sudden headache when having bowel movement

I am a 46 year old female. I have had migraines my adult life however they are rare and would start out like normal headache then start pounding with sensitivity to light and sound with the pain in my eyes and temples. A dark and quiet room and a nights sleep would always get rid of them. But two days ago, in the am, I went the bathroom and was having a normal BM, no straining, and was hit with this unbearable throbbing, with every heart beat, pain at the base of my skull. It, the throbbing pain eventually moved into my eyes and temples. I did not have the sensitivity to light our sound like I have had in the past with my migraines. I took a hydrocodone and it eased the pain so thought that sleep would take care of the rest. So spent the day on the couch because every time I would get up and try to do anything the pounding would get worse. I figured that a good nights sleep would take care of the pain that was left. However it did not. When I awoke yesterday the pain in my eyes and temples was slight but still there.

Then I went to the bathroom to just pee and was hit again at the base of my skull and my eyes and temples this time. I thought something is not right so I called my daughter to come get me and take me to the Dr's office. No way I could drive with this pain and I now have sensitivity to light. I told the Dr what was going on and that my bp when checked at the time was 167/94 and had been going up and down the past few week and he did his exam, bp was 152/82 and noticed that I was shaky on my right side and sent me straight to the ER. He was afraid I might have a bleed and thought I needed a cat scan.

At the ER they gave me a shot for the migraine and a shot for pain in general a pill for the waves of nausea I was having. The cat scan came back normal. The Dr. said it was just a migraine and just originating in a different area and that going to the bathroom was a new trigger for the migraines. I asked if this could be caused from menopause since my older sister has had this happen to her a couple of times, but was fine by the next day, a few months ago and we both are going through the change. He said yes and left the room. Neither Dr seemed concerned with my bp. Sorry could not be of any more help to figure out exactly what is going on. I feel for all who suffer with this.

After i had my son 6 months ago I started getting throbing headaches whenever i would go to the bathroom (only when i pushed) and it was a soft stool also. but its intense for a few seconds, i just thought maybe its one of those things that happen after child birth..guess i should make an appointment..

I'm glad to see so many other people have the same problem I have.  I've been tested, scoped, poked and prodded by several docs and every one shows up as nothing.  It has made me very reluctant to even discuss this with family, friends and most definitely not another doctor as I feel like a fool after all the expensive tests and they can't find anything wrong.  BUT, the stomach cramps, nausea and headache pain are real.  I used to get this sproadically but lately I get it every time I have a bowl movement.  No constipation either!!  And the headache stays for hours.  I've had this problem for about 15 years and instead of getting better it's getting worse.  Would love to hear if anyone has gotten any help!  Seems with so many people suffering the exact same thing there must be an answer.

I'm having the same problem, started a few days ago and really has me scared. After reading all the posts I see that it's not that uncommon but there is also no medical reason that anyone can find. I have a slow colon so I have to take Miralax every day but my bowel movements are still a strain. I have a sharp, stabbing, throbbing pain on the right top side of my head during and after each bowel movement. I've also thought about going to the emergency room but after everyone's experiences I'm reluctant. Thought I would mention it to my doc though just to see what she says. She'll probably attribute it to my age and the fact that I've been through menapause, she does everything else. Seems to be her favorite diagnosis. I'm glad I didn't spend money going to the ER, and glad I've found others who suffer from the same thing.

Please if someone gets answers let me know.. I;m so scared to have a bowel movement... I have never in my life had my head hurt so bad.. The head pain is violent!!! After it eases up some my head will still hurt the rest of the day... This has happened to me twice this week... and neither time was I straining.. The pain is so bad I can't do anything but wonder if I'm dying.... Please Help!!!!

Quote: I have had Crohn's disease for about 20 years also, mine is pretty dormant know too. I have had my gall bladder out also. I seem to have the same problem as you. I wonder if there isn't some kind of connection with the Crohn's. I live in Saskatchewan, Canada, the same enviroment as you. I have headaches at the back of my head, plus quite often at the back of my head during bowel movements. Very bad pulsating head pounding. Sounds strange!

Hey all,

I'm getting this too. I'm curious to know if there is any similarities between stories?

I've had Crohn's disease for years, but it's been very dormant. I don't think it's related to this.

I had surgery to get me gall bladder out a couple of months ago.

I sometimes feel dehydrated, but not overly so.

No real change in diet. I live up in Alberta Canada, and it's dry & winter.

