chronic headache

[ipsi_g]

Hi,
I'm a twenty year old girl and I've had chronic headaches for the past 2 years. I have a history of headaches, but this is a persistent headache that just wont go away. There are some points at which it lowers and intensifies, but there is no correlation to the time of day, my food or work. I'm in college, but I don't really have stress. I eat healthy throughout the day and have no other symptoms apart from fatigue. I sleep regularly, except when the headache is so bad that I cant. Over-the counter medications don't seem to work. I've been to several doctors, had sleep and allergy tests, and MRI and a CAT scan. I've followed their advice but nothing has made it better. It becoming unbearable and is affecting my work. The only other thing I can think of is mood swing. I have extreme mood swing in the day, specially if I'm by myself which range from a happy period of hyperactivity to sudden, severe depression.
any idea what i should do?  

[Dr Santos]

Hi,
Thanks for the update. Prolonged or chronic headaches may also be caused by cluster headache or Hemicrania continua, a rare type of chronic daily headache. Cluster headaches also present with pain in the vicinity of the eye while hemicrania continua may vary in intensity but it never completely disappears. The precise causes and risk factors are unknown but medication overuse, stimulants such as caffeine, anxiety, sleep disorders and even obesity have been linked. Check with your doctor for proper evaluation. Treatment will depend on the underlying cause. Take care and do keep us posted.

[ipsi_g]

Hi,
Thank you for replying, I've had hormonal tests done too, including thyroid, and they were normal. And Im not sure if anxiety is a problem, because, my BP is below normal. I avoided taking medication for a few weeks, but that hasn't helped either.

Ipsita

[Dr Santos]

Hi,
How are you? It is good that the MRI and CT scan were normal. If it is affected by mood swing, this could also be hormonal in nature. You may need to have medications for this prescribed by your doctor and to control anxiety also. Try to avoid prolonged intake of  over-the-counter pain relievers because this can cause rebound headache. Take care and do keep us posted.