Three day headaches.

[Mica11]

In the past 4-6 weeks I have had 3 headaches that have lasted at least 3 days, the last one was 5 days and felt switched off mentally for about 2 days after the headache was almost gone. Paracetamol did not touch it. When I managed to sleep at night I woke up many times with the pain in my head. I just had to cancel anything I had planned and stay quiet at home.

It's taken me 4 weeks to get an appointment with my chosen GP and I go today.

Been on Hydroxycarbamide and aspirin since last October with no real side effects until this.

Have others had this and did you get something that worked? Thank you.

[Wyebird]

Hi, you poor thing, years ago before being diagnosed with ET I used to have migraine. I took solphadine. I now take co-codamol.

I find both effective.

Make sure your haemo knows what you are going through though.

Good luck

[Mica11 in reply to Wyebird]

Thank you for your reply Wyebird.

My GP doesn't seem to think it's anything to do with the Hyroxycarbamide. I did doubt it myself as I had no bad side effects or headaches until recently. I am currently doing lots to try to get my house ready for downsizing to something more manageable and I know I was sad and upset at the thought of leaving what was our family home for 20 years. The doc thinks it may just be caused by the stress of doing it all alone. He has given me Amitriptyline with a starting dose of only 10 mg to be upped to 20mg after a week. The normal starting dose is between 50-100mgs, so a very small dose. He thinks I may just need a little helping hand to get me through. It will take up to 4 weeks to kick in and so I shall remember about your co-codamol suggestion if the headaches come back. xxx

[Wyebird in reply to Mica11]

Moving is traumatic.

Downsizing must be worse. Having to choose what furniture goes and what stays adds to the pressure. On top of that you have an MPN, that in its self does not allow you to deal with stress efficently. Even after the move you will most probably find you rearrange the kitchen a few times before finding a way it works for you.

Good luck.

[Mica11 in reply to Wyebird]

I am not nearly ready to put it up for sale. Have only had a valuation done to give me an idea of what to look for. I still have a massive load of fence painting to be done and I can see me not selling up until next Spring at this rate. I have always done lots of work myself in the house and garden but had to get a painter in for the inside and outside of the house and had a landscaper repoint all my paths. It annoys me greatly to pay out for things I used to do myself. I am trying so hard to adjust to my limits now but I may well have been beating myself up for not being able to do it any longer. Quite possibly the reason for my headaches.

Haha! Yes, the kitchen is very important to get right! Thanks for the good wishes.

[Wyebird in reply to Mica11]

Wow we are singing from the same hymn sheet. I’m fortunate enough to be able to have a cleaner for a few hours a week. Although we have a small garden I now struggle with it and basic chores. I really don’t think I could face moving now. Good luck

[EleanorPV in reply to Mica11]

Wow the thought of what you are doing is giving me a sore head. Remember your house doesn’t need to be perfect to find the right buyer. From experience, make a follow up appointment with your GP. You can always cancel if not needed.

[Mica11 in reply to EleanorPV]

You are right of course Eleanor but when you have always had certain standards that good health allowed and to now find you don't have the energy, it does sting a bit. I know when we bought this house there were things not right and it didn't put us off buying anyway.

My doctor actually made my follow up appointment before I left his room to save me having to queue at reception again, he's a good'un.

[Searcher56]

Hello Mica,

I assume you have ET. Do you know how many platelets you have presently? I have been a bit headachy lately when I wake up in the morning but it goes once I stand up and move about and have a big glass of water and breakfast. I put it down to starting to do aerobic exercises, nothing too excessive, in order to lose one more stone of weight from my waistline, I have lost 3st already. Of course this may not be the case. I have been craving for sugary foods since starting the exercise. There could be a thousand reasons for your headache. Need to do some detective work.

[Mica11 in reply to Searcher56]

Hi Searcher, I do indeed have ET and my latest count is only 314. I actually do 3 exercise classes a week, Pilates, Yoga and circuit training, I also walk my big hairy beast every day. I too am trying to shift some of the weight I have gained since starting Hydroxy last October. I have an extra 18lbs mostly around my middle. I have managed to shift 6lbs with some effort because I do love a bit of chocolate or fudge! With all the cleaning and grass cutting I have done recently I do think I have just pushed myself too far after finding some energy the last couple of months. I felt the energy and thought Oh hello girl, you are back!

A bit foolish to abuse myself and push too far I think. I get something in my head and it must be done before I sit and rest. Slowing down with things is going to be my next goal I think. Now where is that new book I bought and never opened? "Mindfullness for Dummies"

Oh and a big "Well done" to you for shifting 3 stones, no easy feat that!

[Ebot]

If it’s any consolation - which it probably won’t be(!) - I find whenever I get stressed or in a prolonged demanding situation I end up with a week’s worth of nagging headaches. Inevitably they culminate in repeated migraines - of the aura type. Unfortunately I find it takes less and less to make me feel stressed these days which is Sooo frustrating. I think in part because the PV really undermines my sense of what I am capable of doing. Anyhow I’m on propanalol plus B2 for migraines. My daughter was on Amitriptyline for a long time (it may take time to adjust to it) and then an excellent headache / migraine neurologist added in high dose daily magnesium. Good luck with your house.

[Mica11 in reply to Ebot]

I can identify with the stress issue. Stress used to motivate me and internally now I just can't handle it and I crumble. I did worry that it may be depression trying to get a hold because I was bursting into tears at inappropriate times and felt like ducking under the covers. I did begin taking chelated magnesium and B12 daily to help energy levels and I do think it worked. The other side of that is I pushed myself too far with the house stuff, for too long a period and the headaches began, which forced me to down tools and just rest. Just need to find the level my constitution can bear now I think and not be silly. I do not need to rush selling up, it's just that the house is way too big for me to cope with now and that eats away at me when I used to sail through it and feel good for the effort.

Took my first Amitriptyline last night, only 10mg for a week then up to 20mg. A very small dose. The Doc did say give it a month to feel any benefit, so patience must be exercised, which I am rubbish at...Aries the ram wants to get stuck in to things. Thanks for your reply Ebot, maybe I need retraining, giving myself permission to sit down more with a good book.

[Ebot]

I identify completely with what you are saying. (Multiple, complex) things that I use to be able to do standing on my head now cause me days / hours of anxiety all underlined by a sense of ‘am I just going to get too knackered and have to lie down mid way?’ And if I knock myself out today, where will I be tomorrow? I frequently feel like crying. And sometimes I even do! And yes, I have great energetic ‘can do’ patches and then run for the duvet with a book patches. I too wondered about depression. It’s great just knowing I’m not alone.

A house sale is a BIG deal. I know where you are coming from. My house takes up far too much of my time and energy. I often dream of a living in a small white room with no ‘stuff’!!!! Step by step is OK.

As far as the Amitriptyline is concerned I think my daughter ended up on 40mg twice a day. You have to be quite cautious working up and coming off the dosage. I think she was a bit zombified to start. But these are really small doses compared with those used for other conditions. Wishing you all the best.