Thunderclap Headaches

[ThunderclapHead]

Name changed as this could be a bit outing.

I had a thunderclap type headache without a cause (I was hospitalised and a CT scan revealed no bleeds).

The headache appeared within seconds. It was excruciating. I was confused, unable to speak, unable to walk. I was photosensitive and vomiting a lot. It lasted 2 days and my heart beat so hard from the pain, I thought I was going to have a heart attack and die.

(Now it’s over and my partner is typing this for me as I still can’t look at my phone it makes me sick.)

But, I’m one day on, struggling with reading and comprehending what I have read. I have to read back through the shortest sentence multiple times. I also am struggling with short term memory loss, I keep forgetting things that I am literally just talking about.

I wondered if anyone can reassure me that this will pass. The memory loss and lack of focus is concerning. I have got a GP appt booked for tomorrow afternoon.

Sorry I posted that, it was meant to make her laugh.

Oh it was the way I read it to her!
Ive just realised the joke and told her. She’s found it extra funny now.

I was told to take at least a week off by a doctor and to make sure I'd fully recovered, after having three severe migraines in 4 days. I was much like the OP and couldn't do anything. My DH called 111 who wanted to send an ambulance out when the third one hit. I couldn't cope with the pain at all.

My OH developed epilepsy out of the blue, he used to jump out of bed the morning after a seizure (or 3) thinking he was going in to work despite not being sure where the toilet was or being able to use the simplest functions of his phone. Deffo hid his car keys.
The whole issue with cognitive disturbance is that he couldn't be relied on to make a safe decision (about going in to work, driving) so he certainly wasn't going to make safe decisions at work (in A&E)
It's scary, scary for her, and scary for you. She'll want to bury her head in the sand, but if this is her body saying 'enough is enough' then it's time to take a step back and look at the whole situation, the work stress and all. Because if she wasn't in that job, they'd get someone else in. But she's irreplaceable in her family.
Love to you both, things will get better, the puzzle pieces will fall into place x

I had one several years ago that was a suspected stroke - full paralysis and breathing knocked out. It ended up being diagnosed as a migraine and led to several years of rehab and daily migraines. It wasn't a stroke but the intensity of my recovery it may well have been.

I hope you get well soon

I had a thunderclap headache about 12 years ago (an absolute one off) but remember it so vividly. I got up as normal, chatted to DH and the kids, got in the shower and collapsed. DH called an ambulance and I went off to hospital. I had a CT scan then a lumbar puncture but they didn't find anything amiss and I went home after 36 hours. It was the most painful experience ever but thankfully has not happened since.

My friend had one a few years ago. We were out having a meal on a Friday night. All of a sudden she started holding her head, excruciating pain. I took her home. Was ill all weekend and called the doctor on monday and he called an ambulance immediately to take her in for a CT scan. Showed no bleed thank goodness.

but said if it ever happens again to call 999.

very scary. Get well soon OP

Tell her if she goes to work she'll put her recovery back weeks or months. Does she want to still be off work sick at Christmas because that's the reality of going to work too soon

Also if she can't even type on a phone because it hurts too much, how is she going to get to work? What's she going to do just sit at her desk and mash her fingers into the keyboard? No offence op but you're being stupid and not very smart about things.

I suffer from migraines which have many of the symptoms she's mentioned - I don't get as severe pain as she has but I know people who definitely do. Migraines with aura are terrifying and mimic strokes - I lose feeling down one side of my body, pins and needles, can't speak as I don't have the capability of putting words together, nor can I find them, I have the flashing lights in my eyes, panic, anxiety, frequent urination, feeling off and then the migraine hangover.

Awful bloody things - mine are down to hormone fluctuations. Could this be a possibility?

Please tell her not to go work she might be wobbly for a good few days. Sending love x

I always talk about feeling hungover after a migraine, I guess it's along those lines.

@ThunderclapHead how is your partner today? Has she gone to work? I hope she's snoozing in bed or on the sofa!