Can anyone help diagnose me?

[BinfortheWin]

I know we all love a good amateur medic thread!

I am 40 and generally fit and healthy although I have periods of fairly crippling fatigue but generally get on with it.

On Tuesday I was woken up by a headache and feeling ill. Took paracetamol, had an easy day. I was feeling sick and very tired, the headache hung around all day.

Wednesday I was due to work. Still had the headache and feeling sick but decided it was probably a migraine. Halfway through the day I became very drowsy, sore stiff neck, unable to cope with light or noise and still feeling sick and dizzy. I rang 111 who suggested I attend A&E. I did, but the wait was hours and I felt dreadful. The sore neck had gone by this time so I went home.

Thursday I went to the GP as although the headache and photosensitivity had improved a bit, I still felt very weak and tired and dizzy. GP sent me to A&E.

Friday I had had brain scan and lots of blood tests etc which were all normal so I went home. Headache improved but still exhausted and dizzy.

It is now Sunday and I am STILL feeling exhausted, weak, dizzy and sick, although not quite as bad as I was. The headache is just faint in the background and the sore neck/back of head comes and goes. I’m sleeping lots but I really don’t have time for this.

Can a migraine go on for this long and cause these symptoms?? Still feeling dizzy 6 days on?? I have had 2 before but years ago and they only lasted a few hours.

Thanks very much to anyone who read that - any input much appreciated please!

Vestibular migraine? Or just viral induced vertigo? That can last bloody weeks, headaches tired, seasickness all the time on dry land.. Bppv? I know when Ive vertigo with a virus, acyclovir helps me.. poor you but thankfully no tumour on mri.. or any other nasties..

what did they suggest in ED? they would have been the people to ask.

They said ‘probably complex migraines’ but to keep an eye on it.

My friends DH has previously suffered with migraines, but like you, they have lasted a day or so tops. Earlier this year, he had what he said felt like a really severe migraine but it went on for a week. Couldnt get out of bed. Anyway, it was confirmed as a migraine, he recovered, and has been fine since.

Out of interest, are you fully hydrated/ balanced electrolytes?

keep an eye on it and then what? Sounds like if it's not getting better you need to speak to a real life HCP again so they can think about the more unusual things (/think about whether an LP might help diagnosing).

Well yes obviously I will do this but it is always helpful to hear other people’s experiences too, when it is anything slightly odd.

For example, I had never heard of vestibular migraines before this thread, so now I have that as a potential differential. The more information, the better 🙂

I think so - I’ve been trying to drink lots more since it started just to be sure.

Lyme disease? Husband had it and it was really hard to pin down but it involved headaches

Ive sufferedfrom mograins for over 40 yeats, usually a day or 2 but on 3 occasions they have ladted over 5 days.
Have they offeted any treatments,perhaps a triptan?

They’ve given me sumatriptan to take next time if I feel another one starting.

PS you poor thing having this for years! So sorry! I hope you’ve got good medication.

The stiff neck and fatigue is v similar to ME/chronic fatigue syndrome

What's your posture like? Is your neck straight or bent over/up when you sleep? Do you work at a desk with a good chair and screen/s at eye level or do you have to use a laptop?

Do your ankles tend to roll inwards or shoes wear down on one side of the heel before others?

Can you easily turn your head to look over your shoulder in both directions without feeling tightness or pain at the same time as making sure your shoulderblades are against your back rather than poking out like wings?

If your posture is misaligned, it's common to push your head forwards, which increases the weight and strain on your neck muscles (and tendons) - they attach at the back of your head and the headaches can be tremendous, couple with

I was also wondering about ME/CFS due to the long-standing bouts of fatigue and normal bloods.

Headaches (including migraine-like headaches) are a common symptom of ME/CFS .

Nor so sure about the stiff neck. That could be due to tension.

https://meassociation.org.uk/medical-matters/items/migraine-type-headaches/

Interesting that a couple of people have mentioned ME/CFS. I have been going to the doctor for over a year now with debilitating bouts of fatigue, muscle weakness, brain fog. I was diagnosed with low B12 and iron and have since rectified both those issues with some improvement. But the bouts of fatigue still exist and stop me doing everything I need to do.

I’ve described all this in detail to the GP who has never mentioned ME/CFS so I suppose I just don’t want to look like a hypochondriac or label-hunter. Which is silly I know.

Migraine can cause a lot of other symptoms than just a headache. I've spoken to my GP a few times because of new symptoms just to be told it's migraine related. I've had the dizzy spells with migraine but the first time it was because I ate something and the second time it was head injury related

Virus