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Original poster

Would you go to A&E for this? Bit worried.

204 replies

Beebatron · 22/07/2022 14:51

To cut a long story short I've been suffering with intense head pressure for nearly two weeks. I wouldn't call it a headache exactly, more like a really bad feeling of pressure, it's been pretty much constant the entire time but not painful enough to stop me from sleeping. I am also getting weird sensations down my left side, tingling and the skin feels weirdly numb. This afternoon one of my eyes has turned a bit bloodshot for no apparent reason.
I've been holding off seeing the GP as I am in the process of switching but the pressure is getting really quite bad now so I don't really know what to do. I really don't want to go to A&E on a Friday to just be bumped around until Monday or to waste anyone's time in case it's something trivial, but the eye thing has freaked me out a bit.

OP posts:
RichardOsmansXRaySpecs · 23/07/2022 18:17

Omg stop 😆

Miisty · 23/07/2022 18:22

Friend had this spotted by optician it was a brain tumour go to A and E phone number waste of time took over 6hrs to phone back Opticians best bet

SpiderVersed · 23/07/2022 18:30

Hope you're feeling better today and the panic attack didn't knock you back too much, OP.

Interested in this thread?

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General health
BlodynGwyn · 23/07/2022 18:41

OP, buy yourself one of those wrist BP cuffs to check your BP at home.

My BP is normal most of the time, but goes up considerably when I'm in pain. I have inflammatory disease amongst other things and a few years ago I had some serious pain (a 9.5 on the pain scale) so my husband rushed me to the local ER. My BP was 211/101! Once an anti-inflammatory drug was put into the IV, my BP quickly went back to normal. The relief was incredible.

If you get light headed on standing then you know the BP med dosage is too high.

Justbefair · 23/07/2022 18:46

I had the exact same symptoms a few years ago and when I went to see doc it was hay fever and sinus problems. Relentless pressure headaches, an eye that looked looked like it was goung to burst and very sore nose. Please see your doc to help, you will likely need medication, if u can get an appt! X

Tazmania77 · 23/07/2022 18:53

I would say you have a cluster headache, does it feel like a sudden sharp throb pain that gets worse and then eases off? I had/have this and have had for 3 weeks and these sharp pains every 10 minutes or so but not bad enough to wake me at night, when I really tried to tune in to how it felt I could say it felt like brain freeze you know when you drink something too cold and you get a very horrible pain that’s so intense but eventually goes, I had that for 3 weeks, still a dull ache now and I have had a hemiplegic migraine before as well as normal migraines so being referred to a neurologist, it sounds like a cluster headache but could be a hemiplegic migraine also from the numbness down you body, that’s what I had when I had mine, they thought I’d had a stroke but it wasn’t thankfully, I went to the local walk in centre to see an out of hours gp as could not get a regular gp appt, the only way to be sure is I would recommend you do the same xx

Joysutty · 23/07/2022 19:24

All most certain high blood pressure. I take one tablet each day since last 2 years. You need to get appointment with your doctor as you "could" be at risk of a mini stroke. Also mentioned is to get an eye test booked in.

I was at A+E last week. Was a 2 hour wait just for "triage" assessment - total time of 6 hours. Home 3am. Time frames are different now.

Lollypip · 23/07/2022 19:30

How are you OP?
I'm suffering this same thing atm but I also have a pea sized lump behind one ear. I often suffer with pins and needles down my left side which comes from neck / cervical spine issues ( all i can do for them is physio) so its not necessarily your heart etc. I've had ecg's, MRI etc over the years and its all put down to nerve compression etc. This time I feel worse, head pressure etc but I took an anti hystamine with my paracetamol earlier and it wasn't quite so painful. Have you got any sinus symptoms like blocked nose? Or signs of dental caries/ abcess?

Hope you get checked out!

Summerofsyn · 23/07/2022 19:43

So glad to hear your ok 💐

bruffin · 23/07/2022 19:43

fib88 · 23/07/2022 17:52

Yes you could be about to have a Bells Palsy (very similar to a stroke) - don’t mess about go get checked x good luck

It should be a bannable offence not to read all OP's posts before posting [🙄

bruffin · 23/07/2022 19:46

Last time i saw the nurse BP was sky high [very stressed] she put me on amlodopine and sent me round the chemist to pick up prescription immediately.

YorkshireRog · 23/07/2022 19:46

Doctor here! Hi!

Noone would mind reviewing you in A&E for this level of worry on your part. It is a quick headache screen for red flag and a quick exam, a set of obs and based on that decisions about imaging.

