[beauflow]

I was just curious about head aches and fellow bipolar friends... (you guys of course here on PC)

See I have a lot of head aches, they range from different kinds of hurts I guess would be the best way to describe it. I have sensations as well like tingling (the best way to describe that is like when your arm falls asleep but it is in my head) and I have an awful time trying to describe when it "feels like inside of my head is bleeding". It is hard to descibe (it usually happens after me being angry or lots of stress in negative ways).. My T wants me to go get a Cat-Scan but I can not afford that- not right now at least.

I thought I remember one time, one common thing with Bipolar patients is frequent head aches, I just was pondering if perhaps that is true; and if any of you all have fequent head aches.

T asked about migraines, I am not sure if they are "classified as migraines" some of my head aches that is- It is hard to keep in lit areas at times with some, and my head just hurts so bad, at times yes nauseous but I am not sure if that is clarification for a migraine. (I have actually called in sick for work, due to these head aches -- well have called in sick and said to my supervisor i need a MH day )

Any ways, I also get sharp pains in my head, they can go away or stay for a bit

I can have what I like to call "a half @55 head ache" that can come and go for a week or so....

but anyone else with such.... Some times I am not overly stress and I get these pains in my head....

T told me to tell Pdoc about these things, I see pdoc in this Mid December. So will do so.

[manicminer]

Migraines are a common symptom that goes along with bi-polar. I get full blown neurological migraines.

I've had them since I was in grade school, but my mom just said they were "sick headaches." By a stroke of luck I got one while in the pER and was given medication to stop it. I was told then that I should have gone to the ER for each one because they are potentially dangerous

[beauflow]

That is scary Manicminer- I am glad you got help and you were some where, where they could help when one came on...

Yeah my T was a little concerned when I told her about the bleeding sensation, I am not sure how to describe it besides that, the only other person that has had such is my brother which is full blown dx as bipolar along with other things.

I have also had a "pop' in my head and it really felt like blood was going to run out of my ears, noise, where ever it could-- but that was years ago when I was doing massive drugs--- I read on that a few years ago, and that could had been dehydration.. I am afraid to mention the "pop" due to that really felt like blood gushing through out my head at that time, and I have yet to have that happen again-- again the only other person that i know in Real life is my brother that has had a pop, but he has had a couple, me only 1 that I can recall so far.

sigh... thanks Manicminer-- something to really think on more.

[AniManiac]

I never used to get headaches until I started taking more psych meds. I say more, because I've taken them for years, but never noticed until the dosages were upped and I started taking more than one med. Changing meds gave me a month of migraines once.

Most of the time, my headaches are due to low blood sugar. That's an easy one to remedy, maybe worth a check?

[cin1]

i have had several types of headaches since i am aware of situations i am in. i have high bp, so i know what that headache is like, and i sure don't want to go there. i know when i have a tension headache or stress, someone around just nagging at me. any thing can set one off. i have to lay down with a cold wet cloth over my forehead and try to relax.

[lad007]

I used to get a lot of really bad headaches, and I found that drinking too much coffee, working out really hard, and not drinking enough water was the cause. My meds can dehydrate me and they were real bad I thought I was going to have a stroke or something.
I know it sounds like a simple solution to just drink more water, but you could try it, and see if that helps.

I get cycles of headaches, the typical cycle will last about 2 to 3 months, with a headache every day. Ranging from migraines, clusters of "ice pick" headaches, tension, and who knows what else. Then the cycle will stop for a few months and I will be completely headache free. I am in a cycle right now, really effects my mood and is somewhat debilitating.

I had a cat scan as my dad had a ruptured brain aneurism. The results showed what looked like to them to be two small aneurisms. My dad almost died so this was probably one of the most scariest times in my life. I had a cerebral angiogram done and it turned out not to be aneurisms. I have oddly formed arteries with some very thin weak points which switch to very large points making it look like a buldge, and am missing almost half of the " circle of Willis". I have to go back for an angiogram every 5 years. Anyways not something you want to play around with. And cerebral angiograms are no fun, trust me on that one. Sort of feels like your brain is being microwaved or burnt alive.

They didn't think this was the cause of my headaches. Still haven't figured it out or a solution. I just posted a few days ago in another forum looking for herbal remedies as you cannot take NSAID's with lithium treatment.

[AniManiac]

It just occurred to me to mention that the US FDA just approved neural Botox injections for chronic migraines. It might be worth looking into. I have a friend who gets crippling migraines (her rx's make my crazy meds look like child's play!) and she has tried this out. It has helped already, which is a pretty big deal for her.

