothing.

lol I'm trying to kill time so I don't think about it so much. It actually makes the pain worse to lie down.. it's like the room starts spinning when I close my eyes. So I'm just trying to stay busy here.

I don't have any neighbors that can drive me anywhere, not today. My one neighbor/good friend that usually gives me a ride if I need it has a doctor's appt herself this morning and she's actually keeping the kids for us this afternoon so that I can go to the Rheumy.

If my hubby NEEDS to take off a little earlier, he can probably do it, but boy his boss isn't gonna like it much at all. Oh well I guess.

It's ok...the doctor's office should open any minute now...how old are your kids?

ok calling now.. I'll let you know what they say.

Hey thanks :) I appreciate this.

well alrighty.. gotta wait for the nurse to call me back. yay. grrrrrrrrrrr

oh and my kids are 7 and 10. They're at school right now. So at least I'm not up and down chasing them around. :)

Wow, school's still going on...I'm glad for you and happy I don't live where you live...I'm a teacher and have been out for 2.5 weeks...was exhausted and in pain and happy for summer...love my job, but it's been a long couple of months at the end of the year. When is school out?

Don't you always have to wait on them to call you back?

Sometimes I have to wait, sometimes no. If the office isn't really busy, I can usually just talk to the nurse right then.. but I guess they're busy already this morning.

Next Tuesday is the kids' last day. They don't start school here until the 2nd week of September though. It kind of sucks for them though, getting out so late. Heck most of June is already gone.. but they still haven't even opened the swimming pools up here yet (NY). It's still only in the low to mid 70's most days lol

Oh, we start back first of August, but I've already been swimming in the Atlantic Ocean. It's been in the 90's since late April I think in GA.

I think Monday's are always hectic...all those people who didn't get to call over the weekend because they didn't feel it was and emergency.

Yeh very true.. hopefully it won't take all day to call me back.

I'm still not used to this weather up here.. I'm used to TN weather (where I'm from originally). I know the pools there open up on Memorial Day. I wanna go swimming like NOW. I can't say that I miss the humidity though.. that's what gets me every year. It can be 90 degrees up here, but you can still breathe outside lol

ok she called back.. I'm supposed to go in tomorrow and see the doc and go from there I guess. She said if it gets bad again today or whatever, to go ahead and go to the ER just to be safe.

She said it could be a migraine since I do get them every now and then, but the doc would rather see me just to be sure.

So I guess that's that? I think I'll be ok til then.. if it happens bad again, I'll just go ahead and go into the ER. I may just do that tonight instead of waiting since she'll probably send me for a cat scan anyway.

What do you think?

I would if you can...they are going to make you follow up with her, so you can do that later. If you go the the ER, they will consult with a neurologist, which will be good. I don't think I would mention migraines, I wouldn't want them to assume it's a migraine and be wrong. Take care, I have to run...I'm glad they called back...I should be back around 2 or so...I have a doctor's appointment to go to myself. Keep me posted.

Dee...what did you decide to do...how did the day go? Haven't heard from you in a while and was wondering?

Dee...what did you decide to do...how did the day go? Haven't heard from you in a while and was wondering?


well I didn't go to the ER last night.. the headache actually got ALOT better - of course it could have been the Tylenol PM that I took at 6pm lol

This morning, it's not bad at all.. just still alot of pressure going on. I'm TRYING to find a ride to the docs this afternoon so that hubby doesn't have to take off work early again - they hate that. Plus we desperately need the money.
Thanks :)

Dee, I'm back...sorry I disappeared for a while. What happened with you? I kept looking hoping you would update, but didn't hear from you. Are you ok? Dana

