Covid and migraines

[ChilledoutNana]

I have mild bronchiectasis and asthma which I keep well under control. I’m in the last stages (I hope) of Covid, still testing positive after ten days, and feel very fortunate that it has not had any detrimental affect on my lung conditions.

However, I continue to sleep for England and in last five days have started having migraine type headaches which appear to br activated by photophobia. I’m taking sumatriptan and/or paracetamol.

My question - have any of you good people had this and I’m hoping it’s not a permanent ‘thing’. I also have hyperparathyroidism, migraines are sometimes a symptom but I’m certain these current ones are aftermath of Covid.

[Bevvy]

Can’t give any expert advice re migraine but could well be to do with Covid. Not surprised you need to sleep and I would listen to what body is trying to tell you and rest.Really just wanted to say that some people test positive for Covid sometime afterwards so fact you are still testing possibly isn’t of concern, and after 10 days you are no longer deemed infectious.

[ChilledoutNana in reply to Bevvy]

I tested negative today!! 🥳 Now to rid myself of the migraines. If they do continue I’ll contact my GP for advice. Thanks for taking the time to respond, it means a lot 🙏

[knitter]

I would check the headaches out with your health professional , tell them about the Covid .

I have suffered from migraines with aura for most of my life , often when I have a bad breathing exacerbation I get a migraine too.

But get advice especially if they are new and different headaches.

The BLF have a helpline too on 0300 222 5800

[ChilledoutNana in reply to knitter]

I’ve been getting periodic migraines with my parathyroid problems but none for over two months so definitely think these are covid related. Yesterday was the first day the sumatriptan failed to work. When I’m migraine free I feel quite well but once they hit I’m a completely different person. I did test negative for covid today. If the migraines do persist I’ll contact and speak to my GP for further advice. Many thanks for responding 🙏

[cofdrop-UK]

They say the headache symptoms in covid are an all over headache. However whilst in hospital recently with pseudo and covid and indeed since I have come home, I have had (not constantly) a one sided R headache with pain in my eye. My eyebrow was painful to the touch. I can’t say if this was down to the covid or not. I can only suggest if it doesn’t subside it might be best to see a clinician.

Good luck CN

💕💕

[ChilledoutNana in reply to cofdrop-UK]

I always get them on one side, these are the same. Made my mind up to chat to GP for further advice. Between times I now seem to be recovering well from covid but as soon as the migraines arrive I’m a completely different person. It’s really getting me down now.

[cofdrop-UK in reply to ChilledoutNana]

I’m not surprised it’s getting you down. Hope you get some answers and please let us know how You get on.

Cx

[Alice70 in reply to cofdrop-UK]

Hi cofdrop I am so happy to see you on here ,I've been wondering how you are ,hope you are much better as I am , by the way after speaking to my gp on Monday, I have reported my treatment ,or should I say none treatment at hospital ,sending you my best wishes for recovery

[cofdrop-UK in reply to Alice70]

Thank you Alice. So glad you are feeling better and glad you have spoken to your GP. I felt so bad for younot gettimg the treatment you deserved and needed.Cx

[Ergendl]

As others have suggested, do get your new type of headache checked out. I find neck tension headache trips over into one-sided migraine quite a lot, My go to device for treating it after doing neck stretches, is to use a Cefaly device. cefaly.co.uk/en/migraine-tr...

[ChilledoutNana in reply to Ergendl]

Thanks so much for your reply. To be honest I’ve never heard of Cefaly. I’m assuming it works along the same lines as a tens machine. Do you have personal knowledge of using one and do they work? If it gets rid of them without the use of meds and without any side effects that’s a win-win!!

[Ergendl in reply to ChilledoutNana]

Yes, I've had the earliest version of Cefaly for many years, after hearing about it through the old charity Migraine Action, and it has made a real difference to my migraine headaches. I used it daily for about three months first of all, then spaced out the use until I could stop as things calmed down. After a period of several months I get headachy again, and when they start tripping over into migraines, I use it daily again for a couple of weeks until things calm down. As with all these things, I can't say for sure whether Cefaly stopped me needing migraine meds, but I stopped needing to take triptans around the time I started using it.

Using it feels a bit odd but not too uncomfortable, like little worms moving gently about underneath the skin on the forehead as the nerves are stimulated. During early uses, it is hard to do anything else for the 20 minutes the device works, but once I'm used to the feeling again, I can practice keyboards, read a book, sort and file postcards in my collection etc. Best not to be with others when using it as the look makes some people concerned. Over time, the device makes the trigeminal nerves less sensitive, so I also use it for a few days before going to the dentist as I have sensitive teeth.

I haven't used the present version of Cefaly yet, but will probably have to invest in one as the company appears to have stopped making the electrodes for the first version. The one I have has three settings: one for migraine prevention, one for use during an attack, and one to aid sleep.

Hope this helps.