And as others have said getting the back of your eyes looked at is a good plan too.

Good luck, and if you ever feel this level of worry about anything no one would be upset by you being reviewed. (I have purposely kept away from medical advice on here and responding directly to your report of symptoms as I am not allowed to engage in this sort of setting anyway).

threatmatrix · 23/07/2022 20:08

#changingstages
i think your wrong. I feel poster should get this checked immediately.

SpaghettiSquash · 23/07/2022 20:15

Why do people post without bothering to read the thread? 🤷‍♀️

bruffin · 23/07/2022 20:23

SpaghettiSquash · 23/07/2022 20:15

Why do people post without bothering to read the thread? 🤷‍♀️

They just need to read OP's posts for updates, it's so easy now!

Original poster
Beebatron · 23/07/2022 20:25

Thanks for the kind words all. I've been taking it pretty easy today but generally the headache is still quite bad so going to the opticians on Monday and then to the GP for some further tests (bloods etc, I was at one point critically low in Vit B12 so think that there's a possibility this is low again).

I have to say the hospital and the Dr's/nurses who saw me yesterday were completely fantastic and I was seen/scanned and back home within four hours.

OP posts:
MistyIsle · 23/07/2022 20:35

Hi didn't want to read and run. I has something like this and had something called intercranial hypertension. Needed a lumbar puncture to drain cerebral fluid from my spinal cord. Was probably because I'm overweight. An optician will be able to see if there is pressure behind the eyes. Good luck x

Woolybear · 23/07/2022 20:40

Thank goodness you’re ok. I Was about to tell you to go straight to A&E. I’ve only just seen your post and had a knot in my stomach as these were symptoms my sis had which was a brain haemorrhage.
she also has Vitamin B12 deficiency and when it’s low she gets headaches/tiredness and needs her injections.
As for your neck please ask your GP to send you for a scan soon.
Take care OP 💐💐💐

WeAreTheHeroes · 23/07/2022 20:49

Just read your update OP. Aside from the stress your pain is causing (the two go hand in hand and make each other worse), are you feeling more stressed than usual? I had the secondary headache thing around Christmas and wasn't sleeping. It was awful and only resolved fully when the cause of the stress was dealt with - work stress.

Bebethany · 23/07/2022 21:57

Beebatron ·if you are still at home having these symptoms please call 999

Jacopo · 23/07/2022 22:23

The number of people posting here without RTFT or even reading the OP’s posts (it’s easy, click on See All) is making my blood pressure rise AND giving me a flaming headache.

Athenajm80 · 23/07/2022 22:30

Jacopo · 23/07/2022 22:23

The number of people posting here without RTFT or even reading the OP’s posts (it’s easy, click on See All) is making my blood pressure rise AND giving me a flaming headache.

Don't get me wrong, it is annoying when people haven't read the full thread, but you can't filter by OP posts on the app which is frustrating at times.

bruffin · 23/07/2022 22:48

Athenajm80 · 23/07/2022 22:30

Don't get me wrong, it is annoying when people haven't read the full thread, but you can't filter by OP posts on the app which is frustrating at times.

Show quote history

On on the ap the OP name shows up in a different colour. TBH i never worked out why people use the ap , it has always been useless. Mine says im logged in but if i try to do anything it says "i need to be logged in" 🙄

Slv199 · 23/07/2022 22:54

MistyIsle · 23/07/2022 20:35

Hi didn't want to read and run. I has something like this and had something called intercranial hypertension. Needed a lumbar puncture to drain cerebral fluid from my spinal cord. Was probably because I'm overweight. An optician will be able to see if there is pressure behind the eyes. Good luck x

I had this too, from eating too much chocolate in lockdown and becoming overweight. I had just about every part of my body scanned before they did the lumber puncture.

Noangelbuthavingfun · 23/07/2022 23:04

Goawayangryman · 22/07/2022 19:54

People really need to up their game on what symptoms are red flags.

Left arm pain with sensation changes, a bloodshot eye and head pressure? Hell yes to A&E.

OP I hope you are ok and it's nothing serious. The NHS is brilliant at sorting out truly urgent stuff. Even now when there are so many pressures on resources.

Agree... shocking how many people on this thread don't know the basics of possible heart attacks symptoms or angina... you don't have to be a doctor to be clued up on the basics - the information is readily available. Heart attack symptoms in females and males and stroke symptoms everyone should at least know so you can call 111 or go to a&e