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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to ask if anyone knows what's wrong with me? I feel like I'm dying.

130 replies

Alibubba · 15/05/2017 00:07

Apologies for the dramatic title but I'm really feeling awful and would appreciate any advice.

I began getting a headache on Saturday. It got steadily worse and was absolutely awful by Monday so I started taking paracetamol which I hardly ever resort to. It made no difference. It was excruciating to bend down, cough, climb or go downstairs. My brain feels swollen and throbbing and like I'm being smashed over the head with a hammer. It was so severe by Wednesday that the DC were late for school because I was struggling so much to even move around. I got an emergency GP appointment and was referred to hospital, particularly as I'm pregnant.

My blood pressure was fine and I had an MRI scan which came back clear. They checked my eyes but there was nothing wrong there so I came home. Since then, the pain is absolutely terrible as soon as I wake. I take paracetamol immediately but still can barely move around for an hour because it's so painful. It remains excruciating until after lunch time then calms down a bit and I can function again.

Today I've also started getting cramp in one of my calf muscles but I don't feel sick or dizzy or anything so I really don't know what it could be. I'm reluctant to go back to the doctors/hospital as they seem clueless too and it's more comfortable being in pain at home with DH not having to take time off work.

There was talk of a lumbar puncture if it continues but I don't see what that will establish. I feel okay right now but I'm dreading the morning because I know I will be in tears and in agony. Has anyone had anything similar or have any idea what could be wrong? I'm not usually bothered by pain (I managed childbirth drug free several times!) but this is appallingly bad.

OP posts:
Original poster
Alibubba · 15/05/2017 00:38

Our nearest a&e is 30 miles away so it's a major hassle when there's nothing apparent for them to see or do.

OP posts:
Bunnyfuller · 15/05/2017 00:38

Quite possibly, they can present in a number of ways I think. But no one can really tell you over the Internet :-/

Original poster
Alibubba · 15/05/2017 00:41

I know. But sitting in hospital for another day when they are as clueless as me isn't appealing.

OP posts:
Silvercatowner · 15/05/2017 00:42

But you've been checked out and they didn't find anything suspicious. If you go back and nothing has changed you'll just get the same message. Doctors tend to be very cautious with women who are pregnant. It sounds like an awful viral thing which only time will take to recover from.

Justaboy · 15/05/2017 00:43

Alibubba Can I suggest please that you go back to hospital. It does not sound like meningitis or sepis, that has a usually very quick progression.

It's very good that they did a nMRI scan that's reassuring that its not a real nasty up there but in the absence of any other symptoms it seems to me that there is something else going on that they might have missed doc's are only human!

Another consultation would not be amiss especially if the blood tests are uncertain and ask them if they might refer this up the chain a bit to perhaps a neurosurgery to see if they might have some idea if need be. Course it could be something due to your pregnancy or be as suggested a variant of the headache theme but either way or ways rather please take yourself back to hospital.

Please!

becausebecausebecause · 15/05/2017 00:44

Never suffered headaches until I took a woozy of one in my 8th month of pregnancy which carried on for weeks. Made me vomit it was so bad Turns out it was a magnesium deficiency. Get an Epson Salt Bath and some magnesium capsules or even better, some chocolate! It's full of it.

pzpr.eu/numery/2015_2/201522.pdf

Jedimum1 · 15/05/2017 00:44

It could, I don't always get the sickness, sometimes it's just a weird feeling in the stomach and I can't tell if I'm feeling hungry or full or what! I'm not overly sensitive to light or noise, at least not more than with any other headache. What it's constant it's the pain behind my right eye, as if something were pinching there, the congestion and the sensation that my brain is being squashed in. There's a migraine.org website with different kinds of migraines. Mine disappeared with the pregnancy but for other people is the opposite.

Textmergency · 15/05/2017 00:44

Intracranial hypertension? It doesn't quite fit everything, but it was what came to mind as I started reading so thought I'd offer it up! Sorry you're struggling so much with whatever it is.

Note3 · 15/05/2017 00:44

Migraine can present without auras (flashing lights and so forth).

HELLP can start with painful headache then develop. Do you have any signs of jaundice such as yellowing of skin or eyes?

Also it sounds daft but hayfever can cause horrendous headaches. Do you have any other symptoms to support this such as twitchy eyes, blocked feeling in head behind eyes?

Original poster
Alibubba · 15/05/2017 00:45

Precisely silver. I don't want to spend another day there only to be told they still know nothing. The only change is the leg cramp.

