I have a had a severe headache since Friday. The pain has been across the top half of my face, the back of my head, my neck, and shoulders. Sometimes it is only on one side or the other, but mostly both. My head also feels hot, but I haven’t had a fever, nor does it feel hot to the touch. I’ve had nausea and was vomiting Monday night. The pain comes and goes in intensity, but Monday night it got so bad that I contemplated going to the emergency room. The only relief I’ve gotten is when I used a cold pack on the back of my head and forehead and which seemed to relieve things enough for me to fall asleep. Sleep helped a little. Yesterday morning, I felt better when I woke up, but it slowly got worse the longer I was awake.
I took naratriptan as prescribed, but it did not help, and because I have a laryngoscopy on Friday, I have been told to refrain from taking my Anaprox (550 mg naproxen sodium) for 7 days before the procedure. I’m not sure what I can do because this is not my usual headache. The pain though has been unbearable at times.
I went to work yesterday but was only able to stay about two hours before I had to go back home. By mid afternoon, I was feeling relatively normal again, but the headache was back by the time I went to bed.
I contacted the Headache Clinic yesterday, but the nurse told me that it was unlike my usual headaches that I needed to see my regular doctor. That was a bit disappointing since my regular doctor usually tells me to contact my neurologist at the Headache Clinic. I have an appointment with one of the nurse practitioners at my doctor’s office because my regular doctor doesn’t have anything available until mid June. I’m seeing him on May 4 for a physical, so I’d be seeing him before that. However, the Headache Clinic wants me evaluated again to make sure I’m on to have the laryngoscopy on Friday. If my headache is better today (God willing, it will be), I’ll cancel the appointment with the NP.
This headache has just been so bad. I thought it was the weather, but this is more than a regular headache affected by weather changes.
Joe
The Closet Professor 
April 27th, 2022 at 8:43 pm
I am the farthest thing from a doctor but it sounds a lot like you are having naproxen withdrawal symptoms: Increased headache, nausea and vomiting, increased use of analgesics and antiemetics and restlessness.
April 27th, 2022 at 8:47 pm
I would think that too, but I take naproxen no more than two or three times a week. I only take it when a headache is bad but not debilitating. When it’s debilitating, I take the naratriptan, but I rarely do that more than once or twice a month. For most of my headaches, if it’s not too bad, I try not to take anything. The first thing my neurologist did was only allow me to take the naproxen because it has to be taken less frequently than other OTC pain relievers.