Thanks to all of you for your continued support and responses to my recent post.
I guess I just need some reassurance that this persistent headache...one full week...no relief...even with numerous drugs and 3 shots of demerol...has happened to other lyme sufferers...
As you know my doc says no way is it lyme because those damned blood tests are SO reliable you know...
Calling an LLMD on Monday...praying to get in quickly...constantly suffereing with this headache in the meantime in addition to checking yes to 98% of the other lyme symptoms...
Thanks for allowing me to vent my frustrations....
Thanks to God for blessing me with an incredibly supportive husband who has been my rock these last 3 months of my suffering...being told I was depressed...etc...
Thanks to this amazing support group...I wish we could do more to educate people...Take it to Washington...become advocates...this amazes me the response I have been given by 5 different doctors...this is not all in my head...
Posted by karatelady (Member # 7854) on :
I think the headaches are the worst. You can't get away from it and you feel like screaming!
I'm not sure which thing helped with my headaches - maybe a combination.
I have a steam tent I use while lying down on a massage table and we use a generator to pump into it oxygen and ozone. The heavy detoxing seems to help relieve the headache.
Getting a deep tissue massage can help tremendously to get those knots out if you have tight muscles in your neck and shoulders that can cause headaches.
Mangosteen juice by Xango helped a friend with horrible, debilitating headaches - they were actually migraines - that she would get for 3 weeks every couple of months.
I think the juice has helped me with my headaches as the antioxidants in it are great for inflammation.
Oh, and also, detox foot pads actually helped me with those wake up morning headaches when I first started abx.
If you have any questions on any of this stuff (like the steam/sauna tent) feel free to pm me.
Sandy
Posted by tabbytamer (Member # 3159) on :
Sarah,
Have you tried Toradol (Ketoroloac) injections yet for the headaches?
They give me some relief when my usual Rx headache cocktail doesn't help enough.
Posted by groovy2 (Member # 6304) on :
Hi Sarah
I used to get Killer Migrains--
The longest one lasted 21 days the next was 13 days
they where 24x7 head squeezing migraines- I usually had migrains that last 3 to 4 days about once a week --
after starting treatment for Babs also- the migrains have stopped--AAhhhh-
I now rearly get even mild head aches--
I have gotten better you will too--Jay--
Posted by HEATHERKISS (Member # 6789) on :
Had.......... Yes had (past tense) headaches for years and years constant every day. Advil usually did the trick for me unless I developed into a migrane.
If I didn't take the advil as soon as the head aches started then I'd end up with doozies. It was so bad I'd puke and have to lay down in a dark, quiet, scent free room.
The headaches went away with treatment of lyme and babs.
Good luck with your LLMD.
Love and healing,
Posted by savebabe (Member # 9847) on :
Headaches are my worst symptom. I have had a headache every day for years. Babs treatment has helped a lot, but when the pain gets really bad, propoxy is my drug of choice.
Posted by pab (Member # 904) on :
Jake (20) & Jordan (16) have had their headaches since 1999. The headaches are 24/7.
Tramadol (prescription) does help lower the headache.
Both have had spinal taps to lower their intracranial pressure.
Posted by strongerangel (Member # 10037) on :
I've had a constant headache since Jan 05 so I know how completely and utterly sucky it is. Regarding a previous post about torudol, I think prolonged usage of that med, even in the veins, can cause serious stomach issues, though I'm just quoting. However, it could break the cycle. I've been seeing a neurologist who's been wonderful about cycling through different rxs, trying to find the right one, and so far I've seen the most relief by FAR with an anti-seizure medication called Lamictal. I think my headaches are definitely related to my temporal lobe seizures, though your case might be entirely different. I've also been taking tramadol 3x daily for the last yr, which takes the edge off, since overthecounter meds do absolutely nothing for me. If the headaches persist, I'd think about seeing a neurologist, though keep Lyme out of the conversation AMAP, for obvious reasons. Headaches suck so much, I wish I could offer a solution...unfortunately, Advil may not cut it, an a lot of heavy-duty drugs have a lot of adverse side effects (like medicine headaches!) so I'd really ask yr doctor. Those are my opinions, coming from experience only, here. -Emily
Good Luck!
Posted by Michelle M (Member # 7200) on :
I'm so feeling for you. I had a couple years of them, nonstop, convinced I had a brain tumour. Indeed, it was the symptom that drove me to finally being diagnosed with lyme. Nothing over the counter would touch it; only Relpax could dull it a bit.
That's even with fairly high doses of Topamax nightly.
I tested positive for lyme and began treating, but that didn't fix it, though it helped some.
Finally testing for babesia was the thing.
REALLY bad headaches are a babesia thing, I'm convinced.
With treatment, they can get worse, but will get better.
I promise.
You hang in there!
Michelle
Posted by Healing in Santa Cruz (Member # 7798) on :
I have had migraines for many yrs. Started Buhner Healing Lyme protocal and they are gone in 2 months. These herbs are awsome. Healing Lyme Book by Buhner. His site is www.gaianstudies.org and he will be answering questions on www.planetthrive.com Hope You are free of your headaches soon. Take care Joyce
Posted by minimonkey (Member # 8693) on :
Babs treatment is what knocked out the worst of my head pain, too -- and it was BBBAAAADDDD pain, sometimes for many days on end, and nearly every day for quite some time.
I still get migraines occasionally, but nothing like the babs headaches -- and Relpax or other migraine meds will take care of them.
Posted by wrotek (Member # 5354) on :
I typed in google following key words "caffeine muscle tension" and found these .
quote: Caffeine can cause an increase in skeletal muscle tension as it triggers the classic flight response. This muscle tension can be distracting (loss of focus), cause fatigue, and in many cases increase the likelihood of increased muscle spasms and so, muscle contraction pain.In this way, caffeine can contribute to muscle tension headaches from the tightness of muscles in the jaw, neck, and shoulders. For people suffering from chronic muscular tension pain, this can contribute to their tension and pain. It will often cause an increased anxiety driven response to their pain which can intensify their chronic pain complaints. This is especially true for lower back pain and neck/shoulder pain, as well as the peripheral pains in the arms and legs that can be associated with back pain.
I get a burning, pressured congestion feeling in my brain, sorta in the center. It feels like it's sizzling? Babesia? or just cytokine inflammation?
Have only tested positive to Lyme (via Igenex). Co-infections negative.
Posted by northstar (Member # 7911) on :
Mtwoman, I think you asked a good question, i.e. "quality" of headache. These are the kinds I have experienced
a. full ballon type pressure/stuffed/
b. front/forehead pressure
c. zinging or aching in specific areas
d. central brain red hot fire poker burning
I have had all qualities. The central brain fire was brought on with flagyl, even at a pulse after about 6 months. I quit abx, and did naturopathic for about 6 months. At the end of that time frame, I had switched ND's, and she upped dose of a cats claw combo, which brought the central brain burning again, so I reduced it.
I tapered and ended, and some symptoms came back, so I went on pulsed abx, but using tindamax. I have not had a brain burning reaction yet.
Whether this change was time & healing, or the change to tindamax, I dont know.....but boy that was scarey.......and I was not going to let any medicine fry my pituitary....!
All these treatments were lyme treatments. I now also include a bart pulse, so that may be another possibility.