Headaches

Juderae

My Mom’s dementia is getting worse obviously. She is taking Trazadone and some other drugs to keep her on an even state. Poor thing complains of headaches everyday and not sure why? No mater what we give her to help make it go away does not work. Exedrine, Advil, Tylenol - is like popping Pez, does absolutely nothing.

Doctors just don’t give a damn, don’t try to figure things out so my sisters and I are trying to advocate for her.
Has anyone else experienced this with a loved one. My mom of course just lies on the couch all day and does nothing

ScottyRachel

how long has she experienced the headaches?

Are they never ending?

Or

Do they come and go?

Cranddi

My wife used to have constant headaches. It turned out they were related to high blood pressure. Has your mom's been checked recently? We thought it was controlled because it was usually OK at the doctors office. It wasn't until I got an at home monitor did we realize what was happening throughout the day.

Riri

Hi, I just joined and your message was the one that popped up. I'm in total shock, my mother is going through the same thing, for the last 3 days headache, throbbing pain to her temple. I've given her the same over the counter meds and nothing has taken the pain a way. My mom also just lays on the couch all day. I'm so sorry, we go to the doctor tomorrow. Thankfully she has a good one. Praying for you

SDianeL

Found this online. While headaches are not a primary symptom of vascular dementia, they can be associated with it, particularly in cases where the dementia is caused by conditions that also cause headaches, such as migraines. Vascular dementia itself is caused by reduced blood flow to the brain, which can result from various conditions like strokes or small vessel disease. Headaches can be a symptom of these underlying conditions, and thus, indirectly linked to vascular dementia. 

JulietteBee

Fwiw, headaches are often one of the first signs of dehydration. Simple as it sounds, before popping a pill, try getting her to drink 2 glasses of water at its onset.

harshedbuzz

A couple of thoughts—

Is she well hydrated?

Has she previously been taking OTC pain meds daily? If she did prior to you taking over, the pain could be rebound headaches.

Have you run her medication list by the pharmacist to find out if any of her meds are causing this as a side effect or interaction?

Do the headaches coincide with an activity in which she's rather not participate? Like many PWD dad was very apathetic and didn't want to get off the couch; he often feigned pain to avoid activity.

Could the headaches be a big for attention? I know of a few PWD who would complain of headache or stomach aches to get a caregiver to stop what they were doing and pay attention to them?

I hope you can both get some relief from this.
HB

Juderae

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/247209#Comment_247209

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/247209#Comment_247209

https://alzconnected.org/discussion/comment/247213#Comment_247213

Her blood pressure has been ok

Juderae

Headaches have been going on for awhile

My sister and I think some of it could be attention that she wants and she doesn’t drink enough water for sure which we are working on

Juderae

I don’t know anymore

my sister and I are tired and it makes me sick and sad to see her like this