Headaches.....what do you take to get rid of them?
By applsofgld
@applsofgld (2506)
United States
September 7, 2007 7:47pm CST
I have a pounding headache this evening. I took one of my strong pain pills, but it has done nothing for my headache. I guess I'll have to take a tylenol along with the pain pill. My docs don't like me taking large doses of tylenol b/c of my liver cancer so they prescribe me strong pain meds for when I need them. What do you take for headaches? I used to take Goody's powders and they worked really well. I know some folks like Aleve, Aspirin, etc. I'm curious as to what works the best all the way around.
6 people like this
22 responses
@mimatexas (1818)
• United States
8 Sep 07
I usually take motrin, but only until I have a terrible headache. I am so sorry you have liver cancer, what are the symptoms? they told me I have fat in my liver and don't want me to take too many pills either.
3 people like this
@GardenGerty (160696)
• United States
8 Sep 07
First of all I try to prevent them, by making sure that I get plenty of magnesium in my diet, and taking a magnesium supplement. People have been sending an e-mail around about drinking two glasses of gatorade for a headache--it does seem to help, and I believe it is the minerals (electrolytes), including magnesium. The gatorade also helps me not to get muscle cramps in my legs. If I do have a headache, and it is bad, I take a combination product(store brand it is called migraine relief, or headache relief) that has tylenol, aspirin and caffeine in it. You should talk to your doctors though, cause that combo can get pretty rough on your internal organs. I make it a habit to take any pain med with a caffeinated beverage, because it boosts the effectiveness. I sure hope your headache improves soon. My thoughts on the gatorade and the magnesium is that neither one of them is likely to hurt you.
@GardenGerty (160696)
• United States
8 Sep 07
I take lots of B vitamins, on both the advice of the doctor and the chiropractor. B6 to be specific, as it helps my arthritis pain. I also have read that it helps normalize the body's response to insulin. Could be why I am the person in my family who is not even pre diabetic.
1 person likes this
@theprogamer (10534)
• United States
8 Sep 07
Thanks for the complement Garden, now its time for me to help you out as well. Nutrition wise yes, you are right I've seen people use gatorade to help out a headache, it covers both the mineral side, the dehydration side and hunger side (somewhat, but it does soften the blow). Some B vitamins are also good for increasing blood flow which most headaches are related too (constricted blood vessels, tension in arteries).
2 people like this
@patgalca (18369)
• Orangeville, Ontario
8 Sep 07
I get a lot of sinus headaches. I am the opposite of you, because of my kidneys I cannot take ibuprofen. If my Tylenol 3's don't help a pounding headache I find the best thing for me is to heat up a bean bag, put it on my head and go to bed. I know it sounds weird that heat helps because most people would say ice. But it really does help me.
The other option is "Head On". I have used it and I rub it all over my forehead, my temples and my neck since tension can be the cause of the headache. It does work. You might want to pick yourself up a tube if you have a lot of headaches. This way you are not taking any medication.
Hope you feel better soon.
2 people like this
@applsofgld (2506)
• United States
8 Sep 07
I never thought of Head On, I've heard the commercials and didn't think much of it working. You are the first person I've ever heard say that it actually works. I will have to pick some up to keep on hand. Thanks for posting.
@theprogamer (10534)
• United States
8 Sep 07
I use excedrin, bayer or BC powders. Other than that, a chronic headache may indicate a problem like hypertension. Or maybe its something not as serious, like nausea perhaps. Being malnourished also brings about headaches, as does dehydration.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (160696)
• United States
8 Sep 07
Excellent point about dehydration.
1 person likes this
@surveygirl2003 (169)
• United States
9 Sep 07
The only thing that works for me is Excedrin Migraine (I use the store brand). I also uses Avon's headache remedy which is actually made by HeadOn. It feels like a bengay for a headache to me lol. Sometimes the headon stuff won't cut the headache though.
My sister-in-law can not that the Excedrin that I take because it makes her really dizzy. She said she's allergic to one of its ingredients. So make sure you talk with your doctor really well before taking anything.
1 person likes this
@Yestheypayme2dothis (7874)
• United States
8 Sep 07
The only thing I take is a nap.
1 person likes this
@teapotmommommerced (10359)
• United States
17 Sep 07
I would not take anything unless your doctors allow it because of your liver cancer. I do not know if you know this but your liver is a filter, and since you have liver cancer your liver is already not working correctly.
