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Suggest Treatment For Pain In Head During Night

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Posted on Mon, 29 Sep 2014
Question: Several times, during the night, my head has hurt so badly that I had to literally lift my head with my hands. I have to continually hold my head until the pain subsides.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shoaib Khan (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Need some information from you ma'am

Detailed Answer:
Hello ma'am and welcome.

Thank you for writing to us.

I have gone through your query with diligence and would like you to know that I am here to help. I would first like to learn a few more things about you before I can guide you further ma'am. Please help me with a response for the following information:

-What times do you get the headaches and at what time do you have the last meal before that? At the same time, please also let me know in what quantities you have your meals?
-Do you exercise at night?
-Have you checked your blood pressure lately
-Are you on any medications?
-Do you have any other associated symptoms along with the headache like disturbances in vision, loss of balance, increase in headache while in the supine position, vomiting, nausea, etc.
-Any ear related symptoms like loss or reduced hearing, itching in the ear, ringing sensation in the ear, etc.
-What are your current stress and anxiety levels?

I look forward to hearing from you in order to help you further.

Best wishes ma'am
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Shoaib Khan (1 hour later)
I generally have the headache in the middle of the night several hours after my last meal. I eat lightly at night because generally I just am no hungry. I do no exercise at night. I am on blood pressure medication. The last time I checked it was normal. I am on medication: Hyzaar 100-25mg, Larazepam1mg, Metoprolol Succ ER 100mg, Sertraline HCL 100mg, B12 1000mg. I do have loss of balance, and I have had ringing in the year for several years. I tried to take care of my stress by having time to myself and being on a schedule. My husband has Alzheimer's.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shoaib Khan (8 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Most probably low blood sugar is the cause

Detailed Answer:
Hello once again ma'am.

Sorry for the delay in response, it was night time on my side of the globe, and thank you for the response.

Based on the information provided I see two possible causes for your presentation:

1. Low blood sugar: As your dinner is quite light, and taken hours before bed time. A drop in blood sugar can easily result due to the pattern of your diet.

As dinner is the meal that gets your body through the night, it is important to eat just enough, and at the same time not too much as dinner can also lead to the development/deposition of fat.

Your habit is a wise and healthy one, but you will have to make some alterations to it. I would recommend either bringing dinner closer to bed time (around and hour or 90 minutes before bed time), without having to change the quantity; or increasing the quantity of your meal by adding some more sugar or calories to your meal.

It would also be wise to get your blood suagr tested, just to make sure all is well.

2. A ringing sensation in the ear is called tinnitis, and loss of balance with a sensation of the objects around your spinning is called vertigo. These two put together indicate an ENT (ear, nose, throat) cause. I would recommend a visit to an ENT specialist to get examined and diagnosed, and accordingly treated.

In my opinion, as your headaches are restricted to the middle of the night (when your blood sugar has reached its low), I believe your headaches are due to cause no.1, and not the ENT cause. But it would be wise yo address both.

I hope you find my response helpful and informative. Please feel free to write back to me for any further clarifications, I am always happy to be of assistance.

Best wishes ma'am.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Shoaib Khan

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2009

Answered : 9409 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Pain In Head During Night

Brief Answer: Need some information from you ma'am Detailed Answer: Hello ma'am and welcome. Thank you for writing to us. I have gone through your query with diligence and would like you to know that I am here to help. I would first like to learn a few more things about you before I can guide you further ma'am. Please help me with a response for the following information: -What times do you get the headaches and at what time do you have the last meal before that? At the same time, please also let me know in what quantities you have your meals? -Do you exercise at night? -Have you checked your blood pressure lately -Are you on any medications? -Do you have any other associated symptoms along with the headache like disturbances in vision, loss of balance, increase in headache while in the supine position, vomiting, nausea, etc. -Any ear related symptoms like loss or reduced hearing, itching in the ear, ringing sensation in the ear, etc. -What are your current stress and anxiety levels? I look forward to hearing from you in order to help you further. Best wishes ma'am