HEADACHES-when to see a doctor, how much Tylenol ok?, Getting very nervous about these HEADACHES! Options

[lopeonope]

I have been having a dull constant headaches now for about 2 weeks, never had them that long before, or really had any for a long time. Longest they ever lasted was maybe 2 days at the most. I'm definitely in Peri Menopause, age 47, and do experience problems with Dizziness/Balance issues, also have very bad eye strain, and do experience dizziness frequently from time to time, but these constant recent dull headaches are making me very nervous! I'm taking Tylenol, helps a little bit, but never completely takes it away. Trying not to take TOO many Tylenols , heard it can cause liver damage. My stress levels are through the roof due to perimenopause, never really feel right or balanced which stresses me out even more. Should I make an appointment to see my gynocologists or a headache specialists to find out what's happening? Or are these headaches going to be pretty much the norm going through PERI and MENO?
Made an appointment with eye doctor next week for eye strain. HELP!

[Lady E]

I have been having a dull constant headaches now for about 2 weeks, never had them that long before, or really had any for a long time. Longest they ever lasted was maybe 2 days at the most. I'm definitely in Peri Menopause, age 47, and do experience problems with Dizziness/Balance issues, also have very bad eye strain, and do experience dizziness frequently from time to time, but these constant recent dull headaches are making me very nervous! I'm taking Tylenol, helps a little bit, but never completely takes it away. Trying not to take TOO many Tylenols , heard it can cause liver damage. My stress levels are through the roof due to perimenopause, never really feel right or balanced which stresses me out even more. Should I make an appointment to see my gynocologists or a headache specialists to find out what's happening? Or are these headaches going to be pretty much the norm going through PERI and MENO?
Made an appointment with eye doctor next week for eye strain. HELP!

You listed several things that can cause headaches.eye-strain,stress,peri,all of these including the tylenol can cause headaches.Tylenol can be bad about causing rebound headaches.Are your shoulders tight?I had a constant headache caused by neck and shoulder tension.Try drinking a lot of water,take at least 500mg of magnesium daily,and exercise-it should help.Hope you fel better.GOD-bless

[didgens]

I have had a headache for the last couple days .. went back to gradmas standard good old fashion cheep asprin. .did the trick .. sometimes the orginal cure is the best

[Michah Hadley]

Hi there,

I agree with what the other girls said........pain management is something you should talk about with your doctor. Acupuncture can help......I see my chiropractor for that and you can get eye exercises to help with eye strain. Tylenol is good short term but the paracetomol will effect your liver over time......ibuprofen is probably better when the pain is really bad. I get regular headaches and use a heat pillow on my neck and close my eyes. You can also get heating pads for your eyes! Which are great. I also take a powder magnesium. I cannot exercise as yet but have started on HRT to see if that helps.......but if you can, it is good for everything!!

Hope it gets better, sweets

[ChattyCathy]

I have been having a dull constant headaches now for about 2 weeks, never had them that long before, or really had any for a long time. Longest they ever lasted was maybe 2 days at the most. I'm definitely in Peri Menopause, age 47, and do experience problems with Dizziness/Balance issues, also have very bad eye strain, and do experience dizziness frequently from time to time, but these constant recent dull headaches are making me very nervous! I'm taking Tylenol, helps a little bit, but never completely takes it away. Trying not to take TOO many Tylenols , heard it can cause liver damage. My stress levels are through the roof due to perimenopause, never really feel right or balanced which stresses me out even more. Should I make an appointment to see my gynocologists or a headache specialists to find out what's happening? Or are these headaches going to be pretty much the norm going through PERI and MENO?
Made an appointment with eye doctor next week for eye strain. HELP!

This was me too! Started for me at about age 45. I wonder also about eye strain because my eyes began to change very much at this time also. But most important I wanted to share... I echo the fact that too much Tylenol can cause "rebound".... A headache that doesn't go away and the dizziness!! Take a look at rebound. The symptoms are pretty profound. I've learned now to control an oncoming migraine with big guns right away and only take one or two tylenol or ibuprofin, and alternate... One day I'll take two Tylenol, the next day I'll take an ibuprofin 2x during the day and that's it!!! At this time also my sinuses became very sensitive and I think sinus headache was also a culprit for me; but didn't recognize it as such at the time. Sudafed (only 1 every four hours) does the trick quikly. All other prescription sinus meds bring on dizzies big time for me. Hope this helps! Chatty-chatting.

