Can we talk headaches?

mrskratt · April 2016

So, there seems to be a lot of us dealing with headaches right now. So, I thought this thread could maybe help a bunch of us out if we share our suggestions

I have had a severe headache for a week straight. I'm drinking over 100 oz of water, eating frequent meals, tried cold compress on my eyes, ice pack on my neck, Tylenol, switching pillows, and chiropractor. It's still hanging around.
Tell me what works for you. I'll try anything at this point. Or tell me what you have heard works.

emmaaa · April 2016

Everything you listed is what I would suggest. Mine comes and goes and lingers for a few days at a time. On those days, nothing helps except to be asleep which isn't even a realistic suggestion.

mothernorth · April 2016

I would just like to empathize with you all. My headache phase was from around 10 to 13 weeks, and honestly nothing really helped me and it was a miserable almost month. I broke down and took Midol twice, and that's the only thing that even remotely touched them but obviously not a recommended go-to. Sleep was my only sanctuary, but they DID finally pass. Hopefully you ladies don't have much longer to wait! Good luck to you all, and sorry I wasn't of any help!

mrszoess · April 2016

I am just going to rip my face off. that should solve this insanity.

LMNOBaby · April 2016

Tylenol and Diet Coke usually eases it for a bit for me. But it's this damn dizziness/vertigo that seems to be present 24/7 that just seems to amplify the headache. 6+ weeks of the dizziness, stronger at times than others, but always there is taking its toll on me... I'm starting to think it's going to last the whole pregnancy. I'm sure looking at a computer all day at work doesn't help either. Going to try taking more breaks from looking at the screen...

emmaaa · April 2016

@LMNOBaby My headaches have seemed to subside only to be replace with spells of dizziness. Yay.

GoBucksOH · April 2016

My headaches are very consistent - every.single.morning I wake up with a pounding headache. They go away after about 2-3 hours of being up and moving. I also thought it was dehydration happening through the night so I increased my water intake and that still didnt help. I sympathize with you!

LauraPCOS · April 2016

Omg I thought of starting a thread like this yesterday as my head was pounding!! I find Tylenol doesn't do anything for me so I don't even bother taking it. What I was finding was helping (but only if I could do it in a place where I could zone out) I would run my finger nails along my scalp, usually moving my hair in the opposite direction. It hurts a bit, more sensitive than hurting, but it proving a bit of relief. The thing though is once my hair was all poofed, I had to leave it like that cause if I tried smoothing down my hair, it caused the headache to return almost worse. It's even better if you could get someone else to play with your hair.

BabySunshine4 · April 2016

I am going through the same exact thing that you just listed. The throbbing headache just wont go away! Someone at work said try a warm/hot towel on my head to help increase the blood circulation. I tried it and it really did nothing for me.

LGW2015 · April 2016

Yep I was gonna start one today too! I got peppermint essential oil yesterday to try. I woke up with a headache this morning of course and tried it. I can't swear by it but it does seem to offer a little relief. I put a drop on my temples, behind my ears, back of neck and across forehead (I went a little crazy). It gives a nice mentholated effect haha my friend also suggested deep blue essential oil (supposed to be like icy hot) but they didn't have that yesterday when I went to GNC.

kmalls · April 2016

Gah, the headaches! I'm with you all. They have started way earlier than last pregnancy and nothing seems to help. Tylenol is a joke, and a little bit of caffeine seems to do nothing as well. Like others have said, once a headache sets in its here for days. Last night I drank a glass of Pepsi (after literally 100oz of water throughout the day) and went to bed. I woke up feeling waaaaay better this morning, but I'm not sure if the headache just ran its course after 2 days or if the sleeping helped. Solidarity, ya'll.

AshleyGemini24 · April 2016

I had migraines often before pregnancy. The only thing that worked was Exedrin Migraine. Now the only thing i can take is Tylenol. This dors nothing. So i just suffer in silence. Although i have heard to try putting your hands and feet in water while sitting humped over with a bag of frozen peas on the base of your skull

AshleyGemini24 · April 2016

But whose got time for that

SpaceBurger · April 2016

It sounds weird, but put one hand on your forehead and one hand on the back of your head and squeeze. It's only temporary relief, but it helps a little. Otherwise, I feel like there isn't much

allison_smith_6212 · April 2016

So glad to hear I'm not alone! This pregnancy I've had constant headaches and migraines and Tylenol doesn't touch them. I've had slight relief with turning off the lights, they don't go away but can help to make them a bit more bearable.