[COLOR=Indigo] Hello all. My name is coleen, I am 23 and a mom of a three month old named katelynn. I have read all of the post on here about the servere headaches. Not that I am glad that this is happening to others but I am releived to know I am not the only one. Last night I went to the ER, man this headache had lasted 18 days and counthing. I started to get them around my 27th week of pregnancy, I dont know if it was because of the medications they had me on trying to stop my labor or not, but that was when this started. I never had nothing more than a simple headache now and then before this. I went to my family doctor about 2 months ago, he orderd a ct scan, so I had that done about 4 weeks ago, it came back normal... The headache is so bad it lasts all day and mostly at night, sometimes it will settle, but for the most part its here to stay I think. My doctor who ordered the ct scan retired so I am seeing a new doctor now who thinks this is chronic daily tension headache, he really does not want to do an mri because he is saying that very few of them come back normal, and he knows there is nothing serious wrong with me, so if he does the test if there is something minor wrong, he thinks i will have a panic attack. He put me on fioricet, I will start that tomorrow, does anyone know how well that works? I am also having pain and or pressure behind my eyes as well, every now and then my feet and hands tinggle, he seems to think it is from all the ivs I had while I was in and out of the hospital. Well I would really like to hear about that medicine so if anyones knows please reply.... Hope all of us find some kind of relieve... Good luck all :angel:

Sorry I didn't get back with you sooner :(

I honestly haven't even made it to the doctor yet.. I was going to go, then something happened and I couldn't get there, then I rescheduled, then something else came up, etc etc. I have to call her back this afternoon because I have to go in and let her go over my blood work from the Rhuemy.. did I tell you how much of an *** he was this last time?? GRRRRRR I hate that man!!!!

The headache is gone completely now.. it lasted 4 days altogether. By the 3rd day, it was just a pressure type thing, no pain at all, and no more numbness. I really think it was just some weirdo migraine. I think if it would have been something serious, something bad would have happened by now.

I know that's a horrible way to look at things and it's not exactly healthy and all, but it's just that I have SO many other things going on right now (my 'other' health problems) that I'm trying to prioritize things.. and not very well I might add!! If it's not one thing, it's another.

My daughter is going to her father's for the summer - a whole 500+ miles away. She's leaving tonight :( I'm soooo not happy right now. She goes every summer, but that doesn't make it any easier on me. But I understand why she needs to go, I could never keep her from her dad.. he's an awesome father to her. Gahhh now I'm rambling!!

WHEN I do get to the doc, I'll let you know what the next step is :)

Hi Coleen,

I have had fiorinal, not fioricet. I think fioricet is a combo of fiorinal and a narcotic. It works great for some people, just not me. I use DHE-45 to get rid of my migraines and topamax to prevent them. Not all people can tolerate the topamax well though. I also take B-complex (100mg) and B2 (300mg ) to prevent them. My tension headaches typically don’t throb and are tight, where my migraine headaches do throb. I use heat for tension, ice for migraine. My migraines are on one side of my head (but could switch sides), tension headaches could spread, but on me typically don’t. Feel free to elaborate on what you are feeling or ask more questions. I may not know, but I’m sure someone has experienced what you are going through. Take care, Dana

Hi Dee,

I’m just glad you’re ok, I was worried about you. Why do you still go to that Rhuemy if he’s such a pain? Fire him! Get another one who will listen to you. 4 days is usually how long my complicated migraines last, so hopefully that is what it was. Trust me, I know about having tons of health issues and having to prioritize. It seems never-ending sometimes…you wonder if you are a hypochondriac or something and wonder when this stupid little black cloud is going to stop following you around, or at least I do sometimes.

How old is your daughter? If you already told me, I’m sorry, I forgot. I used to go away for the summer to work at my grandparents, but that’s not quite the same thing. I can’t imagine what that must be like for you. Do you get to see her at all? Did you go buy a calling card at Walmart or something? This can’t be helping the health issues at all!

Take care…feel free to ramble anytime! Dana

Hi dana,
thanks for the reply. The feeling I am feeling is like a dull tight pain in the back of my head, it sometimes go to my eyes and behind my ears. Most of the time the pain is there to stay, today however I have been drinking water all day, lots and lots. And last night I slept for 12 hours, so the headaches feels so much better. I had not had a chance to sleep that good in awhile since I had a colic baby, and most days go by where I dont even get a chance to drink water, but today I thought I should maybe try the simple things before I go to meds. My doctor said if by next week I still am feeling like a basket case he will put me on some axiety pills.... more pills... but like I said I had never been sick before I had my baby, so could this be from the stress of a baby, just a thought...

