Dealing With Headaches

Well, just about everything you can buy these days has an “organic” label slapped on it somewhere. Did you also know that certain kinds of headaches are called “organic”? These makes up less than 5% of hedaches suffered, thankfully. These kinds of headaches are called “organic” because nothing else except sheer bad luck seems to cuase them.

These headaches include tumors (benign or malignant), menengitis, brain infections, brain abscesses, encephalitis or an aneurysm. Although all of these organic headaches sound pretty bad, perhaps one of the most feared by headache sufferes is the aneurysim. Arguably the most famous person to have an aneurism and live is the first drummer for the great band REM, Bill Berry.

A brain aneurysm is basically when a blood vessel in the brain dialates and, if alone, goes POP. Since the skull is closed off, there’s no place for the leaking blood to go. Death is pretty sudden. Aneurysms can happen in any place in the body that there is a blood vessle, not just the brain. It is not known what causes brain aneurisms, but it is thought to be a cogenital defect. So Bill Berry could blame his parents for this one and get away with it, if he so chose.

Why Am I Banging On About This?

The first sudden migraine I had when I was 24 required medical attention. However, I couldn’t get an appointment until the next day. By then, the pain had actually eased off a bit (my migraines average 12 hours a stretch). When the doctor finally examined me, he actually said, “I wonder if this could be an aneurysm. You should get X-rays.”

When I pointed out that the pain had eased off in 24 hours, he then nixed the x-rays idea.

Now, if a trained medical professional could mistake a migraine for a brain aneurysm, how about the poor person who is going through the migraine? How do you tell the difference between a migraine and an “organic headache”?

First off, if you are scared and do not know what is going on in your head becuase you are in aboatload of pain, go to the hospital. Better to spend the money than take a chance. The first migraines are especially scary because you don’t know what to expect. Don’t drive yourself to the hospital, because the pain will disorient you. Get someone else to drive you or call for an ambulance. “Inorganic” migraines often sink their teeth into you when you are in your mid-twenties to mid-forties, so this unfamiliar pain will freak you out, to put it mildly.

The symptoms of a brain aneurysm are similar to migraines. Both have sudden pain and visual problems. However, the pain not only doesn’t go away after a day, it gets worse. By this time, you can become thoroughly confused. if your EVER get a sudden splitting headache with numbess in any part of your body or trouble coordinating your body, don’t wait — call 911.

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Remember, I am not a doctor, so I am not the last word in medical issues. If you have any worries or pains you can’t explain, see a medical professional as soon as you can.