LymeHead is my own name for describing the types of headaches that Lyme sufferers get. The words used to describe the symptoms come directly from Lyme patients. You will see from the description below that a LymeHead does not match any of the standard headache classifications. The closest match I can find is the NDPH (New Daily Persistent Headache)
It is most like a bad hangover headache, that you know will not disappear at lunch time. In a lot of cases the pain is 24/7, and can continue for months or even years. Generally the pain is mild to moderate, although you can get days when the pain is severe. The location of the pain is not fixed in one place, and can occur on both sides of the head. The typical LymeHead is often sensitive to sound, light and movement. It can occur at any age, and the sufferer often has no previous headache problems. The onset of the headaches can be quite specific, the sufferer can pinpoint when the headache started.
The pain can be described as a pressure, or like a band around the head. It can also feel like someone drilling a hole in your head, the location of the pain is quite specific, but varying from day to day.
Typically the LymeHead will also suffer from cognitive problems, these include brain fog, confusion, memory loss and word block.
No
The treatment for Lyme disease is a complicated and controversial subject, which is outside the scope of this website. There are those that believe that 4 weeks antibiotics is sufficient, however there is a growing opinion that antibiotics for months or even years is required. However the drug that most LymeHeads respond to is Metronidazole (Flagyll), this a cheap antibiotic which is widely used in the UK. If you have suffered from headaches for a long time, and your GP has no better ideas, then it could be worth a try. It is worth noting that antibiotics are not generally used to treat headaches, so any response good or bad (a herx) is a indication that your headache is caused by some sort of infection, which could be Lyme.
The sufferer is often sensitive to lots different noise. One loud noise is often not a problem, but lots individual sounds in the same location can make a LymeHead worse. A typical example would be a room containing multiple conversations. The LymeHead can find it difficult to filter out the other conversations, their hearing is hypersensitive and the brain is unable to cope.
Bright light can make a LymeHead worse.
Exercise or even something as simple as driving can make a LymeHead worse.
The other symptoms of Lyme vary greatly from patient to patient, I can therefore see no reason that all LymeHeads should be exactly the same.
Information provided on this site are not a substitute for professional medical advice and are intended as general information only. If you have, or suspect you may have, Lyme disease you should consult a doctor.
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