Comments on: The headache that never went away: Part 1 – My buddy and me http://pastaqueen.com/blog/2008/05/the-headache-that-never-went-away-part-1-my-buddy-and-me/ You'll laugh you ass off. (I did.) Tue, 15 May 2012 03:15:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Brandon http://pastaqueen.com/blog/2008/05/the-headache-that-never-went-away-part-1-my-buddy-and-me/comment-page-1/#comment-185839 Brandon Sun, 10 Apr 2011 22:44:24 +0000 http://pastaqueen.com/blog/?p=861#comment-185839 Try LSD for the headache! Even if it doesn't work, you have one hell of a day. Try LSD for the headache! Even if it doesn’t work, you have one hell of a day.

]]> By: Cheryl Harlan http://pastaqueen.com/blog/2008/05/the-headache-that-never-went-away-part-1-my-buddy-and-me/comment-page-1/#comment-13032 Cheryl Harlan Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:31:09 +0000 http://pastaqueen.com/blog/?p=861#comment-13032 Have you tried Jon Kabat-Zinn's Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Program? If not, we run classes and courses aimed at helping people to work through their cronic pain. Or you can purchase a book and try to apply the approach on your own. It is Full Catastrophe Living. It helped me in handling my headaches, which have disappeared. There is heavy spam filter at this site, so if you shoot me an e-mail and I do not reply within a week you may contact me at 703-255-7801. If you wish further details of a 30 year old tried and true hospital based program, this could be it for you. Good Luck, Cheryl Have you tried Jon Kabat-Zinn’s

Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction

Program? If not, we run classes and

courses aimed at helping people to work through their cronic pain. Or you can

purchase a book and try to apply the

approach on your own. It is Full

Catastrophe Living.

It helped me in handling my headaches,

which have disappeared.

There is heavy spam filter at this site,

so if you shoot me an e-mail and I do

not reply within a week you may contact

me at 703-255-7801. If you wish further

details of a 30 year old tried and true

hospital based program, this could be

it for you.

Good Luck,

Cheryl

]]> By: Ricky http://pastaqueen.com/blog/2008/05/the-headache-that-never-went-away-part-1-my-buddy-and-me/comment-page-1/#comment-13031 Ricky Wed, 08 Jul 2009 16:31:19 +0000 http://pastaqueen.com/blog/?p=861#comment-13031 I have suffered infrequent severe migraines since high school. Every two or three years for the last 25 years, I would get a severe debilitating headache that would last for 2 or 3 days. Nothing would alleviate it and it would go away on its own. In September 2008, I felt what I thought was the beginning of another migraine episode, but it felt different. I had short bouts of piercing pains followed by constant throbbing. The list of drugs I tried was a long one and nothing really worked to completely get rid of the headache. I had a unique symptom at the beginning of my one, long headache--my scalp itched, as if I had dandruff. After much research, my self-diagnosis was occipital neuralgia. It is not common, but not uncommon. There are many causes (some of them quite scary, including lung cancer and brain tumor) and it is often hard to determine the root cause. The good news is that it is fairly easy to rule out the scary causes. I found a neurologist that specializes in headaches and he has been treating me. I have had to have a series of injections in my head to deaden the occipital nerve. Also my doctor prescribed various medications, in particular indomethacin for the pain (an old pain reliever that works great but is very hard on your stomach). After the pain was managed with the head injections and indomethacin, he prescribed nortryptiline. Nortryptiline is an old anti-depression drug (one of the first) that is not really used for depression any longer but it is used to de-stimulate over-stimulated nerves (such as my occipital nerve). It has been 9 months and I no longer have a constant headache. I do still get sharp pains occasionally (maybe once or twice a week), but it is definitely manageable and not debilitating. I am now weaning myself off the nortryptiline, hoping to not need it. The nortryptiline is not addictive (it is not a narcotic), but I can't quit cold-turkey so as not to risk a recurrence of over stimulating the occipital nerve. You have probably been given a lot of advice, but I figured I would share my situation with you. If it doesn't help you, it may lead someone else suffering with constant a head ache in the right direction. I have suffered infrequent severe migraines since high school. Every two or three years for the last 25 years, I would get a severe debilitating headache that would last for 2 or 3 days. Nothing would alleviate it and it would go away on its own.

In September 2008, I felt what I thought was the beginning of another migraine episode, but it felt different. I had short bouts of piercing pains followed by constant throbbing. The list of drugs I tried was a long one and nothing really worked to completely get rid of the headache.

