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New Member-migraines, clusters, hormonal, or something else?

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Migraine Headache
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Zenyoga4u
New Member
Joined : Jan 2007
Posts : 12
Posted 1/18/2007 8:22 AM (GMT -6)
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??

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Annuk
Veteran Member
Joined : Jan 2006
Posts : 1308
Posted 1/18/2007 8:45 AM (GMT -6)
Hi Zenyoga4u,

Welcome to Healing Well, sorry you have been suffering with all this. Well done in staying off the painkiller meds as you were probably right that in this mix somewhere there was probably a rebound headache, and of course just about impossible to tell where until you stop the meds!!!

Anxiety can cause and perpetuate headaches. It may be that the Doctors are right if you were feeling low enough to sit down and weep a lot during these episodes of headache, it could be anxiety!

You say you experienced some facial flushing, were there any other symptoms, what sort of pain did you feel on the affected side, was it throbbing, burning, stabbing, constant, pressure etc??????

It may be that you will just have to wait and see if you experience another episode before you can judge what it may be. I would remind you that we are not Doctors here we can only speak from our own experience.

take care

Ann
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Zenyoga4u
New Member
Joined : Jan 2007
Posts : 12
Posted 1/18/2007 9:01 AM (GMT -6)

Hi, thanks for the response.

During the "episodes", it was as if I could feel something coming over me, perhaps like a panic attack, with shakes, hyperactivity (I have to move), and then eventually a sobbing spell.  As if filling a glass and eventually the glass gets full, then I had to cry.  But that was so out of the norm for me it wasn't funny.  (I probably cried more during the first 6 weeks of this crud then I have in the past 20 years of my life.)

During that time I also had the typical migraine symptoms of photo/phono sensitivity, plus my sense of smell was extremely accute.  I was also having problems sitting still.  Having to sit and watch TV was next to impossible.  If I wasn't doing something, I was anxious.  It was as if my body forgot how to calm down. 

The facial flushing didn't hurt, but it was annoying.  I also had flushing at night in the middle of sleeping where I'd wake up with my face flushed.

Its been two weeks since that really bad stuff was going on, so Im hoping Im on the mend.  The main thing that still remains now is the light headache and eye pain.  Ive recently seen an eye specialist, and Ive been assured that my eyes are fine.

I seem to have the headaches almost daily, and the past 3 days Ive had pain on the (R) side of my face.  Its usually a dull ache behind the eye with facial pain all around the sinus areas, like the trigeminal areas.  Granted, our weather has been up and down with hi and lo pressure systems coming and going, so maybe thats part of it?

BTW: One thing Ive noticed, I wonder if anyone has had this..., is if I squint on my (R) side, Wow...it really hurts up around the (R) temple...!!  As if Im cutting off a nerve or something??

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Annuk
Veteran Member
Joined : Jan 2006
Posts : 1308
Posted 1/18/2007 11:27 AM (GMT -6)
Hi Zenyoga4u,

From what you say it does sound like anxiety does play a part with this. It will be interesting to see what a Neurologist makes of this when you do get to see them.

Please keep in touch and let us know how you get on.

take care

Ann
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