uksue
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Posts: 2,500 
Location: London
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Post by uksue on Jun 2, 2020 16:21:57 GMT
My daughter is almost 30. She has had gastric problems and after colonoscopy etc they said it was irritable bowel. She also suffers terribly with interstitial cystitis ( which thankfully isn’t playing up right now).
She’s very stressed - relationship broke up in November shortly after them buying a flat and Moving in, financially it’s been a struggle , them covid happened -forced to work at home ( she gets lonely very quickly/easily) then problems at work resulting in her accepting voluntary redundancy . She gets paid until end of September but it’s still a worry in today’s world.
She’s now having this odd thing where she eats then has a crashing headache afterwards . She’s seen 2 doctors in the last 5 days who have examined her thoroughly but all they have prescribed is codeine ( which she won’t take because of her gut) and sumatriptan - so basically they are saying it’s migraine ( she had migraine in the past - nothing like current symptoms and sumatriptan never worked before - which is on her notes but they ignore that ).
I’m currently trying to support her by being in her flat but We are staying apart . She’s lost loads of weight ( was already tiny) as she’s avoiding eating due to the headaches .
She had a sandwich about half an hr ago whilst I was with her, and about 10 minutes later I saw the pain go across her face and now she’s lying down in the dark with a cold compress- she’s tried the sumatriptan to show willing.
It’s so hot in the flat all the time- 32 degrees currently, I’m dying with a fan full on me - can’t open the windows as she’s second floor with two cats and no air con. Could the heat be connected ? Could it be stress related ?
I’m worried sick about her 😫
Any ideas welcome and thank you for reading this far!
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Post by femalebusiness on Jun 2, 2020 16:24:24 GMT
No advice but that is scary. I hope she can figure out what is causing her discomfort.
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Post by dewryce on Jun 2, 2020 16:28:19 GMT
I’m very sorry she’s doing so poorly. I don’t have any knowledge to share but you asked if it could be the heat. It looks to only 90*F degrees where you are? I live in Texas where 90* would be welcomed for several months out of the year, people eat outside all the time in much higher temperatures (and likely humidity) and in my experience I’ve never known it to cause that kind of migraine pain. I’m sure it feels miserable though, as you probably don’t have central air? That and not being used to it can really take a toll. I can see lethargy being an issue, maybe a headache forming. Ive also seen heat make people less hungry. But not cause migraines in relation to when they’re eating.
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Post by SockMonkey on Jun 2, 2020 16:31:46 GMT
Has she been tested for food allergies and sensitivities?
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gsquaredmom
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Jun 26, 2014 17:43:22 GMT
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Post by gsquaredmom on Jun 2, 2020 16:33:35 GMT
Not sure what is going on, but can you get her an AC unit or move her to your home for a few days? Heat wreaks havoc on us and heat exhaustion/heatstroke is very dangerous. It certainly can affect eating, cause headaches and nausea, etc. Dehydration sets in quickly and spirals it worse and worse. Do her doctors know she is in such heat? Without mention, that is not on the radar. Now that I type all this out, I would consider taking her to an emergency room. She may need IV fluids and treatment for heat exhaustion.
Please note I am not a doctor but do think she should see one ASAP.
And I agree on food additive testing. I get migraines from many of them like MSG, nitrite and nitrates. But this may be more acute.
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Post by nlwilkins on Jun 2, 2020 16:37:26 GMT
I too live in Texas but realize that it takes time for the body to become used to heat. The fact that it is not only the heat but the stuffiness of closed windows will make it even worse.
Caffeine does help on migraines. Has she even tried that? Codeine can make it worse for some.
She needs to make a log of everything she eats and list the reactions. Start with basic foods, a few at a time. Perhaps there is some food allergy or some kind of relationship between certain foods and the migraine. Look online and you will find lists of foods that can trigger migraines. For many it is cheese. But everyone is different.
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Post by gar on Jun 2, 2020 16:44:03 GMT
Is there any consistency with what food she eats Sue? Can she eat fruit without a reaction maybe? Or a protein like fish? I have no knowledge to share, just wondering aloud... I hope you get some answers soon.
