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.

I'm so sorry that you're having such bad headaches Jeanie. I hope you got a good night's sleep last night and today will be a much better day for you. It's horrible when a bad headache just won't go away.

Sweetie, I am so sorry to hear you are having these head aches, I immediately thought BP and please no more caffeine, that is just causing more problems.

Three days is way too long and you must get to your GP, if it's your sinus acting up, he can help you, if it is not he can rule out more serious complications or help you with what he/she feels is the answer.

I find myself getting a headache when I have been on the computer too long, have you had your eyes checked lately?

Now you be good to yourself and get an appointment with the Dr.

1st:A head CT is always indicated for worst headache ever, even if you had one in the past. This is to rule out something like a bleed or aneurism, as rylariaizmik pointed out.
2nd: I hope the bp pill you are taking is a betablocker. That is best for migraines.
3rd: Caffeine is a common ingredient in many prescription and over-the-counter headache medications. Caffeine additives make pain relievers 40% more effective in treating headaches. Caffeine also helps the body absorb headache drugs more quickly, bringing faster relief.
4th: This is something that people I know have tried and say it works:
High-flow oxygen inhalation therapy is used to treat cluster headaches. If headache pain is not relieved within 20 minutes, oxygen therapy should be stopped.High-flow oxygen therapy does not prevent a cluster headache. It only provides temporary relief of headache pain.
Oxygen therapy is one of the best treatments to stop a cluster headache. Oxygen therapy relieves headache pain within 15 minutes in more than 7 out of 10 people who use it. It works best when started right when a cluster headache starts.
**You can buy canned oxygen without a prescription, but I'm not sure what retail stores have it. Maybe sporting goods? It is easy to get online, but that doesn't help you today. Any nurse/hospital friends that could put you on some high flow O2 for a bit without paying for an ED visit?
Boost Oxygen Special Offer
Last but not least: I hope you feel better soon!
Good point.

Jeanie
 

Anyone have any updates or news on Jeanie? Hope she is not in the ER!
Thank you.

Jeanie, I pray that you are feeling better. I suffer from migraines, and sometimes beta blockers are used as a preventative I think. I take Zomig, and it makes me even more exhausted, but one side effect is that it helps my sinuses. Please seek help and get well soon. I'm worried about you and care so much.

Thank you all for caring but I've been down all day feeling pretty punk. I woke up feeling achy all over, a very scratchy throat, a bit of an earache, sneezing some and the same old headache, neckache and some nausea - hung around all day - but tonight I think it's a little better. Spent the whole day moaning on the couch with Tibbe in constant attendance, bless his heart. He just insisted on staying stuck right next to me all day. I'm calling the ENT if this isn't gone tomorrow because I'm beginning to think this is maybe a slight inflammation or low-grade sinus infection.

This wasn't my worst headache ever but just kept lingering. That one last May was the worst. I had no idea about oxygen being good for cluster headaches. I'm going to try it from that online store. This episode may be connected to my sinuses as I've had a scratchy throat and earache today and some aches and pains but I'd like to have something if the headache alone returns as it has in the past. Thank you for all the good information and help!!!

It definitely sounds like it's from your sinuses. It sounds like you need antibiotics, and an ENT sounds like a great idea. I hate that we live so far away. It sounds like you could use some healthy chicken soup and someone to take care of you. I am praying for you to get stronger and better, dear friend. Tibbe is such a great little boy--so loving and loyal with his mamma. Katie is the same way with John and me. They really give us a reason to get better because of their love and loyalty.

Jeanie, I wanted to check in before I went to bed to see how you are. I'm afraid I was pretty much wrong with caffeine and I see it can help in many cases. I was at my daughter's all day or would have been here sooner.

When to Call the Doctor about Your Headache Symptoms

Hope you can get some sleep tonight.

Oh, how nice of you but I'm doing okay and just tired of having a headache. I would love some of your chicken soup - sounds wonderful. :) I'm calling the ENT tomorrow for sure unless I'm 75% better.

But I've read caffeine does cause headaches in some people, so your point was valid and well taken. Whenever I have one of these headaches, I just crave hot coffee and hot tea, things with caffeine in them. And the headache medicine that helps the most, that Esgic stuff, has some caffeine in it. Normally it does the trick right away but not this time which is why I asked what everybody does for bad headaches. Really tired of this - I've never had a headache last this long so it's the doctor for me if it's not all but gone tomorrow. It must be sinus related but the doctor can look into my nostrils and see if it's inflamed and swollen and tap on my face and all that stuff they do and if he thinks it's not, we need to look elsewhere. I can' wait to be headache free though it is better tonight.

Lisa I am so sorry you suffer from migraines, my Brother had them years ago so I do know how horrible they can be. God Bless You and I hope something new will come available that will help more than they have to offer people today
Do you think yours are stress related, Tom's seemed to be?

Is your neck any better?

It is probably sinus and like you say, he could tell quite easily and get you right on the antibiotic that you need.

Hope you can sleep. Have some warm milk.

It sounds like a sinus headache, you might have some caffeine withdrawal going on too. I know I get headaches if I don't drink at least a large cup of coffee every day.

I've had multiple sinus infections a year for nearly 20 years and I haven't found much that works for a sinus headache. I usually take generic Advil allergy sinus or generic Sudafed. I also take generic Mucinex (from dollar tree) if my chest feels congested.
Neti pots and nasal sprays don't do anything for me.

For a regular migraine Excedrin really does work. I had one for 3 days and it helped more than my tylenol with codeine.

It's gone!!! That sick headache and sore neck went - overnight - and for the first time in 4 days I woke up without that headache. Still feeling crummy - achy, sore, runny nose with a little tummy trouble now - as if whatever had me is going right through me. But that awful headache and neck pain have finally gone away!!! What an awful 4 days that was. Seems silly to post a thread over a headache but it was getting so old by the 3rd day I wondered if there were any suggestions I could try - and I thank you for those and your words of support - and I was also going to try some Mucinex and a Neti pot today if I couldn't get in to see the ENT today and had to wait until tomorrow or Wednesday. I hate taking decongestants - they make me feel so weird - but was going to break down and take it. Anyway, hopefully, it's part of the past now. Woohoo!!!

Maybe you had a touch of the flu? There seems to be some going around here in my area. The bottom line is that you feel better and that's the most important thing. Hope you keep getting better.