I have recently had these headaches while having bowel movement and the movement was soft.  Suddenly my head began to throb from my temples to the forhead and thru the entire top of my head.  It felt like all my vessels on the brain were about to blow.  I began massaging my entire head, yelled to my husband to bring me an ice pack.  I placed it on my head all over to no avail.  I told him give me two tylenol, took that waited 15 minutes with the ice pack still all over my head.  I layed down waited, it subsided just a bit.  So I decided not to call an ambulance, it was so bad.   The headache lasted 6 hours but with less pain.  I took more tylenol and it finally stopped.  It scared me immensly, I thought I would soon have a dibilitating stroke.  Luckily it went away.  I began thinking what could be a reason for this headache?  I never have headaches, and if I do very mild.     I have no high blood pressure, no cholesterol, no dibeties, but I do have allergies and asthma and am about 17 lbs. overweight.  I recently started eating chicken to which I used to be allergic.  Upon eating chicken before I would have breathing problems so I have not eaten chicken at all for years.  But I love chicken, so sice my asthma is really under control, I like a fool ate chicken 3 days in a row, and 3 days in a row I had those lousy excruciating horrible deadly throbbing miserable undescribable headaches while I sat on the "throne" and thought I would die while I was taking  a bowel movement.   I also had diahrrea  at that time for no reason. My belly was distended, I felt blowded.   Then it dawned on me; CHICKEN. !!!  I NO LONGER EAT CHICKEN, and I NO LONGER HAVE THESE LOUSY PAINFUL HEADACHES.  lONG STORY SHORT, IF YOU HAVE AN ALLERGy TO SOME FOOD, FIND OUT WHICH IT IS AND STOP EATING IT.  IT WILL STOP YOUR PROBLEM, JUST LIKE IT DID ME.  BELIEVE ME I WANT TO SHARE THIS BECAUSE IT IS SO SIMPLE AND COULD BE SUCH A RELIEF.o.O

Found this on a google search as I have had this problem with my bowel problems for a few years....  Here is my theory, worth considering - After doing extensive research, my best bet is that it is related -  "Houston's valve"  - the valves between your large colon and rectum.  If they are not working, toxic matter goes where it is not supposed to go and gets into the body.   That's why it happens when the waste is passing through these valves....  Try seeing an applied kineseologist if they can shut the valves and get to the cause of what is making them not work.   Sometimes diet or a pathogen, allergy, stress etc can make them stay open or generally not function properly.  Best o fluck.

Hi Drake4444 thank you so much for your reply it makes sense, but as I stated in my description, I have elimiated chicken from my diet and have had no more of these problems. 

Wow, I've been suffering the exact same thing the last 2 weeks & I was in hospital for the first week trying to have it diagnosed & treated; the neurologist is stumped & keeps saying it's either a migraine or tension headache, or just stress related - he's diagnosis keeps changing as he's still scratching his head. I've had a CT scan, a CT scan with contrast, a Lumbar Puncture, urine & faeces tests, multiple blood tests & everything has come back normal. I was discharged as the Dr had no idea what was wrong or how to treat it. 

I'm a 19 year old female and this has started happening to me as well. Pain killers and meditative techniques arent helping at all (both normally help my headaches. i dont know what to do! help!

I recommend you try seeing a very good Applied Kineseologist/Chiropractor

My co worker is all of a sudden having the same issue. Started last thur and everytime she's had a BM in the past week she's had the excruciating headache- so bad she's gone to the ER. I'm in the health care field and of course started calling docs asking for advice. I randomly called a gastrointestinologist and he said it is very common and usually is caused by an ucler in the colon, aka ulcerative colitis. He suggested having your PCP write a recommendation to a GI doc and get a colonoscopy. He said 90% of the time this condition goes misdiagnosed because ER docs and neuro docs assume its a tension headache. My co worker is seeing a GI doc on Monday. Hope this helps!

I have the same thing going on and I wonder if it may be the actual antacid medicine itself making people sick. Or possibly the allergy/decongestant medicine I took for years to help my allergies.

I am not sure but within the last 2 years or so I was taking rolaids, maybe just one periodically,  then I had to take more than one rolaid, then extra strength whatever, pecid ac, I have used both purple pills and now I am having a problem eating. I just wonder if the antacids make the situation worse? 

For example... if you spray mold killer in your shower it will kill the mold but sometimes when the mold grows back it comes back more than what you had in there. I am not sure but for now I have tried to stop all antacids and eat honey dew melons and cantaloupe. They help out some with the acid in my stomache.

I just had the acid reflux surgery about 2 weeks ago and they say I can take antacids but I am trying to see what my body can do naturally.  I have the headache, bowel issue, dizziness, nassua sympton as well. I have lost 60lbs in roughly 4 plus months.  

Also, I just started taking the liquid vitamins. They are supposed to help keep you from gettig sick with nausea. Lets see what happens, in the mean time I will be praying.

 

u guys all needto check your diet and what you may be allergic too. this has been happening to me. I have always had a problem with pizza; givin me diarehea, stomach pains, ect. well, now it gives ne huge migraines while im on the toilet. i will no longer enjoy pizza!!!