a headache for 7 days?

lizzie17
lizzie17 Member Posts: 548
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
I have had a headache and neck ache for 7 days now. Probably should call the doctor, but I hate to do that. Anyone ever have a lasting headache like this??? A migraine maybe?

Comments

  • sea60
    sea60 Member Posts: 2,613
    #2
    Could be a reation to meds?
    It's really hard to try and diagnose what's causing it. Call your doctor Lizzie. Seven days is a long time to have a headache.

    Please keep us posted on what you find out.

    I hope you feel better soon!

    Sylvia
  • calabria03
    calabria03 Member Posts: 13
    #3
    After I was diagnosed with breast cancer
    I had a horrible headache for days with neck and shoulder pain. I tried over the counter meds everything from migraine to sinus headache. I went to my primary care Dr who said it was a tension headache. He gave me a prescription and once I took it the headache went away it did come and go for a couple days but the meds gave me relief. I took it like every 6 hours. He did send me for a ct scan to make sure everything was good. Thankfully it was. I would make any appt to see your Doctor so you can get some relief.
  • reeseslover1234
    reeseslover1234 Member Posts: 87
    #4
    Headache
    I agree, call your doctor. It's probably tension, but call anyway. Keep us posted.
  • VickiSam
    VickiSam Member Posts: 9,079 Member
    #5
    reeseslover1234 said:

    Headache
    I agree, call your doctor. It's probably tension, but call anyway. Keep us posted.

    Tension from all the new stress in your life, along
    with a mild (or so they say - ha!), reaction to medication. Either way, please call your doctor and let us know how you are doing.

    Vicki Sam
  • meena1
    meena1 Member Posts: 1,003
    #6
    VickiSam said:

    Tension from all the new stress in your life, along
    with a mild (or so they say - ha!), reaction to medication. Either way, please call your doctor and let us know how you are doing.

    Vicki Sam

    My advice is that any ache
    My advice is that any ache or pain should be checked out. Definitely see your doc
  • Betsy13
    Betsy13 Member Posts: 185
    #7
    yes...
    My stress manifested in borderline migraines, nausea, and shortness of breath.

    I asked my rad. onc. and she said it was due to the stress of the treatment. She had me take ibuprifen or tylenol 600 - 800 mg every 4 to 5 hours. If it didn't go away in a couple of days, I would switch to Excedrin Migraine, just one pill, and that usually would take it away. That's how I knew it was stress.

    Hope this helps,
    Betsy
  • Pinkpower
    Pinkpower Member Posts: 437
    #8
    I was wondering are u taking
    I was wondering are u taking any anti nausea med. I found that Zafran (I thnk thats how you spell it) kick in my migraine headaches. As soon as I switch to a diff med I didnt get any more migraines.
  • lizzie17
    lizzie17 Member Posts: 548
    #9
    Pinkpower said:

    I was wondering are u taking
    I was wondering are u taking any anti nausea med. I found that Zafran (I thnk thats how you spell it) kick in my migraine headaches. As soon as I switch to a diff med I didnt get any more migraines.

    thank you all
    Thank you all for your replies, because you confirmed what I know in my heart to be true...call my doctor. I FEAR the results, and I know you all understand that. I just bought some Aleve...one last OTC attempt. As far as other meds go, I haven't switched any in the past few months, so maybe not a side effect of those---BUT...Arimidex sure does a number on me. Thanks again. :)
  • Megan M
    Megan M Member Posts: 3,000
    #10
    lizzie17 said:

    thank you all
    Thank you all for your replies, because you confirmed what I know in my heart to be true...call my doctor. I FEAR the results, and I know you all understand that. I just bought some Aleve...one last OTC attempt. As far as other meds go, I haven't switched any in the past few months, so maybe not a side effect of those---BUT...Arimidex sure does a number on me. Thanks again. :)

    I am glad you called your
    I am glad you called your doctor Lizzie! Praying you feel better soon.

    Hugs, Megan
  • Betsy13
    Betsy13 Member Posts: 185
    #11
    Lizzie
    Did you get a hold of your doctor? What did he/she say?

    Praying for you,
    Betsy
  • lizzie17
    lizzie17 Member Posts: 548
    #12
    Betsy13 said:

    Lizzie
    Did you get a hold of your doctor? What did he/she say?

    Praying for you,
    Betsy

    headache
    My doctor gave me something for the headache and a muscle relaxant all in one.
    Unfortunately, I am not improved. I guess the next step will be more testing :(
  • survivorbc09
    survivorbc09 Member Posts: 4,374 Member
    #13
    lizzie17 said:

    headache
    My doctor gave me something for the headache and a muscle relaxant all in one.
    Unfortunately, I am not improved. I guess the next step will be more testing :(

    Sorry Lizzie that what the
    Sorry Lizzie that what the doctor gave you hasn't helped you yet. What will your doctor do next? Let us know.

