Daily headaches from hell-help needed

Yes, I feel for you like others have said. It could need further investigation. I do know that the facial nerves are so close together that they easily set each other off and can take a while to settle. Don't underestimate the power of your hands. Years ago I went through a terrible period with facial pain and the GP was about to refer me. Having had to return home one day it was so bad I couldn't concentrate I sat with my head in my hands, while the pain killers kicked in, pressing tightly around my temple area with thumb and fingers. Low and behold I could feel the pain subsiding and knew it wasn't just the pain killers. Thankfully it went never to return.

Hi Kentish, I have had a similar problem. Around a year ago I started to wake up with the worst headaches I have ever had - I am a tough cookie but had to stay in bed at times as I could not literally move my head. I tried physio as the least intrusive - I hate pills etc - and although I had little faith, it turned out be be my neck. A few treatments and exercises did it. You might want to consider physio?

This article might offer some hope to migraine sufferers: www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-47831576

could it be sleep apnoea causing the morning headaches

I suddenly got bad migraines at the age of about 60. Daily pain for most of the day, perhaps 3 hours clear, and then again at night, I had virtually never had a headache before. The doctor prescribed Migraleve, which did not help.Finally the doctor sent me to have a brain scan far away, and my daughter in law drove me there. When I came out from the scanner the operator said "As far as I can see there are no tumours but the consultant will be in touch." He did and said I had nothing to worry about, The I got sent to a local physiotherapist for head massage. My headaches went away and so far have never returned.
All the best and I hope you soon get the treatment you deserve,

I doubt it is anything sinister but I don't think it is good enough just to fobbed off. I went through the same thing and my Dr gave me some medication that epileptics take which I had to use for 6 months. It was a peculiar drug because it changed my taste buds, made my acute phobia of spiders disappear and gave me an energy which I haven't had for years. It helped my weight too because sweet stuff was unpalatable. And...the best bit? The migraines disappeared!
Since I came off the drug, I have noticed certain things will trigger migraines still. I get a lot of pain in my neck so I now use a magnetic pain relief which is very good and I can't believe something like that would be so effective. If I sleep badly, it causes one and if I eat too much sweet stuff, it is a definite trigger.
It might be worth writing a diary of food, sleep, etc to see if there is a link.

Please do not take this as a silly or trivial answer. I had this for years. Tried all the medications, tried giving up - chocolate, cheese, wine etc. Nothing had any effect. Then my daughter who had been living away and in that time had done a nutrition degree (the full university, state qualification thing not something wacky) - she came back home and said - just in passing as though it was obvious:- 'It might be wheat you know - its the 'somethingth' most common sensitivity.' I thought, well I'll prove her wrong. So I cut wheat out - the weeks went by and no headache - that was in 2001. Still no headache. Just a possibility.

You definitely need a second opinion, if only to put your mind at rest. Why are some GPS so adamant they have made the right diagnosis? There’s no shame in asking for somebody else’s opinion.

If its migraine get referred for botox.I was having daily headaches but any more the botox realy works

Real sympathy as I was a monthly migraine sufferer all my life from 11 til menopause. Only thing that really helped me was cold, real icecubes in a plastic bag, those blue things were never cold enough. If I had the ice on my face I'd put a tissue under it to avoid cold 'burns'. Ibuprofen, once I discovered it, often helped if taken early enough. One doctor I called out in sheer desperation once, told me to alternate ibuprofen with paracetamol every two hours, which did the trick for that one. Now I'm relatively free, sometimes after stress I wake at 5ish thinking uh-oh, but an ibuprofen will usually kill it off, leaving me feeling a bit 'hungover' but OK to carry on with the day.
Best wishes

Kentish I sympathise with you,been there, got the flippin’ tee shirt!
This may sound totally improbable too, it does to me! But I swear it helps.
Sinex nasal spray!!! A couple of sprays a day for 2/3 days, it seems to shift something I don’t even know is there! Could it be a mildly blocked sinus that the spray unblocks? Who knows! Anything is worth a try, bet it works!!

How awful for you. As others have said - please persist with your GP because this isn't something that you can safety grit your teeth through, it needs to be thoroughly investigated.

I suffered with dreadful headaches myself even after the menopause. However what has worked for me is bodywork treatments from Jing.

Jing training is degree level advanced clinical massage to treat chronic pain conditions. Their approach draws on a deep understanding of anatomy and pathology and a blend of Western and Eastern techniques to manage and improve chronic conditions providing deep relief without discomfort.

