I have headaches. I haven't always, just since a sinus infection in September. Two antibiotics and the infection was gone, but the pain remains. After three doctor visits and a CT scan, we've determined there's no cause for the pain, so here's the explanation I get: when a certain group of nerves is irritated for a period of time, they get "activated" and keep sending pain signals to the brain. So my sinus nerves are activated. What's the cure? Anti-depressants. No kidding. Dr. D. prescribed Elavil in the smallest dose available. I asked about side effects and was told there wouldn't be any with that tiny amount.
Think again.
I took the first one Monday night before bed. Slept like a petrified log, which could have its benefits, but I never did fully wake up on Tuesday. I spent the day in a mental thick-as-pea-soup fog. I'll have to go back and re-check the kids' schoolwork for that day - there's no telling what came out of my mouth. By the end of the day I was completely worked up, thinking I would be feeling like that for the next month while we wait to see if this treatment will really work. I couldn't drive, couldn't shop (e-gads!), couldn't teach my kids (lucky for them), couldn't get ANYTHING done! I was near tears thinking of how negatively this would affect my family, and really! These are supposed to be ANTI-depressants! Hmph!
Today has been better, so I'm hopeful that the side-effect-I-wouldn't-have will go away once my body adjusts to the drug. I really hate the sound of that - I just hate the thought of taking any kind of drug, but if it gets rid of the headaches permanently, I guess it will be worth it.
Be thankful ~
Karen
4 comments:
Oh my! You poor woman!! I get sinus headaches ocassionally for 2 days at time and I just suffer through it; never had your experience, though!
i met a girl at the wilds who was on some psych drug for migraines. the doc decided that she wasn't sleeping well enough for her body, so she got migraines. *shrugs* not exactly alike, but kinda, sorta, not really similar. just thought i'd share O_o
Before they had the wonder drugs for migraines that they now have, my doc used to prescribe me... that's right, Elavil! In the lowest possible dose! When I would take it, I would sleep for 12-16 hours straight and be groggy the following day.
Thank God for Imitrex, Zomig, Maxalt, Relpax, and all the other migraine wonder drugs now available!
If I recall correctly, doc wanted to put me on Elavil as a preventative, but it just completely put me in a daze, and I couldn't deal with it. Here's hoping you either adjust quickly or get to abandon the drug quickly!
Oh no, you're scaring me. I complained to my retinal specialist (long story) about headaches, and she said they're not related to my eyes and I should see my GP. Now I don't want to!
Hope things get better.... and the headaches stop!
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