OP posts:
Note3 · 15/05/2017 00:47

If it's a migraine you can buy triptans over counter but they are not at all recommended in pregnancy so I wouldn't go this route. Even ibuprofen is frowned upon but if you're desperate then you have to weigh up pros and cons.

Jedimum1 · 15/05/2017 00:47

To PP: I didn't know about magnesium, thank you thank you thank you! I'll try that next time.

Original poster
Alibubba · 15/05/2017 00:48

No jaundice or hayfever symptoms. The intracranial hypertension headache sounds similar but mine is worse when standing and I don't have nausea or drowsiness or blurred vision.

OP posts:
Note3 · 15/05/2017 00:48

Trying magnesium supplements as suggested up thread by someone is a good shout. Could help if a migraine.

Also eat some bananas as could hell with leg cramps

Note3 · 15/05/2017 00:49

Sorry am off to bed now but apart from everything else suggested definitely increase fluid intake. Hope you get some relief soon

Textmergency · 15/05/2017 00:53

The being worse when standing isn't what seemed atypical to me (that is definitely possible in my experience), but it was the leg cramp which most made me think otherwise although I'm not 100% (& it could always be an unrelated quirk of pregnancy?) If it were to be ICH, a lumbar puncture for diagnostic reasons would actually relieve the symptoms as well, but it isn't an enjoyable procedure to undertake on a whim!

purplecollar · 15/05/2017 00:55

You can have a problem with intercranial pressure. I only know about it because I went to an optician who told me my spinal fluid had built up too high, it caused my eye nerves/vessels to rupture/expand. If you find out at the optician (they can see it on that eyeball photo), they send you to A&E to get a lumbar puncture.

The lumbar puncture/tap is the only way to tell what the pressure of spinal fluid is. If it's too high, they can tap some off. Then give you medication to reduce it.

It's a condition that tends to affect overweight females. But it's not always the case. It doesn't show up on MRIs or CT scans.

It makes you blind, left untreated.

I have no idea if you have this (I'm not medically trained). But if they've told you to go back for a lumbar puncture if it doesn't get better, FGS go back.

purplecollar · 15/05/2017 01:00

Just to add - I had no vision problems. Just a feeling of pressure in my head. And when I got up suddenly or bent down, slight dizziness.

sycamore54321 · 15/05/2017 03:04

Stop attention-seeking on the Internet and go the heck to A&E. Regardless of the headache, the new leg cramp could well be a DVT and you need to get it ruled out. But the headache needs to be sorted also.

DesignedForLife · 15/05/2017 03:16

Viral meningitis can sometimes present adjust an awful headache. I had a friend who had it and that was her only symptom. (Don't panic, it's not as dangerous as bacterial type). www.meningitis.org/disease-info/types-causes/viral-meningitis

As others have said, get back to hospital.

PyongyangKipperbang · 15/05/2017 04:09

Nice Sycamore Hmm

Presumably you RTFT so you know that the OP is alone with a child asleep in bed and the A&E is 30 miles away so she cant just go?

HCantThinkOfAUsername · 15/05/2017 04:31

Hope your feeling better soon op SadFlowers

sycamore54321 · 15/05/2017 05:41

@PyongyangKipperbang

Yes I read the full thread, where the OP felt like she was dying, was experiencing severe pain, had worrying neurological symptoms that doctors said would need further treatment if they worsened, where she described a worrying and potentially fatal new symptom that she seemed then seemed to dismiss, where she brushed off any gentler versions of advice telling her to get medical attention and where nobody apart from me pointed out the seriousness and potential significance of the new leg cramp. So yes, I think my post was far more helpful and on-topic than your only contribution which was to make a snide comment about mine.

OP I hope you have gone to get medical attention.

Pounamu · 15/05/2017 06:13

I normally get migraines outside of pregnancy anyway, but for at least 2 months of each of my 3 pregnancies I had the worst migraines of my life. They were near constant and excruciating. Some mornings I could barely even hold down water. As pp have said there isn't much the Drs can do, though I was on a daily dose of codeine for a while. They also had to give me a daily anti-nausea tablet as the codeine made me feel so sick. I hope you get a solution sorted soon OP. Do go back to your GP if you don't start feeling well soon. I wouldn't wish pregnancy migraines on anyone, they are truly awful.

mycatloveslego · 15/05/2017 06:22

OP if you're still in lots of pain and have been told to go back to hospital if it doesn't settle, then you should go. I appreciate its frustrating not to know what's going on and get an exact diagnosis, but it's just as important with headaches to find out what's NOT going on and to rule out potentially serious causes.
When I was around 22 weeks pregnant I developed