I had a unique symptom at the beginning of my one, long headache–my scalp itched, as if I had dandruff. After much research, my self-diagnosis was occipital neuralgia. It is not common, but not uncommon. There are many causes (some of them quite scary, including lung cancer and brain tumor) and it is often hard to determine the root cause. The good news is that it is fairly easy to rule out the scary causes.

I found a neurologist that specializes in headaches and he has been treating me. I have had to have a series of injections in my head to deaden the occipital nerve. Also my doctor prescribed various medications, in particular indomethacin for the pain (an old pain reliever that works great but is very hard on your stomach). After the pain was managed with the head injections and indomethacin, he prescribed nortryptiline. Nortryptiline is an old anti-depression drug (one of the first) that is not really used for depression any longer but it is used to de-stimulate over-stimulated nerves (such as my occipital nerve). It has been 9 months and I no longer have a constant headache. I do still get sharp pains occasionally (maybe once or twice a week), but it is definitely manageable and not debilitating. I am now weaning myself off the nortryptiline, hoping to not need it. The nortryptiline is not addictive (it is not a narcotic), but I can’t quit cold-turkey so as not to risk a recurrence of over stimulating the occipital nerve.

You have probably been given a lot of advice, but I figured I would share my situation with you. If it doesn’t help you, it may lead someone else suffering with constant a head ache in the right direction.

]]> By: Tabatha Wolter http://pastaqueen.com/blog/2008/05/the-headache-that-never-went-away-part-1-my-buddy-and-me/comment-page-1/#comment-13030 Tabatha Wolter Fri, 06 Mar 2009 00:07:25 +0000 http://pastaqueen.com/blog/?p=861#comment-13030 Have you tried a series of deep treatment of massage? Done weekly on neck, upper back, head, and arms seems to decrease the intensity and severity of those that i experience. After an initial treatment of weekly x 4 wks....I have achieved the same resulty by decreasing the massages to once monthly. Just a thought ....hope it helps. Have you tried a series of deep treatment of massage? Done weekly on neck, upper back, head, and arms seems to decrease the intensity and severity of those that i experience. After an initial treatment of weekly x 4 wks….I have achieved the same resulty by decreasing the massages to once monthly. Just a thought ….hope it helps.

]]> By: Melanie http://pastaqueen.com/blog/2008/05/the-headache-that-never-went-away-part-1-my-buddy-and-me/comment-page-1/#comment-13029 Melanie Mon, 16 Feb 2009 19:50:41 +0000 http://pastaqueen.com/blog/?p=861#comment-13029 I know you probably don't want another diagnosis... but, I had a headache (the same damn headache) for 10 months, spent the night hooked up to IV demerol that didn't touch it on several occasions, with no diagnosis. I finally saw a neurologist. I had a rare migraine disorder that only responds to ONE medication. I took 25 mg of this wonder drug 3x a day for 6 months and it went away. It went away after the first dose actually, but they kept me on the meds for a while to make sure that it was gone gone gone. Maybe read about Hemicrania Continua and see if this sounds like you. I know you probably don’t want another diagnosis… but, I had a headache (the same damn headache) for 10 months, spent the night hooked up to IV demerol that didn’t touch it on several occasions, with no diagnosis. I finally saw a neurologist. I had a rare migraine disorder that only responds to ONE medication. I took 25 mg of this wonder drug 3x a day for 6 months and it went away. It went away after the first dose actually, but they kept me on the meds for a while to make sure that it was gone gone gone. Maybe read about Hemicrania Continua and see if this sounds like you.

]]> By: Alison Fujito http://pastaqueen.com/blog/2008/05/the-headache-that-never-went-away-part-1-my-buddy-and-me/comment-page-1/#comment-13028 Alison Fujito Tue, 13 Jan 2009 08:21:39 +0000 http://pastaqueen.com/blog/?p=861#comment-13028 Hi, Pasta Queen, I just discovered your site through "A Year of Crockpotting." Congratulations on the weight loss, the book, the wonderful writing--everything! I'm sorry to hear of the chronic headache, but wondered if anyone ever mentioned celiac disease or gluten intolerance to you? This might have actually explained the initial weight gain as well as the constant headache, as that is a common symptom. It's worth looking into, as food intolerance (in this case, wheat, rye, barley, and oats would be the culprit) is the EASIEST and CHEAPEST thing in the world to fix--no surgery, no meds, no "miracle products" to by, and no doctor visits unless you want them. Just eliminate the offending food from your (already limited!) diet. Sounds horrendous, but it's actually much easier and tastier than it sounds. Check out any celiac website (I like www.celiac.com), and good luck to you. I hope the headaches go the way of the weight and disappear forever! Hi, Pasta Queen, I just discovered your site through “A Year of Crockpotting.” Congratulations on the weight loss, the book, the wonderful writing–everything!

