constant headaches is this normal
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constant headaches is this normal
| Sat, 11-04-2006 - 8:50pm |
hey everyone I need some info, I have had 3 cat scans and nothing is wrong with my head but I am having constant headaches!! they are painful like pulse-ating ones, sometimes they go away but most of the tme they are here. I have had them start in my shoulders and pulat to my temple, they rally hurt. Im trying not to panick so I dont have an attack but I dont know what to do. I still have not taken the meds they gave me, so im not sure if I take the meds that it will go away.
nicole

If you have 3 normal CAT scans, Nicole, then you are just fine. You must remind yourself everytime the negative thoughts creep in. Distract yourself from this sort of thinking by keeping your mind & body occupied. These health fears are difficult to control, if you continually focus on them.
I can only guess that these are tension headaches. Alot of our members have reported them when very stressed/anxious. Many times they involve the neck & shoulders. I have had them on rare occasions. Since I am not a *headache* person, they scare me, too. I have found that some heat from a shower, soak in the tub or a heating pad works to relax the tense muscles. If your dh can give you a light massage, that would do the trick. Taking a couple of tylenol helps me. If you could take the xanax, I bet you would feel even better.
Keep thinking positively. Say these things every time you become worried unnecessarily. *I will be fine. I am not ill. My headaches are normal for someone who is anxious. I have had 3 normal CAT scans. I will not die from a headache. I am ok.* Whatever positive statements you can think of, use them. Remember to relax & use the belly breathing techniques in our *coping tips & tricks* folder. Breathe in slowly through your nose watching your abdomen rise. Then, breathe out through your mouth slowly, watching your abdomen fall. Like the waves in the ocean, make it a rhythm. Good luck! (((hugs))) jan
I can feel your pain. For weeks I was having chronic tension headaches, and it was a long time until I realized they were stress/anxiety related. None of the OTC pain relievers were helping me. It wasn't until I realized what was causing them that they began to subside. If a doctor prescribed you medicine to help you relax, I suggest trying it, even just once a day for a little while just to help you relax initially. After you start to relax, I think you will notice a difference, and can take the medicine less often. I still get headaches, but they are less frequent. Tension headaches are awful and painful, and when I get them, they last all day and nothing helps. Try your medicine, it may help you relax so that you don't get as many. Then you can find different ways to unwind -
Hot bath/shower...
Writing out your thoughts...
Taking a walk/exercising...
Calling a friend...
Good luck :)
I used to get tension headaches all the time as a teenager. I was convinced there was something wrong with me. My doctor assured me that they were stress related and that helped a lot. I just tried to be aware of when they were coming on and to relax. Yours sound more severe, but I think you will find the meds helpful. Try taking your first dose when you know you don't have to be anywhere, when you can just be at home and relax.
One interesting thing I remember that doctor telling me back then is that most of the time headaches are not related to any kind of physiological illness. They usually don't know what causes them. I know that doesn't help the pain, but it may help ease the worry.
Hi Nicole,
Does sound like tension headaches, I get those occasionally and normal headache meds work for me, but also distraction like getting out of the house, walking outside etc. helps me a lot with those.
This may be a total off the wall question, but are you taking bcp pills? When I started taking them, they caused a hormonal imbalance that caused extreme acute anxiety, nausea & migraines. (I'd never had migraines before in my life). This is probably not what's happening to you,but thought I'd put it out there.
Hugs,
Dee