Hi All - just wondering if there are others like me, experiencing this. I have chronic headaches 1+y post stroke on most days. Starts with stabbing like pain on the same place as my original stroke. My GP is clueless and just wants to just increase my antidepressant dosage, claiming this will resolve my pain. More like so i am drugged up to not come back to him complaining!!
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I hear you. That stabbing pain sounds exhausting, and a GP who just wants to up your antidepressants rather than investigate is deeply frustrating.
One thing to check, especially with the heat we’ve had, is your hydration. Even mild dehydration can trigger headaches when the nervous system is vulnerable. It’s not a cure, but it’s worth trying.
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An extra note on SRRI meds and heat, they diminish the part of the brain that is responsible for temperature regulation, so it is easier to become dehydrated or suffer heat stroke.
On the headache front, I doubt increasing the dose of SRRI meds would resolve much. It is more likely if you increased the dosage, you’d initially experience headaches due to the serotonin level adjustment.
I can’t remember my early post-stroke experience with headaches, all I know is that I never ever suffered a headache pre-stroke, never took things like paracetamol, and now I have a packet on my bedside table. My headaches aren’t a stinging pain, just a dull throb, so it may be worth getting a second opinion on yours if they are becoming pervasive. Do you take anything like paracetamol? They say that too frequently taking these painkillers can cause rebound headaches, where the medication itself actually causes a headache once it has worn off, like withdrawal symptoms.
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Hi Pando - i do drink a lot of water. I have notice that after my stroke i do not sweat much and cant regulate my body temp…assuming others are in the same boat?
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Hi Rups - yes, i do take paracetamols and codeine. I will have to chase/harass my useless GP until I am in prison… or get getter….
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I too was in the same boat & it took me three years before I could sweat.. this was strange because I was in Kos where it’s hot. Stroke damages areas like the brainstem or the autonomic pathways descending from the hypothalamus, it disrupts the sympathetic nervous system’s control over sweat glands (sudomotor function)
Damage to the brain’s control center for temperature, primarily a small but crucial area called the hypothalamus: When this area is affected by a stroke, it can struggle to maintain a stable core temperature, leading to unpredictable swings between feeling hot and cold. This is less about the immune system and more about a direct disruption in the neurological pathways that manage automatic body functions. I used to go to bed cold and wake up hot in the middle of the night … not uncommon.
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It is possible that the paracetamol and codeine could be causing the headaches- definitely worth looking into.
I would request a 2nd opinion if you are getting nowhere with your GP. Have they referred you for any tests to rule out anything else that may be going on?
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