I used to have headaches everyday for about 6-8 months. Along with the headaches I had and still continue to have terrible right ear aches. The headaches have stopped. A few days ago, i had another bad headache. I had to go to sleep early, turn all the lights off, and take a pain killer. It took me for ever to get to sleep because I could not get comfortable. Did my headaches turn into migraines? I did get it the day before my period, and now have had a mild headache all day today. Is that something else? PLEASE. I need some answers, this has been going on for a long time, I've over come a lot of struggles and finding an answer would be great. I am seeing my neurologist in 3 or 4 days. What should I bring up? Thanks for all the help.
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10/ 3/09 10:39pm
Hi Katie,
Yes, you should mention this to your neurologist when you see him in a few days. Here is a link on a Migraineur's Guide To a Successful Doctor's Appointment. It has great information on what questions to ask, what to bring and so on. Another good link is Coping With Busy Doctors. Read them over and let me know what you think, ok?
I'm not sure why you had "headaches every day for 6-8 months." I do know it isn't a good thing. Are you taking something everyday to help relieve the pain? Because if you're taking Migraine abortive meds such as triptans or any kind of pain med more than two days a week, a big part of your problem may well be medication overuse headache (MOH), aka rebound. See Medication Overuse Headache - When the Remedy Backfires for more information on this. If you're in an MOH situation, nothing you take is going work, neither prescription nor "natural" medications nor over-the-counter. If that's the case, you need to work with your doctor to stop the medications causing the problem.
Medication overuse been shown to be a factor in 80% of cases of transformed Migraine. Stopping the medication overuse is key to stopping the transformed Migraine. You can read more about this in Stopping Medication Overuse Can Halt Transformed Migraine.
ANY use of opioids or barbiturates and frequent use of triptans and NSIADs are associated with increased risk of transformed Migraine. See Transformed Migraine - Risk Increased by Some Medications for more information on this.
Good luck and let me know if you need more information, ok?
10/ 4/09 11:28am
Katie,
Did you see a doctor and get a diagnosis for those headaches you had for 6 - 8 months? Did you have any symptoms with them other than the ear aches? Have you been diagnosed with Migraine?
Migraine is a genetic neurological disease. We don't just develop Migraines from headaches, and headaches don't turn into Migraines. Only your doctor can tell you what's happening, but it's possible that the headaches were Migraines. It's also possible that what you think are Migraines really aren't.
Nancy gave you excellent links and information. Do make very complete notes before you go to the neurologist because it's so very easy to forget what we mean to say once we get there.
If you want to do a bit of reading about types of headaches and Migraines in preparation for your appointment, check this page - Types of Migraines and Headaches.
Please let us know how your appointment goes and what you find out?
Teri
12/23/09 12:11pm
I have sinus headaches (which include tooth, gum, and ear pain) that turn into migraines at times. Those are often my worst migraines because there are "two sets" of symptoms to be addressed with medication--the sinus pressure and the migraine pain.
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By Katie— Last Modified: 01/22/11, First Published: 10/03/09
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Nacy-
Thank you very much! This information is really helpful. You have given me more information than my neurologist has. I am very greatful. Thank you for taking your time to answer my question. It truly means a lot to me. I'll try to let you know what happens at my appointment.
Thank you again :)
Katie