[kashmir]

Ok so for the past eight years I have had intermittent headaches. With the start of nursing school (I'm in the end of my junior year of a BSN program) they have been getting worse. I've seen an ENT and he states they are not sinus related, and I've seen a primary care doc and have gotten an MRI and she says that they are stressed induced. The thing is I had them before all the stress of nursing school! They are usually on top of my head (can be both or either side) and can start from my forehead up (if that makes any sense). I have seen eye doctors since I was eight and have been told my headaches are not from vision problems. I also have a neurologist appointment this coming Friday. Anyone have any ideas or comments? I would greatly appreciate them as OTC meds and the few prescriptions I've been on (ultram and amitryptilline) have not helped! It's really hard to concentrate when you have a headache and as it's getting closer to finals, I need to fix it soon. At least until the summer!

[onyx77]

Unfortunately we can't give medical advice. But, as a headache/migrane sufferer myself I know what you are going through. My headaches increased with nursing school as well. They also tend to increase when my 10 year-old decides to have an attitude - which is quite often!
Remember to take time for yourself that doesn't include studying and try to relax! Hope they get better!

[kashmir]

Thanks guys. But I'm not asking for medical advice or a diagnosis. I'm asking for "ideas." I have tried to take time for myself as well as getting more sleep and eating better. I just want to know if anyone has tried any other ways of relieving headaches.

[onyx77]

Hot bubble baths, hiding under my covers with lights out and black curtains over the windows (for migranes), relaxing, taking scheduled time out of each day for ME time (usually in the form of a nice hot bath), think of something else (easier said than done), meditate (my crazy soon-to-be sister-in-law does this, no, really she is certifiably crazy), rub my tembles, keep things quiet, STEP AWAY FROM THE COMPUTER (too much computer time always gives me a headache!) take a ten really deep breaths, and count to 10 (as many times as you need - slowly though!) The other things I do I can's mention here as that would be considered giving medical advice.

[nialloh]

One of the nurses I work with gets tension migraines. Sometimes after a hard day, her head starts to split. If I'm there, I'll often give her a neck and upper shoulder rub. Her migraine melts away (we are lucky to know it's cause).
You might give it a try. If it works, you are pain free. If not, you got a nice neck rub.

[HM2Viking]

I'd ask for a referral to a pain clinic. Progressive muscle relaxation helps some people with stress induced pain. Acupressure. (Pull out your fundamentals book and look at complemntary and alternative aids...)

[TiredMD]

There are a lot of different kinds of headaches, and the treatments depending on your type actually vary quite a bit. You need a good diagnosis, and for that you need a good neurologist.

Many don't know it, but Neurologists spend a lot of time learning about common headaches (not ones causes by other neurologic disorders). There is a lot of literature out there on these things, to the point where Headache is actually a subspecialty of Neurology.

Go see your new Neurologist, talk to him/her, get a diagnosis, and get treatment. Mucking around trying to treat your own chronic headaches before you know why you have them isn't going to do your any good.

[TheCommuter]

When my body is lacking in thyroid hormone (hypothyroid), I usually experience headaches which are hair-splitting and unbreakable. As I gradually return to a euthyroid state, the headaches disappear.

I'm simply throwing out some food for thought, although you need to see your doctor. No matter how many ideas we throw out there, please be aware that nothing can replace the value of medical attention from a physician or nurse practitioner. Good luck to you!

[birdgardner]

I had terrible migraines for many years. I learned my triggers - going hungry, bright sun, muscle tension - heavy purse or backpack on my shoulders, tight bra straps. You're thinking right with getting enough food and rest. Your triggers will vary. Tyramine containing foods are triggers for some.

Biggest trigger for me - caffeine withdrawal, and yet caffeine helps relieve migraines. For me, one cup of tea in the morning and no other caffeine worked best. Some OTC and prescription headache meds have caffeine but can cause rebound headaches with a vengeance. When I was premenstrual or menstrual I was more likely to get triggered, so had to be extra careful.

Relaxing imagery helps both tension and migraines- imagining yourself in a warm place - before a fire, with a cup of warm cider in your hands, or lying on a beach at sunset with the sand still hot from the sun, feeling the warm rush of red blood going all the way to your fingers and toes with each slow beat, the vessels relaxed and open - I could warm my hands several degrees this way. Also hot packs on your feet and hands.

Some people find relief from acupressure or acupuncture.

I hope the neurologist can get help you get a handle on this - some are more in the way of being headache specialists than others.

[multicollinearity]

Keep at it with seeing specialists. Chances are, you will hit on a specialist who will help you, but in may take a few tries.

A few years ago, I had terrible sinus pain/migraine. I saw two ENTs, and a neurologist. They diagnosed me with migraine, and said it wasn't related to the sinuses. Nothing helped.

Then I made an appointment with an ENT fresh out of his residency. He found that a bone spur was stimulating my trigeminal nerve. He removed that bone spur in surgery, and I've been cured ever since. CURED!!! Love it.

I do think sometimes, seeing a doc fresh out of residency can be good, and even to your advantage.