I'm looking at going back to see my doctor again about my chronic headaches but would like to go in armed with a little more information.
I have suffered from chronic tension type headaches for the last 2 years, I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia in 2006. I have been taking Amitriptyline to help manage the pain and the drug has worked great for me. It really helped to reduce the headaches and my over all pain.
However in the spring I started to get the headaches back again and nothing I did would help ease the pain. In July I went to see my doctor and she increased my Amitriptyline dosage to 75mg and also gave me a perscription for Tylenol 2. It took 3 weeks for the increase of the Amitrip. to start working but it DID help to settle the headaches back down. I still have almost the whole bottle of T2's....codeine does very little for me.
For the last 2 weeks my headaches have come back. I wake up with them, spend the whole day with them and go to sleep with them. 
My temples ache and the top if my head too. This also causes my ears to ache and flares my TMJ.
I have not been sleeping well for the last 3 weeks or so, waking up every 1-2 hours. My mattress use to be great but I just can't be comfortable on it anymore. Hubby and I went out and spent a hefty sum on a wonderful new pillowtop, coil free, memory foam mattress. I have slept on the same brand before when visiting my parents and it's FANTASTIC! 
The new mattress will be here on Friday so I am hoping that it will help settle these headaches down too.
I'm just curious if any of you chronic headache sufferers out there can give me some advice on medications. What do you take & what works for you? I'd just like to have some back up suggestions to discuss with my doctor if/when I go back to see her.
Thanks in advance!
Bekah
Fibromyalgia and headaches
10/16/08 10:58am
SOUNDS LIKJE MY DAUGHTER. HAVE YOU HAD A MRI DONE YET? HERS SHOWED SWELLING IN RIGHT SIDE AND THE MIGRAINES WERE CAUSING IT. HE GAVE HER TREXIMET...SHE SAYS THIS WORKS AND WHEN MY DAUGHTER SAYS THAT IT WORKS. SHE IS 27 AND HAVE THESE SINCE SHE WAS THREE. MOTHER WHO KNOWS WHAT SHE TALKING ABOUT. NANNY
10/16/08 2:50pm
I have been trying to find out why my daughter, who just turned 16, has had headached for 2 yrs. She cannot even go to school, i know she is lazy but i am very sure that she would rather go to school to see friends than stay at home w/her disabled mother. Anyway along with fibro there is myofascial trigger points on your head, i took her to a doc that was the only one that dx'd me with severe myofascial pain syndrome instead of just saying i was crazy and drug seeking. I feel he truly saved my life. My daughter does not have those trigger points but he did the full exam, he wants to work her up and for her to go to a doc that runs the UNM headache clinic. I never knew there was such an animal. Well we are going to run the gamet again, i feel so bad for her, even with my pain being so bad i feel like i should be able to help her. OK i will shut up i hope that somewhere in this mess of an email there is some help.
10/16/08 8:52pm
Tattoogirl, I too suffer from fibromyalgia and migrains I was diagnoised in the begining of 2007 but have suffered for years before ecause my old doctoor wasnt listening to me he actually told me that I was just making up all my pai cause he saw othing wrong with me.
I am seeingfive doctoors to treat my problems. i also have ankle and foot pain as well as scoliosis. I wasnt able to stand up straight of sit up right, go for walk work or perform alot of my daily basis activities. I take alot of meds but the one that helps the most is lyrica this takes away alot of pain and when I get a good amount of sleep I dont get as many headaches and less pain .
well I just thought that you might find that useful.
10/17/08 12:54pm
Bekah!
Hi! My name is Cindy. I also have Fibromyalgia was dx in 95. I know what you mean about the pain. I take an antidepressent and a muscle relaxer ( Efferor 37.5 mg one at bedtime and Zanaflex4 mg one at bedtime for the fibro) I also take Ultram(50 mg one at bedtime and one during the day if needed) for the pain, it is the only thing that helps me with the pain. I also use a pain patch ( Duragesic 50 MCG /72 hrs.) I have to use the pain patch because along with the Fibro I have Costrocondritis ( inflamantion and pain in the chest area)I alos take Zonegran 200mg at bedtime for this. I hope all of this helps you. If you want to you may contact me through email. I will be for than willing to help any way I can. Good Luck and let me know how you are doing.
