Daily Headaches + some other symptoms

[Laura]

I sure hope you read the health threads here on the forum so you will stop eating poisons that can do irreparable damage to your baby. There's also a host of articles in Health and Wellness on sott.net.

 

[einheri-limetree]

Thanks for the thread! I have the same problems since years,and i have generell tensions in the headarea,neck and shoulder and in the face.I would they my lifestyle plays a major part,i have very problems to handle stress and its in my nature that i have the tendency to lost me in my mind and in my own inner world,not only as a defense mechanism and a survival mechanism.I am more in generell a nervous and fire nature.One big problem what i have,is for me to let my mind go und be are in the situation complete without a chattering mind,i have the fear to lost my mind.I am in a poor condition now and my mental abilitys now more on a low level,but not the pain or the illnesses or symptoms makes me really fear,i have more the fear to lost my mind,sounds strange but for me i have the feeling i would lost my identity. That is for me more scary as the body death.


The other things that scarys me,sometimes only when i make little things like the dish washing i come in energetic conditions and i have trouble to come clear with that.Or in the last months i have sometimes a experience that something like a energy burst came out of my head und goes in the body or a energy wave goes in my head. i have than trouble to handle it,i have so or so trouble with my body and sometimes to work with my body oder to be aware of my body.As i had searched for something ,i had found a very interesting article about bioenergetic types and the work of Alexander Lowen and what i have found,what describes some things very accurate is the bioenergetic body type of the schizoid bodytyp character. Interesting that he wrote about the relationship to the mother and that this split is a survival split in the early childhood,when the mother hates very strong her own child and terrorises her child / takes no care of the child. This was so or so a strange episode,as my mother was pregnant with my they become a psychotic,hear voices and saw strange things,and the voices told her,i would be a demon,a little devil and the best option would be to kill me. And sometimes she saw strange beings.As i was a baby than from time to time,she let me alone and goes in antoher room,cages the door and hide themselves. :O What for a damned situation,i know that my mother must have great fear,i know it i have the some fights with my fear and had some strange experiences in the last years.
Or for all what i have made,they punished me or from time to time,when they had trouble or has made something wrong,they came very wild and aggressive in my room and theys things like,why have you made this, you little damned thing,why must you live,you destroys my live,you little monster makes only problems.About the other things i wish not to speak.

So,maybe this energetic bodytype could be the main factor beyond the headaches and the tensions?

 

[svjetlonosa]

The other things that scarys me,sometimes only when i make little things like the dish washing i come in energetic conditions and i have trouble to come clear with that.Or in the last months i have sometimes a experience that something like a energy burst came out of my head und goes in the body or a energy wave goes in my head. i have than trouble to handle it,i have so or so trouble with my body and sometimes to work with my body oder to be aware of my body.As i had searched for something ,i had found a very interesting article about bioenergetic types and the work of Alexander Lowen and what i have found,what describes some things very accurate is the bioenergetic body type of the schizoid bodytyp character.

Well. I experienced energy burst in my body, which I didn't know how to manage. The worst thing was that huge headaches came afterwards.
I am repeating myself, but water helped me. A long shower with not water chillier than usual. I would relax my body allowing to pain to flush out. Sometimes it brings relief, not allways. :/

 

[Brenda86]

Actually, I have not had a single diet soda since February! :D And I realized the yogurt I was eating had aspartame, as well, so I also stopped eating that. And I was completely headache free after a few weeks. I did start to have a few headaches again when I became pregnant, but they've gone now too now that my body has adjusted to the hormones.

I have to admit my diet could still be better - I still eat a sandwich here and there. Occasionally I will have some dairy, too, but I've definitely cut back tons over the past several months. I LOVE brown rice, so I know I'm eating at least one thing often that's good for me and the baby.

The pregnancy is going very well so far. I'll be 22 weeks on Sunday. So far no signs of this baby coming early. My stress level also seems to continue to get better and better, as I am able to assert myself much better when it comes to my mom. And my relationship with my boyfriend is like... actually, I'm not sure of the words to use... I'm completely comfortable, secure, calm, etc with him. so there's no stress there, thankfully.