[kar4242]

When in doubt, check it out. A headache going on for that long should be looked into. And yes, watch out for rebound headaches from Tylenol. Do you have allergies? Some people can get headaches with allergies. I'd suggest visiting the doctor to see what he has to say.

Keep us posted.

Hugs,
Karen

[enough]

Do you have allergies? That causes headaches and dizziness sometimes too. It's an awful season this year and I have awful headaches and slight dizziness too and that makes me anxious.

feel better.

[mom6kids]

My headaches have changed over the years. I just got over a two wk headache. I have noticed mine are from seasonal allergies and also barometric pressure. They can be a killer.

[lopeonope]

You are all fantastic on this site! Thanks so much for your replies, they always bring so much comfort to me when I think I'm going to go out of my mind with these hormone changes.
Amazing how you can always find SOMEONE who is going through your same symptoms!

I noticed past 2 weeks while having these headaches that there was pressure in my sinus/nose area, although I've never had sinus problems before. We have been having more humid weather than normal for June, and I'm sure thats affecting the barometic pressure as well making me even more dizzy. On top of the eye strain problem, and with the sinus pressure, this could be what is causing the dull headaches. Of course this bring on more anxiety which makes me feel like I'm going to jump out of my skin from worrying about all these changes I'm gong through. Actually feeling a bit better today (thank you GOD!).

I suffer from Tinnitus (ringing in the ear) so I can only take TYLENOL as regular aspirin can worsen the tinnitus. I would DEFINTELY be popping something stronger if I could!

An ear doctor who thought my dizziness problem was coming from silent migraines prescribed IMITREX (presciption migraine meds), but the side effects is DIZZINESS, like hello!?!?!?!?
When you mention hormone changes to a "male" doctor, he doesn't know what to do with you.
Don't they study the drastic affects of hormonal changes in women in MEDICAL SCHOOL?

[didgens]

should be an entire 2 year course in itself. Yes I get the ringing ears thing too. (im one that can also hear that mosquito ring tone older people arent supposed to hear) , my advise ,, get a female doctor ,, my doctor and I are going through this together, its really a help .. she listens.

[Shebee]

Lack of Estrogen can cause headache. In peri, your hormones swing back and forth.

[plumeria]

Hate to be discouraging but head pressure and headaches have been my daily companion for well over
5 years. When I was on BHRT the HP occurred only at night for 1-2 hours but now, there is no rhyme or reason and yes, I am still cycling but irregular.

My saving grace is that the head pressure are uncomfortable but rarely cause pain. I hardly take anything for it.

Plumeria

[plumeria]

Hate to be discouraging but head pressure and headaches have been my daily companion for well over
5 years. When I was on BHRT the HP occurred only at night for 1-2 hours but now, there is no rhyme or reason and yes, I am still cycling but irregular.

My saving grace is that the head pressure are uncomfortable but rarely cause pain. I hardly take anything for it.

Plumeria

[Helen48]

You may also consider seeing an ent. I have tinnitus and used to have major dizzies and was mistakenly dx. with minieres
disease, finsally saw the right ent and he sent me to a balance specialist ( otologist? or something like that cant remember ) and they ran a battery of tests and found out I had otisclerosis. Had surgery on both ears
and all that stuff greatly improved. Dont know if you have any hearing issues but I also had some hearing loss always thinking my ears were blocked. Drove me crazy and whenever the barometer drops I still have issues but they are usually minor compared to what they were.

You may have already had all this checked out but just thought I should mention it because sometimes we can find ourselves blaming everything on the "mentalpause" or what ever other thing we have going and though most of the times thats what it is when in doubt check it out. As far as Tylenol you can take up to 3,000 mgs per day, its dose dependent so they know how much can hurt your liver
But any kind of otc over long term on a daily basis is not a good idea. I have hep C ( I used to blame all my mentalpause issues on that ) so have to be very careful on what I take but Tylenol ( only 500mgs ) every 6 hours is the safest bet for me even though I have to take half the dose of someone that dosent have liver disease. I DO sometimes have to go the Ibuprofen route but dont like to becasue I worry
my ringing will get worse and becasue they dont know how much is safe for those if us with liver disease. But I dont recall that it has ever made the ringing worse, like anything they have to make us aware of the side effects and of course we're all different and what might affect one of us may not the other. ( shrugs )

Good luck and keep us posted, Helen