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.

Sorry I didn't see the GP had advised A & E. OP has certainly done the right thing going. I apologise.

intracranial hypertension or IIH for short.
Have your eyes tested and if your optic discs are swollen you have all the symptoms.
It's awful.

It could be all sorts of things OP you need to have some tests done. x

I had some of those symptoms and as the PP said, it was 'Benign' Intracranial Hypertension in my case. But that mimics the symptoms of other conditions so you need tests running to find out what's going on. x

I hope you've had scans done now. I had a sudden episode last year where I got the worst headache I'd ever had and my heart was pounding then I started being sick. Called 111 and they sent an ambulance. I didn't want to be a bother but i knew something wasn't right. I'm mid 30s and they didn't do any imaging, just urine sample and gave me some fluids for dehydration (no wonder, I was sick about 5x) and sent me home with painkillers and told me to follow up with GP. Only it was the Friday of September weekend so no GP until Tues. They gave me triptans thinking it was my normal recurring migraine having turned chronic I guess but it didn't touch it. Got appointment for Thurs (so a week since), got different meds that fight migraine by opening blood vessels. Over the next two days i developed left side weakness, couldn't walk, couldn't communicate...turned out it was a ruptured brain aneurysm and the new drug had increased the bleeding so worsened the symptoms 🙈 I was extremely lucky to go back to A&E on the Sat night, finally got the imaging and then finally 2 days later transferred to the QEUH in Glasgow for an urgent surgery to embolize the aneurysm.

My main point is, you don't know how serious it is until you know what it is and it sounds pretty concerning from what you've said - your GP certainly seems to agree. I hope you waited and got seen and that they've made progress on figuring out what's going on.

@Viviennemary Yes these symptoms can be potentially something serious. When I had them my GP gave me a letter to take with me, straight to A&E.

That's how I took it also - but you know MN, it wouldn't be what it is without the perpetually offended 😅

OP has given her BP and whilst it's a bit above the ideal, I don't think it's high enough to warrant the pain she is describing. I was getting headaches that were unbearable for a while - worse when lying down - but really bad, and it was down to high BP. Mine was much much higher than the reading OP gave. Not saying it couldn't be, but I don't think that 139/88 is significantly high.

OP I hope you get some answers tonight. You are in the right place.

Yes, there’d be people out of a job 😂

I hope you get seen and examined quickly! I hope they sort it for you xxx

A friend had those symptoms recently, turns out she actually had a mini stroke, it was called an ischemic attack I think. Definitely worth getting checked over if migraines are unusual for you

Another one here to say these sound like the symptoms I had when I had idiopathic intracranial hypertension. Mine was picked up by the optician - I went as I had black spots in my vision and they sent me immediately to the neurology department at the hospital (I asked if I could go home for a couple of hours to sort something out and they said no) as increaed intracranial pressure can be caused by all sorts of things, some of which are extremely serious.

Stay in A&E if you're there.

If GP wants you to have a CT scan, GP should have booked you in for one. Quite often A&E won't do CT scans requested by a GP, if they asses it as not an emergency. Doesn't mean it isn't maybe needed, but can be utterly the wrong path trying to force a quicker one. They'll either assess and say you need it, or send you away with an urgent referral like your GP should have.

Sorry- pressed send too soon- but you are in the right place if that's where the GP has sent you! Good luck!

Any update OP?

With how lousy GP's are these days you have every right to attend a&e if you're in so much pain and discomfort with your symptoms.
A person I know went to visit his GP 10 times over 4 months due to new, serious tummy problems, weight loss but a huge tummy, kept telling him ibs and fobbing him off being rude about how many 'check ups' he'd had, one afternoon his wife took him to a&e as he was in agony, scanned him instantly, turns out he had an enormous mass in his bowels he went for surgery that night and sadly passed away due to a bleed whilst trying to get it out. He had advanced (and then some) bowel cancer.

I don't trust GP's anymore. This is happening far too often

Hope you’re okay op

Did you not read the OP properly or what?! She is in A&E 🤦🏼‍♀️

YABU to wonder if you should be in a&e after being told to go by GP and putting it off for so long, YANBU to have finally done the sensible thing, hope you get seen and sorted soon.

How are you, Headsissues ?

Why have you not gone to your GP?

You should not of gone to A&E especially when you have had this problem for 6 months.

Shocking that you would take their time up

What do you think GPS are for?

She did see her GP it was the GP that sent her to a&e!
OP I hope you're okay

They've been to their GP. Their GP was concerned and told them to go to A&E

Codeine is often a poor painkiller for headaches, as in a fair few people itself will trigger a headache (not all though, so if it helps, great).

As you’re using your phone you can probably rule out migraine.

You were sent there. That’s where you need to be.