1. < COPD: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Terrible headaches with COPD

Posted by postalrick @postalrick, Feb 12, 2019

I have COPD - 68 years old - don't know what stage COPD yet - find that out next month - but, I would guess stage 3. Within the past 3 months I started having terrible headaches especially when coughing. Nothing, other than lortab, seems to help. Headaches/migraines last all day - seem to disappear when I go to bed - after rising in the morning the headache comes back after I am up from bed about 45 minutes. Coughing, which I do a lot and very deeply to clear mucus, feels like someone is stabbing me in the head with knives and makes the headache/migraine even worse. Is this or could this be too much CO2 in my blood and a lack of oxygen in my blood? if so, can this be helped. I am a 56 year smoker trying to quit. I am on Chanitx and have reduced smoking to 10 or less per day...will stop completely in a short time.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the COPD: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Support Group.

baz10 | @baz10 | Apr 3, 2019

Don't know if this is any help, but have you had an ultra-sound of your carotid arteries done? Perhaps after you get up for awhile in the morning the blood isn't flowing as well to your head? I, too had a pulmonologist who wasn't helping me whatsoever, so know how frustrated you must be.

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Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Apr 4, 2019
In reply to @postalrick "Had the blood gas test - ABG - not painful and was negative...no build-up of CO2...." + (show)
@postalrick

Had the blood gas test - ABG - not painful and was negative...no build-up of CO2. Went to pulmonary doc 2 weeks ago - no help at all - really just sat there and listened - only made suggestions AFTER I made the suggestion. I do not like him but his office is the only pulmonary doctors in my area - next closest is 65 miles away. He ordered a sleep study which I will have on May 2, 2019. Headaches are the same - have not gone away - still very painful all day long. He did not prescribe anything to help this...nothing at all. I actually believe he is useless to a large degree. It's really discouraging.

Also had overnight oximetry test - he said it showed that I have reduced oxygen level for a little over one hour during the night...so, he ordered the sleep study. I just don't believe that this will answer my headache problem.

Does anyone know how to rid yourself of mucus? When I get up in the morning the mucus has pooled in my lungs and throat. Of course I try to cough this up...in doing so my headache pain increases 20 fold. Any suggestions - cause I don't think my doctor cares whether or not my headaches get help or whether or not I get help for my COPD.

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@postalrick- Good morning. I'm sorry that you have had a bad time with your pulmonologist. Please reconsider looking for one outside of your area. It will be worth it! Mine recently retired. Now I have to drive to another county but it's worth it to me. Your headache will definitely get worse when you cough, esp if you are forcing it to get your phlegm up. Have you spoken to your PCP about your headaches?
This group has many many suggestions and ideas on how to clear your lungs. You should look through the different discussions

I hope that you have stopped smoking by now. If you haven't quit than any suggestions might be like swimming against the tide. When I smoked I had headaches when I coughed and they were pretty bad too. My cough disappeared when I quit. Please consider it if you haven't already.

Here is a whole list of you tube video on how to clear your lungs. I hope they work for you
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=getting+rid+of+mucus+with+copd

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kellybear | @kellybear | Aug 17, 2023
In reply to @postalrick "Had the blood gas test - ABG - not painful and was negative...no build-up of CO2...." + (show)
@postalrick

Had the blood gas test - ABG - not painful and was negative...no build-up of CO2. Went to pulmonary doc 2 weeks ago - no help at all - really just sat there and listened - only made suggestions AFTER I made the suggestion. I do not like him but his office is the only pulmonary doctors in my area - next closest is 65 miles away. He ordered a sleep study which I will have on May 2, 2019. Headaches are the same - have not gone away - still very painful all day long. He did not prescribe anything to help this...nothing at all. I actually believe he is useless to a large degree. It's really discouraging.

Also had overnight oximetry test - he said it showed that I have reduced oxygen level for a little over one hour during the night...so, he ordered the sleep study. I just don't believe that this will answer my headache problem.

Does anyone know how to rid yourself of mucus? When I get up in the morning the mucus has pooled in my lungs and throat. Of course I try to cough this up...in doing so my headache pain increases 20 fold. Any suggestions - cause I don't think my doctor cares whether or not my headaches get help or whether or not I get help for my COPD.

Jump to this post

I take mucus relief, which is guifenisen, and have for the last two years. It helps thin the mucus so it's easier to get it out.

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g49 | @g49 | Aug 19, 2023

Do stop smoking. I was 72 when I stopped and had 55 years of smoking. Five plus decades is time enough for you and me to be smokers who stopped.
While my condition is not as severe as yours, stopping smoking (hard to do) really helped and had good effects in a relatively short time (wheezing stopped and able to rest better). Daily maintenance inhaler seems to help.
I wish you the best.

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g49 | @g49 | Aug 21, 2023

I did not realize this string was so dated. I saw kellybear's post of 4 days ago and did not pay attention to the other dates.

I hope the originator found relief from his situation. Blessings to any who read this.

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