Hello,
For the last couple months I have had intermittent headaches. The pain is a pulsating pain, usually only lasting 3-4 pulses, occurring a few times every hour. It often happens after periods of sitting like driving home from work or sitting on the couch. The pain is usually only a 3-4/10. They are always located on one side of the head near the temple, sometimes radiating under the eye or towards the back of the head, but not always. The headaches alternate to either side of the head between headache events, but mostly on the right side (never occurring on both sides simultaneously). They most often occur later in the day but sometimes I wake up with them. A couple times they have been associated with nausea but usually not. I usually take two 325 mg acetaminophen which sometimes relieves the headache but sometimes not. The pain usually remains as intermittent pulsating throughout the day if the tylenol doesn’t work with the standing up being a consistent trigger. The standing is not required however to get the pulsating pain and sitting is sometimes when the first pulses of pain occur. The times between the pulsating events are pain free. It is rare that the headache is persistent without these breaks but it has occurred (last one associated with nausea). As far as frequency they occur 2 or 3 times per week. Sometimes none during a week, sometimes 4 or 5 days in a row.
I am a 30 year old male. I had headache issues as a kid. In 2009 my aunt died of a cerebral aneurysm and my mother insisted on me being seen to investigate my persistent headaches. I had an MRI which was clear of any abnormalities. The doctor also had me keep a food journal and suspected that dehydration was a potential trigger. I Increased my water intake which decreased headache frequency. These headaches are different from those I had as a kid though. I recently saw a new doctor for stomach issues (bloating and mild pain on an empty stomach for which she recommended omeprazole for 8 weeks). I mentioned the headaches and my history which she said sounded like migraines. She asked about light sensitivity (which I don’t have), seeing “auras” (also don’t have), noise sensitivity (also don’t have). She asked if any new strenuous activity since the onset. Told her I had been lifting weights for the last 3 months (SSLP). Headaches occurred sometime after the first month. She said to switch to another form of exercise. I mentioned that this almost never happens after exercise and never during. Her last recommendation seems ridiculous but I am not a medical doctor, so I thought to ask here. I listened to both episodes of your pain podcast although I don’t know that they apply to headaches except maybe to avoid unnecessary imaging and further testing? Thank you for your time and I understand if you can’t offer any further advice.