Lack of sleep can do strange things, as can stress, even good kinds of stress. I'm sure you're worried about the baby and are pulling some strange hours right now. Have you tried moist heat at all? What about massage? Are you sitting in a different position with the baby that maybe a boppy pillow might help? I wish I knew what would help...I know the heat and massage help when I have a tension headache. The anxiety pills help too, I was pleasantly surprised...it helped cut down on the narcotic stuff I had to take. I didn't think I was stressed, but apparently I was.

well, i am at the end of my rope, this headache thing is too much for me to deal with, i took a tylenol with codeine, because i havent got the prescripion of fioricet yet, and that made we wanna vommit..... i never did ask you what is going on with you dana. do you have a headache all the time or just sometimes, because i really do think something is wrong with me, i mean i never heard of a headache lasting for so long.............. and i hear about ct scans, are they better than an mri? and i think all women who have children are stressed and tired, but not all of them are basket cases like i am, so why would this be happening to me and not any other mom out there? do you have kids?
thanks for your help

Coleen, bless your heart...yes I have had headaches that seem to last that long...they are actually rebound headaches caused by too much medicine. I don't have them like that anymore, thank goodness...I haven't had a complicated migraine with the numbness like that in quite a while, but I have had to be hospitalized with them before. CT scans are better for headaches because they image brain activity is my understanding. I don't have kids, I am a high school teacher, so I have 120 for 10 hours a day and get to send them home. I think that some women have problems after childbirth with hormones and stuff, my headaches are hormone related. Any life changes can cause stress too, and that is a big life change. Don't be to hard on yourself. Did you eat before the tylenol 3? You may need phenergan or something for the nausea too. Dana

Dana :)

Ahhhhh the Rheumy lol did I mention I HATE HIM??
See, I only went to him twice. My regular doc sent me to him because I have soooo much muscle and joint pain that I just can't take it at times. She gave me 60 - 500mg of hydrocodone to take when the pain gets really bad, and even that doesn't even come close to taking it away. So I just rarely take it.. maybe once or twice a week at most. It makes me too darn loopy anyway.

Anyhoo, she sent me to the rheumy because he's supposedly a specialist in that area.. When I went to see him the first time, even though I had my mother with me, he practically called me a hypochondriac right there. First, he just outright asked me if I was depressed. I said, "no, I have no reason to be, but wouldn't you be a little down in the dumps if you felt like crud every single day?" He just stood there with his arms folded, and said "well what do YOU think is wrong with you?". I said, "well IF I knew what was wrong with me, I wouldn't be spending god only knows how much money for you DOCTORS to figure it out!". Omg I was LIVID. He was just an all out jack***. Rude, no compassion, nothing. Even after I told him of all my other health problems that have been firmly diagnosed.. blah blah, he didn't care. I'm supposedly "too young" to have rheumatoid arthritis and I don't show ANY signs whatsoever of a connective tissue disease. Therefore he said, "I just don't see how I can help you at all".

He ordered a bunch of blood work anyway, but nothing showed up really.. at least nothing that would explain the pain. I found it comical though, when I went back for the results the other day, he told me that my bloodwork was "PERFECT". Liar. He gave me copies of them to take to my regular doc, so of course I looked them over myself. There were 4 or 5 things that stood out.. all high levels of so and so.. alot of it being in my urinalysis.. I had "moderate" bacteria, protein, etc. But yet, it's all PERFECT.. whatever. He then told me that he just couldn't help me at all and there was no reason to come back to him and that I'd be better off going to a "pain clinic".

So umm yeh, I won't be going back to that idiot. I'm just ticked that they can't figure out a reason for this pain. I'm not making it up.. I used to be a very active person who just adored life.. now it takes everything I have just to get out of bed each day. Grrrrr. I'm guessing that they're going to stick with the Fibromyalgia diagnosis and be done with it.


