Calling Frequent Headache Sufferers.

I'm one of those unfortunate souls who gets headaches all the flipping time. for the last 10 years (i'm almost 21) i've had headaches 3-7 days a week. sometimes a single headache would last for weeks on end. I've tried everything short of going to a normal doctor: opthomologists, chiropractors, my mother (a "certified natural health practitioner" / self-studied nutritionist), and even did some sort of therapy in the off chance the headaches were caused by stress. During this ten year span, I've become a vegetarian, reformed from eating pure junk (mmm tatertots and Mrs. T's pirogies...), gone from wearing to not wearing to wearing glasses, taken a bazillion different supplements, and went from a sloth like lifestyle to one of rather frequent motion. pretty much everything in my life has changed since i was 10, yet my headaches have remained constant.

I have no idea, whatsoever, as to their cause. this semester i only had headaches about 2 times a week, which is amazing for me. but they've come back with a vengence...and i've no idea what banished them, or what invited them back. college is stressful enough without having to do russian homework by the light of my flamingo night light because i can't handle anything brighter.

I know there has to be other CCers with persistent and completely f*%&ing annoying headaches. do you have any inkling of an idea as to what causes yours?  any tips/advice/insights that you care to share for all of us poor bastards who have to plow through our daily lives with a perpetually hurting head?

 

P.S. i know i ought to go to a doctor, and i know I'm being boneheaded in not. i haven't gone due to a few personal reasons, and due to a complete lack of faith in their ability to do anything...

I'm with you. I have a headache almost all the time. I also have gotten some pretty killer migraines this semester. I started taking Relpax for those, which does little more than make me feel weird. When i don't have the migraines, its always a dull pain in the front of my head, or tension headaches.

I also feel you're pain in regard to sensitivity to light. I have the same problem with sound too. Sometimes i can barely stand to flush the toilet.

the only thing i've been able to do to lessen them is to not eat/drink caffine if i feel one coming on (which makes me very sad, i love coffee).

Oh! I have headaches all the time too (like, everyday).
I'm 16, if that is important...

I've no idea the cause for you, but I get them if:
    I am hungry
    I am angry
    I am sad
    I am tired
    I am thirsty
    I am bored (seriously... what?)
    Am wearing/ not wearing glasses (I get to choose between a             vague, dull headache or a sharp, eye headache. Lucky me :/ )
    Things are too loud (more common to people :p)
    Things are too bright
    Things are too dark
    I've been inside too long
    Any other reason one can think of
    No reason at all. Just because it feels like hurting.

But really, aren't they annoying? I had to stay home several times, they hurt so bad. :/

Wish I could be of help. I know applying pressure (very light) to one of my temples helps... So does green tea sometimes (caffeine, perhaps?).

High blood pressure can cause constant headaches.  You are young, but it is still possible.  If you have had your eyes checked, and that is not it, my next question is if you use any moderate to significant amount of artificial sweeteners, whether in packets/granular or in products that you consume?  That's what caused my headaches, the same type that you describe, daily, constant, unrelenting, excruciating, and NOT responsive to any over-the-counter pain relievers for YEARS.  I suffered.  When I stopped all artificial sweeteners, the headaches went away COMPLETELY.  I've said this before, they do not affect everyone this way, but definitely had this effect on me, as well as many others.  Hope this helps.  Hope you get better. 

Might be worth seeing a regular doctor if you can if you are suffering this much.  Outside of that (which would be my first recommendation), do a thorough analysis of your life, habits, everything you eat and drink, do you get enough sleep every day, under a lot of stress, if you have a roommate, do they wear a cologne/perfume that might be triggering your headaches (realizing that the scent/residue can linger in the room even when they're not there, be in their bed linens, clothes), do you use candles, supplements, etc., and notice trends from day to day in things that may affect your headaches, for example, certain days more than others.  Again, hope some of this helps.

Food sensitivities can cause headaches.  ie MSG
Also TMJ or an out of lined jaw can cause headaches.  Have you seen your dentist lately?  I had to have my jaw religned and wear an appliance because I carry my stress in my jaw and shoulders.

