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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:
mycatloveslego · 15/05/2017 06:32

Oops, pressed post too soon!
I was sent to hospital at around 22 weeks with a severe headache which lasted a week, didn't respond to any painkillers and was totally out of character for me. No diagnosis was made, and in the end they thought it might be a combination of hormones and a viral infection. I increased my fluid intake to 2L a day as advised and eventually it slowly subsided and never came back.
Hope you get the treatment you need and feel better soon.

Wando1986 · 15/05/2017 06:33

Migraine, hormonal headache (totally normal in pregnancy, drink extra electrolyte heavy drinks - NOT JUST PLAIN WATER) or sinusitus/rhinitus headache due to pregnancy or seasonal hayfever triggered by pregnancy also.

I had one for a month about month 5. I'm month 10 almost now and haven't had once at all since then.

KeepingitReal2 · 15/05/2017 06:35

Please get yourself to a hospital or optician as we need to check your eyes as sounds like pressure headaches

UnbornMortificado · 15/05/2017 06:37

I had an episode last year with severe head pain turned out to be my AD affecting my blood pressure.

It was bad I've never felt pain like it and I've had 4 DC, I ended up in urgent care.

I agree with PP that level of pain needs checking out asap.

KeepingitReal2 · 15/05/2017 06:39

No disrespect to GP but they are not experts at ruling out intracranial pressure and MRI scan ought to be a venogram really to check for Venus sinuses... I would go to AE if it's still bothering you to ensure these things are done.... only positive is that BP was good but of course that fluctuates...

HomityBabbityPie · 15/05/2017 06:40

I also think you should go back. Better safe than sorry.

However posters saying this much pain means something is wrong are not correct. I have suffered migraines for years. When I get one I go blind and can't speak or move from the pain.

StealthPolarBear · 15/05/2017 06:44

How are you this morning op?

Cherrychapstick1 · 15/05/2017 06:46

It might be a good idea to represent for a lumbar puncture. Benign Intracranial Hypertension can present in pregnancy.

Silvercatowner · 15/05/2017 07:01

You can't just rock up to a hospital and request a lumbar puncture. Lumbar punctures are complex procedures which carry risk. If one is indicated then one will be done - but the OP was investigated thoroughly not long ago and a lumbar puncture wasn't deemed necessary.

Original poster
Alibubba · 15/05/2017 07:17

The lumbar puncture was what the doctor wanted to do next but he didn't want to do it until he was sure it wouldn't clear upon its own as obviously it's a big thing so he told me that's what he'd be doing if I went back. I had my eyes checked and they were fine.

OP posts:
UnbornMortificado · 15/05/2017 07:21

Are you on any medication Ali? Hope your feeling a bit better today.

Original poster
Alibubba · 15/05/2017 07:38

No, not on any medication. I've only been up and about for ten minutes buy fingers crossed it's not as bad as yesterday - yet.

OP posts:
Cherrychapstick1 · 15/05/2017 07:41

Reassuring that your eyes are fine. Fingers crossed that all settles today OP.

UnbornMortificado · 15/05/2017 07:44

Hope your day continues the same way, I would maybe see your Dr about some pain relief to have at hand just incase you get another attack. I'm 21 weeks and currently allowed oramorph (short term) for post op pain. It's very good for breakthrough pain.

I know drugs and pregnancy can be tricky (I came off most by MH meds myself) but I can't imagine the mother being in severe pain does the baby any favours.

tissuesosoft · 15/05/2017 07:45

Did they check your ears? When I get ear infections it can cause me to have migraine type headaches

notmaryberry · 15/05/2017 07:48

Spontaneous CSF leak? I had that a few years ago, and it's not always picked up on the MRI until the brain starts to sag. I spent 3 months being diagnosed with everything under the sun until a neurologist figured it out.

peripericardium · 15/05/2017 07:48

Op, you said you feel like you're dying. You don't normally take pain meds and have gone through labour even without them.

This is very unusual for you. Please go back and get the lumbar puncture.

Maudlinmaud · 15/05/2017 07:59

IIH was most likely ruled out if they checked your eyes, patients usually have swollen optic nerves but not always. Lps are used to measure the pressure. I would urge you to go back to the doctor today if you still have symptoms. Like pp have said it could be viral. Good luck.

SovietKitsch · 15/05/2017 08:12

Another migraine sufferer here saying it sounds like it could be migraine. I usually get migraine with aura and paraesthesia, but during preganancy it is just the headache. And it feels like I'm dying because the pain is so bad - and I've had three labours without pain relief. The pain is so bad there is no way I could be typing out long tropes on the internet...and I get leg cramps.

I wouldn't rule out migraines at all, and I would try the magnesium suggestions. Get some more medical advice on it. Sorry you feel so awful, it's wretched when the pain is in your head.

Mise1978 · 15/05/2017 08:21

Calves with cramping can be dehydration and sometimes vitamin deficiencies.

Look up Youtube. Cluster headaches are horrendous. If you are bashing your head to try and stop the pain, that's a cluster headache. Worse pain known to man. People have gone to Europe for Euthanasia over having them. So if your pain is really that bad, you need to go back to the doctor.

tiggytape · 15/05/2017 08:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

confusedat23 · 15/05/2017 08:25

This sounds to me like a cluster headache and is likely to be caused by your hormones changing whislt pregnant.

I get them... I for years thought they were migraines and it wasn't until the last one when I was admitted to A&E for repeated vomitting and being unable to walk that something was done.

I think you need to go back to A&E OP and they can give you pain relief even whilst you are pregnant and trust me you need it... once the pain is gone you will feel the best you have felt in years!

SestraClone · 15/05/2017 08:36

I agree with getting some magnesium - I use it for leg cramps.

IfYouGoDownToTheWoodsToday · 15/05/2017 08:39

Glad you seem to be better than yesterday. But please go back if things get worse, need to get to the bottom of it.

FanaticalFox · 15/05/2017 09:02

22 weeks is prime time for those lovely pregnancy headaches. I remember well having terrible headaches during that time which did pass! And i too never suffered with headaches or migraines before pregnancy. I think its normal unfortunately but glad you've already had it investigated. Have you had your iron checked yet? I had to double my iron tablets as i had got much more anaemic than they first thought and i had headaches during that period too.