"Help for Headaches!!! TMP Doctors Please respond..." Topic

Don't tell me to go to the Doctor.

Since Nov I started using my own choice of reading glasses and since then I have had headaches. They have gotten worse in the last few days. Not in intensity but in duration. They used to feel like migraines-one part of the front of the head over the eye. Advil would help. Last two days Advil has had little effect and they have lasted mostly the whole day. Last week I felt they were going away.

When I go out on the town and drink my headache goes away.

Could it be the glasses or a brain tumor. If it's a brain tumor then I am ready to go to I would prefer to go out young and handsome like James Dean or JFK. I don't have a problem with this either way. I don't have the local med insurance so my hands are a bit tied. The doctor would have to do tests and these would be expensive.

Any ideas or suggestions about this. What other things could cause these headaches? Hmmm…

Can you go without the glasses for a few days and see if that helps?

.22 to the temple?

Seriously, try not wearing the glasses for a few days.

Sounds like a vision problem. If you can't afford getting your eyes checked and a proper prescription, then stop using those reading glasses for a while and see if the headaches go away.

They won't. It sounds remarkably like eye strain.

Beat yourself in the head with a 2x4 for 4 – 5 minutes. Won't help the headache, but it feels soooooo good when you stop!

They tell you to "break-in" new glasses adding 20-30 minutes a day. Maybe it's eye strain?

It might be migraines, you might want to use Excedrin for Miraines. Take it at the 1st hint of a headache and it can help greatly. My wife suffers and these help a lot.

Mike

Word of warning, if you drink heavily only take aspirin for pain. Tylenol will kill your liver quicker than the alcohol alone.

But it really sounds like eye strain.

What Cpt Jake said

Maybe it's time for, "a new choice of reading glasses." perhaps the perscription isn't quite right, the frames too tight, you have a diffrent malady … course, could be something that a real optometrist could fix. In the end, if you've been wearing them longer than usual or are using the computer more than you used to, it could be eye strain.

I'm not a doctor, but I did sleep in a Holiday Inn last night…

Diagnosis of a headache is not necessarily a simple thing. Impossible to help you based on what you have related already. Hate to say it, but in your case go shell out a couple hundred bucks for a neurologist and get some advice from a professional. This could be something serious and might be amenable to treatment if you get after it.

mjc

If you go to an M.D. with a complaint of headaches, instead of running $$$$ tests like MRI or CAT scans, they should tell you to get a complete eye exam with a dilation which should cost out of pocket $75-$100 bucks. Off the rack "readers" don't correct for astigmatism and on top of it most people have a different Rx in each eye, where the off the rack stuff is supposed to have the same Rx power in each lens. Good luck!

Don't tell me to go to the Doctor.

I'm not a Doctor, but I did drive past a Holiday Inn Express the other day.
Get your eyes checked.

try percodan!
they're GREAT!

I have had the same problem. I have a stigmatism which is aggrivated by reading glasses. Two things can help. Stop flipping them on and off every couple of minutes, or trying to glance over at the TV. And second, at the onset of a headache, apply a warm moist towel accros the eyes and COMPETELY block out all light for about 15 minutes. If this dosen't help, see an eye doctor.

Try getting a couple of arm extenders so you don't need the glasses.

Of course, you seemed to have found a decent enough cure:

When I go out on the town and drink my headache goes away.

So why not just run with that?

Overall, some smart remarks that are making me feel better and some remarks that cracked me up. Will try the eye Doctor in Mexico.

Yes. GO TO THE DOCTOR!

Seriously, if insurance is a problem, the ophthamology department at your local medical university would give you the chance to get free care in most cases.

The fact that your problems started in November, when you chose you new reading glasses tells me the problem is visual and not vascular or tumor related.

But don't take my word for it. I'm only staying at a Marriott.

CC

[Since Nov I started using my own choice of reading glasses and since then I have had headaches.]

Your own choice? You didn't see an optician? Does suggesting you consult an optician or opthamologist count as suggesting you see a doctor?

From your name i am guessing you do a fair bit of painting.

After years of happy vision from my glasses I got terrible headaches last year. I knew they were vision related because they were right behind the eyes and got much better when I closed my eyes.

I consulted an optician and he confirmed I needed new glasses. Problem solved. No it wasn't cheap, but in the past I have done as CC advises and used my local university ophthalmic training dept for check ups.

Headache? Try trepanning.

I'd suggest that rather than a doctor, an optician might be better.
Sounds like your perscription is off and you're getting eyestrain.

Eye strain most probable as if it was anything worse it would not be selective as to when it happened. Dehydration can be a big cause of headache so also try drinking more water before you need to concentrate on painting etc.

If the headaches do occur at other times when you are out and not using short vision then I would suggest you get it checked out anyway.

Another thing I just remembered is, I was getting fairly regular headaches a few years ago, and it turned out that I had a bad tooth. They don't call em eye teeth for nothing. That would explain why alcohol dulls the pain. Try taking a shot and hold it against your upper gum for 30 seconds. If the pain instantly goe's away, then you have your answer.

Ohh! Suggesting he go see a dentist! Even better than 'go see a doctor'. ;)

my own choice of reading glasses

Corrective optical lenses are prescriptions. They are prescribed by a doctor. Optomitrists are doctors.

I wouldn't recommend self medicating for pain either.

My mother and sister both had terrible headaches for a few weeks before they dies of cerebral hemorrhages. Not to be the voice of doom, but ignoring things like this can sometimes be very bad.

My mother and sister both had terrible headaches for a few weeks before they dies of cerebral hemorrhages. Not to be the voice of doom, but ignoring things like this can sometimes be very bad

Thanks for the heads up. Now I can go an make up a will. I need to figure out where I will send mu unpainted lead. Hm… Like I said, when it's my time, I am ready. Will suck down a couple more cases of guinness before I get to the cemetery though.

I was at the Dollar General today. They had bins full of reading glasses for a dollar each. Maybe you may want to try a few…

Not going to the doctor is silly, especially if you are having constant pain in your head, unless of course you have a deathwish.

There are plenty of headache causes a doctor can diagnose and treat you for without prescribing a CAT scan or MRI. And even if he does prescribe an expensive test, isn't a couple of grand a small price to pay to alleviate the constant pain, or potentially prevent brain damage, or death?

If you ask me, it's a no-brainer.

Well I'm at least a biologist, and one who is extremely short-sighted and who gets migraines.

I'd second the call to see an optician. A decent eye exam (with atropine for dilation) will check for vision problems and a whole lot else besides – including high blood pressure which might also be a cause.

That drink solves the problem could be because…

a) You don't wear your glasses in the pub or b) The headaches are stress related or c) You have high blood presure and the relaxant helps.

But seriously, see someone medical.