My daughter is only 7.. she always spends her school holidays with her father since we're not close enough to do the every other weekend thing and have a regular visitation schedule. Summer is the only time that she can spend longer than 2 weeks with him. It's good for her, but makes me INSANE. I do know how important it is to have a father in your life.. my sons father is a peice of **** and I honestly have no clue where he is.. looong story there lol My son has only talked to him ONCE in the last 3 years. It's really messed with his head alot, but my new husband (who I've been with for over 4 years now) has completely taken over the "daddy" role with him. My son even calls him "dad" and never even asks about his real father anymore.. thank god for that.

I have been to several doctors that were just plain jerks. My husband was ready to put one of them through a wall...even my pcp said he was a jerk (that's putting it nicely). I don't know how they keep any patients, it's really sad.

I'm sorry you're having so much trouble and they can't figure out why...that has to be frustrating. What do the fibro forum people say, do they have similar problems? I have arthritis and what the doctor calls severe muscle dysfunction, but I'm not really sure what that amounts to as far as an actual diagnosis goes. I'm not having as much trouble with it as you are, mainly TMJ stuff, neck and back stuff. Massage, meds and TMJ treatment are keeping me functional right now. I just found out about the muscle stuff Tuesday.

At least her dad still wants to be involved, and she likes being with him. I guess that makes it a tiny bit easier, not much. I guess summer drags on forever at your house, that's awful. I'm sorry about your son...I'm glad your new husband is so good to him. Sounds like he's wonderful to all of you...you deserve it, you've been through a lot. Gotta run for now...have a good day! :) Dana

[SIZE=2] My doctor thinks im going insane also dee, he told me when I asked him about my concern of a brain tumor or some other abnormal thing inside my brain, that a 24 year old woman complaining of a daily headache, muscle pain and weakness is and cannot be a brain disorder of any kind. I think most doctors are just unsensitive at these kinds of issues, and it pisses me off. The first thing they want to do is give you medication, like I really want to be stuck at home cause im in so much pain and so drugged up. I dont think I want to spend all my time on the couch. And as far as your daughter goes, my mom had been there to, shes been married 3 times, and shes been with my step dad for almost 13 years, the first marriage lasted 3 months, lol long enough to conceive me. Then her second marriage lasted 14 years, now that one is jerk to the fullest. He wont even give my sister the time of day.... my mom has been going to court alot to fight over back child support he owes, and hes see my sister and had just walked right by her. So yeah i agree with dana, you should be really happy that your daughters dad wants to see her.. My real dad just started to want to be apart of my life, up until now all i had was my step dad who i love very much, and i do still call him dad, i stick my sperm donors first name....

Dana,
omg last night i woke up at about 2am, feeling really dizzy, didnt have any medication at all yesterday, and my neck was really stiff, and yeah the headache was there.. what is tmj? And do you need to be referred to a pain doctor? Well im glad you seem to be doing good.

wells girls take care and best luck to you dee on finding a better doctor

Coleen, TMJ is a problem with the muscles connected to the jaw (in basic terms). It can cause all sorts of stuff, headaches, earaches, neck pain, shoulder pain, jaw pain, dizziness, stuff you wouldn't think would be related to muscles or jaws. I have never seen a pain doctor or clinic, I've just seen my neurologist and dentist. My neurologist handles my muscle relaxers and pain meds, and the dentist handles the splints and stuff related to the jaw (no meds). He could handle meds, but you only want one doctor to do that. I have good days and bad days, but I don't have the awful, take me to the ER before I pull my hair out days anymore, thank goodness. We went through 4 years of those and they weren't any fun. Mainly now my bad days are where I want to go to bed, but I can manage to stay up and function if I have to. I may have to take medicine and have someone come pick me up because I can no longer drive, but I can do my job. If I'm in a position where I can't take meds because I have to drive, like yesterday babysitting, life gets a little interesting, but I still managed until I got home. I have rescue medication that doesn't keep me from driving though, which is nice if it works. Sometimes it will knock out the headache, sometimes it won't. Most of the time it does. It took a lot of trial and error and patience on the part of my doctors and myself to get me to this point...it was really frustrating in the meantime. I've been waking up with headaches in the middle of the night for the past week or so...those darn hormones...I'm glad that week is over for another month. You might have TMJ, who knows? You can check out the symptom list on the forum over there and see if anything starts to ring a bell. Take care, Dana

