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Headaches

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Juderae
Juderae Member Posts: 8
First Comment
Member
in Caring for a Parent

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

Comments

  • ScottyRachel
    ScottyRachel Member Posts: 2
    First Comment 5 Likes 5 Care Reactions
    Member

    how long has she experienced the headaches?

    Are they never ending?

    Or

    Do they come and go?

  • Cranddi
    Cranddi Member Posts: 17
    10 Comments First Anniversary 5 Care Reactions 5 Likes
    Member

    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
    Riri Member Posts: 1
    First Comment
    Member
    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
    SDianeL Member Posts: 1,735
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    Member

    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
    JulietteBee Member Posts: 64
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    Member

    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
    harshedbuzz Member Posts: 5,319
    Eighth Anniversary 5000 Comments 1,000 Insightfuls Reactions 1,000 Likes
    Member

    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
    Juderae Member Posts: 8
    First Comment
    Member
    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
    Juderae Member Posts: 8
    First Comment
    Member

    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
    Juderae Member Posts: 8
    First Comment
    Member

    I don’t know anymore

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

Commonly Used Abbreviations


DH = Dear Husband
DW= Dear Wife, Darling Wife
LO = Loved One
ES = Early Stage
EO = Early Onset
FTD = Frontotemporal Dementia
VD = Vascular Dementia
MC = Memory Care
AL = Assisted Living
POA = Power of Attorney
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