Please help- what should I do??

Hey Stephanie,

Anytime you experience a headache that is not normal to you, especially if there is intense pain, you should seek medical treatment immediately.  Go directly to the closest ER, do not pass go, do not collect $200!  There could be something serious going on, so don't assume it is a migraine.  By taking vicodin, you just mask the pain    Do not waste another day without making an appointment to see your doctor ASAP.  If you get another one of those headaches before you can see your doctor - straight to the ER.  This is nothing to play around with, since only you know how bad the pain is, and that it is not a standard headache for you.  You can feel migraine pain in a variety of locations, behind the eye is quite common. 

I'm taking a big leap here but the vicodin wasn't prescribed for your headaches, right?   That is like a medication of last resort for migraine sufferers and very few doctors will prescribe it for that purpose.  You should be on some kind of preventative medication like Topamax or Depacote, an antidepressant to mellow out the side effects, and have some type of rescue medication that you take as soon as you feel a headache coming on.  Absolutely stay away from the Excedrine   as it is full of caffeine and will put you into a cycle of rebound headaches.

Hope this answers some of your questions    Keep us updated.

Leigh Ann

                                             - Jimmy Buffett

Hi Stephanie,

I'm with Leigh Ann, I would go see a Doctor and if you're taking medication that's not prescribed for you I would stop. Unfortunately as your headaches get worse you can fall into a spiral of rebound headaches from taking too many over the counter, triptan or narcotic medications. Preventative medications work the best.

If sleep works the best for you Excedrin is not a good idea (in my opinion) it contains caffeine which wakes me up and usually lifts me about three feet off the floor. I find Excedrin makes my headache worse.

If you're not seeing a neurologist I would ask to be referred to one as well. Neurologists are experts at prescribing preventative medications and managing your pain.

Good luck.

"The world is full of suffering, it is also full of overcoming it." --Helen Keller

I try and remember this each day I have a headache that I'm not sure I can overcome.