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scrapngranny
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Only slightly senile
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Post by scrapngranny on Jun 2, 2020 16:45:39 GMT
I’m so sorry your daughter is going through all of this. These are hard times even for those who are perfectly healthy.
My guess is that she is suffering from depression and anxiety. Those two things can cause a wide range of symptoms. For someone already dealing with gastric issues, anxiety can make it much worse. With all of the issues in her life, anxiety would not be unexpected. She might want to talk to her doctor about what’s going on in her life right. Maybe meds would help.
As far as eating, have her try just liquids. Popsicles, broth, jello and see if she can tolerate that for a couple of days. Then ease into soft bland foods.
Being alone all the time isn’t probably good for her either. It can give her the time to play and endless loop of everything that is going on in the moment.
I hope she finds help soon. Keep us posted on how she is doing.
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Post by gotranch on Jun 2, 2020 16:54:53 GMT
I have no idea other than allergies and stress. But in the meanwhile can you temporarily put the cats in a room with the door shut and open windows to the rest of the flat to get some airflow. Even if it is for a short time, it might help.
Sorry, she is having these issues. I can see why you are worried.
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uksue
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Posts: 2,500
Location: London
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Post by uksue on Jun 2, 2020 16:55:55 GMT
Thanks everyone . Some answers: she’s been tested in the past for food allergies etc and has been thru the whole ‘exclusion diet’ process twice with regards to her IV and irritable bowel. She already eats quite a restricted diet - can’t have caffeine at all as it’s a strong trigger for her IC. She’s not dehydrated ( I’m a retired nurse - hurts me that I can’t help her more 😪) She doesn’t have a temp and her BP is low but pretty normal for her ( when she’s well she’s a long distance runner).
I can’t bring her home because my oldest son has moved home after his relationship broke up in the middle of the Covid crisis. Plus she won’t leave her cats and I have a sick cat at home so I can’t have them.
We are still affected quite strongly by the lockdown here so the normal GP /A&E service is disrupted .
At the start of all this she had two large cocktails on the Saturday evening 10 days ago and woke up with what felt like gastritis ( she’s not a huge drinker usually).
She felt so rough I actually went out to her the early hours of the monday morning to take her some gaviscon which initially helped, but within days the abdo pain, and headache and nausea after eating started .
Stool sample has excluded a bleeding ulcer as it was tested for occult blood.
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snyder
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Post by snyder on Jun 2, 2020 16:59:51 GMT
Could it be hypoglycemia, which is low blood sugar? Hope she can find out what is wrong fast so she can start feeling like herself soon so she can navigate the roads ahead.
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uksue
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Posts: 2,500
Location: London
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Post by uksue on Jun 2, 2020 17:04:44 GMT
Thanks scrap granny and Gotranch
I have suggested the cat in another room /windows opened . I have to say that we do have a bit of a strained relationship where she doesn’t always want to hear my suggestions/advice . I’ve told her she has to put herself before the cats!
She’s already receiving some counselling and the therapist told her today that her depression score had shown a real worsening ( not unexpectedly ) she’s also told her she can ring her any time, which reassures me a little .
I have to say my own mental health is taking a battering , what with her, my son splitting with the mother of his child, my youngest has been at his dads for 2 months and I miss him so much . My boss is reopening on the 15th and as far as I can see, isn’t carrying out a proper risk assessment or making it safe for us employees. It’s all so much - I’m sure you can all understand as most of us are suffering with what’s been going on for 3 months with one thing or another .
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Post by Eddie-n-Harley on Jun 2, 2020 17:55:48 GMT
Shots in the dark here...
Has she had her gallbladder checked? I know her main pain is a headache, but it keeps being triggered by eating. Also, abdominal pain (like food poisoning) was my main feeling with a GB attack. It is possible that the headache is incidental because her blood sugar is out of whack.