Interesting Ani, I wonder if that's available in Canada yet. I'll try to look it up. The migraine meds are awful, make me feel very " strange" and very ill. Not really worth it, since they don't work more than half the time. Hmm Brain Botox..

Not to mention the price of migraine meds, averaging about $100 for 6 pills, you take two pills per headache. A little expensive.

[Kozel]

I also get really bad headaches, I didn't know that this was related to BP though. I've been prescribed migraine relief in the past, and have also learnt to avoid certain foods: certain types of chocolate are the worst for me; plus one time I actually believed I was having a brain haemorrhage, my H worked it all out to the fact I'd made fresh coffee that day (the pot was still on the AGA, I was stunned that that was the cause - however that was the only thing I had done differently - I don't usually drink coffee). I can relate to the stabbing pains you describe and the 'bleeding inside the head' sensations. It would be interesting to see if there were any studies correlating to bp and headaches. Interesting.

[kj44]

I used to have headaches everyday. Since I have been on this new med combo, I have had only one, it was a migraine, for which I take Imitrex. I do understand the everyday headache, makes me think it was stress for me. All the best. KJ

[dirt69juggalo]

I hardly ever get headaches since I was put on meds for bipolar before I use to all the time

[Beebizzy]

I used to get rather bad headaches (sometimes migraines) from teeth-grinding - which they say can be a feature of bipolar (stress I suppose). I got a bite-guard and it has been a life-saver. Also starting meds again has helped with stress. So, a bit of an indirect link to BP I suppose.

I used to get migraines quite often. They seem to have decreased just in recent years (last one....3-4 years ago?). Getting older? Psych meds? (There's a time frame correlation.) Don't know. Don't care. Just glad (knock on wood) that they seem to be gone. Sheesh they're awful.

[Resident Bipolar]

I for one have never really experience this. I can see it being a symptom though - caused by high levels of chemicals in our brains during manic and depressive episodes; by a lack of sleep associated with bipolar disorder; bipolar medications; etc.

But no, I don't suffer from headaches at all.

RB ♥

[Moose72]

I get migraines too. Never did before diagnosed though.

[hamster-bamster]

Depakote, one of the bipolar medications, is FDA approved for treatment of migraines in small doses (<< than psychiatric doses). Works beautifully well for me, I rarely get a migraine, and without Depakote I am a very severe migraine case and have been since age 3.

I hope someone find this information helpful.

[beauflow]

Thank you all for sharing. Weather or not head ache or not---

I am shocked with some replies on how serious head aches could be--- I know my T was a little concerned when I mentioned the bleeding feeling-- If I can with in this coming year or two with insurance and bills getting paid- I will look into a Cat Scan.

All I know is that for me-
1) Coffee- some times with me it helps relieve the head ache- but then I have been drinking coffee since I was 10, which I know soon here I will need to quit if I go on meds cuz some meds don't do well with the caffeine as I have been reading.
2) I am not on meds, I have been bouncing back and forth with nothing is wrong with me, to I am a wreck I need some help.. I hope this next appt. I stick with this pdoc (hope this pdoc and I communicate well).
3) The Head Aches- all around, sharp stabbing, to slight, to on and off for days, to being triggered by stress/etc, to not having stress, and the "feeling" sensations--- they have been with me all my life, before drug usage, during, and after/now.
4) I do need to drink more water- I will give that a shot, but I have in the past went on water kicks of that is the only thing to drink, and still head aches, but I will try to drink more water-- for just the well being of me....

Thank you all again, I am actually shocked so many replied on this-

BE well all!

[Confusedinomicon]

I get minor headaches all the time, but I am so accustomed to them that they don't bother me anymore.

I don't think I had that problem when I took depakote, but I got fog with it so I ended up switching to Lithium which has worked. I think most of my headaches stem from sleep problems though. I have a hard time falling asleep when I should and then sleeping too much. Both of which can give you headaches...so I guess I know why I have them.

[beauflow]

Update on this-

Pdoc says to talk to general doc on this

Perhaps get a nuro scan or something to get a better look and to see if there is anything going up in my noggin that is physical.

scary- but I don't have the funds to do so right now, so I know this is important but it will have to wait

[Moose72]

Coffee does it for me. I get them horribly bad sometimes that it's just pure misery... Then I throw up and feel a bit better.