Jing are based in Brighton but have a network of practitioners all over the UK. Why not get in touch and see if they can recommend someone near you? They look after lots of people awaiting referrals and undergoing investigation.

I hope this helps
Hugs

I suffered for years with what you describe thinking it was just another “headache” The pain behind my left eye was awful at times - I happened to mention it when I went to have my eye tested and I was sent to the eye clinic at our local hospital that same day - apparently what was causing the pain was pressure behind the eye and if left could have been awful. I would urge you to maybe get your eyes tested as the opticians can often pick up on things that maybe a GP wouldnt.

. . .my own experience of excruciating migraines over many many years . . . . was cured with immediate effect following a hysterectomy . . . I'm not suggesting this as a remedy . . . merely that that was my experience. . . BUT it would suggest as pp said that the issue is/could be more in the " basement and not the attic " or at least maybe hormonal which may come to pass post menopause?

I have also seen that a form of botox therapy works well in extreme cases . .it may be worth a google?

Hope you feel better soon.

Friend of mine has suffered with debilitating migraines most of her life and had all sorts of different meds from the doctors. She recently read a book about plant based diets and saw a suggestion of taking one quarter teaspoon of ginger powder dissolved in water when she felt pain coming on. This has transformed her life, it puts a complete stop to her migraines. Worth a try?

Have you seen an optitian? They can see what is going on in the back of the eye, and also detect things like high blood pressure.

Sorry, I am agreeing with Nanny 123

My sympathies here.....many memories of waking 3-4 am with violent pain in one eye and side of my head, which only started to subside after vomiting. Am wondering if you’ve tried Acupuncture? Although my symptoms are almost history now that I am 3 score and ten+, I still occasionally need the acupuncture that so helped me.

I took epilim in low dosage for regular migraines. The drug is meant to control epilepsy but also works on migraine. However if you are in that much pain and for that long you should be having an MRI. I hope it is just as your GP says

I had a friend who suffered from something that sounds like what you are describing.

It was diagnosed as Horton's syndrome, which is unpleasant but not a dangerous condition, but it is quite uncommon, so a lot of GP's don't recognise it.

Ask your GP for a referral to a specialist and don't take no for an answer. It's your life that it being made a misery, and the menopause is no excuse for not treating a migraine.

I assume you have had your eyes tested recently?

Urmstongran I think you must be right LBC about them being hormonal. I used to have classic migraines in my 40’s - with the preceding aura of zig zag lines. No family history of them. The first one I ever got was when I was reading and ‘gaps’ or blanks with no text appeared on the page. It frightened me to death! I lifted a hand up and moved it in front of me and it ‘disappeared’ at one side. I thought I had a brain tumour.

I had exactly that as a schoolgirl when my periods started. The partial blindness started before the headache and, as you say, was terrifying. I looked down at the textbook on my school desk during a lesson and whispered to my friend that I'd got a faulty book because half of the print was missing. When she said no, it wasn't, I thought the worst.

Later I got the aura and then the blinding pain.

Clearly they were hormonal and had kicked in with puberty. I suffered them for a number of years until I discovered certain foods/drinks could trigger.

Mine turned out to be high blood pressure, with the correct medication they went away completely. I do agree that you need further tests and see an optician if you haven’t already.

Try drinking more water and cutting out alcohol, tea, coffee and fizzy drinks- introduce them slowly one by one after a while and compare the effect or non effects on the headaches. My daughter, when a teenager, had lots of headaches which continued into early adulthood but now she only drinks very weak squash and she hardly gets any.

It could also be lack of sleep, too much time spent with technology, stress or hormones.

I have headaches that started with the menopause lasting 3 days or so. Doctor said they were cluster headaches but nothing seemed to touch them. That horrendous ache behind the eye, throbbing head and nausea plus a really pale face and black under the eyes.
Eventually I remember Mum had headaches and used to take aspirin. This was my last resort butto my surprise they worked, not immediately but at least gave some relief. They were especially good if I managed to take them as the headache started. I try to carry aspirin with me at all times for emergency treatment.
These days headaches are few and far between now and only last a day if I can take the aspirin early. I have no other physical health issues so it may have been hormone related.
Hope you manage to make an improvement.

I'd go back to your doctor too. 8n the meantime adap, book a session with a Chiropractor. I've had headaches all my life and have discovered some were referred pain when I tried the Chiro for one of them (included neck that time but I've experienced all sorts)