Second, have her liver enzymes been checked? I had a complication a few years after having my gall bladder out and I had abdominal pain for about eight weeks. And kidney pain, back pain. A stone left behind lodged in a liver duct. A first, we thought and I was treated for an ulcer. But my liver enzymes kept going up and I eventually became jaundiced. (And I'd even had an MRI with contrast that did not show the stupid little bugger.)
If there's something going on with the GB/liver, it's possible that it's triggered pancreatitis which I imagine further messes up your blood sugar.
Also, I learned that sumatriptan is processed by the liver when they wouldn't let me have any while I was hospitalized for the stone problem. That, plus two drinks at the start of this, when alcohol is processed in the liver, too? I'd think I'd be pushing for some bloodwork at a minimum.
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Post by bessieb on Jun 2, 2020 18:34:14 GMT
it could well be heat related - the temperature here are not normal for England and we are just not set up to deal with it. I know my daughters have had headaches for the last couple of weeks. It should be cooling down tomorrow so that might bring her some relief. Hope she feels better soon.
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uksue
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Posts: 2,500
Location: London
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Post by uksue on Jun 2, 2020 19:13:56 GMT
Shots in the dark here... Has she had her gallbladder checked? I know her main pain is a headache, but it keeps being triggered by eating. Also, abdominal pain (like food poisoning) was my main feeling with a GB attack. It is possible that the headache is incidental because her blood sugar is out of whack. Second, have her liver enzymes been checked? I had a complication a few years after having my gall bladder out and I had abdominal pain for about eight weeks. And kidney pain, back pain. A stone left behind lodged in a liver duct. A first, we thought and I was treated for an ulcer. But my liver enzymes kept going up and I eventually became jaundiced. (And I'd even had an MRI with contrast that did not show the stupid little bugger.) If there's something going on with the GB/liver, it's possible that it's triggered pancreatitis which I imagine further messes up your blood sugar. Also, I learned that sumatriptan is processed by the liver when they wouldn't let me have any while I was hospitalized for the stone problem. That, plus two drinks at the start of this, when alcohol is processed in the liver, too? I'd think I'd be pushing for some bloodwork at a minimum. The GP on Friday suggested gall bladder abd said he would refer for an ultrasound ( Heaven knows when ) Then the GP today said gall bladder was a ridiculous suggestion - she was quite sarcastic with my daughter as though she was the one suggesting it 🙄 not a fan of of that particular GP at the best of times! |
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Post by elaine on Jun 2, 2020 20:30:51 GMT
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dald222
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Post by dald222 on Jun 14, 2020 23:15:11 GMT
i am a migraine sufferer all my life my dr told me that chocolate and other foods cause. i have always had throwing up. with severe head pain i did have aa allergy test
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dald222
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Post by dald222 on Jun 14, 2020 23:16:53 GMT
i am a migraine sufferer all my life my dr told me that chocolate and other foods cause. i have always had throwing up. with severe head pain i did have aa allergy test
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dald222
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Post by dald222 on Jun 14, 2020 23:18:06 GMT
some times i did not have severe head pain
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Post by greendragonlady on Jun 14, 2020 23:29:14 GMT
Has she been tested for food allergies and sensitivities? That's what I was thinking...maybe gluten? Even if it something she has eaten a million times before...our bodies can change. I hope she figures out what it is soon and gets some relief! |
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Post by pierkiss on Jun 15, 2020 0:34:56 GMT
The heat could be exacerbating the headache and symptoms that go with it. Would it be possible to get like a chicken wire or something to put around the window when it is open to keep the cats in but the air coming through?
Beyond that I don’t have any advice other than maybe seek out a neurologist. This sounds awful. I’m so sorry. I hope she gets relief soon.
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Post by Really Red on Jun 15, 2020 0:56:21 GMT
The food she eats may not affect her IBS, but it could affect her headaches. I am a big believer in food triggers, so take this for what it's worth. When I cut out refined sugar from my diet, every ache and pain I had went away. I didn't eat processed food per se, but I ate a lot of white sugar. I hope your DD feels better. This is a tough time for everyone, but particularly when you feel alone.
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I hope that the physicians are able to figure something out soon. 
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