    Hugs, Jan
  • smalldoggroomer
    smalldoggroomer Member Posts: 1,184
    #14
    lizzie17 said:

    headache
    My doctor gave me something for the headache and a muscle relaxant all in one.
    Unfortunately, I am not improved. I guess the next step will be more testing :(

    Lizzie, I get migraines and
    Lizzie, I get migraines and this sounds like one to me. I tried everything for mine and nothing worked until I got Imitrex. That works great! Migraine was gone in less then a hour. But you can't take it if you have certain problems. I know one of them is heart problems. And it is RX only. But ask your Dr. I take 100 mg one pill--headache gone!!. Good luck to you. I sure hope you get rid of your headache soon. Take care Kay
  • VickiSam
    VickiSam Member Posts: 9,079 Member
    #15
    smalldoggroomer said:

    Lizzie, I get migraines and
    Lizzie, I get migraines and this sounds like one to me. I tried everything for mine and nothing worked until I got Imitrex. That works great! Migraine was gone in less then a hour. But you can't take it if you have certain problems. I know one of them is heart problems. And it is RX only. But ask your Dr. I take 100 mg one pill--headache gone!!. Good luck to you. I sure hope you get rid of your headache soon. Take care Kay

    Lizzie .. I post something very similiar to Heatherbelle ...
    just a few minutes ago .. Mirgraines, tension or stress headaches are the worst. My formula which has worked for 12 years .. is the following:

    1 heating pad
    2 ice paks or frozen peas -- wrapped in a kitchen hand towel


    med. heat - place heating pad on the top of your feet
    1 ice pak behind your neck
    1 ice pak on top of your head - face area
    lay still for 10 to 15 min

    repeat every 1/2 hour to hour ...

    blood flow circulation - trigger // no joke \\

    Please let me know if this worked for you .. I swear by it .. it's been years since I've spent 3 days in a dark, quiet room suffering for yet another mirgraine.


    Vicki Sam
  • DebbyM
    DebbyM Member Posts: 3,289 Member
    #16
    smalldoggroomer said:

    Lizzie, I get migraines and
    Lizzie, I get migraines and this sounds like one to me. I tried everything for mine and nothing worked until I got Imitrex. That works great! Migraine was gone in less then a hour. But you can't take it if you have certain problems. I know one of them is heart problems. And it is RX only. But ask your Dr. I take 100 mg one pill--headache gone!!. Good luck to you. I sure hope you get rid of your headache soon. Take care Kay

    My Mom gets migraines and
    My Mom gets migraines and her doctor gives her a sedative to knock her out when she has a really bad one. That is usually all that will help her is to just go to bed and sleep. I hope you find something that helps you. I know they are horrible.

    Hugs, Debby
  • CypressCynthia
    CypressCynthia Member Posts: 4,014 Member
    #17
    Please call your doc
    If this is the first time that you are having a headache like this, you definitely need to see a doctor. You may need to have a "headache workup" which usually includes an MRI. Also, with a history of cancer, you should run this by your oncologist. He/she may want you to see a neurologist.

    Check out the differential for migraines on: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/792267-diagnosis and you can see that there can be many reasons for a headache.

    I have off and on migraines--most of mine seem neck related. Used to take a triptan med (like imitrex or maxalt), but don't since the heart attack. Fiorinal is a miracle drug for me--especially for tension headaches. It is an older prep which contains caffeine, aspirin and butalbital (muscle relaxer). I rarely have to use it since menopause, but it's nice to know it is still out there.

    Other important measures for me: down pillow, thermacare heat wraps for neck, and avoiding hunching over a computer (like I am now; lol).

    Hope some of this helps, but first get evaluated! My dad was a neurologist and he would urge you to get a headache eval before you do anything else.
  • Alexis F
    Alexis F Member Posts: 3,598
    #18
    CypressCynthia said:

    Please call your doc
    If this is the first time that you are having a headache like this, you definitely need to see a doctor. You may need to have a "headache workup" which usually includes an MRI. Also, with a history of cancer, you should run this by your oncologist. He/she may want you to see a neurologist.

    Check out the differential for migraines on: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/792267-diagnosis and you can see that there can be many reasons for a headache.

    I have off and on migraines--most of mine seem neck related. Used to take a triptan med (like imitrex or maxalt), but don't since the heart attack. Fiorinal is a miracle drug for me--especially for tension headaches. It is an older prep which contains caffeine, aspirin and butalbital (muscle relaxer). I rarely have to use it since menopause, but it's nice to know it is still out there.

    Other important measures for me: down pillow, thermacare heat wraps for neck, and avoiding hunching over a computer (like I am now; lol).

    Hope some of this helps, but first get evaluated! My dad was a neurologist and he would urge you to get a headache eval before you do anything else.

    I agree that you should see
    I agree that you should see your doctor. Migraines are so painful and can really cause so much pain, but, there is help out there. I have never had one and hope I don't.

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