Question

Hi y'all!  I hope you are all doing well!  Even though I don't post much, I always read and appreciate all of the support I get from you all just by your willingness to share!  I have a question.  I'm 5 weeks post op and have had a terrible headache for the last 4 weeks.  I had to go to the ER for the first time in my life because of it and they gave me a shot (that didn't work) and did a ct scan.  They said nothing showed up on the scan but refered me to a neurologist.  I've been working with her and she has given me several types of differerent medications, none that are working.   Now, I'm thinking this could be surgery related.  I talked to my dietician and she had no ideas since I'm getting my calcuim, vitamins, and protein in.   I'm desperate, do any of you have any ideas?   Thanks for your help.  I pray everyone has a wonderful week! Nikki

are you getting in all your fluids? dehydration can cause headaches.

How soon pre-op did you do away with caffinated foods/drinks? Caffiene withdrawel can give you horrible headaches. If that is the case, expect them to last for a few more weeks. If you have been off of caffiene for awhile, and are getting in plenty of water to where dehydration wouldn't be an issue, I would recommend your seeing you family doctor. Perhaps you are begining to have migraines. I have a round of them about once a year and each year, they get progressively worse.  Spring seems to be the most popular time of the year for them with me. Last year, the prescribed meds didn't work...it took two injections in the doctor's office to do the trick. Sherri

Try going to the eye doctor. See if you optic nerve is swollen. You may have what I have. It's called Pseudotumer Cerebri. It happens although rare, in over weight women. If this is why you are having the headaches, you prolly won't for to much longer  with being post op. And if this is the same headaches I have, I know what your talking about!! I hope you find out what the problem is.

Wendy, I too was diagnosed with PC, about 10 years ago, and you are the first person I've come across who has also had it!! Everyone else was like "do WHAT?" Mine was alleviated when my neurologist did a spinal tap and removed a bunch of excess fluid from the base of my skull. Nikki, I'm also wondering about the caffeine withdrawals as Sherri mentioned.  I have started weaning myself off caffeine since Wednesday (my pre op testing), and have 2 1/2 weeks left til my surgery.  I was drinking 30 ounces of coffee and about 30 ounces of iced tea daily.  Wednesday I had no caffeine, Thursday about 24 ounces, and Friday I cut it to 6 ounces.  The headaches are lessening, but I wonder if going cold turkey would mean more headaches? Dehydration is also a big cause.  Good luck and I hope they ease up for you soon!

Amy, I also had the spinal taps. And you are also the first person I've came into contact with PS. I hope mine will go away shortly after surgery!

Nikki, dehydration can cause terrible headaches. I think I would check with my family doctor too.

Nikki, I too had PC 20+ years ago and literally lost 18 months of my life. It fianlly come out that I was severely allergic to anything with aspertame in it. Alot of sugerfree foods and drinks have it and if I get even the tiniest little bit now I get very sick and have a dinger of a headache. You might try reading the labels of all your sugar free things and if they have aspertame in it you might try avoiding them for a few days and see how it goes. I now can use splenda or sucralose and I am fine. Most of the sugarfree drinks, crystal light powders, carnation, jello. etc. use aspertame. There are some that have come around from all the contraversy over the medical issuse associated with aspertame/equal/nutrasweet sweetners and have switched to sucralose/splenda. Give it a try sweetie and see what comes of it. Hugs! Marianne