Week long headache. Haven't been to doctor. Friend had a go at me...

[LoriAnya]

I've had a headache for a week. It's constant and fluctuates in intensity. I'm breastfeeding and my 7 week old is up all night and feeds every couple of hours, so I put it down to being very sleep deprived.

A friend of mine had a bit of a go at me. Apparently she knew someone who had a headache that ended up being a brain tumour. She subsequently died from this. Awful, though my friend was quite rude to me and said 'if you care about your son at all you'll go to the doctor'

I wasn't moaning about my head hurting. I just said 'this headache is driving me nuts, had it for a week or so. Can't wait for it to disappear'

Have I been unreasonable not getting it checked out? She made me feel really guilty and I honestly just think it's because I'm tired...

When was your bp last checked? PLEASE see a dr. High bp is only ONE symptom of preeclampsia which can occur postnatally up to several weeks later. There's a number of other potential causes of this headache related to your being postpartum too. Some are serious.

A headache lasting a week is NOT normal.

BP was done yesterday and was 90/60!

Sounds like your friend is scared for you and therefore being a bit full on, which could also be interpreted as rude. I'm like a dog with a stick when I'm worried about my friends and haven't always expressed my loving fear well - have probably come across as rude or something unfavourable.

I just feel a bit guilt tripped by my friend who keeps texting to see if I've made an appointment yet!

Just tell you appreciate the concern, but it's a Friday night and you will look after you own health and to please stop pestering about it.

OP you need to let him do one night and sleep all the way through - then you can see from there

Tell your friend it’s Friday night. The GP isn’t even open again until Monday so there is bugger all you can do now!

Oh right. Must be draining for you. I suffer with 'headaches' too eventually went to GP and got tablets that I take at the first onset of an attack. They work really well. It took me years to go to the GP about it but they got worse after my dc. Think it's all hormone related. I'm so glad I went now though. See how you get on next week. Are you checking your own BP? Is it still low?

*dog with a bone - brain gone to mush this evening!

Recently I had a nasty headache that lasted for weeks- horrible!

To cut a long story short it turned out to be due to tension in my neck/shoulders- a big knot between my spine and shoulder blade. We'd changed our sofa and I had been sitting (slouched like a slob) differently which caused it.

Obviously might be something totally different in your case but might be worth investigating if you have been sat differently breastfeeding. Either way, good excuse to ask for a back/neck massage! My DH sorted mine out!

Quartz is right. Let your DP deal with a night so you can get some sleep. He brings baby to you, you feed, he settles. Or co-sleep. Whatever it takes to reduce the sleep deficit. I get terrible headaches when I am tired.

That’s a excellent point Pfing- OP you can get painkillers for tension headaches, they have muscle relaxants in (over the counter) might be worth a go tomorrow ?

Oh yes, the looking down at your baby headache. I've had all sorts of headaches and that one just felt like an insult. Can you get someone to release your neck muscles?

But the advice with headaches is to get new, different and worse ones checked out for sure.

I get headaches like these fairly often. Had them for years. Pretty sure they're due to a combination of stress/anxiety/exhaustion.

I'd suggest taking a look at the Meningitis Now website & checking yourself against the signs & symptoms they have listed on there - I've had meningitis myself and it can come on quite quick, and they're always really good with those who've had it/have got it. Their advice is if you suspect meningitis you ought to seek medical attention straight away.

I'd go to the doctor.

My friend dragged her husband to the GP because of a headache, and a family history of cerebral bleeds. The GP sent them straight to A&E at the hospital that also has the neuro unit. Just as well, as he'd had an aneurysm and it had ruptured.

I also had a colleague who was always getting headaches and asking at work for painkillers. We didn't think anything of it when she went out and bought some Anadin one Wednesday afternoon. She was found in a coma in her flat on Friday morning, when the alarm was raised because she hadn't been to any of her work appointments on Thursday and no-one could contact her. Her life support was switched off the following day.

After those 2 experiences, I'd always get any unusual headache checked out.