8th week pregnant and suffer from sever headache

Dear LamaEceli,

 I'm so sorry you're suffering so much!  Your being pregnant means there are some drug treatments you won't be able to take, but there may be options that work for you.  Are you able to exercise frequently?  That may help a lot (but don't get too vigorous if overexertion exacerbates your head pain).  Do you think you may be experiencing light sensitivity?  Many headache sufferers find that their pain is worsened (or triggered) by bright lights--sunlight, fluorescent lights, computer screens, etc.  Try wearing sunglasses more often.

 My guess is you'll have to incorporate several things into your lifestyle to make yourself get a bit of relief:  exercise, relaxation techniques, and making sure you're not overdoing it.  I know some folks who've gotten some relief through prenatal yoga.

 All in all, though, you should really see a doctor.  You may have chronic daily headache or New Daily Persistent Headache (or another problem entirely).  If you can get your physician to recommend a headache specialist nearby, that'd be great.  Regular physicians are wonderful for regular problems (and often have a wealth of knowledge in rather specific areas, too!), but if your physician's advice (take panadol or Revanen) isn't working, it might be time to see a specialist just for the head pain.

 Good luck!  Let usknow what happens....

Hi Janet,

Thank you very much for your advice. i've heard about prenatal yoga exercises and how could they be helpful for a pregnant get relieved from pains (including headache) and i think this is something i should try but frankly i'm not used to exercise frequently. i talked to trainer and he doesn't recommend me getting started to exercise after getting pregnant as i never did before but he recommended yoga exercises as what you also suggested but also he asks me to get my physician clearance for that. By the way, do you know if someone is used to take caffeine intake on daily basis and suddenly that was cut down would that cause headache? because i read an article says that and i'm that kind of  person. i used to drink more than 6 cups of coffee daily and the day i knew i'm pregnant i cut down my intake to 1 cup or nothing at all. do you have any information on that?

Yesterday evening i visited a gynaecological specialist and he advised me to make MRI exam for my head to see what causes me that pain. This will be my next step hope there won't be a serious problem.

Thank you again for your kind advice, ill let you know what will happen.

Best,

Lama

LamaEceli,

You asked about caffeine withdrawl headaches. Yes, by all means, dropping from 6 cups to 0-1 coud easily cause a headache. I know you are pregnant and you might not want to try this: go back to normal caffeine intake for a week and then gradually wean yourself off the caffeine by dropping one cup a day. See if that has any impact on your headache. Because the headache coincided with the pregnancy and the drop in caffeine, I would put my money on the coffee.

Be well,

Debbie

Hi LamaEceli,

Sudden withdrawl from caffeine can cause a unrelenting headache. Many people find this out the hard way by drinking a lot of coffee during the week and none on the weekend. By Sunday, they usually have a headache.

Because your headache, the pregnancy, and the cessation of drinking coffee coincided, I would suppose that you have a caffeine withdrawl headache. Now, I am not a doctor, so I suggest that you see one and that you tell him about the caffeine withdrawl. See what your doctor suggests. He may suggest going back to your normal caffeine intake and then slowly decreasing the cups of coffee you drink. Good luck,

Debbie

LamaEceli,

You asked if suddenly stopping caffeine could cause a headache. Yes, it can cause an unrelenting headache. Does your doctor know that you suddenly stopped drinking so much coffee? Caffeine withdrawl headaches are common. Please let him know that you suddenly stopped drinking coffee and see what he suggests.

 Best of luck,

Debbie

LamaEceli,

Sorry to hear that your headache has not gone away.

You asked if suddenly stopping caffeine could cause a headache. Yes, it can cause an unrelenting headache. Does your doctor know that you suddenly stopped drinking so much coffee? Caffeine withdrawl headaches are common. Please let him know that you suddenly stopped drinking coffee and see what he suggests.

 Best of luck,

Debbie

Hi Max J.

Thanks for your advice. Well, i'm not really sure what blood work really means but i asked my doctor if my body lacks some vitamins or minerals could that be the cause of my headache? he told me generally no, that would not be a source of a daily headache and he asked me to test vitamin B12, the result shows that my B12 is below the minimum normal range. don't know if that has anything to do with my headache as i haven't seen my doctor yet. this week is the first week of my second trimester and my appointment is next week, i'll see what he'll advise.

Thank you again,

Hi amigraineur,

Thanks for your advice. in fact, yes, i told my doctor about my sudden caffeine withdrawal, and he told me yes, that could be a cause. but the problem is that when i got pregnant i can't even smell coffee and a little sip makes me vomit!! that's why i can't go back even to have a very small amount of coffee!!

Thanks again,

Lama