About
I’ve had daily headaches since I was about 8-years old. My family doctor at the time did not treat me the way she should have and I wish I would have gotten a second opinion. Do not assume the pills your doctor gives you are okay, and the advice is always correct.
Throughout Junior High and High-School I took Excedrin nearly every day and spent many days in the nurses office throwing up due to my headaches. My mom had to take off work lots of times to come get me to take me home. I never got out much, did anything fun. Most of my time was spent in bed, or doing activities that didn’t require a lot of movement, like reading and watching TV. I never got my driver’s license. Driving just wasn’t something I was interested in.
Anyway after years I was finally referred to get a CT scan/MRI and they found an arachnoid cyst. The first neurosurgeon we met with just didn’t feel right, and I am very glad I did get a second opinion that time. I had endoscopic brain surgery in 2000, performed by Dr. David Jimenez It was believed at the time the pressure from the cyst was causing the headaches. However after the surgery my headaches did not change. So logically one would assume the two conditions are not related. Right?
I had various other CT scans of the cyst after the surgery, and it was determined the the cyst filled back up. In retrospect I wish I had more information about why I went through with this second surgery, who convinced me, what were the reasons, because as of right now it seems like it was unnecessary. I had a shunt placement/drainage in 2002. Currently I see a neurologist every 6-months to manage my headache pain. He essentially tinkers with my Topamax dosages, but I have gotten to a point where I no longer think I am making progress in his care, and most of the advancements I have made have been through my own research and the realization that I know my own body better than any one else. I recently took the lead and told him where I wanted to go in terms of my treatment (i.e. the menstrual migraine route), so I guess I will see what becomes of that.
So why do I have headaches? I don’t know but I’m inclined to rule out the cyst. I’m just unlucky enough to have both problems.
However, I’m hoping the headaches are a problem that I can successfully solve…OR I can just wait long enough for new advancements/medications to be made available to me.
