My name is Marci Jill. I am in complete agony. I can't take much more of this pain. Honestly.

I've suffered from severe chronic headaches since the age of 26. My mothers also suffers from the same exact headaches. The last doctor she went to (an ENT) said that they're sinus headaches brought on by weather and nothing could be done. And she just gave up and has been living with the pain. Well, I'm not giving up. My pain seems to be far worse than hers and I refuse to live like this!

I've been to see so many doctors and no one can figure out what's going on.

I went to a doctor last year, the initial diagnosis was tension headache brought on by changes in air pressure. Sinusitis was ruled out. None of the medications worked.

I have an appointment with yet another doctor on Thursday. I've been to see several family doctors, an internist, an ENT and a pain management specialist. So, this time around, I'm going to see an actual neurologist.

Here is what happens:

I get the headaches everyday for days and weeks at a time with usually a few days "break" in between. The periods of actual pain last anywhere from a few hours to a few days. Usually, the pain lasts for hours at a time. They're getting progressively worse and are becoming more frequent. The longest I've gone with the headaches without any "breaks" has been 3-weeks. The onset is always within several hours before it starts raining. The pain usually starts within 5 minutes before rainfall begins. Maybe this is a coincidence. Maybe it isn't. OTC Sinus Headache medications are the only thing that work, but those aren't safe to take on a day-to-day basis.

The pain starts out as dull pressure in my face (forehead, eyes, cheeks, jaw, ears and the front-side of my neck) and sometimes in my temples and in the side and back of my head. It develops into severe pressure on both sides of my face.

I suffer from extreme fatigue and malaise while I'm actually in a pain-cycle.

I can't take it anymore. This pain is ruining my life. I can't function. Were it not for this pain, I'm the most chipper and happiest and bounciest person around. I'm a Sunday's child! You know? From the rhyme? Sunday's child is happy and blithe, bonny and gay. For real. That's me.

Right now I'm in the worst and most unrelenting cycle I've ever hand. It has lasted for 3-weeks straight. Starting a few weeks ago, I've been having headaches that last for a few days at a time. I've been waking up in the morning either in pain or feeling the pressure building up.

I hope I'm not alone here.

Here's the list of meds that I've been on, which haven't worked:

Tramadol
Imitrex
Skelaxin
Fioricet
Celexa
Xanax
Tylenol
Asprin
Aleve
Advil
Mucinex
Allegra
Claritin
Benadryl
Nasonex
OTC Nasal Sprays
Vicks Inhaler

I've tried a humidifier, teas, hot baths, etc. And those did nothing to alleviate my symptoms.

I use Aleve Sinus Headache, Liddell ScH Sinus Congestion and Headache with Echinacea Oral Spray, Redd Remedies Aromatherapy Inhaler, Redd Remedies Adult Sinus Support, Sinusin Homeopathic Nasal Spray, Yogi Tea Organic Cold Season Defense, Boiron Mezereum for Sinus Congestion and Solaray Devil's Claw Special Formula with Tumeric and Bromelain. All of these work to alleviate my headache symptoms and prolong remission periods for days, if not weeks. If I use the Liddell ScH Sinus Congestion and Headache with Echinacea Oral Spray, Redd Remedies Aromatherapy Inhaler, Sinusin Homeopathic Nasal Spray and Boiron Mezereum for Sinus Congestion at the first sign of facial pressure, the symptoms are alleviated within 5 - 15 minutes. The Aleve Sinus Headache takes longer to kick-in and has uncomfortable side-effects, so I avoid taking it. So, I've pretty much been suffering from these headaches without any treatment, all Summer. And, I live in South Florida, so it's been raining nearly everyday. The only "breaks" I get are on days without rain.

This is ridiculous. I'm extremely healthy, otherwise. I'm 29. I'm 5'5''. I'm 115 lbs. I eat a regular healthy diet which includes loads of fruit. I also take vitamins and drink lots of water. I do cardio. I'm totally straight edge. I don't smoke. I don't drink. I don't do drugs. I just, don't understand why this is happening to me when I have such a healthy lifestyle.

Marci Jill

Hi Marci,

I'm so sorry for your pain.  Are you seeing a headache specialist/ neurologist? 

Jeannie

Have you ever been given oxygen for the pain?

Jeannie,

I've seen a few different doctors. Several family practitioners, an internist, a pain management specialist and an ENT.

I'm going to see a neurologist on Thursday.

I've never been given oxygen, but am willing to try it if it'll make my headaches go away.

Oddly enough, my hubby mentioned the other day that it sounded like this might have something to do with low oxygen levels in my blood. Weird.

Dang Marci, that just isn't right at all that you're tormented like this.  :(

The symptoms you describe don't sound like cluster headache BTW.

I'll meet you and raise you one on the healthy diet and lifestyle action, but I'm afraid there's an occasional affliction like ours that just doesn't seem to care.   :P

There's gotta be a solution that'll bring relief to your trials and tribs - I sure hope you find it toot sweet.  :)

Hi-

So sorry for your misery!!!  I know you are discouraged, but you will find an answer.  Be sure to take the info you gave here to the doctor on Thursday, especially the medication list.  It doesn't sound like clusters to me unless it is complicated with something else at the same time that is disguising it.  Take the cluster quiz.  You have been on a lot of medications and that alone could be causing some problems in my humble opinion.  Extended use of Nasonex (even though it works well for me for allergies) causes me to have some head and sinus/nasal problems.  I learned that I have to use it sparingly.  You didn't mention how you were taking the meds you listed but I am assuming it was spread out quite a bit.  If not, you might want to look at that for rebound headaches or side effects.  Hope this was maybe some help.  Glad you are going to the doctor tomorrow!!!

Joni :)

You need a Headache Specialist.
It's not always enough to see a great neurologist as there are over 600 headache types.
You may have multiple headaches and they are all intermixed so getting a diagnosis will be difficult unless they can pick them apart and know how to treat each one. Some may be treated certain ways which make other types worse.
It's a real pain (sorry)
Anyway there are a few of us that have multiple headache types including clusters.
What you describe doesn't sound like clusters but that may also be because you don't know how to pick them apart thus descriptions are difficult.

Anyway, regardless of diagnosis or lack there of, I'm sorry you are in apin and wish you the best on your journey.

and by the way...you can take more!!! Be strong and positive!

Eric

Hi marcijill and I'm very sorry to hear of your pain.

Do yourself a favor and print out the info on CH, see the links to the left and "Cluster Traits" print this out and give it to your neurologist and if you have any logs of your Headache hits take those in as well.  He will recommend you doing a log if you haven't one already to see if CH may be the answer to your problem. 

Wishing you much luck and Pain Free days!
:)

O2.....

I hope it will give you relief!

All the best Iddy :)

Oxygen.

      Potter

Sending you positive vibes and PF wishes.

Hope you're able to see a qualified neurologist very soon.  E-Double is right  . . . it's (unfortunately) not rare for folks to suffer multiple types  of headache, which of course makes diagnosing same more difficult.

And I'll vote for 02 also . . . could help (is a miracle for most of us) . . . and there aren't any side effects.

Wishing you the best,

   Be Safe,  PFDANs

      Richard