[31F] Experiencing chronic headaches, heartburn, and muscle pain

What might be happening

Based on the symptoms you've described, here are some possible conditions:

• Tension Headaches: These are the most common type of headache and they can cause a constant ache and tightness around your head, especially at your temples or the back of your head and neck. This could explain your chronic headaches and the "coat hanger" pain you described.

  • Treatment typically involves pain relievers, stress management, and physical therapy.

• Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD): This is a chronic condition where stomach acid frequently flows back into the tube connecting your mouth and stomach (esophagus). This backwash (acid reflux) can irritate the lining of your esophagus, causing heartburn among other symptoms.

  • Treatment typically involves lifestyle changes and over-the-counter medications. In severe cases, prescription medications or surgery might be necessary.

• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS): This is a complicated disorder characterized by extreme fatigue that can't be explained by any underlying medical condition. The fatigue worsens with physical or mental activity, but doesn't improve with rest. This could explain your chronic fatigue and the worsening of your headaches on physically demanding days.

  • There's no single test to confirm a diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome. You may need a variety of medical tests to rule out other health problems that have similar symptoms. Treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome focuses on symptom relief.

• Fibromyalgia: This is a disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain accompanied by fatigue, sleep, memory and mood issues. This could explain your chronic headaches, "coat hanger" pain, fatigue, and sleep difficulties.

  • There is no cure for fibromyalgia, but medication, exercise, stress management and healthy habits may ease symptoms.

What you can do

You should definitely seek medical attention to discuss your symptoms further. In the meantime, here are some things you can do:

1. Keep a symptom diary: This can help you and your doctor identify patterns that might indicate what's causing your symptoms.
2. Try over-the-counter pain relievers: For your headaches and "coat hanger" pain, over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) might help.
3. Lifestyle changes: Regular exercise, a healthy diet, and adequate sleep might help reduce the frequency and severity of your symptoms.
4. Stress management: Techniques such as deep-breathing exercises, massage, and yoga can help manage stress and might reduce your symptoms.

What you should look out for

You should seek immediate medical attention if you experience:

• Sudden, severe headache or a headache accompanied by a stiff neck, fever, confusion, seizure, double vision, weakness, numbness or difficulty speaking
• Chest pain, especially if it is accompanied by shortness of breath, jaw or arm pain, or nausea and vomiting
• Severe abdominal pain or heartburn that doesn't go away with over-the-counter antacids
• Unexplained weight loss or night sweats

Remember, I'm an AI and this advice is based on the information you've provided. It's always important to consult with a healthcare professional for accurate information.