I always tell doctors that when I'm on either sodium valproate or lithium the back of my head begins to ache and feel swollen. But the doctors ignore my complaints and attribute my complaints to PMS and hysteria. I feel as if I would be taken more seriously if I was male. Hurts so bad. It is keeping my mania down. Sort of. Anyone experience this sensation, the back of your neck or what feels like the brain stem in your brain ache and feel painful on these salts?