Can't shift this headache!

[natalie_1982]

Hi everyone. I am going insane. My head is thumping, I am sleeping about 12 hours a day and am eating healthily so can't imagine headache is due to lack of sleep or drop in sugar levels (I snack pretty much all day) and am drinking at least 1litre of water per day so don't think I can be dehydrated.

I just can't shake this blooming headache! AGH! Any advice?

[jane1098]

all through my last pregnancy i had a headache, a thumping one at that. i was told it was low blood pressure and to rest as much as possible also avoid stress.
but rest assured baby came out fine and the headaches went.
good luck!

[natalie_1982]

Thanks Jane, so I have 6 more months of this then? great ;-)

I wouldn't mind but I feel pretty smug as I have managed to avoid morning sickness so far!

[jane1098]

sorry nat. you might not be the same. i suppose its all down to the low blood pressure.
you could try the 4head remedy. the one you roll over your forehead.
sorry i wasn't much help.

[redcrx]

id say try and drink more than you are. 1 litre isnt a great deal when pregnant and i dont know about you but Im finding the weather quite sweaty at the moment so Im drinking all the time.

[4getmenot]

creeps in12hrs! I've never been pregnat so dont know what effects that might have, but I know that 12hrs sleep will make you very dehydrated and give you headachesruns away

[VillageVicar]

I learned the most unusual thing from a flight attendant in Brazil many years ago, when I asked for a couple of aspirin whilst on a flight from Rio to Johannesburg. She told me they no longer carried any in their kits, but she�d help me with the headache.

Before I could say anything the woman reached down for my hand and began to pinch�almost dig..her thumb and centre finger into the muscle (just above the web space) between my thumb and index finger. He held it there tightly. It was certainly uncomfortable and on the verge of being painful. But within about a minute or two, my headache began to subside! She told me to continue doing it myself for a few minutes and it would go away. And indeed it did! I�ve done this for the past 20 years, every time I get a headache as a first-choice remedy.

May I please ask, during your pregnancy, are you consuming any caffeine? The general consensus is that you should not have large amounts of caffeine. As a nation of tea drinkers, however, it is part of our national addiction. But the fact is that some of the tannins in tea can cause headaches. On the other hand, caffeine in coffee is a natural migrainous solution. By no means am I suggesting an ongoing regemine of coffees. However, you may find that a couple of hundred mils of CocaCola, or just one milky coffee may help reduce or eliminate your headache. But please, under no circumstances, should you consume anything that contains aspartame. And it�s frightening to learn actually how much of the stuff we�re exposed to each day � whether it�s toothpaste, effervescent vitamins, chewing gum, breath mints, crisps, fizzy drinks, frozen sweets, and some readymade meals! Aspartame is known to cause headaches in people. So caveat emptor!

I do hope you feel better


Fr Bill

[natalie_1982]

Many thanks for all of your answers.

Father Bill I am sure I read somewhere that pregnant women are not supposed to try that headache trick due to it causing contractions or something like that? I will have to look it up. Helpful to know re caffeine though (I have been sutting it out almost completey, so maybe a little cuppa this afternoon. And maybe even treat myself to a biccie too).

You are probably right red and 4get, it may be down to dehydration, but I am drinking the litre of water at work and then probably another litre at home (this is in glasses so I always forget how many, hence putting at least 1 litre!).

If I get worried then I wil have a chat with midwife, I am sure it is normal, just annoying. It's right at the back of my head. Could be tension I guess (extra strain on my back as opposed to me being stressed).

Thanks again x

[VillageVicar]

Natalie, that's fascinating about the pressure point possibly exciting contractions! I've never heard this! I have heard it about certain pressure points on the foot, as well as for headaches, hence the reason why I didn't mention the feet. Could your partner rub your temples for you and apply a cool damp flannel?

I feel badly for you. I do hope it subsides. Again, fascinating to hear about the pressure points. I'll see if I can learn more about this. It could help me where I work!! And I need all the help I can get!!! :-)

Be well

Fr Bill

[asteroid99]

If you used to drink a lot of coffee, etc, and have recently cut out caffine completely, the headaches may be withdrawal symptoms. Sorry not sure how to cure them, but if this is the case then the headaches should stop once your body gets used to functioning without caffiene.

[Psychick]

I can sympathise with you on this one as I am also suffering headaches. I have found using the kool n soothe strips on my forehead are a great help, often totally shifting the headache. Do you sleep the 12 hours in one go? I have found that too much sleep for me in one go can bring on a headache. Also, when I was admitted to hospital a couple of weeks ago, I was on a drip for a couple of days for dehydration and told I should be aiming to drink 3 litres a day! Although Ive upped my intake of fluids, I cant manage that much but drinking around 2 litres has certainly been a help. Monitor what your are drinking, it may feel like 2 litres, but may not be when you add it all up.

Hope you feel better soon.

[Psychick]

Hows the headache today natalie?

[natalie_1982]

Loads better thanks, it's seems to come and go which is why I haven't been able to pin it down to one particular thing like tiredness or anything. Oh well, 14 weeks now so hopefully all the nice bits should start soon!

How are you getting along?

[Psychick]

Ive fnally reached the halway mark! Still being sick almost daily, still getting the headaches and other aches and pains lol Why do they call it the JOYS of pregnancy? lol

[natalie_1982]

Hmmm, I don't know! This is my first time and so far all I have experienced is grumpiness, tiredness and loss of appetite! I keep telling myself that it is fun ;-)