Aspirin was first made from a willow bark and it works by blocking a certain receptor in the brain. Aleve is an anti inflamatory it stops the swelling of the affected part of the body. I have no idea what Goody's powers are.
I have migrains and I feel your pain. Last Wednesday I had a migraine that make me loose my cookies. I was sick for two days. I hope by now your headache is gone since I am over a week late in posting this.
Good luck with fighting your cancer.
1 person likes this
@applsofgld (2506)
• United States
23 Sep 07
Thank you so much for sharing with me. That particular headache is gone, but I get them pretty often. I have some phenyrgen to take for the nausea. I was taking so much tylenol and those types pain relievers that my docs all of them were in an uproar b/c of my liver. So they prescribed me a narcotic, oxycodone, very low dose for pain management. I tried several others before deciding that this one works the best for me. It really does help with ALL my pain, my cancer, post surgery, back and headache. But sometimes my headache will ONLY respond to tylenol, so I only use tylenol when nothing else helps. Tylenol doesnt help for body aches for me, just headaches. Thank you so much for your concern and well wishes. I am a fighter and I am stubborn, my cancer is slow growing so for that I am thankful, I will always have to stay on top of it, and fight it aggressively, but for now I am enjoying a bit of a remission.
@wonderful1 (2075)
• China
8 Sep 07
i have a headache regularly, because i spend too much time online everyday. sometimes i have a backache too. if i have a headache, then i will have a rest, and go out for a walk, then i feel better. the most important thing is rest.
i have a headache regularly with a stomache, because i have no regular diet. then i will throw up what i eat and go to bed to have a sleep. then i will ok in the next morning. i don't eat any pain killers. it is bad for my health.
i hope you can know the reason about your headache, then you will solve it. good luck.
@applsofgld (2506)
• United States
8 Sep 07
Sorry you get them regularly, hope you get some relief soon. Thanks for posting.
@Sherry12 (2472)
• United States
9 Sep 07
I'm sorry your having a headache. I hope the pain medicine finally started working. I take tylenol when I get one. I can't take aspirin or ibprofin because of other medications I'm taking, so tylenol is all I can take. I've heard that ibprofin works good, you might want to check and see if you can some of it.
1 person likes this
@wotfpatty (2065)
• United States
8 Sep 07
I get a lot of headaches - stress, computer, sinus, whatever. I rarely take anything because it never really does a thing. I usually just suffer through and use my natural buckwheat eye/head pillow (see below). I microwave it for a minute (or freeze it depending) and I strap that on my eyes and head and just try to chill out. Sometimes, I have to sleep for it to settle down.
If I really am hurting, I take Aleve. Nothing else ever worked for headaches for me. I usually can avoid medication if I relax, cover my eyes/sinuses and use either heat or cold packs. I like heat but cold is better for some headaches.
I also have to lower the lights and turn the TV down because everything makes my headaches worse. I have one now as usual but I will just deal with it unless it gets REALLY bad.
Best of luck to you.
@overlordror (41)
• United States
8 Sep 07
I've found one of the best ways to get rid of those headaches that start in your forehead is to take your left hand, pinch the webbing between your thumb and your forefinger, and rub it as hard as you can stand, back and forth, for about 5 minutes. Sounds crazy, eh?
The reason this works is the nerves in the webbing between these two fingers are directly wired to that frontal portion of your brain. By suppressing the nerves in your hand with pressure, you're also suppressing the nerves in your brain.
@TerryZ (22076)
• United States
8 Sep 07
I take Aleeve Ive found that works really well for any kind of pain. I think its better then tynelo and asprin. Also you might want to put a cold rag under your chin and behind your neck. When the rag gets warm run it under real cold water and repeat. Hope you feel better.
@switlyf (649)
• Philippines
8 Sep 07
you should not be taking large doses of any medicine..because after some till you be dependent on that that even large doses will not affect you anymore...me i just drink a lot of water..since its so hot here in the philippines i need a lot of water but if i couldnt stand the pain i will take a med and sleep...
1 person likes this
@JUICYGIRL (2)
• United States
8 Sep 07
I take es vicodin to relieve my headaches but sometimes,especially during allergy season I find that the pill dries my sinuses making my headaches worsen with pressure. I also know you can't take vicodin due to the tylenol ingredient that's in the pill which may cause complications to your liver condition so I would recommend taking a luke warm bath and massaging your temples in a circular movement to circulate the blood flow whcich should reduce the pressure relieving the pain.
