Hi Kayla,

I also get headaches daily -- especially so since my last revision. I
have had my shunt checked and it's working fine (since my last 2
revisions 2 year ago). My neurosurgeon however has sent me to see a
neurologist regarding the headaches telling me that it's probably a
headache disorder that a lot of us hydro patients are more susceptible
to get. The neurologist has diagnosed me with migraines. I tried
taking Topomax for about a year before I stopped it feeling that it
really wasn't helping. My headaches are now at a point where I can
function (and don't get too many non-functioning headaches).

So, for the first thing -- I would go to your neurosurgeon and have
him or her check to make sure that it's not your shunt that's giving
you these really bad headaches. I also like you don't like taking
medication -which is why after a year on Topomax without having them
completely go away or really create a difference I stopped taking it.
However, knowing I'm not a big fan of medication (i barely ever take
Tylendol except when the headaches get unbearable which is probably
the point when it's too late to take it). For this reason my
neurologist last week told me that I really should take extra strength
Tylenol on the start of a headache and gave me a prescription for
Fiorinal to take just when they are really bad and unbearable (so I'm
really not taking much). He also suggested I try going for physical
therapy with laser massages to see if it helps with the headaches (and
a stiff neck that i sometimes get with it).

Should you want to talk privately please feel free to email me or send
me an instant message.

Elana


--- In hydrocephalus@yahoogroups.com, "Kayla Gale" <kayla_gale08@...>
wrote:
>
> I have had headaches everyday. It hurts my school work and my job as
> well as those i care about. I have gone to the doctor and he says they
> same thing everytime. "Everything is fine just go see your
> nuerologist." Well honestly i am not the type of person who likes
> taking medicine especially everyday and 2 or more times a day. Any
> suggestions for this pain that just wont go away?
>