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Original poster

Brain tumour?

87 replies

Perid0t · 28/12/2019 09:52

I know they’re very rare and it’s always deemed unlikely but the Christmas period is being ruined by my anxiety over this.

I have gone from someone who loves a clean house to not caring, and no energy to do anything about it. I saw this as a positive thing t be more relaxed but now I’m worried it’s a personality change.

I have had headaches for years, every day. I don’t take medication for it because I’m not into taking any kind of drug and they don’t stop me doing things.

I saw a doctor a couple of months ago for pins and needles in both hands and feet and bloods showed high calcium. I am being investigated for hyperparathyroidism which can have symptoms similar to a brain tumour. I won’t have more tests until the new year.

Since Monday night I have had a new headache which won’t resolve with pain killers. It feels like my forehead is burning, my temples feel like someone has put a balloon in there. The weight of my glasses is too much. Paracetamol and ibuprofen don’t do anything for it. I have also felt light headed at times with mild nausea (improved with eating). No temperature, no cold symptoms.

I saw my GP yesterday who sent me for urgent bloods on my calcium but just said to try codeine for the headache.

This morning I’ve woken up and the pain is also in the back of my head.

I am so scared and my husband keeps telling me I’m being silly but I can’t stop crying. I don’t know what to do.

Any comfort, support or advice gratefully received.

OP posts:
Original poster
Perid0t · 28/12/2019 09:52

I forgot to add I am shattered. Can’t stop yawning and desperate for bed at 5pm but forcing myself to stay up until 8:30-9ish.

OP posts:
Cantthinkofanythingrightnow · 28/12/2019 09:54

If the pain is that severe and had lasted this long I would go to A and E. No advice but I'm sorry you're going through this. Flowers

MuchBetterNow · 28/12/2019 09:55

No idea if it's as serious as a brain tumour but health anxiety is a horrible condition in itself. You need to get to the bottom of the problem so you can get better or know what you're dealing with.

Osirus · 28/12/2019 09:58

I can see why you are concerned, especially because of the high calcium level. I hope it’s not what you fear (which it’s likely not to be!) and something far less serious.

CornishPorsche · 28/12/2019 10:03

I have migraines so severe I've ended up in hospital before now thinking I'd had a stroke.

Call 111 and see if you can talk to someone, but I totally sympathise with the A&E desire.

Do you get migraines? They can just appear in people. Maybe this is a migraine? Especially if it's not responding to normal pain relief. It does sound like one,especially with the nausea, sensitivity etc. There are specific meds - triptans - for them. You can buy one version over the counter in a Chemist.

CornishPorsche · 28/12/2019 10:04

Also, do you take anything at all on a regular basis? Paracetamol for your daily headaches? How many days a week do you take things?

RaspberryBeret1999 · 28/12/2019 10:07

I had similar headaches and it turns out my blood pressure was through the roof. I’m now on medication and the headaches have gone. Have the drs checked your BP?

Original poster
Perid0t · 28/12/2019 10:08

@cornishporsche I have had two migraines with aura (but no headache) years ago. The GP said it didn’t seem like a migraine and I agree. The pain isn’t severe but it’s moderate and distracting. It’s worse when lying on my back and improves when I sit up straight.

I don’t take painkillers for my normal headaches. I don’t take any medication at all.

OP posts:
Original poster
Perid0t · 28/12/2019 10:09

@raspberryberet1999 my blood pressure was normal last night x

OP posts:
Witchend · 28/12/2019 10:12

I would say just as easily could be stress.

I think the majority of brain tumours don't get diagnosed with a headache. I'm not going to say what, or I suspect your health anxiety will immediately tell you you have those as well.

Dontdisturbmenow · 28/12/2019 10:24

The problem is that anxiety itself can give you tensions headaches. 2 years ago, I suffered from a number of symptoms, including poor balance, dizziness every morning as I woke up, funny turns, tinnitus, vision problems and headaches. At the same time, my friend's sister was diagnosed with a brain tumour with similar symptoms. That was it, I was convinced I had one.

I was referred to ENT who said he didn't think there was anything wrong, but offered an MRI. During the period of waiting for it, I had dreadful headaches, especially at the back, one particular spot, every day. It was terrible. Then I had the MRI, and the results came back fine. The day I had the result, the headache disappear (the other symptoms not as quickly).

