Well, Doc-- in googling those terms, I'd have to say that I doubt those are what I have going on. I HATE taking meds..... and other than regularly rx'd one for depression, I don't take meds.... I usually just ignore and get past the pain.

Other than the Naproxen, as I previously mentioned, I don't take any other pain relievers. And that was rx'd specifically for these headaches. I do need to talk w my PCP about how it's not really helping anyways......

I'm not a tylenol, ibuprophen or any other kind of OTC med girl. Other than some vitamins and supplements I'd be happy if I never had to swallow a pill again!!!

But, thanks for the thoughts...... AmyKate

Ok, it was a starting point from your OP above.

Did the headaches begin with, or just following, a virus of any kind?
Have you ever had Mono or other EB related DX?

Doc

Thanks, Doc. I remember feeling like I was starting with a cold and I then did, on day 3 (with a weekend in there not counting) go to the doc's as I needed a note for missing 3 days of work. I was dx'd w a "virus" (the great catch-all for "obviously you're sick and don't feel well, but we have no idea why), but eventually was found to have a sinus infection and was ordered an antibiotic. That was mid February.

As far as I can recall though, the every day headaches didn't really start until mid March, after I'd been hospitalized for 5 days for supposed, but then not dx'd, Guillian-Barre Syndrome. And it's been a mystery ever since.

I did have Mono.... 3 mos after having my first son. Worked full time during it, against doc's orders (not due to the mono, but due to my 4 infections of my c-section), but felt I had to go back to work as my hubby had been laid off just then and we needed an income. I didn't realize what was wrong with me, and doctors just kept saying it was post par-tum depression and tried to put me on anti depressants. I refused, and kept going and seeing other docs in that practice until FINALLY, one thought to test for mono. Turns out I'd had mono at that point for 12 weeks, as I worked full time with a newborn whom I nursed/pumped so others could feed him at home. That was in the late summer of 2004.

So, my "current" blood work does show minor elevation of the antibodies for Epstein Barr.... but they accounted that to having had mono eight years ago.


Interesting thing....last week my hubby was so at the end of his rope w my not feeling well that he made me an appointment at the chiropractor's. (I'd been there before, but had to stop last fall due to $ issues).

Anyways, I went, and while I am still quite skeptical, I must admit that I do feel a bit better since Friday, and DEFINITELY have had more energy since then!

So, while I am NOT cancelling any of my other neuro appointments, I am going back to the chiro tomorrow evening, and will keep going, so long as it is helping. Can it solve everything? I don't know.... but if it does, I'll be glad but also very mad that something as simple as going to a chiro wasn't suggested earlier in my ordeal.

Now, am I feeling a bit better because of what the chiro did or because of some kind of placebo effect? I don't know. Does it even matter? I don't know the answer to that either. Have the headaches stopped? No, not yet.... Interesting, though. Interesting. Amy Kate

The reason I ask about viruses is that I've had illnesses (IBD) catalyzed by viruses, and I have a chronic headache condition (chronic tension type/migraine complex -- sudden onset) that is caused by reactivation of E-B (30 yrs after mono in my case) by a secondary virus.

To find this out, I had to go to a headache/migraine specialist (practice limited solely to chronic headache). The several neurologists I went to previously just weren't up on all the headache types & causes.

Doc

Thanks Doc.... I'll have to ask my doc about that too. Did you find the reactivation of E-B also to cause you to be incredibly fatigued, or was it just the chronic headaches?

I started seeing a chiropractor, at my husband's insistence, and the chiropractor is thinking he can help with the daily headaches, but so far, after several visits.... nope.

Interestingly, and probably unrelated, I've also been seeing a neuro-cognitive psychologist for some testing as my brain just isn't firing on all it's pistons, and hasn't been since whatever hit me in February. Well, the doc has completed the testing w me (five hours) and at the end of the testing this past Wednesday, he was grinning like a Cheshire cat! So, he did tell me that there is DEFINITELY something not going right within my brain (my words, not his) and that I'm not being a hypochondriac and that all this is not psycho-somatic. (I was starting to wonder, after all the "normal" test results from the Neurologist and all the "normal" blood work my reg doc did.) I tried to bait the Psychologist to give me a hint or something, but he shook his head and said I'd have to wait till next Wed (4 days to go) for his "diagnosis", as he needs to go through all the testings and add up the scores and put together the results to make sure that they confirm his suspicions (which was why he was grinning so.... I think he's pretty sure he already knows what's up, but wants me to wait so he can make sure the data confirms his ideas.) Which, truly is the right way to be.

It made me actually feel better to FINALLY hear a doctor say to me "yes, Amy, there definitely is something going on, and I think I know what it may be.", after so many months of " I don't knows".... and "well, that test came back normal"....... So, now we wait for Wednesday afternoon to see what the Psychologist has come up with. (I couldn't even think at the time to ask him if what he thought the problem was is treatable, or curable.... though he probably would have put me off till Wednesday for an answer to that question too.)

So, I already took a Naproxen for my headache today.... though didn't take the Naproxen until later in the day.... and I can tell you, my headache is still here, even though I took the med around 7 or 8 pm. Usually I have to take the Naproxen as soon as I get to work in the mornings, but today was Saturday, and I was graciously allowed to sleep in until after 1030 am (which is probably why I am writing you back on here at midnight).

Well, I do need to get some sleep soon, as we have church in the morning. Even if we plan on going to the "late service", I still have to be up and moving before nine am at the latest, though I have gotten up just before 10 and we've made it to the 1030 service.... but I hate to be so rushed!!

Thanks Doc..... so, are you still having chronic headaches/migraines?? Forgive me if you've already answered this (my memory isn't so hot lately either).... Have they found a solution to your regular daily headaches?? Is there possibly relief in sight for me? Have the docs found it for you?

Ok, well, good night. AmyKate

In my case it was headaches, though I'm hesitant to use say 'just headaches' -- they're debilitating.

Mine are not as frequent as they once were. Intensity can vary, depending on the type (cervicogenic or migraine), whether I guess correctly (they can fool me, or be both at the same time) and how soon triggering can be stopped and intervention takes place. PT played a part, as did time.

The worst part of the whole deal is the insurance companies dictating, in effect, how many headaches a patient is allowed to have per month by strictly limiting the number of prescribed pills. (We're not talking about controlled substances here - just triptans. )

There is hope, but I think chances are increased with headache/migraine specialists.

Doc

Hi Dr Smith and all-

My almost 16 year old daughter has chronic headaches, as she says "everyday." Went to Kaiser emergency room Sunday night when she had a severe migraine. Finally was able to get a doc to give her imitrex (which I take for my mirgraines). It WORKED!!! So now we are going down the road for a neuro evaluation. Her pc (pediatric) says that she really can't have imirex because she is under 18. My neuro in Kaiser (whom is now refusing to see her because she is a "pediatric", told me that he routinely give imitrex to kids. I'm at a loss. Any ideas on what I should say/ask regarding meds at her neuro appt or her pc (dont have an appt with either at the moment-waiting for her pc to call back)? I know they will run the gamut of all the neuro tests first. Dr-you mentioned neck muscle related headaches-she definitley has them. I'm not sure if they are the "daily" ones she has or not. I'm on the neuro site myself due to pn- Any thoughts or ideas would be greatly appreciated-

Judie