[ChilledoutNana in reply to Ergendl]

Thanks so much, and I really really mean that, as I really hadn’t heard of it. I have used a tens machine with a physio when I pulled a disc. She said it’s not been medically proved, it works for some but not everyone. Well it certainly worked for me, like a miracle. This sounds as if it’s a similar thing. It is expensive so might need to give it some thought before purchase but if it saves on taking meds I’m all for it!!

[Ergendl in reply to ChilledoutNana]

Check out more reviews, and see what other users think.

While looking for replacement electrodes, I came across a cheaper version which is sold under a different brand name as a way to lessen wrinkles, but it may not be as effective.

[ChilledoutNana in reply to Ergendl]

Thanks for taking the time to look up. Gets rid of migraines and wrinkles 🥳🥳

[Alice70]

I'm in my fifth week of having contacted covid it is only now I feel more like myself ,but still tiring in afternoon ,my last syptoms to go were the headaches and on and of sore throat ,I tested positive for 15 days ,I saw my gp on Monday this week ,he gave me more steroids, because after examining my chest still weezy,,he told me lots of people like our selves are taking six weeks to recover fully, although I am feeling tons better ,I think he was right in saying six weeks to recover ,if we think about it still testing positive ,you 10 days me fifteen ,well we still had it for this amount of time ,recovery will take a while ,hope you soon get negative test ,then you can get on with recovering, best wishes

[ChilledoutNana in reply to Alice70]

Of course you’re right, we have lung disease we should expect to take much longer to recover. My actual covid symptoms were much milder than I expected to get (thank goodness) and I could always sleep myself better from most things. And I have taken much longer to get a negative result (I tested negative today after 12 days) my husband only five days. It affects us all so differently. I must be patient but feel if I could rid myself of the migraines I would make better progress. I hope you make a full recovery. Wishing you all the best xx

[Alice70 in reply to ChilledoutNana]

Thank you ,same here my husband tested positive for seven days ,me 15 ,I think maybe that is telling us something different with chest complaints ,like others have said if headachs carry on gets some medical advise ,good luck

[ChilledoutNana in reply to Alice70]

Think you’re totally right and thanks for your support.

[Kristicats]

Could you ask your Gp for a TFT to see how your levels are! Also check your BP. Hope your feeling better soon . Cx

[ChilledoutNana in reply to Kristicats]

I’m feeling much better thank you but that ‘migraine-y’ feeling is still lurking in the background. I’m drinking lots of fluids too. Just having a single sumatriptan before bedtime. My BP is normally very good (110/80) for my age (almost 67). Didn’t know that thyroid probs could cause migraines. If no better by Monday I’ll contact my GP. I do have hyperparathyroidism, migraines are one of the symptoms, so could be this too. Thanks for replying, very appreciated.

[jackdup]

I know this post is very old but see you mentioned you have hyperparathyroidism. I just wondered how this affects you and how it is being treated? I was just diagnosed as well but they are going to do other tests so at this point am not sure what the treatment will be. Thank you

[ChilledoutNana in reply to jackdup]

Hello Jack

Apologies for delay in replying, I’ve had Covid (again)!

At the time of joining I had normocalcaemic hyperparathyroidism (normal Ca levels and raised PTH). I did not have an adenoma on any of my glands, they were enlarged. The ‘journey’ varies depending on where you are in the UK. I was lucky, I had a supportive GP surgery, a very knowledgeable endocrine team at local hospital and quick referral to a consultant/surgeon at at larger hospital who was also very knowledgeable.

You can gain lots of info and support if you go to ‘parathyroidyk.org’. They are a wonderful group, very professional but incredibly friendly and supportive. If you join the organisation you can then join one of their Facebook groups, again a wonderful friendly caring group.

Fb group ‘hypERpara at Parathyroid UK’

I hope the above information is of use to you and if you require any more info please get in touch again.

Lesley

[ChilledoutNana in reply to ChilledoutNana]

There’s a typo!! ‘parathyroiduk.org’

[jackdup]

Thank you I’ll check out the website you mentioned. The scan I had did not show an issue that would normally result in surgery. I will have another blood test in Nov to see if things have changed. If so I expect they will do another scan. I had not heard of the parathyroid until a blood test showed my levels were outside the normal range and when I ran across your post mentioning it I thought I would see what symptoms you have and what treatment you are receiving.

[ChilledoutNana in reply to jackdup]

Problems are not always identified by scan, it’s more your blood results in conjunction with your physical and mental symptoms/wellbeing. When having any parathyroid related blood test it is important that they test parathyroid hormone, vitamin D, calcium and magnesium at the same draw. They all work in conjunction with each other especially parathyroid hormone and calcium which should have a ‘seesaw’ relationship.

[jackdup in reply to ChilledoutNana]

Thank you for your reply., I’m due for repeat blood work in Nov. I know they are testing the parathyroid again as well as Vitamin D but will check to see if they are checking for the others you mentioned.

What type of treatment are you getting and what type of symptoms did you have?

Thanks again