[SIZE=2] Hey Dana,
My husband did say I grind my teeth at night. I went over to the tmj boards and I have alot of the symptoms. I just had my wisdom teeth pulled out like 2 months ago dont you think the dentist would have noticed something? Well thanks for the info, I go to physical therapy tomorrow, maybe that will help with this headache, I dont know how im gonna act when I finally wake up without a headache. lol. Where are you from bye the way? Coleen

Hey Coleen, My dentist had no clue about the TMJ (my family dentist anyway). I was sent to him by my ENT who knew I had TMJ and possibly grinded my teeth. I wasted 4 years with no treatment because he didn't think there was a problem...ARGHHHH! What kind of PT are you doing tomorrow? My first day without a headache was really wierd. I drove everyone up the wall because all of a sudden I had all of this energy. I'm from Atlanta, where are you from? Dana

when you describe the sudden headache with electrical shocks and numbness the first thing that popped into my mind was seizure. there is such a thing as minor seziures but it can't be detected readily as there is little obvious signs like a grand mal has. in fact depression, anxiety attacks and migraines seem all to be related, so I have heard researchers say (in their documents) and for depression sometimes they would use electrical shock therapy, which is supposed to help the brain relays to change pattern and clear the depression, it actually works but only for a while and needs to be repeated.

maybe the electrical shocks were the body's way of trying to abort a migraine or something, or maybe the neurotransmittors got out of control and thus the seziure like activity. just a theory, or guess, or maybe there was something that caused a serotonin surge (electrical shocks causes maybe??)and then a fall of the transmittor and subsequent headache.

I really think if you quit smoking that would really help the body be able to concentrate on healing the damage and thus lessen the migraines, smoking does inhibit oxygen to the brain and it needs oxygen too much for good function and life to have any oxygen hindereance even in a small degree.

also smoking deplets valuable nutrients like b vitamins minerals and suppresses the appetite when you need more nutrients not less, contributing to not having enough nutrients to make neurotransmittors, nuerotransmittors need caloires, vita min to be created, and if smoking is keeping you from eating enough then that can mess up the amount of neurotransmittors you produce causing all kinds of problems, some of which you describe, (again this is only a guess)

It is no fun to hurt and no fun when you can't get help when you need it too.

RR hope you feel better soon.

Ok,
Dana, this week has been crazy... Today I went to my doctors appointment, for a follow up. I told him that the medication he gave me helped me alot, he says good hes taking me off of it, he doesnt want me to get rebound headaches... (Yeah ok so you want me to have constant headaches). Whatever, I went 2 days headache free, now he wont refill my medication, WHATEVER! So I asked him what he thinks is the cause of the headaches, tells me he has no clue, well I think im paying him to find outk... So I told him I want an MRI done, and I wanted to check my cholestrol and thyroid, so while he is rushing me out of his exam room, I tell him my right eye is starting to twitch... He says its nerves and handed me some zoloft! Well I dont know what I should do here, I am going to take the MRI/MRA tomorrow to rule out a tumor or an anuryesm however you spell it... Im really nervous and he didnt make me feel any better at all... Im not going to take the zoloft because i dont think that is the cause of my headaches, it just tripped me out how he took me off the headache medicine but was so fast to put me on depressant medication.. What do you think I should do?


But anyways, how are you? Is everything going ok with you? Hope to hear from you soon

Coleen,

How often were you taking the fioricet? Rebound headaches are a real possiblity, and trust me, you don't want to have them. Those are the headaches that put you in the hospital because nothing else will end them. They go on and on and on. It is very common to try an anti-depressant for migraine prevention. It doesn't mean you are depressed. It actually helped my migraines. I might have been depressed, I don't know, and I don't care because it helped. I didn't think I was at the time though. I think he probably knows what he's doing, just doesn't have any bedside manner. If he upsets you so, you can always get the MRI/MRA (which you need), start the zoloft (which might help), look for someone else discretely, and call him if you get into trouble with the migraines again. I think he is thinking since he broke the cycle that the zoloft might keep it from happening again. I'm sure he knows you will call if you get into trouble again, and he would call in something at that point. I don't think he's going to leave you hanging with a migraine with no meds. He does sound like there is a personality conflict or he doesn't explain things thoroughly or something. The next time you go, if you stay with him, take someone with you. Ask them to jump in and ask questions if they don't understand as you aren't understanding what this guy is saying. The two of you should be able to get some answers, and he may be more thorough.

