Getting the Right Diagnosis

 If you suffer from chronic or recurring headaches, you may have a type that's treatable. But to make sure you get the right treatment, you must first get the  right diagnosis.

Start a diary

This means the first thing you need to do is start a headache diary This can help both of you pinpoint the cause or causes of your headaches.
Information to record in this diary would include “who,” “where,” “when,” and “why.”  It might also include “how.” 

The who is who you were with before the headache started?  Was it someone who made you angry or irritated or hurt your feelings?

Medications

What is what if any medications were you taking to treat the headache?  Were you taking other medications at the time?  What symptoms did you experience in conjunction with the headache?
Where -- where were you before the headache started?  Were you at work under glaring lights or were there loud noises or fumes?  Were you at home resting after a stressful day?

What did you eat?

These why is why would your headaches start?  Do you eat some particular food or drink something such as alcohol?  Did you get enough sleep or more sleep than usual?  How about skipping meals?  Did you forget breakfast, lunch or dinner?  Or did your headache start after some physical activity?

Describe the pain

The how is how did the pain feel?  Would you describe it as a throbbing pain, on one side of the head, on both sides of the head, or stretching across the temples?  How do you cope with the headache?  Did you have to miss work, lie down and rest, or, like me, spend time sitting in a dark room?

Keep the diary for several weeks

You should probably begin to keep this diary for at least several weeks before you see a doctor.  This diary can help your doctor not only diagnose your headaches, but also find patterns of severity and frequency.

Even if you've seen your doctor

You should keep your diary even after you have seen your doctor as it is important for him or her to be able to see changes in your headaches, especially those that have occurred because of your response to a new therapy.
Keeping a dairy like this can be a pain, but getting the right diagnosis and the proper treatment can take a lot of the headache pain out of your life.

Do you have trouble sleeping?

There are a number of natural ways to stop tossing and turning and enjoy a good night;s sleep that lets you wake up feeling refreshed and full of energy. Go to the Natural, Restful Sleep site to learn how.

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