Severe Headaches

Hi! I am so sorry to hear that you feel so awful. Have you tried seeing a chiropractor? I am new to the area but where I moved from, there were chiropractors who specialized in pregnant, infant, and children patients. I saw one for about 6 months (not pregnant) to relieve my stress headaches and carpel tunnel symptoms. It really, really helped. Good luck! C.

Hello, Congradulations! on your soon to be new aditions to your family, I just wanted to give you both some encouragement, I am a mother of 6 and your both right about each prenency is different from each other, I had strong headaches with my 5th child and found out near the end what was the cause, I was breathing in a lot of stagment air cause of the humidity it was summer time in May through August and I also was suffering from another health condition high blood pressure along with high cholesterol and a non working thyroid which is called hypo thyroidism, I encourage you to have these checked, just in case, a poor thyroid can be just as dangerous as high blood pressure and high cholesterol, I didn't even eat a high fat diet, it's just the way health is for some of us so be good to your selves and have these issues addressed with your Dr's.
take care, drink lots of water too!

Hi K.-
I can imagine that that's pretty tough to deal with if you've got a four year old and a one year old at home. It's a little unfortunate, as well, that you're just being given prescriptions - a little bit of conversation with you may go a long way at helping you and your practitioner understand what's going on. I'm a nurse and doula and have been for a number of years and, of course I don't know your medical history or current condition necessarily, but you could be suffering these headaches because of the tidal wave of hormones that are setting up particularly in your first trimester. Are you nursing your 1 year old or did you also recently wean? If so, that can also exacerbate the headaches.
You know, I know we live in a can do! society and that pregnancy is not an illness (although it can promote what feels like illness) and all that jazz. But I do completely believe that your body is guiding you into what it needs right now. You are currently growing the most important organs and systems for your baby and really that's not small work for the mother's body - it needs rest to recuperate and grow this baby. So on an intuitive level your headaches are getting you to do what you might otherwise not give yourself.
Chances are a traditional OB won't be able to help you herbally or even emotionally. If a prescription is what you need and helps then you're on track. But if it's not you might want to consider talking to an herbalist or homeopath to help witht he hormones without swinging you unsafely out of balance.

What you're describing sounds more like a migrain. I had severe headaches with my daughter, and as I am almost 6 wks pregnant with our 3rd, the headaches have returned. They are not debilitating as you describe, so I would recommend seeing your dr asap. My headaches with dizziness ended up being anemia.
Hope that helps :) and congratulations!

K.,

I was just reading in my magazine (First - July 30th issue) about a woman with SIBO "Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth" and her symptoms sounded A LOT like yours! This woman had seen a GI specialist who ruled out IBS "Irritable Bowel Syndrome" and was able to give her the SIBO diagnosis which it turned out to be!

It may seem odd to relate headaches to GI problems, but it really makes sense!

See if you can pick up the magazine at the grocery store checkout - it's $1.99 or if you have a fax # I can send it to you.

-C.

Hi K.. I have no idea how to help you. But, I wanted to let you know that I too have been having severe headaches. I am 18 weeks along now with my second child. The headaches started 4 days ago, and just won't go away. They hurt so bad and no amount of Tylenol will make them go away. I'm starting to get concerned. I have also been so exhausted with this pregnancy, but that may be because I stay home full time with my 3-year-old son...haha. Anyway, if you do find out anything, I'd love to know, and vice versa. Good luck and take care.
- M.

That sounds terrible. I agree, you should try some other types of medicine. Vicodin is not going to be the best for you or your baby. Chiropractors have worked miracles for my headaches. Also, look for acupuncturists/acupressure, any oriental medicine. You may want to go see a different doctor if you feel like yours isn't addressing the problem!
Good luck!

I'm 12 weeks with my 2nd pregnancy, I have a 2 year old girl and also had a miscarriage. this pregnancy is totally different, the last few weeks i've had major headaches, and my doctor just referred me to a neurologist to see why this is happening. maybe you should ask for a referal? I don't know yet if it will help, but anything is worth a shot at this point. Good luck!