In A&E worrying I’m being a complete hypochondriac

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I’ve been getting daily headaches for around 6 months with random dizziness and loud whooshing sounds in my ears that get so loud I can’t hear anything for about 30 seconds. GP never seemed overly phased so I’ve always just taken paracetamol and got on with it. I never get migraines, just your standard headaches.

On Saturday morning I woke up with a banging headache that is still ongoing. I’ve been taking paracetamol and ibruprofun around the clock, tried relaxing activities etc, and nothing is stopping it. I’ve been feeling incredibly dizzy and nauseous with it and its just a prolonging, heavy headache that doesn’t come and go, it stays - It seems to be worsening so I called the doctor yesterday and explained what was happening thinking she would give me some better painkillers. She told me she wants me to go to A&E because she’s concerned and wants me to get a scan. I got some cocodamol and decided to stay at home because I just felt so silly.

It’s worsening even more today and I haven’t coped with it at all so I’m here at A&E waiting to be seen by a doctor. Been given codeine by triage but not touching it at all.

The headache is all across the front of my head and temples.

Ive had the dizziness, some blurry vision (looks like most in my eyes), nausea and feeling weaker than normal but bright lights don’t bother me and my neck isn’t stiff. I’ve never had a proper migraine before so wouldn’t know whether this is one or not.

Anyway, anyone experienced this before or have any advice? I’m feeling quite silly being here and worried they’re going to think I’m a hypochondriac.

It's only when your Saturday nights are not complete without a visit to A&E,

When the call handlers at 111 can identify you by your voice,

When your GP has a rictus grin on their face when you come through their door (again)

that you know you've got a serious problem.

Could be an ear infection/menieres disease. Number of things. Sounds ear related given whooshing sound to ears. Has Gp looked at them.
tension headaches/migraine/ sinusitis given frontal headache an dizziness, blurred vision and nausea. Nasal problems.
I've had all of the above and you sound like me. I
a&e isn't the place. I would speak to Gp again! Sounds like you've been fobbed off

Don't give up! Keep hounding your GP and going to A&E. You need and deserve to find out what's going on. You are clearly not a hypochondriac. You need to find out what this is. I'd be showing up at A&E and/or the GP's office at every opportunity and asking for second opinions if fobbed off.

How old are you OP? I’m late 30s and recently starting getting horrible migraines timed with my cycle. They aren’t debilitating but painkillers do absolutely nothing. I have a colleague also late 30s with menstrual migraines - they are very much debilitating for her and she misses days of work when one comes on.

@Didimum I’m 28. I have PCOS and haven’t had a period in 2 years so I’m not sure if that’s what’s happening. So sorry you deal with this though it sounds horrible!

I have PCOS and get terrible hormonal headaches, but they dont sound anything like yours, so I think you are perfectly reasonable to go to A&E, especially as the GP advised it. Hope you get some answers.

By the way, if you are not on any kind of contraception and your lack of periods is just caused by your PCOS, please speak to your GP about this. Less than 3 periods a year is not good for your long term health and there is medication you can take to bring on a period. My endocrinologist advised this when i was first diagnosed.

Codeine triggers headaches for me. If it is making you worse, leave off the stuff. I would keep going back to medics until you get an answer. It is too easy to get fobbed off. I was fobbed off about a lump, and had to push to get it taken off. Even then they got the diagnosis wrong. Two years later, I am newly diagnosed with sarcoma and facing major surgery because so many mistakes have been made in my care. I just accepted what I was being told, and didn't imagine such an incredible human error could occur. You need blood tests to identify if you have any other conditions going on, and a scan of your head.

Stay in A&E - you are not being a hypochondriac. The new blurry vision needs checking out. Hope you’re sorted shortly.

You’re not being a hypochondriac, you’re not well and your gp advised you to go to a&e so you’re following advice.

Hopefully you get answers soon!

Seems sensible to get checked out OP, you're not wasting anyone's time. Hope you get seen soon and can get some answers and something that helps.

Medication overuse headache if you been taking meds for months non stop

Actually sounds like high blood pressure to me - the whooshing, headaches and blurred vision are signs that it could be quite high.

The gp said to go to a&e

@Nandocushion my blood pressure was 139/88 is that normal?

You definitely need this checked, it might be migraine, or it could be something else, but you need tests for a diagnosis. A&E staff will not think you are a hypochondriac.

Hope you feel better soon. So many different things can cause prolonged headache, hopefully it's straightforward. A one off headache isn't so bad but constant headaches is so demoralising and debilitating :(

My dad ended up in A&E before and had to stay in hospital for 3 days due to terrible sudden headache. Turned out it was a migraine and he felt like such a time waster until one of the nurses told him they'd rather see 10 people who end up being ok than miss the one person who was too afraid to go to the Dr with their symptoms.

It could be nothing wrong in your case but it could also be something serious, you are exactly where you need to be in order to find out and if it is something minor then that still doesn't mean you've wasted their time.

I hope its all OK and you're feeling better soon

doesn't sound like migraine, those are normally one sided, but it could be, and you're definitely in the right place to be checked out. Generally the people who worry about wasting the doctors time are the ones who really need to be there.

The GP has sent you so that's where you need to be. I had similar and they sent me to A&E so they could rule out anything well..A&Ey. They did that then I got referred for an MRI as an outpatient. Turns out after all that it was the birth control pill I was taking but they'd kept ruling out. Turns out I'm extremely sensitive to changes in hormones.

If you would describe it as the worst headache in your life then that's where you need to be.

If its worsening and painkillers aren't touching it than that's where you need to be.

Even if they rule anything out. They don't mind ruling things out.

Good luck

Are you so facetious about all mental health conditions, or just health anxiety?

I had migraines for years but it was the whooshing and thudding in my ears that prompted my neurologist to order an MRA. I had an aneurysm. Anything head related should always be checked out so no I don't think you're a hypochondriac.

I hope you get some answers. Headaches are so awful to cope with. Sending you strength and best wishes!

This is definitely something you go to A&E for, not wasting anyone’s time OP

Have you tried taking triptans? Nothing else will shift a migraine for me. If you can't get a prescription boots sell an own brand triptan behind the counter.