What is a vascular headache?

[DSM3KIDZ]

I have 15+ headaches/migraines a month. Just started 2 months ago. Never experienced this before. Anyways I read all the postings on headaches and some of you mention vascular headaches. my neuro never told me which kind I have. She gave me migraine meds so I just assumed they are migraines. I get them sometimes when I wake in the morning, but usually when I've been up and around. They come more toward the evenings. I feel like there is not enough blood or oxygen getting to my head. It a weird feeling. So all you headache potters can you tell me how do you know if they are vasular?

sorry if I misspell alot. My vision has been alittle blurry since pots.

dayna

[DSM3KIDZ]

I did a search on the web. I should have done that before posting. From my reading a vascular headache is just a type of migraine. So it's probally my type. I think I'll start recoding my BP along with the headaches to see if changes in bp has any effect.

[briarrose]

True enough, they consider migraine a type of vascular headache. But there are different types of migraines & vascular headaches too.

http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/headache/headache.htm

Depending on which beta blocker you take, some of them also help with migraines, such as atenolol.

You say you feel as there isn't enough blood or oxygen in your brain, this could be true if your anemic.

I prefer to take Imitrex for my headaches as it usually provides near instant relief.

Searching the web is a great place for info too, just becareful which website your at.

Steph

[Guest Mary from OH]

Dayna,

Migraines are a type of vascular headache, or vice versa as you found out. Interestingly enough, not enough is still known about the mechanism of migraines or "curing" them. Sounds similar to POTS, huh?! Sorry to bring you more bad news.

I am a migraine sufferer for 30 years. Both of my parents have migraines. My daughter also has migraines, both in her head and abdomen. I will be more than happy to answer any questions you might have. Be sure to ask your dr. lots of questions, including your diagnosis and about your treatment plan. Make sure you are on a preventative medication as well as an abortive medication.

Also, know what triggers your migraines. Since you say that yours came on suddenly, have they done a CT scan or MRI to rule out any major problems. It's unusual for migraines to present suddenly. Sometimes they are misdiagnosed for many years. Usually if you have them you will get them when you are younger or by your college years.

Please feel free to email me any time!!

Migraines are a crippling disease! I have intractable migraines and am still on morphine every day. They are under much better control now. I am on a total of 3 preventatives. I have multiple abortives, in pill and shot form.

I pray your condition gets taken care of. Let me know if I can help.

[DSM3KIDZ]

Mary from Ohio

They did a ct scan and mri and the mri showed a small spot that they felt was nothing to worry about. She said she sees that in alot of migrainer's mri. I just started having them 2 months ago so that's weird. I had a headaches 1 or 2x a year but never migraines. So on top of POTS and Gastroparesis I have yet another dx with no cure. I'm hoping they will subside. No one in my family has them and like I said before neither did I.

I wish you well with yours.

Dayna

[Radha]

mary, i could use your help! i get terrible headaches daily and codeine,ultram, darvocet arent giving relief even imitrex doesnt do much, how did you get your doc to give you morphine and isnt it addicting and does it lower bp? and what else do you take? i already take beta blockers for tachycardia but they dont help me for headaches, and i find eating alot of time gives me a headache, doesnt matter what i eat, no allergies, i have low blood volume, so maybe when blood is distributed, it causes the headaches, anyway, the pain is so bad and so fed up! any input would be appreciated, thanks

radha

[Guest Mary from OH]

Dayna,

This is the third time I have typed this in!!! LOL!! Gotta love computers!!

I am concerned with the evidence on your MRI. Since you have not have migraines until recently, I would consider the findings unusal. Normal for migraines. But, not normal for "a few migraines". Typically MRI findings are found in people who have severe migraines for extensive periods. You do not fall into this category.

Do you see a dr who is a MIGRAINE specialist?? If not, I would highly suggest getttng a 2nd opinion from one. Also, you are still experiencing too many migraines and a tremendous amount of pain. POTS and migraines frequently do go hand-in-hand so this isn't uncommon. You just need someone skilled in migraines to help you find the right "cocktail" for you. Here is a list of reputable websites to look for specialists in your area. I hope you don't mind me being so upfront, but migraines is something I've struggled with and educated myself about for 30 years.

http://www.achenet.org/

http://www.achenet.org/

http://headaches.about.com/

http://www.migraines.org/treatment/

Those are the 3 main societies for Migraine Research and Treatment. And Teri Robert is the leading Patient Advocate for Migraine Research and Treatment and works with all those organizations. I know her personally and she is a migraine sufferer herself.

I wish you a pain-free journey and good luck in finding the "right" dr.

[Guest Mary from OH]

Radha-

I think I would suggest to you what I suggested to Dayna. Please take a look at the websites I provided. See an actual MIGRAINE specialist. It makes the world of difference. A true migraine specialist will get your migraines, no matter how bad they are under better control. Just like POTS, there is no cure. But they CAN make life better. Take a look and see who's near you. If you have any specific questions about names, let me know. I've heard of quite a few around the country.

That would be my best suggestion. It's not a matter of which med is better, mine or your's , it's what is best for you. You might even be in a case of rebound headaches from taking too MUCH medicine. Many people are. It's so complicated. I would first get with a good dr and go from there.

Have you kept a migraine diary? Do you know your triggers? What preventatives do you take? Do you stay on a constant daily sleep schedule? Do you eat at the same times every day? Do you make sure that you don't go too long between meals?

Check out Teri Robert's website. I think you will find it very informative. It is the about.com one.

Let me know if you have any specific questions. You can even send me a personal message if you would like if you feel it is more appropriate.

Take care!! Migraines are a very painful disease!