I get a headache almost everyday.  Ive gotten suggestions from a few people...I heard you can become immune to pain medication or the medication can actually cause headaches to be worse.  I also know I used to get them when I drank caffeine...and I get them from stressing out and grinding my teeth.  Someone also suggested to me to use a hot or cold pack or washcloth or something.  But yea, I definitely feel your pain.

polythelenepam: my headaches are the exact same way: either there and extremely prevalent, or a dull pain in the front of the head. it's soo annoying. 

 duzzie: i totally feel that. it seems like anything will or won't trigger them, and from day to day the things that alleviate them might make them worse...

 jdbcmt: I don't think i have high blood pressure...i had it checked less than a year ago and the doctor said it was perfect. I also don't do artificial sweeteners almost at all...my mother thought them to be the devil, so i just never got into the habit of using them, and i never developed the taste for them. I haven't done a major log of what's going on in my life, or kept track of my headaches on paper, so that may be in order. i (strangely) never really thought to do that, thanks for the suggestion.

spoiled_candy i rarely eat anything with MSG, i buy almost all of my food from a health food coop, and as such don't even have the temptation of MSG'd chips and the like. I do have jaw problems, however. if i chew bubble gum or talk/sing/yell too much, my jaw locks mostly shut (which is very inconvenient at concerts or in the middle of fights), so i'll have to talk to my dentist next time i'm in.

cass877 Yeah, I've heard of OTC pain medication making headaches worse/occur more frequently. and I've become immune to almost every mediation available OTC. the only thing that touches them these days is 4-8 Excedrin's, and i just feel bad doing that to my liver, so it only happens in extenuating circumstances. i don't do caffeine very often either, maybe twice a week...blasted seemingly pointless headaches.

lots of foods can trigger headaches. some you wouldn't even think could be a problem (you should do a google search on it sometime). some more common ones are wheat, dairy, chocolate, red wine or any alcohol, soy, msg, etc. since you're vegetarian, i'm assuming you eat soy products. there's a couple problems with soy and headaches. the 1st is that it contains tyramine, which is a headache trigger. the other thing is that the way in which soy is processed actually releases msg.

the jaw could definately be a factor. buy a night guard at the store (ones from dentist are expensive, but possibly worth it), and try sleeping with it in. it might take any pressure off at night which could be helpful.

i went through major headache/migraine issues for a couple years a while back. my body (and mind) got completely addicted to vicodin, and i thought i had to take it every day in order to cope with the headaches. then i did that along with xanax, cause the vicodin (up to 4 a day!) wasn't doing anything. i finally got a hold of myself and forced myself to quit. i think it was after a week of no pills, i was virtually headache free! i've only had a few bad ones since (for over a year now). so yeah, it's very true that pain meds (including OTC) only make matters worse.

deep breathing is always wonderful.

hot or cold packs, depending on what works for you.

essential oils, exm: lavender oil.

warm showers/baths.

regular yoga practice.

qi gong.

my favorite thing this past year has been acupuncture. it has totally saved me from so many painful and annoying conditions. i would highly recommend it to anyone suffering from anything. make sure you find someone good in the field. make sure you take any supplements they give you. it takes some time to get results, but well worth it.

good luck :)

i had daily headaches for about 8 months a few years back

horrible day long ones, i was taking like 10 advil a day

my dentist diagnosed it as MFPS (myofascial pain syndrome)

which is like TMJ but doesnt affect the joint, just the muscles around the jaw and the subsequent muscles that run up your skull to your temples, down your shoulders into your neck and back

clench your teeth, notice you can feel it up and down your head into your shoulders,

i was clenching and grinding my teeth as i sleep all night long, no wonder i woke up with headaches

i got fitted for a mouthguard and within a few days, my headaches were gone, its 10 yrs later and i still wear it to bed everynight and have not woken up with one of those headaches since ( tho sometimes i didnt wake up with one, it appeared soon after)

get checked for teeth grinding/clenching

good luck

Have you tried seeing a massage therapist?  I am currently going to school for massage therapy and have learned some fantastic techniques for people with chronic headaches.  TMJ could definitely be a cause of your headache issues, as well as other things.  I would try seeing an advanced massage therapist (someone who knows deep, clinical, myofascial release) and see if they can help you.

I too have been suffering with horrible migranes.  I used to get them EVERY day.. they were jsut differenet intensities.  Sometimes they were bearable..other times I couldn't function. 

 I started going to a chiropractor about a year ago and he discovered I had an off vertebrae in my neck.  How do you sleep at night? On your stomach is one of the WORST positions for your back/neck and that's the only way I slept for 22 years.  He suggested on your back or on your side..but making sure your neck/back was in alignment.  It takes some getting used to, but it works!

Also..being dehydrated can cause headaches so make sure you get plenty of water.  I also get headaches if I get too hungry..so I always try to have some sort of snack with me just in case.

