Annoying Headache

[homesick rae]

Hello,

Over the past couple of weeks I have been getting intermittent headaches on the right side of my head - kind of comes in waves and is quite painful at its peak. From my temple back - and sometimes when I cough it hurts a little. No dizziness or vomiting - not feeling 100% but can do everything as normal. Have had a chesty/ phlegmy cough prior to this.

Any ideas?

[iwrbf]

Hi,

go and see a doctor to clarify if it's something vascular or just a unilateral neck pain having its effect on your right temple area.

With almost a 100% propability this will be a simple muscular tension on the first 3 vertebrae, but there is a slight chance that it's something different. You won't be p***** off if it's a neck pain and your doctor's visit was wasted time (and/or money) - but trust me you would be if it's the other way round... ;-)

[homesick rae]

Just been to the Doc -albeit for my wife, as he had the same cough etc as me. I mentioned the headache and he said it is almost certainly related and that the coughing could have brought this on, even though this has now more or less disappeared. It has been okay thus far today.

Cheers for the reply.

[gingernut]

Headaches are indeed annoying. Most have an innocent cause, and it's good to hear you've recovered.

Always worth getting your doc to listen to your symptoms, 'specially if it's hurting on coughing.:)

[FlamantRose]

Hi homesick rae,

Your symptoms are very similar to the ones I have to put up with. In fact I suffer of neuralgia generally caused by having my head in a draught. Driving my car, for example, with the window slightly opened and having just a little air hitting my head will no doubt cause 2 or 3 days later serious pain in my head on the left side. As a matter of fact I then can hardly touch my hair as this would create something like a very very painful electrical wave. It just lasts a few seconds, but it's intermittent. We are now entering autumn and I have to cover my head with a hat whenever I go out until next May. This can last up to 2 weeks during which I will take a few "Doliprane" tablets (equivalent of Aspirin but with Paracetamol).

[900expilot]

I ignored a nagging headache for about six months. Turns out I had a meningioma and I know sport a titanium plate. Got my medical back after 1 year. (US)

[homesick rae]

Thanks for all the replies...I get the odd twinge now and again and it doesn't hurt at every cough - thankfully the coughing is few and far between. My wife has the same cough and has a viral infection, which, it appears I have too. She was getting the headache on coughing too...although not as "severe" as mine's was and hers didn't continue intermittently throughout the day. Still, it is still lurking but more or less completely subsided.

Cheers

HR

[cliste]

Just a thought it could bruxism, grinding your teeth in your sleep leading to pain in side of head. Paracites can cause this condition.

Cliste

[homesick rae]

What is happening now is I am getting horrible phleghm coming up from the cough (which is few and far between), when I sniff and in general I still feel a bit bunged up. I had 2 not so severe but niggling headaches yesterday and felt slightly nauseous. Ears crackling a little bit so really like a headcold now - hope this all makes sense to someone! As the headaches are less and less painful, one would assume I am getting better but I will return to the doc if it persists beyond the weekend. Certainly do not feel as bad as a week ago! Everything else functions normally and I sleep fine. Had a hot toddy last night as I was all bunged up.

Cheers

HR

[mad_jock]

I know this might sound boring but.....

Get your heating boiler serviced and get a CO detector.

I lived for 2 months getting headaches etc and it was only when I got a electrical CO alarm that the reason was discovered. I Thought the thing was knackard because it went off as soon as I turned it on.

The lung irritation and snuffels is because there is alot of unburnt by products in the air which irritate you lungs and nose.

[homesick rae]

Mad Jock - thanks for that - more like a head cold now - not pleasant. Will investigate.

Cheers

HR

[mad_jock]

It gets like that with prolonged exposure unfortunately.

It knocks you immune system down as well so you pick up stuff then it all rolls into one and you just feel down and ****e constantly.

Once I turned off the boiler it was a few days before things started to improve. I was luck that I always slept with my windows open and work had me away for a couple of nights a week.

Even if you do get one and it doesn't show any CO its well worth having. CO is a silent killer you will just drift off to sleep and that will be that.

[homesick rae]

Oddly enough Jock, the plumber is due round this week to check the boiler so I'll mention this.

As for me, the headaches are few and far between - still feel a bit lightheaded on occasion - and not every day it seems. The cough is still lurking but again nowhere near as bad. Still, might go back to the doc to find out why this "viral infection" is still around. Bear in mind, I was not examined - my wife was and we had the exact same symptoms.

Cheers

HR

[homesick rae]

Okay, after a series of checks and tests I have been prescribed Amoxycillin - the Doc has said it is a sinus infection and everything I have described plus the tests point to that. Let's see in a couple of weeks.

Cheers for all the replies.

HR

[Mr Man]

I have had similar symptoms and am sad to say I'm now in month 5.Been to two ENT specialists and had a head and neck MRI,all showing no problems.Although no hearing loss,I have constant crackling in predominantly my right ear,symptoms of eustacian tube dysfunction,and migrane like headaches,again predominantly right side.I am currently trying acupuncture (suprisingly on my docs advise) and will let you know the outcome.No medic has any answers at the mo and I'm sure a couple actually seemed to think I'd suddenly developed hypochondria!!! I've talked to a couple of people who have similar conditions,although usually accompanied by vertigo/dizzyness/hearing loss etc.I'm really hoping for some answers and will post them on here if so.Good luck and I hope it's not as prolonged as my situation,cheers!

[homesick rae]

The anti-biotics worked for me, although I could still feel a slight twinge at first on completion of the course. Feel absolutely fine but I wouldn't wish this on anybody - 6 weeks viral infection, 3 of them with these painful headaches and a bit of nausea. Let us know how things progress Mr. Man.

Cheers

HR

[gingernut]

Glad you're feeling better HR.

It leaves me wondering if the amoxicillin or time itself got you better?

Must say, it it was me feeling ill for so long, I'd probably try the antibiotics :-)

[racedo]

Even if you do get one and it doesn't show any CO its well worth having. CO is a silent killer you will just drift off to sleep and that will be that.

Agree

Due to investing some of hard earned into property I came very aware of the need to have everything serviced and checked yearly, put in detectors as standard and replace them as tenants nick them.

Headaches can be any number of things but worth checking everything.

[takoon]

Mr Man, Have you had a right shoulder injury in the past ? do you suffer from rsi at all ?

My ent told me that a stiff neck can cause vertigo, migraine and crackling right ear. If you have a look at the neck/shoulder muscles there is one that connects the back of the head all the way to the ribcage, this I guess can pull on the back of the head and cause all sorts of problems.

Have a look at alexander technique, yoga, pilates or anything else that sorts out posture and releases muscles, it may help.

Good luck

[Mr Man]

Thanks Takoon,a couple of people have mentioned that it could be muscular,I'll look into it more,probs find someone into sports injury massage or something.I had an mri of the head and neck and this came back as normal,but I don't suppose muscular problems would show on there.A couple of medics have said that head problems are often a mystery and things can dissapear as fast as they appear,so hopefully this will be the case,in the meantime I'll try every avenue.Thanks for your advice,cheers!