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

[Headsissues]

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.

BTW, when I was having migraines for 4 years I thought they were just normal headaches too but nope, migraines. There are different types and everybody's case is different. I'd say it's likely migraines but the whooshing definitely needs further examination. I hope they will give you a scan.

Not terribly high, and doesn’t seem high enough to cause symptoms. Ideally should be 120/80 or below, but if you’re in pain and in A&E I don’t think it’s unusual for it to be raised.

I hope you get seen soon and it's nothing serious. Some symptoms do sound like migraines.

I would go to a&e. I had an aura migraine years ago(first one ever), the paramedics thought it could be a TIA(mini stroke) so they took me in to rule it out. I felt like such an idiot in the waiting room and a time waster as felt much better by the time I got there, the Dr said to never mess about when it's things like this as if ignored it could be fatal if it had been something more serious.

You were sent by the GP so in the right place! I hope you get seen soon. I had really similar symptoms twice with suspected covid and the first time didn't clear up until I had intervention. I only say that in the hope of allaying fears until you are checked as I appreciate how worrying it can be.

This.
I have developed HBP following the death of my gran due to the stress and I have all of this. No illness, had full blood analysis and scans.

Yes blood pressure normal

I hope you get seen. My friend went to a and e with worst migraine she'd ever had and it went once they gave something (can't think what ) and she felt a fraud after but clearly had needed the meds. Let us know how you get on

Blood pressure is on the higher end of normal, but that's likely due to being stressed and unwell in general. It wouldn't be the cause of illness.

I'm not saying this to panic you, quite the reverse, a friend of mine recently had crushing headaches, was fobbed off by doctors a few times, eventually went to a&e at a hospital known for its neuro department. He ended up needing brain surgery, to release fluid from his brain and they also found a blood clot. He is well on the road to recovery now.
Don't feel daft for being where you are.

That doesn't surprise me either?what
time of day and had they looked into your ears or Eyes

This is how my ME/CFS first presented, kept being sent to hospital for scans and tests, daily headaches, nothing shifted them, vision worse when tired, random dizziness mainly when tired, etc

One of the problems with the health service is that you can only get a scan quickly through A and E, like a CT scan anyway. You often have to get sent to a neurologist and that takes ages, to get an MRI, unless the CT shows something odd or there's another issue, and then you can have an MRI sooner.

The GP can't do anything, the neurologist wait list is possibly years, so you end up in A and E because that's the sensible starting place for someone with new and severe symptoms. It is horrible when it turns out you are 'just' having a migraine, I also went to A and E with my first hemiplegic one as it was similar to a stroke (lopsided, couldn't stand) but I was very glad to get checked out and then I had an MRI later on to rule anything out.

Every now and again something worse does pop up, so don't feel bad about going through the system as it's currently designed, this is a common reason to present at A and E and good the GP sent you, hope it is all ok.

120/80 is normal so a little high (BP) good luck and hope you get answers x

You need to go to A&E. Make sure it is not something sinister.

Could be vestibular migraine. You're doing the right thing getting it checked out. Don't worry about being in A&E.

I’m glad you’re getting it checked out. Sounds scary so you need to be seen in order to make sure you’re ok.

You're not a hypochondriac, you've been advised to go to A&E and have genuine symptoms that need checking on!

Never hesitate with unmanageable, unexplained pain.

Sounds like vestibular migraine.

You have visited the GP previously, you've now been told to go to the hospital. You're not a time waster

You’re at the right place @Headsissues. my dear father was diagnosed with a brain tumour last year after approx. 6 months of headache, dizziness, double vision and tinnitus. The GP told him it was part of getting old. It lead my dad to have a huge seizure and a CT scan discovered a very large, thankfully benign tumour. I hope you get an answer and all is well but it makes me furious to think that people are left to suffer without being scanned and these things (and other benign issues) can be treated. Sending you best wishes.

I don’t want to be alarmist, but please stay at A&E. A colleague of mine ignored sudden onset of severe headaches and self medicated with normal painkillers for a couple of weeks. Symptoms escalated and vision affected, pain increased apparently agonising. Following phone call to 111 they told her to go to A&E - she was not a hypochondriac as almost never went to doctor. She needed treatment to remove some kind of blood clot. Made a full recovery very quickly but had a real fright as things could have gone sideways if it had been left untreated. You are probably fine, but as another poster said, this is not normal and needs checked out, even to give you peace of mind - you are not wasting anyone’s time.

I had similar symptoms to this (the whooshing particularly!) and was diagnosed with idiopathic intracranial hypertension. It sounds scary but it’s very treatable if it is that! You’re definitely not being a hyperchondriac, hope you get sorted quickly

Definitely ED job with blurred vision

Let us know how you get on

My lovely SIL migraines and blurred vision etc turned out to be brain cancer.
Listen to your body and get it checked out