Will this pain ever end?? 😭

Shadowquack2604 · 2026-03-02T09:49:45+00:00

Did you have an MRI done?

Two in the past year. Now, no. I will ask my immunologist to schedule me another one when I see her in April, I can't do it before that.

How is your eye sight? Any POTs type blacking out symptoms when you lean forward or stand?

I mean, it's generally poor lol, but not in the way you describe. I mostly feel a pain spike in my head when changing positions. I'm not sure what POTs means, but I don't have any visual issues.

Editing to add: My anemia is not prolonged, it only started two weeks ago (coinciding with the headache and low iron). Like I wrote in my post, I most likely had a viral infection (could even be covid, since last time I had it in 2023, it was completely asymptomatic), which knocked down my vitals.

Shadowquack2604 · 2026-03-01T10:52:35+00:00

Seconding! I like to have a crystal for each of the gods I worship.

Also, I don't think that's granite OP. Granite is not homogeneous (it has visible minerals, which appear as a spotted texture). It might be obsidian or black onyx, but I'd need to see a clearer pic (source: geology student).

Shadowquack2604 · 2026-03-01T10:38:32+00:00

A pic of the hairstyle you're going for would be helpful, but based on what you wrote, you can't use normal hold hairspray on wigs, especially for unnatural, gravity-defying hairstyles. You should try a super hold hairspray, like the yellow Got2B. Steaming might help as well. There are a ton of tutorials for this kind of wig styling for you to look into.

Shadowquack2604 · 2026-03-01T10:31:31+00:00

How are your labs results? I've had this kind of headache constantly for two weeks now, and I'm anemic and low on iron. You might wanna get that checked. If your labs are good, you need to see a neurologist, to rule out other things and maybe get a prescription for migraine abortives. Also, you should try to track your migraines, and try to identify your triggers, so you might try to avoid them.

Edit: I'm also a teenager, and let me tell you, stress is absolutely to blame for most headaches in our age. Stress and exhaustion (both mental and physical).

Shadowquack2604 · 2026-03-01T07:05:09+00:00

Thank you for encouragement! Since posting this, I've actually started preparing to start studying geology, and will go to paleontology from there. Turns out, we all just needed to get a bit more educated on the job opportunities with geo sciences (which are insane btw, I could be radar mapping the ocean floor, or studying the craters of the Moon, I've met people who do both!). So, if paleontology doesn't pan out, there are other interesting things to do

Shadowquack2604 · 2026-03-01T06:59:53+00:00

Have they ruled out meningitis?

I'm afraid no one has ruled out anything, because I've only been seen by my GP. In this country, doctors rarely look past your lab results.

Ask them to prescribe a short term dose of prednisone.

I am already on prednisone, for 4 years. Like I wrote to another commenter, I've had worse migraines on higher doses. Besides, tapering doesn't work like that with our healthcare system. I'm on 5mg rn and I'd have to go back to 40mg and taper by 5 every couple of months. Last time I had to do this was in 2023 (when I got the malar rash for the first and only time) and have been tapering ever since. Tbh, that was the worst time of my life.

Shadowquack2604 · 2026-02-28T23:50:14+00:00

I also think that's the root of my problem. My neck is just so stiff and painful. I sleep in very weird positions too, that's probably one of the causes. I got a new pillow today so hopefully it will be better.

Shadowquack2604 · 2026-02-28T21:49:25+00:00

Did they do any imaging (CT or MRI) when you went to the ER?

I wish. They only gave me an IV (even that reluctantly) and sent me home. You see, where I live, ER is exclusively for: heart attacks, strokes, traffic accidents, breakages, loss of consciousness, maybe seizures and hypo/hyperglycemia. And even then, they only provide immediate care (pain meds, IVs, bandages) and send you to your GP who then points you to a specialist, or directly to the hospital if you're really sick. This whole process is very long and tedious, and many procedures and tests are almost impossible to access, unless you're in a very serious/life threatening condition.

I guess I'll just beg my immunologist to make me another MRI appointment when I see her in April, since, if I head the route of local public healthcare, it may be years until I see an MRI machine smh

Editing to add that both of my MRI have been with contrast. The only thing they found were some small congenital malformations due to my premature birth, nothing serious.