I think my headaches were a painful mix of the high stress I had at the time plus the aspartame.

I'm glad about you being able to assert yourself better and that your relationship is going good, and especially that your stress levels are down. I just don't know what to think that much about your diet changes. I don't want to instill guilt feelings in you, it's just that if I were you, if I would have been pregnant I would give my All to my baby. And not have a sandwich here and there, a little bit of dairy, or have ''at least one thing'' that I often eat that's good for me and my baby. But that's me.

I know it's difficult, but not impossible and good food can be delicious too. In the end it's your baby and not mine, I just had to say this. Take care.

It's not that I don't know I need to do better... lots of times I find myself trying to justify it by saying it's really not that bad when I know the truth is that I'm just not able to afford to buy myself the food I know is good and still feed the 3 other people in this house - sometimes 4 since my brother just moved in and didn't buy any groceries of his own for over 2 weeks.

I feel really stuck as long as I am living in my mom's house and I just have not been able to convince my boyfriend that we need to go ahead and move. All of this really isn't appropriate for the diet and health section, I'm sure... It's just... I had another talk with my mom today that made me realize I was only fooling myself into thinking she was really coming around... She may not be on drugs anymore (or might, who knows??) but SHE is still the same.

 

[Ca.]

Hi Brenda86, i thought that would include this article as possible cause, as i didn't read it as being a possible culprit. I know that time's when i have worked out doors under the heat of the day, that if i don't keep the fluid levels up, as well as electrolyte's, that will have similar feelings that you have described. I would say the quality of the water would be important, as well and the source, like filtered tap or reverse osmosis. It may not be the answer, but maybe it will help narrow down the issue. Also, Ice packs at times, help.

Dehydration Headaches
Can Dehydration Cause Headaches?
From James J. Lehman DC
Updated February 10, 2009

This article describes some observations about a possible connection between not drinking enough water and getting headaches. The guest author is James Lehman, DC, a professor of orthopedics and neurology at the University of Bridgeport College of Chiropractic in Bridgeport, Connecticut.

Do Americans Drink Enough Water?
I frequently read that 75% of Americans do not drink enough water. Even the CIGNA Behavioral web site authors referenced this statement by B. Levine, Hydration 101: The Case for Drinking Enough Water. This same website claimed that dehydration was a major cause of headaches. My clinical experience confirms that many of my patients with headaches are also not drinking adequate amounts of water.
I don't know if 75% is the exact percentage of Americans who don't drink enough water but I am certain that many of my patients are not properly hydrated. People perceive that they are too busy to drink water. They don't want to waste time with the very normal process of urination. And some people hate the taste of water.

In other words, many individuals consider the frequent consumption of water to be a real headache.

Symptoms and Signs of Dehydration and Dehydration Headaches
Thirst is not usually the first symptom or the only symptom of dehydration. Other symptoms of dehydration include:
Fatigue
Headache
Dry mouth
Dizziness
Weakness
Rapid heartbeat
Dry, flushed skin
Muscle cramps, and myofascial pain.
A common sign of dehydration observed in my clinic is extreme muscle pain upon palpation of the muscle tissues. This muscle pain is exhibited upon examination with a positive jump sign. A positive jump sign occurs when a patient reacts strongly to gentle touching of the involved muscles and quickly moves away from the palpating fingers. One of the most common signs of dehydration involves a loss of skin tone or loose, wrinkled skin.

Children Experience Dehydration Headaches
What many of us don't realize is that dehydration is one of the causes of frequent headaches, even in children. The International Life Sciences Institute published an excellent monograph, Hydration: Fluids for Life, which states: Children, and especially infants and toddlers, are at greater risk of dehydration than adults. Dehydration in children is not only serious, but can be life-threatening.
The very respected Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research acknowledged inadequate hydration as a cause of headaches in children in "Headaches and kids: More common -– and complicated -– than you think." Mary Cooper S.R.D., a community dietitian at the Leeds Schools, wrote an article in The School Nutrition Action Group Newsletter's called, "Good Hydration – Hype or a Neglected Area?" She researched the fluid requirements, shared the Leeds experience, suggested actions, and offered standards and guidance. She stated that the effects of poor hydration range in the short term from thirst and headaches, continence problems and constipation to concerns of urinary tract infections, renal stones and renal disease in the longer term. I commend this initiative to encourage drinking more water as a Healthy Schools Standard. If children are encouraged to increase their water intake, they are more likely to enjoy a healthy childhood and possibly continue to drink enough water as adults.

