17wks and having BRUTAL headaches...any suggestions?

[Anonymous]

Hi - I'm fortunate enough to be someone who normally nearly never suffers from headaches, but in the past couple weeks I've had some horrible ones. They basically sit right on the top of my head; I was saying to my husband last night that it feels like it would be nice to cut out the top of my head like the way you open a pumpkin! ((

I am inclined to think they might be seasonally related, I've previously had the most minor of allergy symptoms around this time of year over the past 5 years or so. But, yesterday I even had taken Claritin D 12 hour around 9am and by afternoon I had it back again. Today I woke up with it and it's just gaining momentum as the day goes on. I haven't taken anything for it, really I hate to take anything at all pregnant, but I'm getting desperate. (I did take 2 regular strength Tylenol last week and they provided absolutely no relief - my OB then told me to try the Claritin)

Any thoughts or suggestions? This really sucks and I can't imagine 5 more months of these headaches!!!!

Thanks in advance!

[Anonymous]

Hi - OP again...just wanted to add... I drink TONS of water, so it's definitely not that I'm dehydrated. THANKS!

[Anonymous]

I get headaches only when pregnant (or hungover, but that really hasn't happened in about 5 years). Water helps, but if you already drink a ton, what helps me is Tylenol plus caffeine. I'm almost in my third trimester now so I don't drink tons of caffeine, but it does tend to help.

[Anonymous]

Advil is considered class B until the 3rd trimester. Caffeine also helps, you may also be somewhat anemic.

[Anonymous]

I'm currently pregnant and my miracle cure for headaches has been a can of regular Coke and Tylenol. I had horrible headaches until about 20 weeks. Hopefully your's will get better soon

[Anonymous]

I find that caffeine works best for me, too - usually half a cup of coffee will do the trick (not Starbucks, that's super caffeinated)

[Anonymous]

that's about when my headaches stopped (17 w). some were sinus related, and some ??? who knows. after i would eat a balanced meal w/ lots of protein i would feel better too. sometimes it just would never go away unless i went to bed.

[Anonymous]

Just wanted to add that I was getting bad headaches for a little while and now (at 21 weeks) they seem to have passed. Hopefully yours will too! Agree with tylonel and some caffeine.

[Anonymous]

If the caffeine and pain relievers don't help, please get your blood pressure taken just to make sure it hasn't skyrocketed on you.

[Anonymous]

Hi Ladies - OP here. Thanks SOOOOO much for the suggestions. I tried the caffiene suggestion, and it really seems to help!!! I couldn't be more shocked as I haven't drunk anything with caffiene in it for over 10 years, so I certainly couldn't have been suffering any withdrawal symptoms! (I don't care for coffee or tea and gave up Diet Coke about 12 years ago!)

I had felt so fortunate that I wasn't one of the women suffering having to give up my coffee/tea whatever for the pregnancy, the caffiene avoidance was nothing for me, so I can't believe I'm now ADDING caffiene to my diet while pregnant, but oh well! It was getting so bad I could barely function, so I just don't think I have much choice! Hopefully they'll just go away in the upcoming weeks for me like they did for many of you, but until then a small glass of Coca Cola here I come! (Diet Coke's just too risky even 12 years later! I was a total addict back in the day!)

THANKS AGAIN!!!