posted
I have a horrid, horrid headache. I get migraines, and this is worse. It's been growing on me for several days now. I feel like worms of fire are eating my brain. I also have an occasional tightness, like my head is trying to collapse in on itself. Also, my spine hurts. It never stopped after they gave me an epidural (yes, more than a year ago, when Emma was born), but it's been getting worse for about a month, and now it's a throbbing, constant pain, centered on that spot and radiating about an inch and a half out. Maybe more. And I feel dizzy, weak, have trouble keeping my eyes open, and everytime the baby squeals, I just want to smother her or something to shut her up (which is not a normal impulse for me, and which is really scaring me).
Is this just a worse migraine? Or what? My migraines aren't typical.
Is there anything I should do to make it better? My normal techniques aren't working.
I'm going to go lie back down in my dark room now. It's hard just to type. But if anyone has any suggestions, I'll check them in a while.
Posts: 21182 | Registered: Sep 2004
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posted
What happened with your mouth sore? Also, have you been tied to the screen a lot? P.S. I checked your post log, and while I wouldn't say posting is causing the headache, I don't think cutting back would hurt.
posted
I'm no expert, but it sounds to me like this wouldn't be a bad time to see a doctor. Hopefully CT, Theca, Ela, Alucard, or any of our other members with medical training will happen by soon and be able to offer more informed advice.
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new development- every time i hear a sudden noise, the throb in my head is accompanied by one in a limb.
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posted
Possibly. I know I have been known to get nauseous and light-headed while nursing and not eating enough and nursing -- especially if I were also dehydrated.
Have you been drinking enough?
But the combination of severe headache and stiff neck is REALLY BAD. I'm no doctor, but I know that. Is there no medical clinic with a sliding scale that you can get to?
Posts: 32919 | Registered: Mar 2003
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posted
I'd say go anyway, and find a way to pay for it later. I know that we're always saying "go to the doctor!" here, but seriously, this sounds like a time when it'd be worth it. Think about what would have happened to Elizabeth if she hadn't seen a doctor when she was having headaches and having problems focusing here eyes and all that.
::angry with a system that denies people basic medical care::
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posted
*Moves carefully over to the side so as not to get run over when Elizabeth reaches this thread*
It's a bit slow for acute meningitis. No fever, and no rash, I assume. You could have a migraine, or a mixed migraine/tension headache. I also wonder about your spine pain and I wonder about muscle spasms. What exactly HAVE you been doing for the headache? I seem to recall they aren't the typical things doctors usually recommend. Have your headaches been changing lately? Have they ever been evaluated by a doctor?
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posted
Can he take off work to come get you? Are there taxis in your area? Do you know a neighbor you could ask for help? Are there any hatrackers living in your town?
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posted
Oh, okay, I didn't know that ketchupqueen lived in Dallas. Ketchupqueen, if one of them could pick you up, would that make any difference to you in terms of your willingness to be seen in a clinic?
Also, in a city the size of Dallas, surely there are some clinics with sliding scales for emergency treatment, aren't there?
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Unfortunately, I have more questions than answers:
Do you believe your adverse event from the epidural to be the source of your migranes? Or did they occur before the epidural?
Have you injured your neck or spine recently?
Have you had your spine manipulated by a chiropractor or physical therapist etc... recently?
What do you do specifically to treat a migrane?
What successes or failures can you share in the treatment of your migranes?
As far as diagnosis and treatment of your migranes, you really do NEED to see a physician. I would recommend a neurologist and a batch of tests, most likely consisting of an MRI, CT Scan and bloodwork to start. However, my diagnosis skills are not even close to a physician's abilities. What makes this so hard is that headaches and migranes have so many etiologies that without more specific information, treatment is limited to OTC analgesics that help with pain, and that is not the answer to your problem!
I'm sorry I can't help more. Is there a doctor in the house?
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posted
My ability to pay is about $5 right now. like i said, my husband has the babys seat. my mother-in-law has one if i really need to go but the baby is asleep.
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posted
Saw your post only after I'd posted mine. I hope I'm not irritating you here by being too strident or whatever--it's just that in my nearly total medical ignorance this sounds like it could be serious. I'm *really* glad that Theca made her way in here--she's probably the best one of us you could have hoped to have look in the thread (no offense to our other medicos and medico types). The fact that you have a history of atypical migranes puts me at my ease somewhat, but still.
If you had to go to a clinic you could always pay later. Even if the most you could afford was a dollar a month, you'd be paying toward your bill, and I believe (Dag, UofUlawguy, correct me if I'm wrong) that as long as you did that they couldn't turn you over to a collection agency or something.
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posted
KQ, please go see a doctor. My dad found himself with a splitting headache one morning, unable to focus on anything or even to walk easily, and he didn't want to go to the hospital. I overruled him and he was operated on later that day to remove a ruptured brain tumour.
posted
twinky, i will see if it still feels this bad in 2 1/2 hourse when jeff gets home. if it does i promise to go, ok?
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I'm glad you'll go if it is still bad when Jeff gets home. Much sympathy and many hugs in the meanwhile!
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posted
I don't think that waiting is such a good idea. I remember Elizabeth talking about how essential getting treated quickly was. Plus, you've had this all day, and your symptoms have only gotten progressively worse. Seriously, what's to be gained by waiting. I really think that you should call your mother-in-law.
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posted
There should be clinics that do sliding scale. Becoming a patient of the internal medicine residents at the University of Texas medical center there would be one way of doing that, you'd get good care, but I'm sure there must be other clinics too. However, I suppose they are not open right now, you'd have to go to a walk in clinic or the ER. ERs are better at sliding scale.
I suggest you have someone come over and look at you, kat or your husband or a good friend to see how you are functioning and just how bad things are and together you decide if you need the ER or if you need to sit down and work on finding a clinic tomorrow.
(It took me awhile to type this post)
Oh, and you haven't listed your painkillers yet, or doses, unless I missed them.
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posted
I agree with you, Noemon, but KQ seems pretty set on this idea. If she was a relative of mine I'd just bundle her into a car and take her to the hospital, but she isn't...
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posted
Yeah twinky, I'm a little worried that I'm coming off as pushy in an area that really isn't my business. Even so, I thought it was probably better to err on the side of being a bit of an ass.
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posted
hahaha. you'd have a fight even with me feeling bad...
i took 3 advil earlier, they didin't help. drank a dr pepper.
now I took one, um, i forget the name... it's prescription, tylenol and something else. on top of hte advil, seems to be helping the pain a little... drank about a quart and a half of water, helped the dizziness. but the shakiness/spsms getting worse.
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