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Original poster

In hospital abroad and so so scared

197 replies

sorehead123 · 04/08/2023 17:36

Earlier today I looked upwards while on a zip wire and immediately got a blinding pain in the back top of my head. This happened earlier this week but went away quite quickly and I thought it was stress as my ASD child was mid melt down.

My head felt like it was going to explode for maybe 20 minutes. It felt like I had been whacked round the back of the head.

Has now eased off but 3 hours later the pain in the back of my head is still there. Has turned into a more general bad headache feeling.

I'm abroad and called 111 in UK for advice. They advised I come to hospital and said possible brain haemorrhage which has frightened the life out of me.

My husband has taken the children for food and I am waiting alone. Im so frighted.

OP posts:
Original poster
sorehead123 · 05/08/2023 10:20

@Ruth98 thank you - that sounds awful and to go on for so long. You must have found that absolutely awful. I have had paracetamol and ibuprofen this morning and the pain has mostly gone it just feels a bit like a stuffy head. Hopefully that's a good sign.

OP posts:
olympicsrock · 05/08/2023 10:21

This reply has been deleted

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

Exactly - vertebral artery dissections often happen to middle aged women and occur when turning head or looking upwards….

People don’t think Vascular in younger women… hence they can be missed.

Original poster
sorehead123 · 05/08/2023 10:21

@Helpuschoose thank you! I got this report at 2am and not yet tackled translation

OP posts:

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General health
ThreeLocusts · 05/08/2023 10:26

Hi OP, I can read French but I'm not a doctor, so can't make sense of all the things they have excluded. Sounds like they were thorough though. They checked your sinuses, for example, and checked for signs of earlier infarction. All normal.

I once got a terrible headache after a lumbar puncture. The suddenness of it and the persistence were terrifying. Makes you lose trust in your body a bit, this amount of pain for no apparent reason.

But it did pass. Is there something nice that you can do in your current state? Keep your family close, give yourself time to process the experience and don't despair. You will get through this.

Helpuschoose · 05/08/2023 10:27

sorehead123 · 05/08/2023 10:21

@Helpuschoose thank you! I got this report at 2am and not yet tackled translation

FYI it also says that there is no evidence of a previous stroke either.

Original poster
sorehead123 · 05/08/2023 10:37

Thank you to those translating - when I posted last night I never expected so much help and support

OP posts:
JustBanPlasticAndSubsidiseTheTrainsAlready · 05/08/2023 10:56

sorehead123 · 05/08/2023 10:07

@olympicsrock

I can't work out how to pm so I am just posting this here - i blanked out my name anyway. I so appreciate your help, thank you

It says there's nothing wrong, no bleeding, no fractures. Your brain looks good.

Xenia · 05/08/2023 11:23

In that case sounds like best to do what the UK doctor on this thread said - get aspirin and once home see our doctor just in case to ask what the UK doctor suggests.
Also do make sure you are 100% sure of the charging basis - you probably are in France and have a UK GHIC card which should cover you but when I had a ski accident they took me to a private clinic (nothing wrong with that of course as it was very good) and I had to claim back from my holiday insurance later which paid for most things except, weirdly, for the 200 euro taxi back from clinic to hotel (given I couldn't walk, it was a bit mean to exclude that element)

Hibiscrubbed · 05/08/2023 11:31

olympicsrock · 05/08/2023 07:51

Hello OP , I’m a vascular surgeon. I’m concerned that this may have been a vertebral artery dissection. Rare and often missed but your story is a classic one for this problem . ( It’s a tear in the lining of an artery in your neck)

It would not have been spotted on a standard CT head looking for a bleed. Did you see the report - did it mention the arteries in your neck?

Ideally you need a duplex ultrasound to MR angiogram to look at your vertebral arteries.

They are important to spot because they carry a small risk of stroke BUT the treatment is just to take a small dose of aspirin to prevent clot settling on the tear. My advice would be to get some aspirin over the counter 75mg . Take 2 the first day then one daily for the rest of your holiday and then go to your GP the day you get home and ask to be referred to vascular surgery for an ultrasound of the arteries in your neck.

Happy for you to pm me if you have a copy of the CT report.

What a brilliant poster.

