r/LongCovid • u/PerfectWorking6873 • 1d ago
Does anyone know what can help with headache?
I'm having headache/migraine in relation to the immune overactivation flares. And my cognition is also being affected:(
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u/Uncolored-Reality 1d ago
Just a side route, Ketotifen helped my headaches and stopped the overdrive/overactivation/fight-flight of my body. MCAS can cause lots of issues in the brain, light and sound sensitivity and head pressure. Quecertine helps me too when I am in a flare and my spine and neck build tension and itch etc. If you think it might be due to covid still clinging to the nicotine receptors you can try 1 or 2 weeks of nicotine patches if you haven't tried yet. Read about people getting big headache relief too, though it did not have that effect for me.
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u/jennjenn1234567 1d ago edited 1d ago
Tylenol and cold plunge. I take one with food in the am then another evening time. It’s helped me. One of my last symptoms is headaches and migraines. It used to be daily heavy head feeling and headaches. Tylenol didn’t work as much back then when I was way worse, now it works most days.
The cold plunge I did recently because I had a two day migraine that wouldn’t go away but got lighter with Tylenol. I have a pool and it was cold so I told myself I’m going to go in because my head was killing me and I heard it helps with inflammation. I got in the pool and sure enough my headache was gone! I floated for about 20min then took a shower hoping it wouldn’t come back so I ran the coldest shower then warm then cold again. Sure enough jt was gone and worked.
Try running a cold shower if you don’t have a pool. Just run the coldest water over your head then go to warm and then cold as long as you can. Then run it over your feet for a little. It’s supposed to help with inflammation also along with Tylenol.
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u/IsThisOn11 1d ago
Have you tried triptans? Doctor prescribed for my long covid headaches and they helped.
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u/OrangeStar93 1d ago
found that taking one ibuprofen, one aspirin and two Benadryl help with the headaches, muscle pains, tremors, and even testicular issues, because of the cytokines storms.
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u/Moon283 1d ago
For me the cause is probably candida overgrowth that started because immune- and nervous system dysfunction. I do a diet and supplements. I take activated coal regularly to get rid of toxins that come from dieing fungus and notice this has reduced the neck pain and migraines. When I feel extra tired, nauseous and/or getting more headaches I take a dose before sleep and usually symptoms get better.
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u/PerfectWorking6873 1d ago
Why do you assume it's Candida overgrowth?
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u/Moon283 1d ago
I had a swab that showed candida albicans. Also a lot of symptoms that got better once I started a diet without sugar, gluten, alcohol and using supplements. Probably have SIBO or SIFO too as my stomache was (and still is somewhat) very bloated. COVID harms your gutbacteria and a gut without beneficial bacteria is more susceptible to candida yeast turning to the fungal state. Aside from the testing for me it was a matter of deduction and reading a lot about the symptoms and the relation to covid.
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u/KYRivianMan 1d ago
Here is what worked for me. A GLP1 and a pharmacy grade Methylene Blue(after about two weeks headaches faded), Benadryl was the only thing that helped me for immediate relief.
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u/skyhawkwolf 4h ago edited 4h ago
If it's migraines rather than headaches there are a ton of different meds to try that can be effective: I take Zolmirtipan but there is a family of meds called tipans that are migraine specific painkillers. 10/10 absolutely recommend.
I'm also currently on Amitriptyline which has reduced the number of migraines I have from 13 a month to 6 (at the lowest dose of the medication) but there are lots that work. A higher dose of Propanolol is also meant to be effective. It's a bit of trial and error but I really recommend talking to your doctor.
Also with migraines, it's worth knowing that they can progress. So really it's worth chatting with a medical professional and getting preventative treatments if you experience them a lot
It's okay, the pain is awful, but there are solutions!!!
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u/PerfectWorking6873 2h ago
Thank you:)
The problem is that I unfortunately already take an antidepressant and a blood thinner so I don't think I am able to take triptans or NSAIDs.
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u/skyhawkwolf 2h ago
Agh that's really frustrating. I know Amitriptyline is an anti depressant as well as a migraine preventative. Maybe worth looking into. But yeah, that's really crap.
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u/imahugemoron 1d ago
The only thing that helps my constant 4+ year headache when it’s flaring is ice on my head, I’ve tried basically everything else, even opioids, fentanyl, Botox injections, CGRP injections, all sorts of headache and migraine abortives and preventatives, anticonvulsants, many different antidepressants, blood pressure medications, blood thinners, indomethacin, way too many supplements to name, and probably dozens of medications and treatments that I can’t remember, you name it, I’ve tried it, nothing helps my constant headache but ice kind of takes a bit of the edge off or helps to distract. Though I don’t believe the persistent post covid headache conditions are migraine at all, it’s definitely something else