Posted 1/18/2007 7:22 AM (GMT -7)
Good morning. I'm a new member to the forum, but I've been kind of lurking and reading for a while now.
I've had migraines off and on since I was in my 30's, but in the past they've usually come at night, and been gone by the next day. Nothing like what I encountered the past 8 weeks is like my old headaches. Heres my story:
The day before Thanksgiving-2006 I came down with what I thought was the flu. I had all the symptoms of flu (bad headache, shakes, chills, nausea, felt like vomiting, hot/cold, diarrhea, etc...but...no fever or congestion). For the next few days the nausea, headaches and shakes continued and eventually I saw the Dr. They ran a series of blood tests, ...all negative, and they decide its sinus related, (even though theres no discharge), and recommend some Sudafed and bed rest, fluids, etc.
For the next week, the headaches continue and then I start getting occasional eye pain with nausea alternating days, and chills alternating as well. So its back to the Drs...this time they think its all anxiety related. So they prescribe Xanax...and I take 1/2 of one pill, and it sends me through the roof with hyperactivity. So I stop taking it.
For the next week, Im now alternating nausea with headaches/eye pain in just one eye, and now I've suddenly got uncontrollable crying episodes that pop up, plus facial flushing. So its back to the Drs, and they run more tests, including an MRI...all negative. Now the Drs think its all anxiety and again prescribe a med, this time Lorazepam (lowest does possible....5mg as needed).
Its now week 8 and while the facial flushing has subsided, and my crying spells have dried up (its been 2 weeks since my last one), I still have the eye pain on one side and the light headache to go with it. The facial pain is mostly the sinus area (trigeminal areas), and sore to the touch.
My family Dr has finally agreed to give me a referral to the neurologist (you have to love HMOs...not), as hes at a loss for whats been causing the headaches, but I'm waiting another week or two simply because I recently got a new eye glasses prescription.
I guess I should also mention that aside from the occasional Lorazepam I've taken (never more then 1 pill a day, and never two days in a row), Im on no meds. I've sworn off all aspirin, acetominophen or ibuprofen for 8 weeks so I can cleanse my system in case it was rebound headache related. Its been 6 weeks since my last aspiring and Im trying to make it two more weeks. Prior to this popping up, I was taking ibuprofen and acetominophen daily because of knee surgery back in August... So months of daily aspirin/ibu/tyl intake.
The Drs think its all just anxiety, but, this came on suddenly like the flu, and I have no problems with my family, work, kids, life in general. I exercise a lot, I eat lots of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, plus take a SR-vitamin daily. Plus Ive also added yoga and deep breathing exercises to my daily routine just in case its anxiety related. But the headaches continue.
Anyway, I guess Im at the point now if trying to determine...is it all migraines?...Are they cluster headaches?....Could it be a hormonal thing (Im 43)... Could it have been a slow moving virus working it way out of my system?...
Anyone want to take a guess at whats going on??