For the past several years, I’ve had “ice pick headaches” semi-regularly. It’s not tremendously often I have them–maybe once a month. or even once every other month–and usually it’s just for a day or two. On those days, I might have anywhere from a half-dozen to two dozen quick, extremely painful jabs, and I’ve learned just to breathe through them and take comfort in the fact that they’ll be gone soon.
Other times, however, are worse. This time, for instance. For almost two weeks now, I’ve had scores and scores of excruciating jolts every day, sometimes being woken from a sound sleep by the sensation of someone slamming a hammer into my head. Staggered doses of acetaminophen and ibuprofen are helping to a degree, but even the maximum doses of both won’t kill the pain completely. I’ve been taking so many pills for so many days that I started keeping a little flow chart of what I take and when, just to make sure I stay within the recommended limits. It’s impressive.
For the past few days I keep thinking that it’s getting better, only to have it come back with a vengeance when I least expect it, so I finally broke down and called the doctor’s office today. As I expected would happen, I wasn’t able to get an appointment with a doctor (now is not a good time to ask me how I feel about socialized medicine), but the nurse did tell me she’d have the doctor send in a prescription for indomethacin that I can pick up tomorrow or Wednesday. It’s a drug I’ve taken before and didn’t find particularly effective, and in any case I’ve just read that I can’t take it while nursing, so that’s not much of a solution.
I told Olof yesterday that the standard response you get when you call the doctor’s office here is, “Just wait and see how it goes … if you don’t die, that’s good,” and that’s pretty much what I got. I guess I’ll just wait it out, then. As luck (ha!) would have it, I’m in the queue for a new MRI, per my neurologist, for other reasons, so sooner or later we’ll find out if there’s anything unusual–or more unusual than normal–going on in my brain. Until then all I’ve got is the less than comforting word “idiopathic,” which is doctor-speak for “we haven’t a fucking clue; sucks to be you.”
My mother-in-law had some very weird headache problems and they were because of something they called the fifth nerve. It lasted a few years, and she finally got rid of it after some varying treatments. It started after she fell on her head after tripping on the dog. I hope they can figure out something that gives you relief.
Sounds like it’s more difficult to get a doctor’s appointment where you live compared to here in Stockholm. Have you talked to Vårdguiden? They are usually really good in giving you advice on whether to call the doctor or not, and helping you with arguments for when you do call you doctor’s office about an appointment.
I had to go to the doctor the other day and had both a good conversation with Vårdguiden and got an appointment at my doctor’s office the same day at 15.30.
Do you have a närakut/jourmottagning you can go to if you don’t manage to get an appointment but don’t want to bother the ER?
Is it a type of migraine you have – though it doesn’t sound like it (I get migraines)?
Thanksgiving is coming up? You guys doing anything this year? If so, when where, etc?
Sarah! I’ve been meaning to write to you, but you know how I am about that … /
We’re doing Thanksgiving next Saturday (the 29th) here in Bureå. It’s not at the same place as last year, but right next door — I’ll send you better directions later. We thought we’d start at five-ish or so … go ahead and invite your in-laws if you’d like! 🙂
Speaking of your in-laws, I’m glad your MIL’s headaches finally got better … I think mine is some sort of nerve thing as well, which is very frustrating, but it’s at least feeling better at the moment!
Anna, we don’t have any närakut or anything here … it’s vårdcentralen or the ER, unfortunately. I do seem to talk to the sjukvårdsupplysning, which I think is the same as Vårdguiden, on a pretty regular basis. I think we get as much help from them as we do from going to the doctor’s office.
In any case, I am feeling better now … I took only two Alvedon today! 😉
I used to get migraines, but I haven’t for years, and you’re right, it’s not really the same. To tell the truth, I think think migraines are worse, pain-wise, but they have the benefit of better treatment. The drug I used to take for that would knock me right out, which is something I miss with these ice-pick things.
Yeah, Vårdguiden and Sjukvårdsupplysningen is the same. I guess families with kids are their most frequent callers, didn’t think of that!
Glad to hear you’re feeling better! My migraines are not as bad as they can get. I only get them once or twice a month and if I take my medicine it goes away for 12 hours even it leaves me a bit drowsy and weird. I usually comes back once or twice and I have to take another pill, but at least I can function. But sometimes I wish just for a normal headache instead! Those ice-pick things don’t sound so nice either though!
Maybe I’ve confused people, here. I’m the first Sarah with the mom-in-law and I just enjoy your blog (as well as Swedish Alien in California and Anna Fair and True). I don’t have a blog myself. Just an American “girl” living in the Midwest…but with a Norwegian/Swedish heritage, so I love the blogs! I’m not comment #3 Sarah…but I wish you all a great Thanksgiving. Wish I were going to Sweden..maybe someday! I first found these blogs when I was googling “Julmust” last year. It’s almost that time, isn’t it?
Man I’m confused! hehe.
Anyways. I’ll invite the inlaws, don’t think she’s got any headaches. 😉 Might drag along a friend who is in town for the weekend too. We’ll see how everything goes. Let me know if you want us to bring anything or help out with anything.