I just don't know what to do anymore about this headache that's gone on daily...I try and have patience and pray that it will go away but it's not and the past few days have been pretty trying. I h reached out to a dr. my husband saw on the news at Montefiore Medical Center Headache Clinic in the Bronx and they have no appts. till APRIL. I think they have clinical trials using botox.

On the heart palp end and the other terrible symptoms I'm suffering from (anxiety, tinnitus, hot flashes and night sweats, terrible fatigue, etc.), my endo gave me the name of a gynocologist who she claims would work with me (since the new current gyno I have told me she didn't know what else to do with me). I called the gyno recommended by my endo today and she has no appts. till APRIL. What is going on here.

I feel like my will is being tested here....I'm at a bit of a breaking point again with all of this. It's so hard and these are only a few of the things I've been dealing with. I have issues with my teeth too...2 need to be extracted and I need bridges or implants. If anyone has had implants I'd appreciate finding out what your experience is with them. I have a herniated disc in my lower back and it's constantly flaring up and causing pain on both sides of my back going down my legs. I have bursitis in my left hip which also causes a great deal of discomfort too. I might bite the bullet and go for an epidural to see if that helps me.

I just feel like I don't have any other place to turn right now.

I guess I'm just venting at the moment. Just keep in in your prayers - that's all I can ask for at this time.

Hugs,
Karen

Karen, you may want to ask your dentist if you have TMJ. It's a problem with your jaw joint and it can definately be the cause of your headaches and tinnitus. I have TMJ and was being treated for an ear problem when all along it was my jaw.

Beth

Oh my poor sweet Karen (I sent you a pm, BTW)...this is just beyond ridiculous. Have you thought about the Lahey Clinic? Supposedly they treat the whole patient..you go there for a full day and get evaluated by a team of doctors. Just a thought.

Do you have pain medication for the headaches? If not, ask for it. This is a quality of life issue you are dealing with. I will pray for you...

((HUGS))

Robin

Thanks Beth..I'm going back to the dentist tomorrow to see if he can determine if I do have TMJ.

Robin...I made an appt. at Montefiore Headache Clinic for April 1st. Dr.'s wouldn't prescribe any pain medication for this at all and right now I'm in between dr's. I haven't been to one in almost 2 years for this condition but 2 neurologists would not prescribe pain medication. I've never heard of the Lahey Clinic...hmmm...I'll look into that.

Hugs,
Karen

Beth....By the way, what did they do for your TMJ?

Karen,

I am so sorry you are suffering so. It seems so unfair, and I am sure you feel that way too! Hang in there, as I know you have been. I wish I had an answer for you, but alas, I do not. I know you have tried everything. Perhaps the possibility of TMJ is real, at least as far as the headache goes.

I can only wish you well, and I really do!!

(((HUGS)))

(((Karen)))
You poor soul - I send you big hugs and prayers!
I had a headache for nearly a year and it departed just as suddenly as it started. Mornings would be worst and evenings nearly ok. Aspirin helped a little, but the strange pressing feeling was always there.
I also have tinnitus, but now that the headache has gone it's also receded into the background and I forget it.
I guess you've had your bloodpressure checked?
I took an AD for the anxiety and oh my what a relief!
Have you tried that? I took Mirtazapine just for a month and it broke the cycle of anxiety.
Don't need anything now. My sister is also finding it works very well for her.
Anxiety causes so many problems - perhaps that's the main symptom to tackle and you'll probably find you can cope with all the others much better, or they might even disappear.
Re teeth - a friend of mine has 4 implants and has no problems at all.
I do pray that you find a doctor who can help you and perhaps some other PS sisters of ours have more advise.
Big hugs and I pray that all goes well at the dentist's tomorrow.
Jonie

Thanks Floater - maybe dentist will find that it is TMJ and give me a mouth guard and I'll be cured...wouldn't that be sweet.

Thanks Jonie...my blood pressure has been checked so many times and I monitor it at home too. At times it is high in the dr's office but not in months now, not even in the ER a month ago only when I arrived and it was 147/78 and 2 neurologists said it's not from my bp. I tried about 7 ad's over 10 years ago for my panic disorder and got terrible side effects....2 years ago I tried Lexapro and it helped with my anxiety but not the headache then after 3 months I got bad side effects from that. I aslo tried 5 other meds from one of the neurologists...scary stuff they were too. What kind of headache did you experience for nearly a year? I have to look up what Mirtazapine is as I've never heard of that. Did you always have anxiety or did that start with peri/meonpuse.

Hugs,
Karen

kar,
I am so sorry to hear that you are having such a difficult time.

I am having the horrid headaches too and I have no idea why.

How do you function on a daily basis with such pain? It's not even possible.

I've had the fortune (or misfortune....depending on my frame of mind) of not working for a good period of time, but even that is unnerving at times.

I was diagnosed with TMJ also and I use a night guard, when I can find it. I tend to take it out in the night and cant' find it in the morning.

The night guard protects my teeth, but it does not keep me from grinding.

I hope you get help soon. That is way too long to have to suffer.

Many hugs to you my friend,

bev

Many thanks Bev...I'm sorry you are suffering so too.

I've been reading about tension headaches and what I'm reading says they are due to anxiety and stress mostly. What am I supposed to do. Is it hormones is it something else. I've had a lot of stress in my life over the last 7 years. All this started right after I got married Now what, leave for awhile to see if this gets better. I mean, I have had some real struggles since I'm married with a lot of things....but I've struggled with stuff my entire life....especially the panic disorder as just one example.

I'm going to see my orthodontist in a few weeks so he can take x-rays etc. Other than that I've been using heat packs on my jaw and neck and massages.