 Are you on any kind of birth control?  I think mine are also hormonal.  I know I get them a lot more the week before TOM.  I was on Yasmin for about a year with no headache relief, but I just recently switched over to Ortho Tri-Cyclen LO and I swear it has made a WORLD of difference!  To to chart everyday you have a headache for a month and the intensity/time of day to see if you find any pattern.

 Finally, go see a neurologist and get an MRI/CT Scan..just to make sure..tumors can cause headaches and you'd rather be safe that sorry.  My neurologist had me on a medication called Topamax.  It's a preventative migrane medication.  It's fairly new on the market, but a lot of people have had great success with it.  (An added plus is one of the side effects is drastic weight loss!)  I have to stop using it after over a year because the side effects were too much for me to handle.  A lot of people, myself included, experience depression as a side effect, so they are put on anti-depressive meds (such as Welbutrin) to counter that.  I was never given it, so I don't know how that would work.  Just BE CAREFUL!  There are some people who have been on it with a lot of success..but it has completely hindered others, so I guess it depends on how unbearable your headaches are as to whether or not you want to try it.  Just ggoole it and read some reviews so you know what you're dealing with.  Everyone's body reacts differently. 

There are some other preventative meds you can try as well..your DR would know more about them..

 GOOD LUCK! I know how you feel and it's absolutely horrible soemtimes..

I have a girl friend who had migraines DAILY.  She was always in pain.  My mom has Coeliac (Gluten intolerance) and one of the symptoms is chronic headaches.  So my girl friend stopped eating anything with gluten in it - about 2 months now...  She only gets 1 or 2 headaches in a 2 week period now, and those are usually sinus or stress related. (She can tell by where the pain is located)  While not a cure, it certainly has helped to reduce her migraines drastically.

 Won't work for evreyone, but it's worth a try.  Over half the people who suffer from gluten intolerance go undiagnosed.  It's predominant in people of English/Irish/Scottish descent.

Have you ever tried taking iron supplements? I get awful headaches around my period and I have to take iron pills which usually help.  You may be anemic which could be causing the headaches. 

dagicat: i've never noticed any food triggers. most of my headaches hit before i eat anything, but i've heard that sometimes  food allergies can trigger a headache a day or two down the line. i may have to go through the top headache causers and cut them out oneby one and see what's up. and, surprisingly, i've hated tofu and soy vehemently for most of my life. recently i've started eating it (thanks to this website and realizing my protein intake for any given day was waaay too low), so i may put that on the top of the list of foods to cut out for a while. acupuncture is interesting too. my grandmother swears she got acupuncture for a nasty headache once, and she hasn't had a headache since. i'm not sure she's not embellishing a bit, but it's worth a shot. hell, even if she is embellishing by 50% it's still a substantial improvement. and thanks for all the recommendations of stuff to dull a headache, i greatly appreciate it.

kriztina: thanks! see, i never thought it to be TMJ because when my jaw does lock shut, i can massage the muscles around it, and it releases it most of the time. i didn't know there was some manner of problem directly relating to the muscles. I'll definitely have to talk to my dentist (or my boss, i work for a dentist...) about it. thanks! 

julie2385: I used to go to a masseuse, but i admit that due to my pocketbook (and it's nigh emptiness) , i never really gave her a fair go at dealingwith my headaches. i'd just go if i had a headache for days and days and couldn't last another minute. She often could lessen them, but she was never able to make them go away...but that's my own fault for being a cheap (and poor) college student. I may have to give it another go, however. It would definitely be worth the money if it worked.

 lgutu: just today i started a chart keeping track of everything i do, and how my headaches flutuate throughout the day, so we'll see what that wields. i also think you may have something on hunger triggering them occasionally...the problem is i'm always hungry, despite eating my 1500 cal a day...so it comes down to not having a headache or cheating on my diet, i guess. Thanks for the information on migraine medication, come my next break from studying i'll have to go on a google spree.

callmekrystie: my mother is gluten intolerant...and i've been procrastinating a break from wheat for years now. being vegetarian, i'm not sure if i really can give up wheat (i know it's technically possible, but it would make my eating situation so inconvenient...) i may have to finally give it a shot, though. it's kinda weird, but i hope that isn't the source of my headaches...i'm of Swedish/German descent, so my fingers are crossed. thanks for mentioning it and making me stop the procrastination though. :)

aaltizer: i actually am anemic, and i've been taking a womens multiple that claims to have 100% o my daily required iron...though who knows. i'll try to incorporate more iron rich foods into my diet one week and see if that changes anything. Thanks!

