Preparing for an appointment

You're likely to start by seeing your family doctor or a general practitioner. However, you may be referred to a headache specialist.

Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment.

What you can do

Be aware of pre-appointment restrictions. When you make the appointment, ask if there's anything you need to do in advance, such as restrict your diet.

• Keep a headache journal, including when each headache occurred, how long it lasted, how intense it was, what you were doing immediately before the headache started, and anything else notable about the headache.
• Write down your symptoms and when they began.
• Write down key personal information, including major stresses or recent life changes and family history of headaches.
• List all medications, vitamins or supplements you're taking, including doses and frequency of use. Include medications used previously.
• Write down questions to ask your doctor.

Take a family member or friend along, if possible, to help you remember information.

For chronic headaches, some questions to ask your doctor include:

• What's the likely cause of my headaches?
• What are other possible causes?
• What tests do I need?
• Is my condition likely temporary or chronic?
• What's the best course of action?
• I have other health conditions. How can I best manage them together?
• Should I see a specialist?
• Are there printed materials I can have? What websites do you recommend?

Don't hesitate to ask other questions.

What to expect from your doctor

Your doctor is likely to ask you questions, such as:

• Have your headaches been continuous or occasional?
• How severe are your headaches?
• What, if anything, seems to improve your headaches?
• What, if anything, appears to worsen your headaches?

What you can do in the meantime

To ease your headache pain until you see your doctor, you might:

• Avoid activities that worsen your headaches.
• Try over-the-counter pain relief medications — such as naproxen sodium (Aleve) and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others). To avoid rebound headaches, don't take these more than three times a week.