Headaches and advice on Tiger Balm

[peabean]

So I have to admit I'm a headache person, I have been prone to them all my life. Whether it's because they're tension headaches because I am quite a conciencious person, or whether they are dietary (more unlikely, I don't overindulge in chocolate, cheese or alcohol), I have always had them fairly regularly, including, in recent years, the joy of a monthly migraine.

But having said all that, nothing could prepare me for the joy of pregnancy headaches!! It's not that they are always so painful, the worst thing is they are just relentless, and seem to linger for days! I'm having restless nights, waking up with a headache, going to bed with one. I've been taking paracetamol and plastering the 4HEAD on but these simply aren't touching them.

I don't have much in the way of morning sickness (just ravenous all the time, and a bit nauseous with it!) but these headaches feel as debilitating as MS would be. I'm finding it hard to concentrate, I'm grumpy because of lack of sleep (added to the normal pregnancy grump!) and I'm just getting fed up of them!!

Anyone got any advice? I have read that Tiger Balm is really effective for headaches and what I read online told me the white kind was safe during pregnancy (red kind is a little too strong), but the pharmacist in Boots wouldn't let me buy it on the grounds that it wasn't safe during pregnancy, and suggested 4HEAD instead (which for some might work, but for me is little more than a distraction!)

Sorry for the big long ramble, just hoping for some advice!

 

[MegGem]

I am suffering with pg headaches now too. Everyday! If they get real bad I give in to Tylenol but otherwise the things that help are hot showers and massaging oil onto my temples, scalp and neck. Yoga helps keep my neck and shoulders loose. I'm getting a massage tonight, hope that will help with my tension headaches. Make sure to pamper yourself with massages and naps! Oh, and hot wash clothes on my forehead or ice pack on nape of the neck helps with tension headaches. Drink lots of water too! Hope you feel better soon.

 

[pkbaby]

Oh, not fun at all.

I think meGem had a lot of good ideas. I would add try drinking lots of water, as this will help flush out some of the hormones that are causing a problem; you may also be dehydrated.

The other thing that might help is food rubs. Get DH to do it if you can or go to a dollar store and get one of those little rollers.

And whenever you can sleep sleep sleep

 

[overcomer79]

Oh dang, I used tiger balm several times. I will call my dr right now and make sure. I will let you know.

 

[Waiting4Baby]

I suffer from chronic headaches (no doctor has figured that out yet), and I've had migraines since I was a little girl (oh, if I could go back to the days when one tylenol would work on my migraines). And you're right... these pregnancy headaches SUCK. I know that acetaminophen has been deemed "safe" during pregnancy, but I still don't want to take it often, so I just suffer through it. I do a little bit of whining and complaining to my bf, but other than that....

The heartburn makes it worse too. I woke up last night starving, with heartburn and a really bad headache and so I got up and got a couple of bites to eat and drank some milk. When I laid down again I couldn't help moaning for a while. I felt horrible!

I'll only take something if I know it's going to affect my sleep. If I don't get sleep, I'll feel even worse.

 

[overcomer79]

Some nights, tiger balm is the only thing that helps me sleep as I have bad tension in my neck and shoulders. I am waiting for my Dr. to call me back right now so hopefully we will know something soon.

 

[peabean]

Thanks for your replies everyone! Looking forward to hearing what your doctor says Overcomer. If that doesn't work I might go and ask my Doc to prescribe something stronger than Paracetamol. I find that napping is a good idea to get my hours of sleep in, but it doesn't really get rid of the headaches! I don't like water much, so I may not be helping myself and may actually be dehidrated, so I'm going to get myself stocked up with bottled water and force myself to drink it.

Hope we can all find a good solution!

I'm working through a mild headache at the moment with 4HEAD and massaging my temples. It's not unbearable, but I've had it since yesterday, and all last night, and I hate it!!

 

[Waiting4Baby]

Thanks for your replies everyone! Looking forward to hearing what your doctor says Overcomer. If that doesn't work I might go and ask my Doc to prescribe something stronger than Paracetamol. I find that napping is a good idea to get my hours of sleep in, but it doesn't really get rid of the headaches! I don't like water much, so I may not be helping myself and may actually be dehidrated, so I'm going to get myself stocked up with bottled water and force myself to drink it.

Hope we can all find a good solution!

I'm working through a mild headache at the moment with 4HEAD and massaging my temples. It's not unbearable, but I've had it since yesterday, and all last night, and I hate it!!

Don't drink too much though! That can be toxic.

 

[Marg_27]

My doc told me to use tiger balm

 

[elly75]

I've never heard anything negative regarding tiger balm and pregnancy to be honest.

 

[overcomer79]

Hi all, I finally heard back from my OB and after giving them the active ingredients they told me it was ok to use during pregnancy. For those that haven't ever used it, get the white (athletic) kind because the original will stain your clothes and your bed sheets. Good luck and hope you guys can get rid of your headaches soon!!

 

[peabean]

Hi all, I finally heard back from my OB and after giving them the active ingredients they told me it was ok to use during pregnancy. For those that haven't ever used it, get the white (athletic) kind because the original will stain your clothes and your bed sheets. Good luck and hope you guys can get rid of your headaches soon!!

Awesome news!! Thanks for finding this out for us Overcomer! Here's hoping it works! xxx

 

[Waiting4Baby]

Hi all, I finally heard back from my OB and after giving them the active ingredients they told me it was ok to use during pregnancy. For those that haven't ever used it, get the white (athletic) kind because the original will stain your clothes and your bed sheets. Good luck and hope you guys can get rid of your headaches soon!!

Well, that's pretty cool to know now, but my dad had me use it before and it didn't work for me....

 

[Vici]

My midwife said it was fine to use tigerbalm - make sure you get red tho hun, its stronger than white The red has never stained anything of mine!

 

[Marg_27]

Do u mean the tin is red or the cream is red?? I hav sum that has a red tin, but the contents r white.... dint kno they did different types :s

 

[LukeandJo]

Has any of the opinions here changed about the use of tiger balm white or red?