Headaches are a pain in the ass

I have had headaches just about my entire life.  Anyone who knows me, knows this.  It is a fact.  I have a constant headache.  Always.  Dull.  Ache.  Always.

I went to a neurologist after neurologist trying to find out why.  One finally did a CT Scan and an MRI, and found the reason.  I have abnormal veins/arteries in my brain.  After the main artery branches out, the veins on the right side of my head are not big, full veins allowing good blood flow.  I start a regimen of drugs. Finally, one neurologist and I both agree on what to do: drugs to control the pain, and to help hold the blood vessel open.  There is nothing else to do, since I refuse to even think about brain surgery.

I do this for a few years, then Ron's insurance kicks me off, since I am working in a place that offers their own health insurance.  Yipes!  So, all the drugs I am on that you are supposed to be weaned off of, are suddenly not refilled, and I have a mini meltdown, going through a type of withdrawal.  After I am finally through all of that, I am now basically drug-free but for OTC meds, and I am now dealing with the constant  headaches again.  Nothing I haven't done before!

Now, I am having worse and worse - fierce, I call them - headaches.  It feels like someone (something?) is stabbing a pair of scissors, or a small paring knife, or an ice pick into my forehead above my right eye, then tearing it around the corner to and through my temple.  This HURTS.  Sometimes, it is debilitating.  I cannot, absolutely, positively cannot move while this [makes hand gestures] is going through my head.  And I am sure that I whine like a sick puppy as it is happening, too.  I am so glad that they subside - though the pain is still in my forehead - from the radiating.  If the radiating continued nonstop, I would be in the loony bin.

I called my doctor.  I can't get an appointment to see him until the first week of July.  Good thing I already have one for a sugar check on June 18th!  I am very picky about seeing this doctor every time I go - I hate going to different doctors.  I feel that I am just another body to them, but to my doc, I am ME.  I have been going to see him for a long, long time - at least 30 years, if not more.  He moved from his practice to an office with other doctors and a nurse practitioner, but I am very careful to only schedule us with him.  Last time I was ill (early March), I ended up seeing another doctor and he prescribed me antibiotics for a viral infection.

I did some research on the Internet, and here is what I have concluded:

When I first started my research, the Cluster Headache kinda - just kinda - sounded like what is happening, but not just quite.  Most of the symptoms did not fit, although some did.  I kept researching, and, FINALLY, I found the condition called Hemicrania Continua.  Means, basically, "half of your head hurts constantly."  HA!!  All but one of the symptoms fit what is happening, and I think that last one would be covered as the 'attack' is happening, but I cannot see it then.

Anyway, after my research on the web, I called back to Doc's office and explained what I thought I had.  They will leave him a message, and someone will get back with me tomorrow.  They did call back this morning, and he will not just prescribe me a med without seeing this problem, and I should call a neurologist.
Sigh.  I have gone down this road before, and do not really want to go down it again.  But, after another morning of not being able to move without this [makes hand gestures] happening, I feel that I must.  So, I call and make an appointment.  For June 3rd.  Well, it's better than June 18th (and then going to the neurologist), but it's still over a week away!

I also think that the blood thinners and blood pressure meds the heart doctors put me on after the mild heart attack I had January 24th have, somehow, caused some troubles with the weird blood vessels in my brain and are the reason this is happening.  Of course, I have no way to prove that and will have to wait and see what the neurologist (God, I hope he isn't one I went to before, especially not the one who was scared shitless of the broach/pin of a raggedy doll I was wearing that day!) says and if he will talk to the heart doctors and figure something out.  I fully expect he will just start me on another drug - the one all my research is the only thing that helps the Hemicrania Continua condition - and I will be okay with that.

I feel a bit better, just for having made the appointment.

We shall see.