Dehydration Headaches or Coffee Headaches?

Recently I have encountered a number of adult patients complaining of headaches who reported drinking less water than they should. To make it worse the majority of their fluid replacement involved the consumption of coffee. As an example, a 59-year-old male claimed to drink about 24 ounces of water per day. This was a big man weighing 210 pounds. Normally, I would suggest a man of this size to drink at least 80 ounces of water. He mentioned that most of his water came from drinking coffee. I cringed and wondered what prevented him from suffering with kidney stones. He then stated that he has been experiencing pain in his kidneys. Now I am wondering whether people suffer headaches from too much caffeine or too little water?
I suggested to the patient that he drink more water. He was advised that he should reduce his coffee intake and implement a life style change that would include drinking 100 ounces of water per day. It was stressed that he should drink no more than three to four ounces at a time repetitively throughout the day and into the early evening.

Dehydration Headaches and Muscle Pain
It has been my experience that most people suffering with daily headaches have multiple causes. An article in the Journal of Neurology and Psychiatry implies that chronic headaches occur daily, up to 15 days per month. This same article also lists tension type headaches as the most common primary headache. Normally, I would consider tension type headaches to be stress induced and related to muscle trigger points, dehydration, and cervical joint dysfunction. The cure to such headaches usually involves the following:
Drinking water
Regular exercise
Postural exercises
Stretching
Spinal manipulation

Stressors must be eliminated or dealt with in an effective manner.

Many headache specialists, including chiropractic and osteopathic physicians use the diagnostic term of "Cervicogenic Headaches," which indicates that the cause of the headache is in the neck. Although, dehydration and stress issues may be related to this type of headache, spinal manipulation is normally required to resolve the biomechanical problems in the neck.
How Much Water Should You Drink to Prevent Dehydration Headaches?
Although there are varying opinions, I suggest that adults and children drink 40 ounces of water per 100 pounds of body weight every day. Realize that exercise, ambient temperature, and state of health affect the water needs of your body. I strongly recommend the monograph "Hydration: Fluids for Life" as a resource to determine individual water drinking needs.
Dr. Lehman's Dehydration and Headache Sources:

 

[Brenda86]

I also want to add... I understand what you are saying Oxajil, and of course I want to best for my baby. I don't know if some people have an easier time cutting stuff out or if it's just very easy to make justifications (which it IS, VERY EASY to do). I was trying to do it gradually before I unexpectedly got pregnant. A sandwich here and there for me is like... MAYBE one a month, when I used to eat them daily. The cereal I eat is rice cereal and most of the time I have that with almond or rice milk. A FEW times I've had real milk, but it upsets my stomach so I've done pretty good avoiding that. My vice is really cheese. I've cut back on it a LOT, but it's been hard. Unfortunately, becoming pregnant, while making me want even more to do better with everything in my life, did not make me perfect. It doesn't mean I care any less about my child because I make mistakes. You will never hear me say I'm not a work in progress. I know I could do even better, but I do feel I've made decent progress considering my situation and maybe my tone about it a few posts back was a too flippant and that is what rubbed you the wrong way, but I do feel it's unfair to assert what "you would do if you were pregnant"... Like I said... I'm trying and have come a long way, but still have lots changes to make.

To c.a. - Thanks for the extra info. Right now I really have not been suffering from headaches, so my guess it that it was either the aspartame or hormones from my birth control pill since I also had a few bad headaches at the very beginning of my pregnancy.

 

[Brenda86]

Laura - I will definitely spend some more time reading in the Diet and Health section... I'm sure I still have a lot of ignorance about different things going into my body and I really do want the best for my baby.