LizaKate1213 · April 2016

I am trying a couple of essential oils (peppermint and lavender mostly) but really a small cup of something caffeinated has been the biggest relief for me. Haven't had to take Tylenol in almost a week now that I can stomach a small cup of tea in the morning. My OB suggested it when I was pregnant with DS; he said a 6oz coffee once daily would help and it did! I still have a coffee aversion right now but tea has been an excellent stand-in. No green tea though!

LGW2015 · April 2016

Caffeine hasn't helped me

I wish it did. I think it's at least partially allergies for me. The pollen here has been really bad lately.

sportiegrl1213 · April 2016

For those of you who are dizzy, I swear by the SeaTac Band. I wear mine almost daily. I've been dizzy since week 6 and it helps. But like the rest of you, if these headaches could go pound sand, that would be fantastic! I noticed with the headaches comes this black spot in my right eye, eye floater, which is even more annoying.

nlane0723 · April 2016

I do everything you do, my MFM said that I can take Ibuprofen if Tylenol isn't working, just not in first and third tri and not often.

If I feel one coming on, I drink a Diet Coke. Seems to help keep it bay most of the time. I've only had to take IB twice.

kmalls · April 2016

sportiegrl1213 said:

For those of you who are dizzy, I swear by the SeaTac Band. I wear mine almost daily. I've been dizzy since week 6 and it helps. But like the rest of you, if these headaches could go pound sand, that would be fantastic! I noticed with the headaches comes this black spot in my right eye, eye floater, which is even more annoying.

@sportiegrl1213 so I don't mean to alarm you, but my OB said to call her if my headaches were ever accompanied by a floater. More than likely it's nothing, but she did specifically mention that symptom.

blessyourheartmama · April 2016

I'm right there with you. These headaches are brutal. My OB only recommended I increase my water intake, but I swear caffeine in a regular coke and Tylenol relieve it temporarily.

@LMNOBaby I have vertigo on and off regularly, but it's attributed to BPPV, an inner ear thing. That with these allergies are really working on me overtime. I saw my ENT week before last but they wouldn't do the maneuver on me because they couldn't trigger the response during the test.

@LGW2015 I think "deep blue" is a name of an essential oil blend marketed by Doterra. I thought it was for sore muscles. They also offer a headache blend, but I can't remember the name of it. Just be careful with the essential oils, as some aren't meant to be applied topically.

sportiegrl1213 · April 2016

Thank you @kmalls I was just about to call on my lunch break since it's not going away. It's so weird.

TheBeeCharmer · April 2016

Mine were worse with my last two, but I'm still getting them a little. Tylenol doesn't help so I skip it. Just caffeine and cold on the forehead and heat on the back of the neck. Wish I could take my imitrex!

westcoastfoodie · April 2016

I feel your pain. I've always gotten migraines and last pregnancy they were so bad that it put me in the hospital for raising my blood pressure. Eventually my doctor gave me a rx for tylenol with codeine for when it got really bad. I've always been able to tell if they were just headaches or going to turn in to full blown migraines and was told that the tylenol will only work if you nip the migraine in the bud when you first feel it coming on, and then stay on top of it. And of course stay hydrated.

ibabyloveb87 · April 2016

I seem to get the headaches mostly in the afternoon, so I'm partially blaming the screen time at work. I am trying to be medicine free as much as possible so I haven't tried Tylenol, and with so many people saying it doesn't help anyway, I don't think I will! I drink a ton of water and I have turned the lights off. Not sure if it really helped. Sometimes a Sprite or Ginger Ale helps...I've been caffeine free for 3+ years due to anxiety.

sportiegrl1213 · April 2016

@kmalls just talked to the nurse and she said floaters are common in early pregnancy and to make sure I'm drinking plenty of fluids and staying hydrated. PHEW!!

