Question:
I've had a headache continuously for about 13 years now. I've been to
the mountain and back dealing with it.
I would like to know if anybody else has experienced this kind of
headache.
Symptoms:
1) facial pain
2) a undulating ( i.e. moving ) fluid sensation behind my eyes.
3) dull pain inside head, but not quite nauseating.
4) Feeling of a band like constriction around my skull which gets
worse if
I am in a car / or walking / moving etc.
5) Altered sense of taste.
6) decreased concentration.
When I first got the headache when I was 19 I became highly sensitive
Answer:
I am not a Doctor, nor do I play one on TV. However, sounds like you
may have several things going on.
Item #4 has tension headache written all over it. Numbers 5, 6 and
your closing statement, would suggest a minor depression issue.
I'm not a medical doctor, but your symptoms would make me lean toward
tension-type headache (TTH). Migraine is usually throbbing/pulsating, and is
most frequently accompanied by some nausea, sensitivity to light/and or
sound.
You really should see your doctor for diagnosis. First of all, any organic
cause needs to be ruled out. Secondly, treatment for TTH and Migraine are
both available, but they are different.
Yes,
Tension and headache are a wierd thing indeed. How could tension
cause one to be so discomforted? The man who saved my life said that
I had a tension headache and proceeded to treat me for it with
desipramine ( and anti-depressant) I am now 33 but have found no
"cure" for the headache.
Have you ever taken your blood pressure and heart rate during those
episodes? Take it lying down and standing up and note differences? I have
postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome--a condition (for me, at least)
where the brain spews out norepinephrine to maintain blood pressure. They
think it is a part of my constant migraine problem. Norepinephrine is an
alpha1 agonist (constricts blood vessels) and also a beta1 agonist
(increases heart rate). Unfortunatley norepinephrine ioncreases muscle tone
(tension), and constricts blood vessels in the brain (taste loss, maybe?
decreased concentration, facial pain), and increases brain blood pressure
(eye pressure). The fact that exertion makes this worse lends me to belive
that this may be migrainous with an orthostatic problem as well (there is a
well known relationship between the two). You should be checked for
systemic allergies (among other things), and maybe tilt tabled (if you are
dizzy).
My blood pressure is usually low. I have had test also that show that
the blood going to my head is normal. Heck, I have had EEGs
galore!!!...I've also had a few sonigrams...physical therapy...etc.
Sorry you have a headache like mine. I guess it is a tension style
headache. I have a neurologist but I can't get the best because I
Did you get a tilt table test? Low blood pressure can lead to orthostatic
problems, which are a major cause of headahces! It could be that a high
salt diet (and some salt retaining hormone) maybe all that you need.
My neuros feel that there is a VERY strong link to migraines and orthostatic
stress. And it works both ways. People, in the throw of a headache, will
have orthostatic problems, and vice versa. This is kind of a new
development, and is the root casue of many with chronic fatigue syndrome.
It is receiveing a lot of attention lately, and my doctors are presenting a
paper (with me in it, I think) on their research.
