Continual headache...

Posted by: rodwsmith on 08 January 2005

I have a headache. Not a major one, a slight dull pain (seemingly) in the same place in my head. I can work through it and concentrate through it. A standard dose of ordinary painkillers (paracetamol, ibruprofen) appears to remove the symptoms. I say "appears to" because I don't like taking pills and have avoided doing so often. The pain comes and goes, and is at its most intense when I stand up or bend down suddenly/run up the stairs etc. It is there when I wake up. I am not under any stress and haven't been doing anything different (for me) lately. I haven't hit my head. I am otherwise fine, and certainly do not have a rash. I am rarely ill and haven't seen a doctor in years.

Not normally an issue, have a lie down and get over it would be my self-prescription.

However, I have had this headache for a week now*. At what point should I begin to think there's something wrong, and what action should I take?

It is not, mercifully, the kind of headache that makes silence desirable, but it isn't enhancing my listening pleasure any either.

I am loathe to go to a doctor to say "I have a mild headache..."

Any advice gratefully received.

Rod

*Yep, a week makes the start new year's day and I was prepared to put it down to a hangover for the first 48 hours. If being middle-aged means hangovers can now last seven days, then I shall have to top myself...
Posted on: 09 January 2005 by Steve Toy
I read somewhere that only 1% of chronic headaches turn out to be life-threatening.

It's worth checking it out via your GP but at the same time not crapping yourself as you wait to be called to the consultation room.

Personally a BP check always sends me running for the hills as the cuff tightens... A spot BP check for me rarely records below 170/120. I was told I was at death's door until a 24 hour BP monitor and various blood tests (chlestorol/liver function etc) put me in the clear. My relaxed-state BP reading was 112/73. Go figure...

If at my next Occupational Health medical I don't get a Practitioner who acknowledges "white coat syndrome" I'll be fucked.

I hate seeing doctors but the sense of relief when I've been and gone has always beeen worth it.

Regards,

Steve.
Posted on: 10 January 2005 by rodwsmith
Well I'm seeing the doc on Wednesday. Earliest she could do.

If I make it that long (cheers Tom) it might be nothing (cheers Simon), something minor (cheers David) or certain death (cheers Steve).

I intend therefore to get the most out of the next seventy-two hours, especially because the raging god/no god debate over on the Springer thread has got me wondering if there's anything else to look forward to...

Right, I'm off to eat cholesterol and smoke a cigar...

Rod
Posted on: 11 January 2005 by Rasher
I had a similar thing in November; a constant headache that lasted for over a week with no explaination. It really is probably nothing, and extremely unlikely to be anything serious, so don't get stressed about it, but don't leave it until you are satisfied that it has been properly investigated. You really must see to it.
Drinking lots of water and having a good healthy diet should be the norm, not just a hit to sort out an illness. Christmas isn't very good for diets I find.
Try and identify anything you have allowed yourself over Christmas that you wouldn't normally have. For me it would be cheese. Things like this can have this effect.

[This message was edited by Rasher on Tue 11 January 2005 at 11:37.]
Posted on: 11 January 2005 by TomK
Glad to be of assistance Rod. Smile

Seriously though, it's almost certainly something trivial (maybe you should buy a bigger hat Big Grin) but it's better to know that for definite.
Posted on: 12 January 2005 by Brian OReilly
Hope you,ve had help from the doctor by now Rod.

quote:
Originally posted by rodwsmith:
I tried "nhs direct", which worked... Someone, who seemed to know what they were talking about, phoned me back and talked me through it, she then told me to lay off the caffeine/alcohol etc (which I have been doing) Rod

If it's still a problem, it may be worth looking at your caffeine intake again. If you normally drink coffee but have stopped or reduced your intake, try drinking a couple of cups to see if it causes any change.

Caffeine deprivation can cause me a slight headache and my wife a migraine. Withdrawl symptoms ?

regards,

brian