Bobby,
My name is Shari. Here is my headache story. At the
age of 12, I once had a severe headache for 3 months
straight in the spring and after that, I was basically
free of headaches except for an occasional one until I
was 16. (Stress from driving?!) LOL My headaches
turned out to be due to allergies as I would have a
constant headache all spring and all fall. They
typically last 6-8 weeks. If I would take Advil Cold
and Sinus every 4 hours, (including the time I was
asleep) it would not bother me and I wouldn't notice
the headaches. If I waited even an hour longer, bam,
headache. That pattern lasted until I was 24.
That year, my headaches started very early in July
instead of late August/early Sept, so I started
keeping track daily. By October, I had enough and went
to the doctor. She was concerned about my blood
pressure and put me on medicine for it. Since I told
her about the headaches, she put me on Propranolol
which is also used to treat Migraines. It definitely
helped my b.p., but didn't do a thing for my
headaches. Many of my b.p. syptoms are gone now,
except for the tiredness and headaches.
Finally after some more agony and more time passed, I
went to the dentist. He said I likely had TMJ
problems. I went to a specialist and started wearing
an appliance on my lower teeth. Then I tried
Chiropractor treatments. There were many times my
headaches would go away instantly after an adjustment.
But the headaches always returned. I tend to hold my
stress in and my upper back and shoulders get very
tense which can't help my situation any. I was often
recording headaches 24-30 days a month, many of which
were severe. I would have rated them on a scale of 7.5
out of 10.
Finally for some UNKNOWN reason, my headaches have
lessened lately (since November). I still definitely
have my bad days and even bad weeks. I am now down to
about 14-19 headaches a month, sometimes less. Now the
severity is often a 3 or 4. I notice them, but they
don't make my life unbearable.
I do drive into the sun many days for work and that
often makes my headaches worse for half a day or more.
Any ideas? I wear sunglasses and use the visors. I
wear contacts and if I wear my regular glasses, it
makes driving almost impossible for me because I have
to squint a lot.
There were times I got very depressed and angry that
I have these headaches, but that doesn't help me. I am
over that stage now.
For the past few years, and I have noticed it a lot
more these last few months, I have been so exhausted.
I get up at 5:00 and often go to bed at 7:30 or 8:00.
For several months last summer and fall, I was waking
up 4-8 times a night. I do sleep better now, but I
still wake up 2-4 times a night usually. I have an air
mattress to sleep on instead of a waterbed. What is
your theory? Do the headaches make me tired or am I
tired because of lack of solid sleep every night or
both?
Those of us here understand your pain and we wish you
the best as you work to hopefully find a treatment
that helps you.


Shari


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