Stoopid head

[textualdeviance]

Horrid sinus headache from hell (complete with nausea, yay) all damned day. Nothing's killing it and consequently have gotten next to nothing done.

Really wish I knew of a way to get rid of these for good. They happen way too often.

Comments

[thefirstalicat.livejournal.com]

Sinus headaches don't usually come with nausea; are you sure it's not migraine (which often does)?

[textualdeviance.livejournal.com]

I'd thought the same, but I'm doubtful, now. Doc and I experimented with actual migraine meds a few months back, and the first dose made things about 100 times worse and added in panic attacks and paranoia.

I had really hoped they were actual migraines, because I wanted to know there was treatment that might work. Was bummed when it didn't.

I think in this case the nausea and light sensitivity is just because of the overall pressure from the inflamed sinuses: Messing with the ears and therefore balance/vertigo and putting pressure on the ocular nerves and such. Also, they tend to happen most often when there are strong shifts in weather. For instance, it was sunny and dry this weekend, and then clouded up and went overcast and dreary today. So I suspect barometric pressure shifts have something to do with it--and that wouldn't be the case for something purely neurological.

[thefirstalicat.livejournal.com]

So I suspect barometric pressure shifts have something to do with it--and that wouldn't be the case for something purely neurological.

Unfortunately, the one doesn't preclude the other; I've had migraines for 36 years now, and I also have headaches caused by sudden or big changes in barometric pressure! The trick is to know which is which.... Most of the regular migraine meds did nothing for me (nothing positive, that is - some had nasty side effects), but I've found that taking low-dose amitripytline (generic for Elavil, at higher doses an anti-depressant) helps to prevent migraines for me, which is a huge relief, as I've only had about 1-2 migraines per year since starting it (versus 6-24/year)....

[textualdeviance.livejournal.com]

I don't remember which med the doc put me on as an experiment, but I later found out that it affects serotonin, which is really bad for me. I've been on all of the serotonin-related anti-depressants, and every one of them made me paranoid and suicidal. Turns out that my depression is dopamine-related instead. Went on Wellbutrin and haven't had a single issue with it since.

[thefirstalicat.livejournal.com]

I think amitriptyline is an SSRI, though I don't remember well enough to be certain; in any event, I have no idea if it works well as an anti-depressant, I just know it is fantastic for me as a migraine preventive!

Ah, Elavil, Wellbutrin, Cymbalta, Paxil, Celexa - all the drug names I can still type without looking, given that they loomed large in my previous work life! I kinda miss them, as now I'm getting different terms with each case, except for legal terms like "undertaking," heh!