What could be causing these headaches?

What could be causing my 7 year spell of headaches?

• Ok, so here are the details.... I have been getting severe headaches now for 7 years. I am a female, 28 years old. The headaches can occur anywhere in my head... on the side, forehead, back of head near neck, above my eye, the list goes on. I take Imitrex (100 mg) for the pain, but if I do not take it early enough, it doesn't work and I wind up with nausea and vomiting. I do not have sensitivity to light, although certain pitches of noise tend to bother me. So, now for my lifestyle... the headaches occur on any random day, I have not been able to find any common factors.... like stress level, foods, sleep times, allergies, foods, caffeine, etc. I have had a headache two days in a row with each day being significantly different in terms of what the day looks like. Also, I started getting headaches around the time I started birth control. They got progressively worse, so I stopped taking pills (tried the ring too). When I stopped the hormonal birth control, the headaches stopped. The headaches stopped for a year or two, but now they are back, with a vengeance and they are progressively getting worse again, I am not taking any hormonal birth control now, I currently have an IUD. The headaches now do not correlate to my menstrual cycle. I am now getting about 8-12 headaches a month, and most recently, had six days in a row with a headache. My doctor recently prescribed Topamax, but I am determined to figure out what is going on before I start taking anti-seizure medicine. I am at my wits end. I have done a lot of research and have eliminated so many things, I am out of options. If anyone out there can help or if you know someone who can help me, please do! Feel free to ask questions if necessary. FYI - I have seen a neurologist and a tumor or other neurologic issue has been ruled out.

• Answer:

  Oh my goodness, I am so sorry you are in such pain!! I don't have nearly the trouble that you do, but my dentist informed me that I am a teeth grinder. I was totally unaware of it-basically in my sleep, but since he told me I have caught myself grinding my teeth at all times of the day. I had an appliance made to wear at night and you should see the poor thing. I will go through many of these! I don't know if this helps or not, but I thought I would mention it because it is probably the last thing I would have thought of for myself. Best of luck to you and I hope you get some useful information.