 

[anart]

I also want to add... I understand what you are saying Oxajil, and of course I want to best for my baby. I don't know if some people have an easier time cutting stuff out

I don't know anyone who has an easy time cutting stuff out. We're all addicted to so many poisons - it is HARD. The point is that at some point you realize you are HURTING yourself and you stop - despite how hard it is.

Regarding your mother, it could really be no other way, Brenda, which is what was pointed out to you a long time ago. You know what you get if you stay there - it's where you've always been and what you've always gotten. Maybe it's time to find out what you get when you change everything and start living your life for yourself and your child instead of for your mother and her sickness.

 

[Oxajil]

I also want to add... I understand what you are saying Oxajil, and of course I want to best for my baby. I don't know if some people have an easier time cutting stuff out or if it's just very easy to make justifications (which it IS, VERY EASY to do). I was trying to do it gradually before I unexpectedly got pregnant. A sandwich here and there for me is like... MAYBE one a month, when I used to eat them daily. The cereal I eat is rice cereal and most of the time I have that with almond or rice milk. A FEW times I've had real milk, but it upsets my stomach so I've done pretty good avoiding that. My vice is really cheese. I've cut back on it a LOT, but it's been hard. Unfortunately, becoming pregnant, while making me want even more to do better with everything in my life, did not make me perfect. It doesn't mean I care any less about my child because I make mistakes. You will never hear me say I'm not a work in progress. I know I could do even better, but I do feel I've made decent progress considering my situation and maybe my tone about it a few posts back was a too flippant and that is what rubbed you the wrong way, but I do feel it's unfair to assert what "you would do if you were pregnant"... Like I said... I'm trying and have come a long way, but still have lots changes to make.

Okay Brenda, thanks for sharing, I understand.

 

[Oxajil]

I also want to add... I understand what you are saying Oxajil, and of course I want to best for my baby. I don't know if some people have an easier time cutting stuff out

I don't know anyone who has an easy time cutting stuff out. We're all addicted to so many poisons - it is HARD. The point is that at some point you realize you are HURTING yourself and you stop - despite how hard it is.

Regarding your mother, it could really be no other way, Brenda, which is what was pointed out to you a long time ago. You know what you get if you stay there - it's where you've always been and what you've always gotten. Maybe it's time to find out what you get when you change everything and start living your life for yourself and your child instead of for your mother and her sickness.

It is pretty common for people who grow up in narcissistic families to still believe that things can go back to normal, or that the family situation can be fixed.
I have thought the same, but I now realize that there isn't much I can do, I chose to just stay myself and love them and somehow accept them for who they ''chose'' to be, giving their right to exist, as they want to. And Brenda, you can do the same, even when you have left her (or stopped contacting her). Sometimes leaving a person, is an act of love. And the first person you are responsible for is yourself. I know your sister is probably having a hard time too, but when you are settled in nicely, in a warm and safe place, while somehow sneaky keeping in touch with your sister and telling her to be strong, she might go find her own place when she can or maybe even join you, and if that isn't possible she could stay with you for a few nights any time she feels like it, IF she and you have a healthy relationship. Most importantly, you come first though. Then comes the rest.

From the book The Narcissistic Family (yes, here I go again, I'm loving this book):

We tell the patients a story that uses the "going back to the well" metaphor to help them understand what they are doing:

Let's say that there is a well in your backyard. It's very quaint looking: round, made of old stones, with a little roof on top, and a bucket that you can lower to draw up cool, sweet water. You have many fond childhood memories of going out to the well, maybe with a grandparent or sibling or parent, and they would help you to pull the bucket up. You felt important and proud that you could get the water. Then one day you discovered that the well had been poisoned. When you drank the water, it made you sick. You were very sad that you could never go to the well and get that good water again. You thought and thought about it, and you came up with an idea: I'll go back to the well, but I'll use a New Bucket! So you buy a bucket, get the water, drink it -- and get sick. So you decide to try the water out of a plastic glass, through a straw -- you still get sick. You try to drink the water standing on your head...

The patients get the point. When you go back into dysfunctional, hurtful situations with the expectation that you can ''make it better,'' you are setting yourself up for failure and pain.
Recognition of these behavior patterns, which are shared by many people raised in narcissistic families, is a crucial part of recovery.