Beth

Karen...I feel for you. I have a really bad cold and sinus headache and I feel like crap. Anxiety can and will bring on tension headaches. I still get anxiety everyday. I wish I could say something to make you feel better.
Sometimes you can ask the doctors office if there's ever a cancellation to call you and get in earlier.
Thanks for your e-mails....keep sending them.
Hugs Char

kar, I will tell you this; I didn't even realize how much I was being affected by some of the issues in my life until just a few minutes ago when I talked to my sister on the telephone. I felt so much better after talking to her. It was unbelievable.

I have always just dealt with whatever came my way. Not anymore. I can't handle stress the way I use to. I have had severe headaches and irritability that is horrid.
And I couldn't figure out what was going on.

It may be hormonal too, but whatever it is, this is no way to live. God only knows how much time we have left and it really should be as stress free as possible.

I use to think that I wasn't doing my job unless I was stressed. Now how dumb is that!!

Take care of yourself, kar, you are worth it!

Many hugs,

bev

I am so sorry to hear that so many of you are struggling with these horrible headaches! It is SO baffling to figure out why.

I work with a women, she's about 56 and has had migranes for the past 7 years!!! She misses alot of work due to the migranes.

Now my husband has been having headaches daily for the past year! They are above the ear area, pressure and pain. The doctors feel that it is caused from muscle tension from the back of the neck, he had surgery there 5 years ago. But what do you do??? It's a daily thing and he sometimes has to lay down and just sleep.

I heart goes out to each of you.

Juliann

Thanks Beth, Char, TW and Juliann....

I had a broken neck 7 years ago and I asked the 2 neurologists if it was possilbe I could have developed this from that and they said not likely but a spine surgeon I saw last year said anything is possible. The spine surgeon also figured out what was wrong with me when 2 other neurologists could not figure out the source of some of my pain in my left hip and leg. So confusing....anxiety, broken neck, menopause....all of the above. I guess it doesn't matter, I just need relief.

((((karen)))),

i am so sorry that everything is so unrelenting. & each element is hard in & of itself. just wanted to offer hugs & to let you know that i keep you in my thoughts & prayers. it is ridiculous that you have to wait so long to get in to see some of the new doctors. but i hope that in the end, it will be a new beginning.

xo,
ellen

Google Mirtazapine and look it up on Wikipedia - I had no side effects and it helped me amazingly. I took only half a tablet in the evenings and could sleep! I'd had insomnia for over 3 months and was feeling awful and the anxiety was way up with all it's lovely friends.
I'm sure my headache is hormonal - I still get it now and then and it always starts in the morning with an adrenaline surge and a hot flush and palpitations. It feels like a big hurting pressure on my head, especially above my ears. My head feels tender to touch also. And the tinnitus gets louder and sometimes my ears and gums ache.
Slow breathing, relaxing my shoulders (which seem to be wanting to eat up my ears when I'm tense with the headache and anxiety) and a hot bath seems to help a wee bit.
It doesn't feel like a "normal" headache and nothing really works to shift it. Such a nuisance!
Watch sugar in your diet, that made it worse for me.
I had 7 years of terrible stress and heartache in my life and it all started then...
I do pray that you'll find something that works for you.
I also pray for peace in your life.
Could you perhaps get away on your own for a long weekend to help you relax?
Perhaps you need to make some changes in your life and need some space to think things through?
Many hugs, Jonie

Dear Karen

Honestly am very sorry that you are going through so much.I believe it is possible that the headaches may well be caused by tension and perhaps clenching of the jaw whilst asleep.My Dentist did pick this up with me and gave me a mild muscle relaxant and a night guard.It really helped

I have had four dental implants and am very pleased with results.They were done last year.It was sometimes an uncomfortable procedure but pain was moderate.It is a painstaking procedure as the pins need time to graft to the bone,However once over they are just like regular teeth.I can eat anything.They should,with proper care,last for life.

You are in my prayers.

Warm Wishes
Elizabeth

Dear Jonie

Great,compassionate advice as always.One more thing I might suggest is a head and neck massage.When we tense up with anxiety stress etc. lactic acid is held in the muscles causing them to knot.Gentle massage twice a week for a short period of time is wonderful.

Stay well,my dear
Love
Elizabeth

Thank you all for your replies.

Well, just went the dentist and he doesn't feel I have TMJ. I'm very frustrated and now have to find a new dentist. I have other teeth issues and he was supposed to submit what I need done to the insurance company to get a pre-estimate on what the costs would be for all the work and he totally forgot we ever had the conversation. I saw him on the recommendation of my periodontist because my regular dentist retired a few years ago. Now I am going to have to find another dentist as I do not feel comfortable with him at this point. So that holds me up terrible on getting the work done...2 teeth extracted, bridges or implants, crowns, etc.


Jonie, I am going to look further into Mirtazapine. I did a little reading on it yesterday but not enough.

Hugs,
Karen

Dear Karen
What are your headaches like? I have been having them since Dec 2. It has started on the left side of my head over my ear and it goes down the back of my neck. Then sometimes it starts to hurt in the front of my face. I have been to the ent twice. Went and Had a ct scan yesterday. I take advil my the handful just so I can function. I had a friend tell me that her sister suffers from migranes and the only thing that gives her relief is 1 teaspoon of children motrin and 1 teaspoon of children tylonol...every 4-6 hours. It works..
So what are your headaches like:
Love
Karen
sishaircut

Karen,

Be careful with the advil and stuff, you could develope rebound headaches from too much of that.

As for my headache situaition, I feel like I'm wearing a tight cap on my head 24/7...there is so much pressure....some days there is more pressure and tightness than others. Nothing helps at all to relieve it. I also get regular headaches and advil helps with that. What are you experiencing?

Hugs,
Karen