Any Suggestions For How to Treat a 3 Day Headache?
 

I've had a headache for 3 days! Been so miserable I've turned off my phone and just sat here and suffered for 3 long days. I am not a headache person except when I get this type headache about 2 or 3 times a year but only once before do they last longer than a day. A few years ago, I had a headache for most of a year when they were renovating our building at work and the only thing that helped it was putting me on low dose blood pressure pills, after allergists all over Dallas tested and re-tested and got neuro and internal medicine and orthopedic consults and everything they tried failed. BP Rx worked like a charm after two days and stopped the headache for good, even though my BP wasn't technically high. So I've done well since but every so often I will get a sick headache where my whole head fills full and my neck hurts, occasionally accompanied by clear, runny nose or a blocked sinus feeling. This time, it's been clear drainage and sneezing for 2 days but today, I've had no runny nose or sneezing after taking a teaspoon of Children's Benadryl twice - 4 hours apart this morning. It stopped the drainage and sneezing but the headache persists and my sinuses feel pressure - in my face planes under my eyes and in my forehead. I've taken my BP and it's a little high so I've taken an extra BP Rx for the last 2 days but still the headache stays. I also have some anti-inflammatory nasal spray - Fluro- something I think it's called, stuff the doctor prescribed for this headache and it's not helped the 2 days I've used it twice a day.

I crave caffeine - coffee, hot tea and Diet Cokes these past three days. I always do when I get this headache. I finally tried inhaling steam for a minute or two and that seemed to cause some drainage, as does the hot tea and the headache stops throbbing so badly and gets some better. My neck is stiff, sore and hurting - but it always hurts with this headache and the drainage. I've taken some Esgic Plus - one half pill yesterday and one-half today - but it's helped only a little. My stomach feels so queasy I don't feel like going to the store to pick up a Neti pot or anything else - just feel so sick and blah. I finally thought maybe it's a lack of sugar headache as I haven't had any sugar or anything really sweet for a few days and ate a cupcake - no help. Hot tea with sugar in it seems to help some but it just could be the steam and caffeine.

Any ideas? I'm out of them and miserable.

Jeanie, I am sorry you are suffering from this headache. I will get a migraine thankfully only once in a while but yours doesn't sound like a migraine. I hope someone here will give you some advice on getting yours under control. Hugs to you and pray you will feel better soon.

Please go to a Dr immediately. Not to scare you but after hearing about so many people dying from unknown brain aneurysms it scares me.

This is not a smartass answer, really. I think you should do what we do when our pups are sick. Go see a dr. The Flonase med only begins to work after six or seven days of taking it not right away. I am saying this because I have suffered headaches and stiff neck for weeks on end and didn't see a dr. Dumb. I should have gone but I kept thinking I would be better tomorrow but tomorrow never came. Please take care of yourself.

It could be a sinus headache . . . I know that you are going to hate this but you need to see a Dr. . . There are all kinds of headaches. They can figure out and treat it. . . . Hugs and puppy kisses to you and Tibbe

I hate headaches...I don't have anything to offer except to say I hope you feel better soon.

Jeanie, I am sorry you are hurting. The only suggestion I can think of is to turn on a hot shower and fill the bathroom with steam. See a doctor if it persists.

Hope you are feeling better soon.

The thing is I've been tested for this for years looking for anything they could find. I had a brain CT last May when I had a bad headache just like this only far worse - completely clear per the ER radiologist and the back-up radiologist the next day. I've had an earlier one in the past, also. Lately these headaches seem related to the drainage and sneezing and goes from there but I'll be sure to go in if it gets worse or I get other symptoms.

That has helped in the past - my first one of these it totally stopped after 3 days - so I tried it just before I got back online. Washed my hair and then had a 10 minute scalding shower and let the hot water beat down on my face and neck. Red all over like a beet! Had a little drainage and feel some better but it's still hanging in there. Ugh! I'm going to have another shower in a couple of hours if no improvement! Guess I'll just shower in hot water until I'm better. :)

I'm sure seem a lot of them for this over the years and the only thing that ever helps is that Esgic Plus and a valium and that -- Flonase! - that's the name I couldn't remember - or a strong shot of pain medicine at the ER the time or two I've give up and gone in. I'm just hesitant to take the valium this time - it can give me a headache. Last May one night I had to go to the ER the pain was just so sharp and shooting and I was nauseated and the neck was so sore and none of my home remedies were working and they gave me something they had to give nausea medication with so I could stand it and it knocked me out and a few hours later, the headache and neck pain were gone. Wonderful relief and it was almost a year before it came back - last month I had one for a day. That's the last head CT I had - that night last May. I don't think it's a migraine as I don't have any visual anything and I don't vomit and I can function - just don't want to. But 3 days, it's getting old. :( I'm going to try some 12-hour decongestant nasal spray now and see what that does.

The decongestant spray seems to do nothing but next, that Flonase really burned my nose and throat as if it's were raw. BP borderline high for most people - way high for me - at 141/95 so took some more BP Rx and just waiting to see if that will help. Going to eat or drink a nutiritional drink to see if that will help as that cupcake is all I've had since breakfast.

Sounds like you need some protein and 'real' food. I'm not very good at feeding myself either. When I lived alone, the only thing that saved me was that I had to eat one meal in the cafeteria at work. We had a good cafeteria with fresh cooked foods.

Have you tried loratadine (active ingredient in Claritin)? I now take one every single day. Before I did that I would constantly have that clear mucus all in my sinuses, I mean it looked so disgusting when I'd use the neti pot and all the crap would come out. I was like that for more than a year until I finally decided to listen to a doc.

Whenever I do manage to get crap in my sinuses (which is nearly impossible to avoid in cedar pollen season in January out here) I also take pseudoephederine and it clears it up pretty well. Luckily never had the headaches, but the sinus problems made breathing a nightmare before I started the religious use of loratadine.

Sorry you are suffering like this, I had problems with terrible headaches for over a year and was at my wits end , then finally had acupuncture which I was very sceptical about but it worked for me. Since then if ever I have severe headache or sinus I go and have some acupuncture and it works. Good luck hope you find a cure for your headache.

This does sound like a BP issue to me. Be careful of what you're eating/drinking. Teas, coffee, soda all have caffeine in it which raises your BP. Even that cupcake ...if it had chocolate in it...it has caffeine. If your body is use to running at a lower BP rate and it suddenly increases, headaches can definitely happen. Make sure you take your BP meds . Also I would be careful with the nasal spray...this also can increase your BP. Hope you get the much needed relief you deserve soon. But if you dont, please go seek medical attention soon. Prolonged headaches are not something you want to take lightly.