Introduction / request for help

       chronicdailyheadache · Support and information for those suffering from chronic daily headaches (CDH)

 

All, I haven't read everything here so I apologize if some suggestions are here already. Any and all suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

I signed up with this group to try to find more about the headache(s) I have been having since late April of this year and get some suggestions on where I can get help. I have so far been diagnosed with "Chronic daily headache / Migraine", had an CAT scan, MRI (without gadolinium contrast), EEG, and a spinal tap/lumbar puncture done. With the exception of the first three showing a previous infarct (from a car accident 18 years ago) no "cause" has yet been found. I've tried everything from aspirin /Tylenol /ibuprofen /naproxen/ allergy medicine (and most every other over the counter pain relievers including putting salon pas on my forehead) as well as Imitrex, Maxalt, Midrin, and Zomig to no avail. For varying amounts of time I have been on topamax, neurontin (primarily for anxiety), Inderal, Cymbalta (primarily for major depressive disorder and anxiety), Elavil, vitamins (B12, folate, fish oil, and one-a-day.) The only medicines that helped were toridal (given in injection form [once] at an urgent care facility) which provided a small amount of relief but made me feel weird, and Fiorocet w/codeine but it did not abort it completely - They took me off of that because it appears the doctors did not want me in less pain. I am currently on short term disability from work trying to learn to cope with my depression -- I am terrified about going back as my performance over the last few months has been declining due to my inability to concentrate well on one thing much less the usual five or six things going on at once at work. I was hoping to get down to the "root cause" of my headaches or at least some relief for during the day but at this point it does not appear that is going to happen.

I have seen my family doctor, a psychologist (thinking the headaches might have been kicked off by my depression/anxiety), two neurologists, a psychiatrist that also specializes in headaches, a neuro-opthamologist to see if it was caused by eye strain (I have Strabismus which has returned - I had it as a child and had surgery for it around age 7), my dentist (to check for Temporomandibular joint disorder aka TMD or some other dental problem), an ear nose and throat doctor (to check for Sinusitis), the Diamond head clinic in downtown Chicago (they offered me one option - to go inpatient for at least a week; at the time I was unwilling as I would not be paid for that time off. I am reconsidering this now.)

As I mentioned briefly above, I also have major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder that started around the same time as the headaches. The psychiatrist I am currently seeing said believes the depression is causing the headaches. I was originally on Lexapro (starting in July) and that did not effectively treat the headaches or the depression/GAD. I am currently on Cymbalta for depression/GAD and that seemed to help with the headaches (reducing pain intensity, not stopping) from about 10/7/2007 - 10/14/2007, but now they are back to the old severity.

Any thoughts? I am in the Chicago land area - I got yet another referral to a different headache clinic up in Racine, Wisconsin but that is not until December.

Karl  10/25/07    Introduction / request for help
Yes, I have some thoughts.  You are describing the odd assortment of Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome ... of which depression and horrible headaches (autoimmune hormonal headaches) ... are a part.

As you say, these all started up at about the same time.  Which is another clue for me to either direct or indirect solvent exposure.  (Exposure to 2-butoxyethanol in particular).  THINK back.  Has a new person come into your life at that time either at home or at work?

Have you started using different products for cleaning at home or at work?  What, what, what is different from before April?

 

You didn't say so, but do you also have FATIGUE?  See how many of the CFIDS symptoms you have ... or do your doctor's checklist:

 
and first 2 pages of this
 

If we knew what happened to EVOS workers,

we would have help for civilians and soldiers alike   *

If what ails you is a chemical poisoning,

you should avoid all chemical exposures, especially EGBE

and even any meds that are not really necessary

10/26/07

Margaret Diann    -   e-mail    

 

HELLO Margaret - a doctor wants more info on toxins