I am hanging in there...it's been raining and raining, so I have been having to take some migraine meds, but am ok.

Dana,

I went to get the MRI done today, and I didnt do it! It was an open MRI so I couldnt do it, that mask they put over you tripped me out. So tomorrow I go to do the closed MRI that only takes 20 minutes the other takes 45 minutes, and I have had the closed kind before so it should be no problem. Im sorry that your not doing good. I hope it stops raining. The weather here is good, but I wish it would rain, so I can have a day where I feel its ok to sit in bed all day.... So I will let you know how tomorrow goes. Take care.

Coleen

That's freaky...they didn't put a mask on me to do an open MRI. I'm claustraphobic, so when then had to do a closed MRI because of the TMJ (they can't do it open), it was really comedic...they had to sedate me...had to have emergency session with therapist just to get in...my neurologist called me just to walk me through it...they cranked the air and the music...it was really sad... then it didn't take because the magnet wasn't strong enough and they had to call me back in and do it all over again. I WAS NOT a happy camper. I did it though. They said they had never seen such a perfect MRI, I would hope so...I went through enough to get it! I hope yours goes much, much better.

It's still raining, but I haven't had meds since midnight last night and am feeling pretty good. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Thanks for asking! It could be worse...one of my forum friends lives in Dallas, TX where they are having all of the flooding. It's not that bad here.

Yeah Dana, I was not too happy either. I was like there is no way your putting a mask over my face and sticking me in there! She said alot of people cant do it, so I dont feel too bad. But she did tell me to go get a valium from my doctor so it will relax me, so I went by there and he wrote me out a prescription, so I really will be taking that before I go do that tomorrow. I hear about people getting an MRI done all they time, but I didnt know it was so scarry. Maybe im a chicken..... So you have NOTHING wrong with your brain at all internally? But you have so many issues.... Well I am glad that your doing good today, every is a challenge...

No, there's nothing wrong with my brain....just migraines and TMJ (allergies and sinusitis)...scary migraines, I'll grant you...we've gone to the ER before and met the neurologist who has wondered if I was having a stroke because the symptoms were backwards, but no, just migraines (when you scare the neurologist, that's not a good thing). I think he's run every test on me there is to run, it's all normal (I guess that's relative, but the tests came back normal). :) I'm actually getting to a good place now I think...if the weather will just cooperate a little. Even with the weather, I'm just running at a 5-7 migraine that can eventually be knocked out with meds for 8 hours or so. Big improvement over where I was a year and a half ago.

I don't think you're a chicken because of the MRI. I did ok the first time I had one...freaked out this time because I had had one before and didn't want to go back in. The valium will help, but depending on the dose, I don't know that you will be able to do anything else that day. My dose was strong...knocked me out of commission for the day. Wish I could remember the milligrams.

Well maybe thats were I am going wrong! I am not seeing a neurologist, my doctor is internal medicine. He said I dont need to see a neurologist, and I need to get a referred to one right? Well anyhow..... You must have been through hell and back at least twice. Oh I also looked at that tjm, and I do have alot of the symptoms, when I asked the doctor about it, he said if my cheek bones dont hurt then I dont have it.

Oh, I don't know...my doctors are have taken really good care of me...it hasn't been what I would call fun, but I have found people online who have been through A LOT worse. Having a doctor who listens to you and believes you is half the battle. I don't know about the TMJ thing...a long time ago my ENT diagnosed it and said to see my dentist. I just saw my family dentist who said something similar to what you are saying...I didn't have evidence of grinding my teeth, so I must be ok. I wasn't ok, it just got worse, but I listened to him and didn't do anything about it until it became a real problem. I wished I had just seen a specialist at that point, just to get it checked out. They know how to check the muscles surrounding the jaw to find out what is really going on. My insurance doesn't require a referral, but I pay extra just so I don't have to do that. I like picking my doctors. My internist is the opposite of yours, he refers me as soon as he's not comfortable with something. He is very cautious with me, I like that.