Original poster
sorehead123 · 05/08/2023 11:35

Hi yes my husband is just our getting me the aspirin now and will absolutely follow that advice from the surgeon who I am eternally grateful to. I feel quiet shaken and upset and scared to do much. Sorry if that sounds a bit dramatic to those of you who suffer regular migraines, I am lucky never to have experience that sort of headache before now.

OP posts:
Original poster
sorehead123 · 05/08/2023 11:41

@olympicsrock I've taken the aspirin and will continue to do so. Thank you.

OP posts:
SashaAlabaster · 05/08/2023 11:42

@sorehead123
Regular migraine sufferer here...no need to apologise whatsoever! You've had a really scary, agonising time.

So glad that you were checked out properly at the hospital, and hope you recuperate smoothly now on, enjoying well-deserved r&r with your family.

Go gently x

And, yes, a shout-out to @olympicsrock and translator volunteers on this thread. MN at its finest.

JFDIYOLO · 05/08/2023 11:50

This thread has been inspirational. The hive mind in action. Hope you are feeling better this morning.

🤗

Original poster
sorehead123 · 05/08/2023 11:58

Honestly I feel quite emotional about the support I had. I usually just post about rubbish on MN or read other stuff. But so much support and help and just kept me going.

OP posts:
olympicsrock · 05/08/2023 12:07

I’ve looked at the scan - normal but they didn’t do the type of scan that looks at arteries at the same time.

There is a risk taking aspirin as well as other anti inflammatories such as ibuprofen . Risk of stomach ulcer. Don’t take both together without seeking formal medical advice.

I have to be a little careful about advice over the internet but couldn’t read and ignore the possibility of a missed dissection .

Original poster
sorehead123 · 05/08/2023 12:09

@olympicsrock I understand. I will be careful with the ibuprofen. Thank you.

OP posts:
hiding5675687 · 05/08/2023 12:57

You are in the right place, so wait and get it checked. Hopefully a muscle/nerve issue or migraine - could be triggered by certain foods, or dehydration. Get it checked though.

Justkeepingplatesspinning · 05/08/2023 13:41

I had similar headache and it was a trapped nerve in my neck. An osteopath sorted it for me after painkillers didn't work and my GP had no idea why I had a headache lasting for days in the back of my head. I hope you get some relief and explanation soon.

DrBlackbird · 05/08/2023 14:55

.

Andthereyougo · 05/08/2023 15:23

Another vote for a chiropractor or osteopath when you get home. I had a spate of horrendous headaches, saw a chiropractor who examined me then told me exactly where the pain originated and tracked ( I had it the wrong way round, saying pain was from front of my head going back over the crown of my ear— it was originating in my neck and going forwards if that makes sense) Few sessions of manipulation cured it.
Your French hospital assessments and investigations were very thorough, nothing sinister to worry about. You’ve not had a stroke, no head/brain injury, they’ve checked mastoids, even your sinuses — all clear. You did the right thing going to hospital.

HumourReplacementTherapy · 05/08/2023 15:25

What a bloody star you are @olympicsrock
I've seen you helping other posters in the past 👏
I hope I never need advice from a French speaking vascular surgeon but if I do I know who to come to 😁
I hope the pain has eased off a little op. It sounds like quite a few have experienced similar. At least you're really informed and know who to ask.
Feel better soon Smile

Rowgtfc72 · 05/08/2023 15:32

I get migraines. The stabbing headache I got was so completely different to my migraines. And scary. Very scary.
Pleased you're feeling better.

GolgafrinchamB · 05/08/2023 15:34

This is such a heartwarming thread!

@sorehead123, I hope your pain eases off soon. To @olympicsrock and the translation volunteers, thank you for bolstering my faith in people.

Mirabai · 05/08/2023 15:36

i would avoid osteopath/chiropractic manipulation in a case of potential risk of arterial tear, due to stroke risk. I have had osteopathic treatment myself and it can be very beneficial but I never have my neck adjusted and it could be dangerous in this scenario.

JennyTheDonkey · 05/08/2023 15:56

Mirabai · 05/08/2023 15:36

i would avoid osteopath/chiropractic manipulation in a case of potential risk of arterial tear, due to stroke risk. I have had osteopathic treatment myself and it can be very beneficial but I never have my neck adjusted and it could be dangerous in this scenario.

As someone who has had vertebral arterial dissection in the past I've been advised against seeing an osteopath or chiropractor too.

Sending you well wishes OP

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