Headache: When Do I Worry?

[terpkristin]

I get a little paranoid when things go wrong with my body, so maybe I'm over-worried now, and I need to know if I should go to my doc or if I should just take more Advil.

I got a headache yesterday morning at about this time. Took Advil, it went away. In the afternoon, it came back, so I took 2 more Advil and it went away. Right before I went to bed, it was back, so I took 2 more Advil. I woke up this morning and there it is again, in my forehead, above my left eye. I'm going to take more Advil, but at what point should I go to the doctor?

Thanks..
/tk

[Drake]

When you can't touch your chin to your chest without serious stiffness/pain, then you worry.

[bulletsponge]

maybe you just needed a rest "sleep". that usually gets rid of the headache

[Subby]

How much diet soda do you drink each day? How much caffeine? How much water?

[wade moore]

How much diet soda do you drink each day? How much caffeine? How much water?

And has that intake differed over the last 24-48 hours?

[terpkristin]

And has that intake differed over the last 24-48 hours?

20 oz. coffee in the morning. Sometimes tea or diet soda with lunch.
About a quart-quart and a half of water a day (more on workout days), no difference in the last 48 hours of drinking habits.

/tk

[Eaglesfan27]

How "severe" of a headache is this? On a scale of 0 to 10 where would you put it?

[Eaglesfan27]

Dola -

Also, are you prone to headaches?

[bulletsponge]

my first thought is if you wake up with a headache, it has something to do with how you slept. maybe you slept with your neck in an akward position and as a result you have a headache. i know i have to be carefull how i sleep to avaoid waking up with one, i also had to change my pillow because i was getting headaches with the old one

[terpkristin]

I'd rate this headache a 4-5. It's annoying and is worse with my head in certain positions, but what kind of gets me is that it's not going away/is coming back in the same place. I'm not prone to headaches and when I do get them, they usually go away for good with one dose of Advil.

/tk

[albionmoonlight]

Have you tried a decongestant? Maybe it is a sinus thing? Sometimes, I get (what I assume are) sinus headaches and don't ever have the stuffy nose to go with them, but a decongestant makes them go away.

[Lathum]

Have you spent more time then usual looking at a computer screen?

[Eaglesfan27]

It certainly wouldn't hurt to check with your primary care doctor and see if they have an opening today or tomorrow. The differential of headaches is a vast one, but s/he may be able to figure it out and at the very least relieve your pain.

[Toddzilla]

My $.02 says its your sinuses.

[digamma]

Head on. Apply directly to the forehead.

[Mustang]

What about your sleep habits? Any snoring, teeth grinding or apnea? Could be causing your morning headaches or, with the cooler weather, is there a heat source near you when you are sleeping? With the heat on I know I've woken up some mornings with bad headaches more due to dehydration.

My .02 is also on sinuses/allergies.

[DolphinFan1]

Something interresting I found out. I stopped getting headaches when we went about 90% organic and no refined sugars at our house. Also no artificial sweeteners and colors, Soda and stuff.

Then about two months ago I started getting some headaches. I noticed our city water smelled like a lot of chlorine. I put a chlorine filter on my water and I haven't had a headache in a month. Seems to be that taking a shower every day and drinking water loaded with Chlorine can cause some problems in some peoples' bodies. Also Chlorine messes up the Thyroid which controls metabolism. Maybe a link to Thyroid cancer??

[Karlifornia]

You have a headache. You're not dying. Quit being a baby.


/kb

[terpkristin]

I took 2 sudafed and one advil sinus and now I'm just massively medicine head so I guess this can be chalked up to sinuses or something. I guess that makes sense, given that the pain is in my forehead above my eye, if I remember correctly, there is a sinus passage up there.

Headaches worry me when they don't go away, so I appreciate the peace of mind y'all gave me. Of course, I still probably will go to the doc if I keep getting headaches and/or have to continue taking decongestants (I'm already on allergy meds year-round). Mayhaps it's time to change my drug cocktail...

/tk

[DaddyTorgo]

i'm sure the joke has already been made, but since it's you, with your medical history tk...i'd be worried right now

[RendeR]

If at any time you feel the pressure pulsing in your eyes or you have dimished or lost vision: Immediately see a doctor.

If your headaches range from a 6-8 on the scale of pain and last more than a full day without medicine affecting it, see a doctor.

If they recur at this intensity more than 3-5 times a month, see a doctor.


I've spent my life fighting migraine headaches, some of which lasted up to 3 days and blinded me in my right eye for the duration. There are many meds that can help, most only mask the pain, none cure this.

I wish you well TK, I hope you don't develop severe migraine issues.

Protect your eyes, use larger font sizes to read on the computer, keep ample lighting around you at all times and if you wear glasses or contacts get them updated at the minimum of every 18 months to 2 yrs.

You have my sympathies. headaches suxors.