Well I took the MRI/MRA today... Im such a stupid #$%, I cried the whole time, being in that tube just freaked me out. Well now that I did that Im more scared than I was, waiting for these results are making me crazzier than I was, go figure... Well I should know what they are by tomorrow night.... Till then Im not to proud to say, ill be on some serious medication.....lol..... Hope your doing well dana.....

Coleen...think about it this way...think of all of the stuff going on with me and none of my tests have shown anything. They are just doing this as a precautionary measure. Go do something fun today to keep your mind off of it. Nothing is going to be gained by worrying about it. I'm surprised they said you would get the results back that fast. I'm heading to the beach, but should be able to pop in here and there...let me know what they find! Take care, Dana

I dont know why we get them back so fast. When I took the CT Scan I got that back in 12 hours, its a really big place, so I assume they must have alot of people to do the reports..... The lady that was there before me got hers back right there one the spot... Must have been and ermergency... But I will let you know what happens. Thanks for caring. BTW how long did it take you to get your back?
Coleen

Well Dana, I got the results back today, and they are normal!!!!! Cannot be any happier. He did say he needs to see me right away on tuesday morning because my thyroid is at 24.8 I dont know much about that, I know he said normal is like 1-4, I guess that might be the cause of my non stop headache. Also my cholestrol is at 425 lol, thats so high... Im not even a big person, but I guess you dont need to be.. Im so very happy about the results, but if I can only get the headaches to stop.
So you went to the beach today? The weather must be better there. Do you have any plans for the 4th?

Coleen, I'm sooooo happy for you....I would guess the thyroid could be doing some strange things...cholesterol too...at least they discovered it so now they can do something about it. That's great. My 4th will be spent as a beach bum...playing in the ocean...maybe sitting in the harbor that night and watching the fireworks and their reflection in the water. I can't wait! Take care! Dana

Hi all, not like I don't have enough medical problems as it is, now I've got something pretty weird going on. I'm a 29 yr old female.

Yesterday, I was just sitting here, smoking (yes I know, bad bad - trying to quit though), and all of a sudden, I got a SEVERE headache that felt like electrical shocks going from the back of my head on the left side, through my head to the front right side. Then the dizziness and facial numbness came. The numbness was mostly on the left side on my cheek spreading just to the outer right corner of my mouth. This lasted for about 10 minutes max.

Then last night, it happened again, only the numbness was just right around my lips. I wasn't smoking at the time. I woke up this morning with the same thing, only the headache is no where near as bad, and is mostly just in the back of my head. The numbness is only my bottom lip. It's not completely numb, more like a pins and needles type of feeling. I'm extremely tired even though I actually got plenty of sleep last night. I can barely keep my eyes open.

I'm calling my doctor first thing in the morning.. does anyone have any clue what this is??? I was thinking maybe it was related to smoking, like possibly just a lack of oxygen type thing, but honestly I have no clue. I do suffer from headaches quite often, mostly tension type, with the occasional migraine that lasts for 3 days.

Any info you can give me would be greatly appreciated. Thanks :)


Sounds like some sort of trapped nerve in your neck. Did you sleep funny the night before?

Was it a migraine? (they're usually triggered by bright light, cafeine, cheese, chocolate or strong smells - and cigarette smoke exacerbates mine)

I experienced your symptoms when I get a migraine and when I once got violently sea sick.

Dee74,

Just wanted to tell you that my thoughts and prayers are with you. :angel: I'll be watching to see how things come out for you. I've had migraines for 7 years, Rheumy is watching UCTD, had my first TIA last month. They are still trying to figure out what caused it. Still causing me problems. Take care and don't wait. (I usually hang out on the Immune Disorders & Lupus.)
Health & happiness-