I’m sorry to hear of the chronic headache, but wondered if anyone ever mentioned celiac disease or gluten intolerance to you? This might have actually explained the initial weight gain as well as the constant headache, as that is a common symptom.

It’s worth looking into, as food intolerance (in this case, wheat, rye, barley, and oats would be the culprit) is the EASIEST and CHEAPEST thing in the world to fix–no surgery, no meds, no “miracle products” to by, and no doctor visits unless you want them.

Just eliminate the offending food from your (already limited!) diet. Sounds horrendous, but it’s actually much easier and tastier than it sounds.

Check out any celiac website (I like http://www.celiac.com), and good luck to you.

I hope the headaches go the way of the weight and disappear forever!

]]> By: Mikaely http://pastaqueen.com/blog/2008/05/the-headache-that-never-went-away-part-1-my-buddy-and-me/comment-page-1/#comment-13027 Mikaely Thu, 29 May 2008 10:44:13 +0000 http://pastaqueen.com/blog/?p=861#comment-13027 ALL that I can say is WOW I am so sorry Chronic pain, chronic headache- that sucks ALL that I can say is WOW I am so sorry

Chronic pain, chronic headache- that sucks

]]> By: anji http://pastaqueen.com/blog/2008/05/the-headache-that-never-went-away-part-1-my-buddy-and-me/comment-page-1/#comment-13026 anji Wed, 28 May 2008 17:50:57 +0000 http://pastaqueen.com/blog/?p=861#comment-13026 Ohhh, I forgot a funny My Buddy story. My eldest brother and his friend was a sadist. So, one night while watching Chucky, they strung my youngest brothers My Buddy doll up to a rigging system, and during a scary part of the movie, slowly brought it up above the TV... in the dark.... and, just at the right moment, EVERYONE saw that freaky little doll and pandamonium broke out. My buddy I think was just left over chucky dolls they couldn't sell. Ahhh... the good ol' days! Ohhh, I forgot a funny My Buddy story. My eldest brother and his friend was a sadist. So, one night while watching Chucky, they strung my youngest brothers My Buddy doll up to a rigging system, and during a scary part of the movie, slowly brought it up above the TV… in the dark…. and, just at the right moment, EVERYONE saw that freaky little doll and pandamonium broke out. My buddy I think was just left over chucky dolls they couldn’t sell.

Ahhh… the good ol’ days!

]]> By: Kyrsten http://pastaqueen.com/blog/2008/05/the-headache-that-never-went-away-part-1-my-buddy-and-me/comment-page-1/#comment-13025 Kyrsten Wed, 28 May 2008 16:33:18 +0000 http://pastaqueen.com/blog/?p=861#comment-13025 I deal with chronic pain - but for my back - so I feel ya. -Kyrsten I deal with chronic pain – but for my back – so I feel ya.

-Kyrsten

]]> By: jae http://pastaqueen.com/blog/2008/05/the-headache-that-never-went-away-part-1-my-buddy-and-me/comment-page-1/#comment-13024 jae Wed, 28 May 2008 04:25:02 +0000 http://pastaqueen.com/blog/?p=861#comment-13024 I was going to hit the sack right after I read your post but I can't now. That dang "My Buddy and Me" song is now a vicious earworm. I remember a younger cousin who got a My Buddy for is birthday and we teased him something awful, just out of earshot of my Aunt. After a few hours of teasing him he hated the doll and my aunt would make him hold it for pictures. What a crybaby! Ah, we were so mean and it was fun!! Feel better soon!! ~j I was going to hit the sack right after I read your post but I can’t now. That dang “My Buddy and Me” song is now a vicious earworm. I remember a younger cousin who got a My Buddy for is birthday and we teased him something awful, just out of earshot of my Aunt. After a few hours of teasing him he hated the doll and my aunt would make him hold it for pictures. What a crybaby! Ah, we were so mean and it was fun!! Feel better soon!! ~j

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