NicholeL16 · April 2016

My headaches have been terrible but I have been headache free the last two days. I upped my water, changed my pillow, took two Benadryl, took my contacts out, and used an ice pack on my neck. I don't know which of those things helped so I am just going to keep doing them all every night!

jillianpardo · April 2016

I'm on the headache boat with all of you ladies. I know there is an acupressure point to help with headaches. I'll have to look it up for the really bad days. Tylenol and caffeine have helped the majority of the time for me. Some days nothing seems to help

acupuncture might be helpful for some of you with severe problems. I like to go to a community acupuncture place that offers payment on a sliding scale.

daisy19782011 · April 2016

Yes...I don't have them often, but when I do, they are AWFUL. I have one today b/c I am exhausted and not drinking enough water...I think. It is my loss brain, but I always think something else is wrong

I don't even know why they invented Tylenol---does nothing for me. I miss ADVIL like crazy!

PeggyOlsonFTW · April 2016

Neck adjustments at the chiropractor 1-2x a week have helped my headaches tremendously. I also went and got a new prescription for eyeglasses in case they were related to/made worse by eye strain.

von1976 · April 2016

Lol, these headaches are nothing! I'm used to migraines. I take two Tylenol and carry on with my day.

kmalls · April 2016

sportiegrl1213 said:

@kmalls just talked to the nurse and she said floaters are common in early pregnancy and to make sure I'm drinking plenty of fluids and staying hydrated. PHEW!!

@sportiegrl1213 hooray!! Sorry to have raised the alarm for you, I'm glad it's nothing!

jeng100 · April 2016

Ugh, the headaches just started for me. So far, sleeping helps. But that's impossible to do with a toddler running around all day.

coffee89 · April 2016

I've got them and I just keep pushing through. Staying hydrated, caffeine, remembering to eat, and sometimes Tylenol all seem to help. They aren't the worst, but nagging and going on two weeks. Pretty much I'm waiting for them to let up, but I'll mention it to the MW to monitor. My OB last time said if they were bad enough he could prescribe something but it never got that bad.

NoraAurora · April 2016

my OB prescribed fioricet. I haven't actually tried it b/c I'm on the fence about whether I want to spend $42 (not covered by insurance) but I'm sure I'll shell out after the next big headache.

ecpdvm · April 2016

I've had a headache since last night. I sleep hoping it will go away, but it doesn't. Two cups of coffee, LOTS of water...I have two cups of coffee a day so maybe it's related to the caffeine but my god, this current headache is AWFUL. I took one tylenol at nine, didn't do much. *sigh. I hope it goes away by tomorrow!

jbal918 · April 2016

I've been trying to either take a nap or at least lay on the couch if I'm home or my new thing is a small cup of coffee. If all else fails, Tylenol but I try not to take it. Sometimes though, I really feel cross eyed and then I know its going to get worse but so far I've only taken Tylenol twice.

kmvisioli · April 2016

On top of everything already mentioned, I love my Past Tense roller ball from DoTerra for headaches- I roll it across the back of my neck and on my temples.

@JessK1014 all pure therapeutic grade oils are safe to apply topically, but some are better diluted with a carrier oil (coconut oil, olive oil, or even some fragrance free lotion). The bigger issue is that some oils marketed as "pure" actually aren't, so sticking with a brand like DoTerra or Young Living is safest.

OrangeEv · April 2016

I don't think many will take me up on this suggestion, BUT it works for
me!
I go for a run and by the time I get back, it's gone. Magic.

Schell2013 · April 2016

Mine is always the most active when I am tired. Which is like all the time it seems some days.

lunamishka · April 2016

I too have been struggling with headaches for about three weeks now. My OB prescribed me a stronger medication but I only use it when I can barely function at work. Yesterday at my appointment she recommended taking a magnesium supplement and sometimes that helps. Just in case someone wants to try something different. She said to take just the recommended daily on the bottle.

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Can we talk headaches?

Fell in love: Dec 2005 // Married: Feb 9, 2013

Little Miss Rosalie Harper--Born Jan 9th, 2014

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