Wow, there are a lot of different responses and suggestions to your question!  I, too, get migraine headaches about twice a week and have for years and have considered a number of culprits: stress (got them a lot more in college), but also hormones (was on birth control in college), and also sugar (I find I get them if I eat a lot of sugar the night before the migraine appears, i.e. if I go to a movie and eat a lot of candy), but also dehydration or hunger (if I don't eat or drink enough during the day, the migraine starts setting in in the evening rather than in the early morning as with the other culprits), and have also wondered if blood sugar levels in general have something to do with it and whether I'm sensitive to too much sugar and simple carbs like wheat--so I've recently cut back on the two significantly, but have yet to see whether it makes a difference. 

Tylenol with Codiene dulls the pain significantly, but makes me pretty woozy and not able to do my regular activities.  So, the migraines are pretty debilitating whether I treat them or not.  They usually concentrate behind one eye or the other, causing the eye and my nose to water, and also make me dizzy and nauseated.  So, it does not sound exactly like your situation.  

if you're anemic, you should be taking more iron than what's in any multi... it won't be nearly enough. i take an iron supplement for having a low iron count (not anemic, technically)... i take 70 mg a day, but the script is actually intended for 3x that daily.

when you see your dr, you should bring it up...

Yeah, getting headaches really sucks. It sounds like you've tried a LOT Of things. I normally only get your typical headaches (hungry, thirsty, etc) with an occassional migraine.

One thing that really caught my attention right away is that later on while responding, you had mentioned is that at one point, you weren't getting enough protein. This reminded me of a time when my husband and I tried the Atkins diet (back when it first became popular), he was fine. I on the other hand was NOT. For me, the lack of carbs gave me excruciating headaches, no matter how much meat I would eat.

Maybe you have something of a similar nature where your body is not necessarily reacting to a food you've eaten, but it's responding to something you aren't getting enough of....because honestly, it sounds like you've flipped your eating habits around enough to figure out if something would trigger it. Sometimes it's not what you're eating, it's what you're not eating.  Those are the hardest cause usually our first inclination is, "Well I must've done SOMETHING"...

~Good Luck

There has been some really great advice given here. I would say in my experience almost all of the factors others have identified have to some extent resulted in me getting headaches.

I find caffeine often helps when I have a headache (it also helps some pain killers to be more effective if you drink them with coke or whatever instead of water, or some tablets come with them combined, and this is not only if you have a headache from caffeine withdrawal, but for non caffiene addicted people too!)

in contrast to duzzie, I actually find green tea gives me huge headaches. To such an extent I haven't tried drinking it again since I figured out the connection.

I agree with jdbcmt that artificial sweetners can also do it. When I was diet coke addicted this would come for me about half way through my second 500ml bottle, now I've quit I notice it after about 150ml.

Food sensitivies can be a huge problem for headaches. I can't generally eat any citrus at all, or MSG. Actually what maybe worse is the smell of some foods and some other things. For example a madarin being peeled 20 rows forward in a huge lecture theater is enough to give me a headache, or being in the elevator with somebody wearing perfume. Some flowers are horrible (eg jonquils) as are some cleaing products. I can only stand any kind of candle, perfum airfreshner etc if it is something like Chocolate or vanilla based. Body lotions can also cause problems, and using the wrong shampoo is a disaster if you don't realise before you leave the hosue and can't wash it out.

dagicat, I know lavender is supposed to be good for headaches, but for me it actually makes it feel so much worse.

grinding teeth also does cause headaches, but they are very different types of headaches to those caused by other factors, at least for me.

Drinking alot of water is important, I would also say that I tend to get less headaches when I go swimming reasonably frequently. I also think swimming when you have a headache can help because of the feeling of the cool water on your head.

I would really suggest keeping a really accurate check of when and how you get a headache, what you ate around that time, and also any smells or other chemicals you might have been exposed to (even a roommate changing perfume might be enough to make a differnece for you). I would really suggest keeping this log a couple of times a day, because otherwise, if you are used to low level pain alot of the time, you might not even remember later that you had a headache.

I would also start paying attention to whether you get more headaches when you have been sitting in different chairs, some that are bad for your back can make your neck tense, which can then feel like a headache.

Also if you are studying chemistry/biochemistry or something like that and doing alot of experiments with chemicals and things like that - STOP!!! This made the biggest difference in my life when I finished my undergrad chemistry degree and changed to law, I experienced a huge reduction in problems!!!!!! (although stil getting some headaches, but nothing like before)

Jane,

 

Hi I usually have this problem because of hormones. They flare up they go down. Have you tried switching BC or are you even on BC? It could help out alot.