Headaches - no medication yet

[carrie99]

First of all, sorry if I have put this in the wrong place.

I was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in April this year. I am not on any medication yet but do get horrible headaches. I am allergic to a lot of medicines so I am just taking Ibroprufen.

I am assuming that my specialist is hoping to keep me off drugs for as long as possible. Someone else I met is already on Aricept but I wondered if it is actually a good thing that I am managing with just Ibroprofen.

But these headaches are very wearing!!

Carrie

(please feel free to move this posting if I have put in the wrong place)

 

[Grannie G]

Carrie this post is in exactly the right place and it wouldn`t really matter if it wasn`t.

What is really important is that you should not be made to endure unnecessary suffering. As a migraine sufferer I know what bad headaches are.

Please contact your specialist as soon as you can if your headaches are so bad. Don`t wait for him/her to contact you.

Just for your information, my husband was offered Aricept on diagnosis. Sadly it was unsuccessful as he had very bad side effects.

 

[Norrms]

Any Ideas ??

Hiya Carrie, i have just seen this thread. I never ever suffered from headaches until i was diagnosed with AD. Now i have them on a daily basis but because of other probs the only thing i am allowed to take is Paracetomal, nobody seems to know why this is? Any ideas ??? The headaches i mean, not the tablets !! best wishes, Norrms and family xxxxxxxxx

 

[carrie99]

Ibroprofen

It helps a bit but not a lot. I have only just learnt today that getting Aricept is dependent on your 'score' being lower (or is it higher?)than 20. I obviously don't qualify yet but someone else I have met during the process is now on Aricept becasue her score is low enough to get it now.

And ANOTHER question - of course we want to go on all the holidays that we thought would be spread over many years - will there be a problem getting Insurance?

Carrie

 

[carrie99]

Pain killers

I can only take one or 2 painkillers as I am allergic to aspirin (might kill me!) and penicillin (all over rash).

And I thought I was doing really well!!

Carrie

 

[Izzy]

Hi there. My husband seemed to suffer from headaches all the time when he was first diagnosed. He took paracetamol like they were going out of fashion for a very long time. He is on Aricept and had had no side effects at all and I believe it has really helped him remain stable (it's 9 years since his diagnosis). Recently he has just stopped taking the paracetamol and the headaches seem to have gone. Not sure why but it's good news for him. Hope your headaches calm down soon. Izzy x

 

[Vonny]

And ANOTHER question - of course we want to go on all the holidays that we thought would be spread over many years - will there be a problem getting Insurance?

Hi Carrie,

You may want to look at this thread as is has some suggestions on insurance

http://forum.alzheimers.org.uk/showthread.php?t=19764

Vonny xx

 

[Barry]

Hi Carrie,

As other people have said you in exactly the right place to get support, I must admit I have not heard of the medication your taking but it does sound as though you need to discuss it with your GP ‘ASAP’ to avoid any anxiety you might have.

I’ve had Alzheimer’s for almost five years now and my doctor out here in Indonesia put me onto Aricept right from the start which I have found of great benefit, and the strange thing is that ever since then I’ve not had one single headache again, but it has to be said that every person seems to react differently to different types of medication, as you can see from Norms reply ever since he was diagnosed with AD now he has headaches every day, mind you knowing Norrms that could also be due to listening to too much “Queen” music, so theirs you answer Norrms to the headaches, not the tablets! dont worry as i'm a big Queen fan myself

 

[carrie99]

Ibroprufen..

Ibroprufen is an off the shelf painkiller which you can buy anywhere in England, either as a pill or (useful if you are out) one that dissolves on the tongue.

They do not need a prescription and they are the best painkillers for me without a prescription.

Carrie

It is way too soon for me to get 'proper' medication such as Aricept.

 

[KenC]

I have had some horrible aches since my diagnosis, but all I am allowed to take is the paracetamol as other things like ibroprofrin tend to make things much worse.

I really don't know the answer to this one.

Ken

 

[carrie99]

Ibroprufen etc

I will contact my community nurse to see what she advises. Last time she came she said she didn't need to see me for another 6 months, although someone else I met and was diagnosed at the same time is now on Aricept.

But what I actually need to be on is - A DIET!!

It's too easy to munch your way through the day

Carrie

 

[shelagh]

Hi Carrie, Welconme to Talking Point. I was diaagnosed earlier this year and put on ARICEPT straight away though my score was low. But I had had a brain scan which showed definite changes, so that might have been the reason. The side affects were terrible to begin with and still are to some extent but it really helps me, so I hope you get the opportunity to try it. Can't help with the headaches I'm afraid. Like you I get them now and never did before but because I take Warfarint here are only a few pain killers I can take. Someone suggested new 'patches' that you put on your forhead, but I keep forgetting to ask when I go to the chemist. Worth a try perhaps.
Take care
Shelagh

 

[Grannie G]

Dear Carrie

But what I actually need to be on is - A DIET!!

It's too easy to munch your way through the day

Carrie

Please join us in our Slimming Club in the Tea Room. We weigh in once a week, on a Sunday if possible.
It`s not the most successful of slimming clubs with regard to weight loss but we do have a lot of fun and some actually lose weight.

 

[carrie99]

Weigh In

What a good idea for dieting!

Do I just weigh myself and report back, or is there a more sophisticated method?

 

[Grannie G]

We trust your word Carrie.

You weigh yourself every week and post your loss [or gain or maintain] on the Slimming Club Thread.
Welcome.

http://forum.alzheimers.org.uk/showthread.php?t=19874

If you would like to start today, please do. Or tomorrow if you`ve had breakfast by now.


PS. We are not very sophisticated.

 

[carrie99]

Slimming

I'll have to start tomorrow! Just finishing off the ice cream in the fridge, any chocolate, cheese, generally anything I won't be eating from tomorrow.

Flaw in the augument - I hear you say. But I was brought up not to waste food.

(Only joking)

Actually I now go on 2 long walks every week via the University of the 3rd age (U3A) - tomorrow's is in the Yorkshire Dales and is 12 miles, starting at 8.30am. And we take a picnic - hope it doesn't get soggy!

Carrie