Cindy
10/20/08 10:49am
10/21/08 8:55pm
10/23/08 7:55pm
My neurologist started me on Botox injections every 3 months. I have had migranes and tension headaches for 20 years. I have tried about every med combination they can think of. I am on a daily dose of Topamax and the Botox injections every 3 months and that keeps them pretty much manageable. Before I started this I was at the end of my rope. I have TMJ, arthritis, Raynauds disease, and back problems. Getting my head issues under control has made my life a little more liveable. See if this is an option for you?
1/23/09 1:05am
I have had headaches since I was 12 yrs old. Actually they are migraines. I have taken just about everything under the sun for them. Now I take Imitrex pills. I also have Imitrex Stat dose for when I just cannot get it to go away. The stat dose is a shot I give myself. I don't like the shots, they tend to make my arm hurt for days after. Never ever take the two for the same headache unless I have at least 8 hours between the two.
The other thing is that it is dangerous for me because I am bipolar, (manic-depressive). The meds I take for bipolar does not like my migraine meds. This can cause bad reactions. I am super careful with them and won't take migraine meds unless someone is home with me. Just in case.
You might ask your Doctor if your headaches are migraines and not just tension type headaches. Maybe you would be surprised to find out that it is. Then there is all kinds of new help out there. When I was younger there was nothing to help. The doctors did not know much back then. Ask lots of questions. It couldn't hurt. Maybe it could help.
Cindy
2/ 7/09 12:09pm
I also have bad headaches with the Fibromyalgia,i currently take celexa and ultram for pain,somedays it works ok,some days same ole pain,,, :)
5/20/09 12:27am
Hi, my name is Rachael and I have myofascial symdrome pain and have just been prescribed celexa too. I actually wanted a pain blocker so that I can do my excercises and get some sleep (I have a 2 yr old). Am trying to get pregnent again but am terrified about what this means pain wise and sleep wise. What help does celexa give you? As far as i can see, it isn't a pain blocker like amitriptilyne. Excuse spelling! I dont have depression, though it is hard getting through the days sometimes.
5/20/09 7:55pm
Hi Rachael,Celexa works alright for me,i have however had my dosage go up to help me more,i used to be on Cymbalta which helped me so much more,but my insurance stopped covering it,not sure when you take your pills,but i found out it helps to take the Celexa and Ultram before i go to bed at night,makes me sleep all night that way,thanks for responding though,it helps to know that others are out there going thru some of the same things and understand,at times it can make you feel all alone and unhappy..have a good day...or try to..lol...bye :)
5/21/09 11:15pm
Hi, thanks for the reply! I will take it at night too, that's good advice. Sleep is big issue for me so am really hoping for some results. I'm taking 20mg per day.
I know what you mean, it is nice to know other people are out there who know what your talking about. Do you remember how long it took for the celexa's pain relief/sleep effects to kick in? Am taking 2nd one tonight and think I feel relief already, but am wondering if it's all in my head!
5/22/09 7:26pm
Hello again, its been awhile but i believe it was in the first week of starting them i got some results from it,i did have to go up to 40 mg a day now,but i also have cervical spine problems too so that causes me most of my headaches and neck pain,but just stay on it and give it some time to see how you are,if in a couple months you havent had results,ask your doc. to maybe up the dosage a bit,hope it helps...bye :)
8/30/09 10:41am
I take Lyrica (pregabalin), Flexaril and Butabyl...on top of several other meds to treat my auto imune disorder. I only take Flexaril at nite to help me sleep and the Butabyl only when the headache gets too bad.
I have had a constant headache for 1 1/2 years now.After many MRI's nothing showed up abnormal. It is a good idea to at least get a CT scan when you have constant headaches. I would also say it is a good idea to get a full blood workup, as well. I went to a Internal Medicine dr. and my bood workup showed the auto-immune disorder (Sjogren's).
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Hi Bekah,
I'm sorry to hear that headaches are giving you a hard time. Our sister site, MyMigraineConnection.com, has an article about tension-type headaches that might be helpful. Treatment suggestions are on the second page.
If you have more specific questions that aren't answered in the article, try their Ask a Question feature. They're very good about making sure all of their questions get answered.
Hope you find something that helps soon!
Karen
Hi Bekah,
Fiorenol is really good to help relief tension-type headaches, which sounds like what you're describing.