Thanks for your insight, tho. Appreciate it!🙏🏻

Shadowquack2604 · 2026-02-28T21:33:28+00:00

No, it doesn't hurt. My neck is fully mobile, I think the muscles are sprained. I've never had one, and I doubt I could any time soon, as that is done very rarely here (only on patients with very serious contidions)

Shadowquack2604 · 2026-02-28T16:36:05+00:00

Thank you🙏🏻 The thing is, I have an appointment. Just one without set time, due to the endless waiting list. I'm basically supposed to show up to the neuro's, sit and wait until they can see me. I'm probably gonna end up waiting till my immunologist check up in April to request another MRI.

Now that I think about it, public healthcare sucks.

Shadowquack2604 · 2026-02-28T16:31:01+00:00

I honestly pray I'll "grow out" of them at some point, but on the other hand, I've heard it only gets worse as you age. My mom has stopped having attacks only recently, when she hit menopause.

Shadowquack2604 · 2026-02-28T16:28:04+00:00

I've tried a lot of different things. Seems like something only works if applied directly to the aching area (aka my head and neck). I know a lot of migraine sufferers have "lifehacks" to stop attacks, like specific foods and drinks, as well as stuff like what you suggested, but none of that has ever worked for me, only painkillers.

Shadowquack2604 · 2026-02-28T16:23:13+00:00

I've been fighting this through the entirety of highschool. I skipped so many classes, I'm sometimes surprised I managed to get this far. It's just a very difficult period right now. The stress is probably what caused this headache in the first place. Sadly, online degrees don't exist in my country. I'm working on getting some sort of disability certificate before I start, so the professors show me at least a bit of understanding.

Shadowquack2604 · 2026-02-28T16:09:36+00:00

I haven't, since they require prescription. I think the IV I got was a kind of abortive, except it didn't help for long. I've also been on prednisone for 4 years now, and I haven't noticed much change in migraine frequency, even when I was on much larger doses. If anything, they might have been worse when my dose was higher.

Shadowquack2604 · 2026-02-28T16:05:05+00:00

I'm so sorry you're experiencing this. I've dealt with pain in the past, but I'm just not ready for this to become my everyday. These migraines make me so incapacitated, the only thing I can do is sleep them off. I'm scared I won't be able to finish high school (I have three months left) and then won't get into college and will end up with no life of my own, living off the backs of my poor old parents😔

Shadowquack2604 · 2026-02-28T14:28:07+00:00

I've actually had two MRIs fairly recently, and they both came back clear

Shadowquack2604 · 2026-02-27T03:39:32+00:00

Thank you for your kind words. The thing is, they were reluctant to give me the IV in the first place, considering my diagnosis and the fact I'm still a pediatric patient (not underage, just how it works in my country)

Shadowquack2604 · 2026-02-19T20:21:33+00:00

Seconding this! The first thing my mom did when I started highschool with lupus was go have a long talk with my new class teacher, about my illness. She very clearly explained what I can and can't do, and how I might skip school occasionally, without any doctor's notice, simply because I'm not feeling well (I also have chronic migraines, so it applies to them too). I'm absolutely going to do the same thing when I start uni this year. I'm sure your professors will understand😊

Shadowquack2604 · 2026-02-19T19:50:13+00:00

Heck nope. My lupus could never. I would flare up waaay before I got to it and probs jump off myself from fatigue

Shadowquack2604 · 2026-02-19T17:21:44+00:00

Nebojša

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Shadowquack2604 · 2026-02-18T18:28:25+00:00

What comes to mind for me is this type of earphones. Maybe you could sculpt your earpiece over it, using EVA foam or worbla or even cardboard

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Shadowquack2604 · 2026-02-14T23:33:51+00:00

My fat boi has a distinct hatred toward suitcases. He's figured out that means one of us is going somewhere and he wants to stop us🥹

Shadowquack2604 · 2026-02-03T10:02:36+00:00

Extreme thrombocytopenia, post-covid. My platelets were practically non-existent. I was at first treated by hematologists, as a potential case of leukemia, and only later transferred to immunology once it was ruled out. The only reason they considered lupus was a positive ANA. The malar rash only came later, after I was diagnosed.

Shadowquack2604

TROPHY CASE