18 years.
For around 18 years now — since the age of seven — I have consistently dealt with headaches, never truly knowing why they so frequently ravaged my skull.
Over the years, I gradually began assuming the triggers for most of them… Stress, sinus pressure, straining my eyes, lack of sleep, too much sleep, not eating within a few hours of waking up, not wearing sunglasses in the bright sun, hangovers, and the list goes on and on and on.
But at 25 years old, should I really be having so many headaches? I’m not talking one every blue moon; I’m dealing with this sort of agaony at least three times per week, though I’d say the majority of my time is spent attempting to tolerate the pain rather than not. As a result, I’m forever popping Tylenol or other medicine in the hopes that the throbbing behind my eyes and throughout my head will diminish enough to make it through the day. Most of those days, though, I find myself succumbing to the couch with a warm cloth draped across my eyes.
Finally, I’ve come to the point where I need to find out what, if anything, is wrong with me.
I’ve avoided this for as long as I could, forever fearful that the news I’d hear from a doctor would be nothing short of horrific. The pain is becoming more frequent though, and per the constant badgering of my mother and boyfriend — people who are seemingly as nervous as I am about an actual issue being present — I scheduled an appointment with my doctor to discover the true catalyst.
…That appointment is tomorrow morning, and just thinking about it makes me tear up.
Perhaps I watch too many movies, maybe I’ve seen a few more episodes of “Grey’s Anatomy” than necessary, but all I can think is the worst. I’m nearly terrified that something is genuinely damaged inside my skull, though I’m sitting here, still hoping for the absolute best. After all, it is possible that those triggers I’ve attributed my headaches to for years could be real, rather than my feeble attempts to explain the pain away. I’m definitely crossing my fingers that that is the case.
Regardless, tomorrow is a huge step in the right direction, and optimistically I’ll have more answers than questions for once in my life. All I know for certain is that the consistent pain is becoming too much to bear and I am more than ready for a magical solution.
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{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
Have you tried pooping more? That’s usually the solution to all of life’s problems.
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Mindy Reply:
August 12th, 2010 at 12:02 am
@TOPolk, …Can’t say I put in any extra effort.
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Good luck – hope it’s nothing too serious.
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Yikes! I hope everything’s OK. I’ll be thinking about you tomorrow.
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Are you on the contraceptive pill? Gave me headaches for years until I worked out that’s what it was….also stress can be a big factor. If that is a lot to do with it then you just need some strategies in place for putting aside your stresses and relaxing a bit more.
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Mindy Reply:
August 16th, 2010 at 5:04 pm
@missyummyface, I am on birth control, but I talked to my doctor about it and she’s not sure that’s what causes the headaches — mostly because I had them for years before I ever even thought about bc.
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You’re definitely doing the right thing going to the doctor. It may not be anything serious and can be easily taken care of but it’s always good to know. I’m crossing my fingers for you and hoping all will be well.
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Ugh, I feel your pain–literally. I’ve dealt with migraines for years and only just recently got some legit meds for them. It’s definitely worth heading to the doctor!!
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Hope they find something that can be easily fixed w/out any invasive procedures or harmful/harsh drugs…and cheap. (I’m a broke college student too!) No one should live with constant headaches…
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Mindy Reply:
August 16th, 2010 at 5:05 pm
@OmegaRadium, Not cheap so far. $75 in copays … and potentially paying my whole $500 deductible. Ugh.
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I have a lot of stomach issues. Almost every single day, I feel nauseous at least for a few hours. It’s pretty freaking miserable so I know how you feel. Hope it all works out!
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Mindy Reply:
August 16th, 2010 at 5:06 pm
@Sara, Stomach issues…? That’s no good. Have you had it checked out? I finally caved and saw the doctor because my mother is terrified I’ll have an aneurisym (that is most certainly spelled wrong).
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I hope everything went well today and I REALLY HOPE that you get the answer(s) you need to this situation. I’ll be thinking about you, my dear.
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The French call migraine sufferers migraineurs. Migraineurs have a certain cache as artistic and tragic. Leave it to the French to try to make something horrible sexy (they do the same thing with hairy legs and mimes). Regardless, this is always an option. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/03/fashion/03SKIN.html
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Mindy Reply:
August 16th, 2010 at 5:06 pm
@Ian, Silly French … no wonder I love them so! And I can probably pull off artistic, but tragic? I’m a bit too bubbly for that.
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Any news on what the cause is?
I get headaches quite often. I chalk it up to stress for the most part.
If it makes you feel any better, I had tests done – CT scan, etc – to find out what it was and they found nothing. I just get to suffer. I guess it could be worse.
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Mindy Reply:
August 16th, 2010 at 5:08 pm
@miss minneapolis, No cause just yet. I should hear something this week… So far, my bloodwork came back completely normal. Just waiting on the scan results now. =/
I’m sure some of mine are stress-induced, that’s without a doubt. But pain through my face, my nose… Stress can’t be the only factor, which is why I went to the doc.
And nope, knowing you just get to suffer does not make me feel better. I know how much that sucks, and I not only feel bad =(, but now I’m nervous that might be my case. Ugh.
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