Please help- what should I do??

I am Stephanie and I began having migraines when I was 17. Before then, I hadn't even had as much as a regular headache. They put me on Midrin but it knocked me out. I now take Excedrin Migraine, but it doesn't help at ton, what really helps is getting to sleep if I can, and usually when I wake up it has subsided. I only got them once in a while then they got more and more frequent. I probably have them once every 2 weeks (if im lucky) but this past week I've had them almost everyday. My question is this: The other night I was feeling fine, I had a migraine earlier in the day but it had gone, and all of the sudden I got this intense pain like i'd never had before. It was not just in the usual spot either. The pain went from the middle of my forehead all the way down the left side of my face and to my neck. And the pulsing and pressure was way more severe than the normal migraines. I took a vicodin and tried to sleep but only squeezing my head hard would bring some sort of relief. When I woke up the next morning the severity had gone down but I still had a migraine. Then yesterday it happened again out of nowhere, but the pulsing only lasted a minute then it was gone!! I have perfect eyesight, no glasses... should I be concerned or is this just a part of migraines i've never experienced before???
Any help or advice you can offer I would appreciate!

Thanks, Stephanie

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

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"The weather is here, I wish you were beautiful."

Thanks for the input... I will definately go see the dr. I will let you know what happens.

Thanks again,
Stephanie

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.

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Coquitlam55 (aka Nicky)