It's now that I'm over my anxieties that I can how I was in a constant state of tension without realising it. My shoulder, my jaw... and my head.

No need to say to relax how no words can take away how you feel, so ask for an MRI. My GP was reluctant because he said that my anxieties would shift to something else once that came back clear, but he was wrong, I was able to move on and accept that much of my symptoms were anxiety led and I could face them with better serenity, so don't let them push you away.

SalmonFajitas · 28/12/2019 10:28

All of those symptoms sound like they could be as a result of anxiety. My DH has anxiety and will get those exact symptoms. It's weird how much physical symptoms seem to develop to mimic the symptoms of the disease you're scared you have. When he was scared he had bowel cancer he had all kinds of digestive issues. When he was worried about brain cancer he got headaches and dizziness. He also got pins and needles and when he was convinced he had ALS. It's a horribly cruel trick of nature.

PurpleDaisies · 28/12/2019 10:29

Sorry you’re feeling like this. Flowers

What painkillers have you taken today? It might be worth a trip to the pharmacist for something stronger.

SalmonFajitas · 28/12/2019 10:29

I would also second PP who said that brain tumours don't usually cause headaches. Headaches are far more often linked to stress or allergies.

PurpleDaisies · 28/12/2019 10:34

I would also second PP who said that brain tumours don't usually cause headaches.

This isn’t right. If you have a headache, the cause is very unlikely to be a brain tumour. If you have a brain tumour, one of the most common symptoms is headache.

Vic49 · 28/12/2019 10:48

Really sorry you're feeling so rough and worried. I don't have much advice but I think your husband could be more supportive, telling you you're being silly ? Not helpful. If you are feeling exhausted and you need rest then listen to your body and get early nights; keep up with fluids and don't worry about the state of the house, am sure your husband's capable of doing what needs to be done. Sending love.

Kittykat93 · 28/12/2019 10:53

If youve had these headaches for years I'd say it probably isn't likely to be a brain tumour. I would ignore the poster who said to go to A&E, you need to go back to your gp on Monday if you are worried.

I have chronic headaches that I've been putting up with for months. Turns out I'm deficient in b12, iron and vitamin d. It could be something like that?

ShiveringCoyote · 28/12/2019 10:59

Cluster headaches can last for days and feel like a big pressure balloon under my temples. Short of taking morphine nothing kills the pain.

bewilderedhedgehog · 28/12/2019 11:05

Hi - can you just check you don't have a slight carbon monoxide leak anywhere? I was having headaches daily (for many months) and feeling exhausted which I put down to stress - turned out to be (mild) carbon monoxide poisoning. I also had quite a pink face with it. Apologies if you have already checked this.

Dotty2019 · 28/12/2019 11:06

Hi OP
Can I ask how old you are? I had exactly the same symptoms as you and am peri menopausal. HRT has helped

Original poster
Perid0t · 28/12/2019 11:28

Thank you all for your kind words.

@dotty2019 I’m 32, so unlikely to be perimenopausal.

@bewilderedhedgehog I have an alarm in the house and nobody else has my symptoms so unlikely x

@ShiveringCoyote I think cluster headache pain is worse than this. I’d put this on a 3-5 out of 10 on the pain scale.

@Kittykat93 this is a different headache to my usual one. I am vitamin d deficient but on supplements for that (came off then when the headaches started in case it was linked)

OP posts:
Dinosaursdontgrowontrees · 28/12/2019 11:33

Could you be dehydrated op? I have a headache such as you described and turned out to be dehydrated.
Fingers crossed it’s nothing serious.

HostessTrolley · 28/12/2019 11:40

Two people I know who were found to have brain tumours were diagnosed following optician checks. One had gone for a routine eye test, the other had booked a appointment because of blurred vision. In both cases swelling of the optic nerve was seen, and they were sent straight to hospital. One was in surgery that night

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 28/12/2019 11:43

I know two people with brain tumours and neither had headaches or anything like you describe.

Stress
Sinusitis
Depression

Any of the above could be the issue.

Riddleofthesands · 28/12/2019 11:49

No medical training. My brother had a brain tumour, he never suffered from headaches. Try not to panic. Hope you feel better.