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To want a head scan for headaches and dizziness

84 replies

DontYouStartMadam · 20/05/2024 18:38

Hi everyone. I’ve had constant pressure headaches and dizziness for 2 weeks now. They started quite strong and now they’ve died down but I still have residual dizziness, nausea, eye pain, headache and brain fog.

It’s not severe now but it is lingering and I’ve tried ruling out other issues. Had my eyes examined at Specsavers and they said my prescription is pretty much the same and they couldn’t see any other problems. Had my ears looked at a pharmacy and they couldn’t see anything that would cause my symptoms. They gave me Sudafed and migraine tablets for the nausea. I don’t feel able to drive now.

I‘m hesitating to go to the GP because I feel I’m always there. Beginning of this year I was seen for fatigue and was prescribed iron tablets which have helped. Then recently I was seen as I thought about starting antidepressants (haven’t yet but I likely will). Now I’m calling about this … I feel like they’re going to give me a label of hypochondriac or Münchausen syndrome lol. But I do feel off and it’s worrying me a little, I’ve tried to rule everything else out, as well as take medications, get more rest/sleep, light exercise, drink water etc.

I want a CT or MRI to rule out that there’s something seriously wrong. I don’t want to be brushed off but I don’t feel serious enough to request a scan. I keep gaslighting myself and telling myself to wait and see if it’ll go away but it’s been 2 weeks. To be honest I had them before that but they weren’t constant. Sorry to waffle, outside perspectives welcome.

OP posts:
notanotherrokabag · 20/05/2024 18:57

IroningThrone · 20/05/2024 18:57

High blood pressure can cause dizziness.

No it doesn't. except possibly in exceptionally rare malignant hypertension, which wouldn't last for two weeks.

IroningThrone · 20/05/2024 18:57

notanotherrokabag · 20/05/2024 18:52

Brain tumours pretty much never present with a headache. Neither does high blood pressure by the way, @IroningThrone

Go to their GP for their opinion.
Not with a fixed thought about what test you want.

Edited

High blood pressure can cause dizziness.

notanotherrokabag · 20/05/2024 18:55

wibblywobblywoo · 20/05/2024 18:53

Although not cheap, but hundreds rather than thousands, you can ALWAYS go private - just Google a specialist in the field you feel is most relevant and find the most local/convenient one and make an appointment - you literally just ring their secretary and book and they can examine you and arrange for an appropriate scan which will be days rather than months away.

Consultation will be a few hundred
Scan will be upwards of £1000
And the OP has no clue what specialist to ask for.

wibblywobblywoo · 20/05/2024 18:53

Although not cheap, but hundreds rather than thousands, you can ALWAYS go private - just Google a specialist in the field you feel is most relevant and find the most local/convenient one and make an appointment - you literally just ring their secretary and book and they can examine you and arrange for an appropriate scan which will be days rather than months away.

notanotherrokabag · 20/05/2024 18:52

DontYouStartMadam · 20/05/2024 18:43

@notanotherrokabag honestly I'm worrying about a tumour 🤦🏽‍♀️ not helping my hypochondriac case

Brain tumours pretty much never present with a headache. Neither does high blood pressure by the way, @IroningThrone

Go to their GP for their opinion.
Not with a fixed thought about what test you want.

IroningThrone · 20/05/2024 18:48

If it was a tumour you'd have other symptoms too. Could be lots of non scary things - inner ear infection, general virus (covid made me horribly dizzy!) vertigo, sinus problems and probably more.

You won't get a scan for those symptoms alone. You've also said it's getting better so is unlikely to be serious.

I would urge you to get your blood pressure checked though. Unlikely to be a problem at your age but it's never bad to check.

DontYouStartMadam · 20/05/2024 18:43

@notanotherrokabag honestly I'm worrying about a tumour 🤦🏽‍♀️ not helping my hypochondriac case

OP posts:
notanotherrokabag · 20/05/2024 18:39

What specific diagnoses are you worried about?
Do they show on a head CT/MRI?

Because most of the causes of headaches and dizziness don't, and you should only request a test if you know what you'll do with the result............

DontYouStartMadam · 20/05/2024 18:38

Should add I'm 26

OP posts:
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