Dealing with headaches

[valeriedl]

After a lot of my seizures I get headaches. The worse the seizure the worse the headache and they will last for hours.

I usually put a bag of ice on my head, something over my eyes to block out any light and listen to music through my head phones to block out noise. For some reason the music on my MP3 player doesn't bother me and it's not relaxing soft music just the regular music that I always listen to. But if I hear a pin drop in the room a sharp pain will shoot through my head.

As I said these headaches can last for hours. I might fall asleep then wake up a while later and it's still there.

I've tried all sorts of medicines. Over the counter, prescription meds for migraines and other sorts of pain meds but nothing works. It's sort of odd because pain meds in general don't work on me for anything that I take them for, not just headaches.

What do you do to help with your headaches?

 

[Nakamova]

I usually put a bag of ice on my head, something over my eyes to block out any light

Me too! When I was little, I would deal with headaches by lying on the sofa with my head jammed into the corner under a sofa cushion. Something about the combination of the darkness and the pressure helped. I still do that from time to time, with the addition of ice, usually on the back of my neck. I've also found that a tiny amount of caffeine helps. On its own it can help constrict the blood vessels that are dilated during some kinds of headaches. And in combination with OTC pain relievers it makes them work faster, more effectively, and with longer-lasting pain relief. Win-win!

If tiny noises make the pain worse, you might want to invest in some noise-cancelling headphones and a sound machine.

 

[Ruth]

I get migranies too. For my epilepsy, I also take Neurontin. That is for headaches and seizures. It does not get rid of my headaches, but it sure helps.

My pain pills work for me, sometimes. Ice and a dark room really help me.

Nakamova, what is a sound machine?

 

[Cint]

Something about the combination of the darkness and the pressure helped. I still do that from time to time, with the addition of ice, usually on the back of my neck. I've also found that a tiny amount of caffeine helps. On its own it can help constrict the blood vessels that are dilated during some kinds of headaches. And in combination with OTC pain relievers it makes them work faster, more effectively, and with longer-lasting pain relief. Win-win!

:agree: And the OTC pain reliever that works for me is Excedrin for migraines. It does have some caffeine in it.

 

[masterjen]

I have post-seizure headaches also - I see I'm not alone in this! I don't know if they are migraines as I do not have sound or light sensitivity, but they can last for most of the day. Helpful for me to take most of the edge off is two double strength Tylenol and a cool towel around the back of my head and neck until the Tylenol kicks in.

 

[Nakamova]

Nakamova, what is a sound machine?

It's something that generates "white noise" -- a wall of neutral sound that blocks out other noises. It can be as simple as a fan or air conditioner, or something that offers a variety of recorded sounds:
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/DEX-Products-Sound-Sleeper-SS-01/dp/B00008439C/ref=pd_sxp_grid_pt_2_0"]Amazon.com: DEX Products Sound Sleeper SS-01: Baby@@AMEPARAM@@http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41FGCR4D6ZL.@@AMEPARAM@@41FGCR4D6ZL[/ame]

 

[Sparkles]

I've used a heating pad on my neck/shoulder area and ice on my head. Close my eyes, peaceful, classical music.... Seems to help, so long as the kids cooperate.

 

[C0urt]

i use caffiene

 

[valeriedl]

Thanks everyone.

I've tried Neurontin and Sumatriptan Succinate Injection, both are prescription meds for migraines but neither did anything for me.

Caffeine is a trigger for me so I try to stay away from it as much as I can.

The pain is mostly where my forehead and head meet so that's where I put the ice. The pressure and coldness helps some there. I've tried heat but that only makes it worse.

I've tried a sound machine but it does nothing. Listening to music through my headphones and concentrating on the words of the songs helps some. I think it's because I'm taking my mind away from thinking about the pain and thinking about something else. This also helps with not hearing anything else that is going on in the room.

The only thing I can hope to do is to fall asleep and stay asleep and hopefully when I wake up the headache will be gone.

 

[Gillette]

I am watching this post with interest as I too get really bad headaches. Generally after a seizure but sometimes I will get them for no reason. The only solution I have found is a dark room, pain medication (I currently take oxycodone 20mg p/day for back pain but can increase to 40mg in bad days if I have to and add in ibuprofen 2x200mg 3 times a day) so I tend to increase the meds on the bad headache days too of the oxycodone and then try and sleep as much as I can as its the only way to get the pain to ease. I only have water and soup like food on those days too as my full jaws and facial muscles/neck are always just too sore and tender to chew. I have never tried the ice, so will keep that in mind .... if I remember

 

[momof5kids]

I get bad headaches also after a seizure and they are a pain to deal with. My neurologist had to give me some different pain meds cuz the other one wasn't working.

 

[valeriedl]

I get bad headaches also after a seizure and they are a pain to deal with. My neurologist had to give me some different pain meds cuz the other one wasn't working.

Do you know what it is he gave you?

 

[momof5kids]

I can't remember the name and I also told him bout wat was happening to me between the time I was taking my medicine and he told me it was break through I was having.

 

[knicholas]

In all honesty, the best thing I have tried for post-seizure migraines was medical marijuana. It has a big stigma, but nothing took them away faster and or worked better. It's hard to find a competent doctor who will talk with you about it.