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Forum Name: Headaches

Question: Persistent headache for 2+ months

emortimer - Wed Jan 03, 2007 6:10 pm

My partner is a 35 yr old female, previous migranes for a short period of her life but hasn't had them in several years. Doesn't like meds, no smoking, no drinking, etc. No fam history of migraines or Headaches. Paternal and maternal cancers. Previous history of serious anorexia (for several years as adolescent...) Currently: Has had a Headache every day since the end of Oct. It occurred on Oct 27th (no reason, no trauma). She awoke to a terrible Headache with severe Nausea and general unwell feeling. Ibuprofen didn't help. She has awoken to the Headache every day since then, except one morning but Headache came later that day. It is worse in the morning, pounding, eases off through the day (sometimes goes away completely for periods of time), comes back at night and various times through day. Pounds in her temples, stretches across front of her head. Not tight, more pounding when at its worst. As it dies away, it becomes a dull ache. She has Nausea, decreased appetite when the Headache is on. Tingling in face (both sides, across top of head). Pain meds don't help. She tried some off and on but they didn't seem to help so she doesn't bother. Has had what she thinks of as migraines years ago but says this is completely unlike any previous Headache and is unrelentless. Her spirit is broken, she cannot handle it anymore. Went to a neurologist today. NO bedside manner. Completely condescending, had her in a box before she opened her mouth. Read her description on previsit paperwork and had her pegged as rebound Headaches. Told him she doesn't take many meds, but he insists that must be it. Went to ER this weekend b/c she had blurred vision with one of the Headaches. Blurred vision lasted all day, and she had swelling on her eyelids (which has seemed to have mostly gone away now). She had a D&C last week (abnormal bleeding for 6 months) and we thought blurred vision was perhaps from Anesthesia as it occured the next day? Went to ER, they did CT which showed nothing. Gave her twice her body weight's worth of Toradol. 30mg IV, she's 110lbs with clothes on. Bad reaction... scared her. Gave it before CT. I've read that Toradol before CT can skew results? Now contsant burning in stomach, aggravated by foods since ER visit. Headache was relieved to dull ache with Toradol but was back with vengeance by the time we got home from ER. She had been on 800mg Ibuprofen 3x day for last few days after D&C and that didn't even touch the Headache. Anyway, this Neurologist didn't even ask her to describe her Headache or what may be different about it than normal, what concerns her, etc. Gave her rx for ?? something for migraine w/rebound Headaches and sent her away. Is it possible that that's all it is? She's frightened and so am I. Would have felt much more comfortable if he had done MRI or MRA. What if??? Gulp. Any advice? -Emma

Dr. Tamer Fouad - Sun Feb 18, 2007 12:18 pm

Hello, I hope your partner is feeling better. Virtually all significant tumors and bleeds can be seen on non-contrast CT scan. It also helps exclude many other conditions. How has she been responding to the anti-migraine treatment. Yes, it is very possible that's all it is.

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