Stress Center Peer Support

Hello everyone.

For 1 1/2 weeks now I have been experiencing sinus pain-like headaches that are localized on one side of the head (eye, nasal, temple, side of head) that last for a few hours and then stops. The next day it comes back but targets the opposite side of the head.

I think I might be experiencing cluser or migraine headaches on top of a sinus infection.

On Tuesday, I saw my Primary Care Physician and he said that I had a low grade fever and felt that I have a possible sinus infection. He prescribed Augmentin 875 mgs to be taken twice a day along with using Fluticasone spray 2 puffs in each nostril once a day. I have lost about 7 pounds.

If it is a sinus infection it must be severe and I have no discharge or drainage. I am not convinced that it's 100% a sinus infection.

After not being able to sleep much, I called my doctor on Thursday morning and explained that my headache has persisted and the office advised me to go to the emergency room.

At the hospital, they took bloodwork, checked my vital signs, and performed a CT Scan of my head. Also, they gave me a shot of Compazine. The shot of Compazine took away the headache and the nausea but unfortunately gave me a horrible reaction of making me super anxious. I could't even lay still and kept jerking back and forth trying to get comfortable but the shot increased my anxiety level on top of things (took a good day to get the Compazine out of my body).

Fortunately, all of my bloodwork and the CT Scan came back normal. The doctor offered to perform a Spinal Tap but I certainly didn't feel that it was necessary at this point.

The headaches are painful and uncomfortable but I can manage to function with them. My mother suffered from cluser headaches for years and they mysteriously went away for her in the mid 90s. My aunt has suffered from migraine headaches for years.

At this point, I am staying on the Augmentin and Fluticasone spray until I'm finished and going to start taking Excedrin Migraine if the headaches persist. I am going to follow-up with my Primary Care Physician on Monday so he can see me after he reviews my CT Scan and blood test results.
I can accept that I might now be having migraines or cluser headaches if that's the case... Perhaps there is a sinus infection that is making it worse??? Can one have a severe sinus infection that doesn't promote symptoms such as green mucous and discharge??

Also another concern of mine is that I haven't experience any headache relief in at least a day or two 100%. My mother for example (when she got clusters), would experience a headache for 2 hours maxium. My aunt (that gets migraines) will have a headache for a few days and then it goes away. Mine seem to be localized on one side and last for hours and then it goes to the opposite side of the head the next day - this has been going on for almost 2 weeks.

It's important for me to mention that I have been going through a lot of stress with my sales job and I am looking for a new job. The last several months have been extremely stressful and I have a new manager that is micro managing me on top of things.

My situation has upset me so much that at night I can't seem to relax in bed because I think something is seriously wrong with my head/brain. I still think all of this despite my bloodwork and CT Scan coming back normal.

Also, back in 1996, I had sinus surgery to correct a deviated septum.

Any support or thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!!

John

Make sure you tell the doctor everything...

Check your furnace and any place you attend for a bad heat exchanger or the possibilty for carbon monoxide or other gasses. Are you around paints or chemicals?

Hope ya find a cause or a realistic reason for them.

Hey,

You should be seeing an ENT for your condition,above is very good info.Get a carbon monoxide detector,looks like a fire detector.Hepa filter for your heating system.Augmentin can cause real stomach issues and big time if your not eating,sounds like Zithromax Z-Pak would be better.MRI of the head and sinuses would be in order since you had sinus surgery to correct a deviated septum in the past.Any stimulants may increase pulse rate and BP,increase chance of H/A.

Fluticasone is a steroid - Tell your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur: vision problems, persistent headache, increased thirst or urination, unusual weakness or weight loss, dizziness. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for more details, and tell them that you use (or have used) this medication.

Excedrin used to have Caffeine in it not sure if it still does ?

Hx of Migraines in the family maybe another thing to look at.The antibiotic may have taken out the infection,but if you have fluid in the ears that takes time for the fluid to resolve even after the infection is gone ! You may have to push your primary to get a referral !!!!!!

Best to you

Thank you SoWhatif and Sit-N-Spin... I appreciate the feedback.

I have been sick to my stomach with loss of appetite so I'm going to see if my doctor will switch antibiotics for me.

At this point, I don't know if he's just going to look at my CT Scan results and suggest a migraine medication or have me wait it out until I'm finished with antibiotics for another week... Also, I do feel like there's a litte bit of pressure in my ears (the other day I bent down at the oven and could feel some pressure in my ear).

Would migraine or cluster headaches cause the dull ache feeling in the ear with pressure-like sensations?

I have been trying to back track to when this all began... For months I have been upset with my job and it's been on my mind nonstop. Also, I travel all around Western PA/West Virginia in sales... there's a lot of mountains and hills. It seems like these hills/mountains make my ears feel full and my head bewildered.

I really don't know... I feel like I got myself so worked up about work and stuff that something triggered all of this. I remember talking to a friend on the phone and all of a sudden I felt a quick, sharp numbing pain in the back of my head. Then a few days later the headache started. The temperature here has been very cold so perhaps the cold air being inhaled exacerbated the headaches as well.

Like I said, I can function with the headache... when I was in ER the doctor asked me on a scale of 1-10 what is the pain and my response was a 5-6. I did go all day Saturday without a headache.

I have completely eliminated all sugar, caffeine, soda pop, sweets and junk out of my diet.

What do you do for relaxation? Not that I need to know, just that you must have something to get your mind at a off work and your ailments playing over and over.
I do love the foothills of Pa and WV. You a lucky person. Chewing gum can help with the altitude changes. I dont think it causes problems but I am no dr. If there is issues in the ear it will more than likely be felt as you travel. Ever tried a nettie pot for the sinuses?
Get something else to think about that is not about you and work....

Hang in there.

Great no H/A for a day -that may show very something good.yawning helps pop the ears from altitude changes as well,keep a journal for MD visits,still think you should have an MRI down the road,CAT scan will not show the detail that a MRI would,Do you ever have any type of Jaw pain,Hx TMJ ?It may help you to do some reading on the inner ear,for information related to the continued altitude changes they might have better idea's listed on line.Just some things to help you rule out ,the ear and H/A connection ?


Best to you !

After thought you may want to use ear plugs when your in the cold are for extended periods of time or after taking a show and walking to the car.cold air can have a great effect on the ear even if we think the ear canal is dry,avoid sudden position changes to give your body time to adjust will help prevent dizziness !

My husband had headaches for a long time period and thought they were just sinus infections or headaches. Finally after excruciating pain, and other symptoms he did go to an ER and they did a CAT scan which showed or appeared to be Bleeding in the Brain, but then later an MRI showed a brain tumor at the base of his skull.

So an MRI could at least rule out a brain tumor that can cause headache pain.