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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To want a head scan for headaches and dizziness

84 replies

DontYouStartMadam · 20/05/2024 18:38

Hi everyone. I’ve had constant pressure headaches and dizziness for 2 weeks now. They started quite strong and now they’ve died down but I still have residual dizziness, nausea, eye pain, headache and brain fog.

It’s not severe now but it is lingering and I’ve tried ruling out other issues. Had my eyes examined at Specsavers and they said my prescription is pretty much the same and they couldn’t see any other problems. Had my ears looked at a pharmacy and they couldn’t see anything that would cause my symptoms. They gave me Sudafed and migraine tablets for the nausea. I don’t feel able to drive now.

I‘m hesitating to go to the GP because I feel I’m always there. Beginning of this year I was seen for fatigue and was prescribed iron tablets which have helped. Then recently I was seen as I thought about starting antidepressants (haven’t yet but I likely will). Now I’m calling about this … I feel like they’re going to give me a label of hypochondriac or Münchausen syndrome lol. But I do feel off and it’s worrying me a little, I’ve tried to rule everything else out, as well as take medications, get more rest/sleep, light exercise, drink water etc.

I want a CT or MRI to rule out that there’s something seriously wrong. I don’t want to be brushed off but I don’t feel serious enough to request a scan. I keep gaslighting myself and telling myself to wait and see if it’ll go away but it’s been 2 weeks. To be honest I had them before that but they weren’t constant. Sorry to waffle, outside perspectives welcome.

OP posts:
DontYouStartMadam · 20/05/2024 18:38

Should add I'm 26

OP posts:
notanotherrokabag · 20/05/2024 18:39

What specific diagnoses are you worried about?
Do they show on a head CT/MRI?

Because most of the causes of headaches and dizziness don't, and you should only request a test if you know what you'll do with the result............

DontYouStartMadam · 20/05/2024 18:43

@notanotherrokabag honestly I'm worrying about a tumour 🤦🏽‍♀️ not helping my hypochondriac case

OP posts:
IroningThrone · 20/05/2024 18:48

If it was a tumour you'd have other symptoms too. Could be lots of non scary things - inner ear infection, general virus (covid made me horribly dizzy!) vertigo, sinus problems and probably more.

You won't get a scan for those symptoms alone. You've also said it's getting better so is unlikely to be serious.

I would urge you to get your blood pressure checked though. Unlikely to be a problem at your age but it's never bad to check.

notanotherrokabag · 20/05/2024 18:52

DontYouStartMadam · 20/05/2024 18:43

@notanotherrokabag honestly I'm worrying about a tumour 🤦🏽‍♀️ not helping my hypochondriac case

Brain tumours pretty much never present with a headache. Neither does high blood pressure by the way, @IroningThrone

Go to their GP for their opinion.
Not with a fixed thought about what test you want.

wibblywobblywoo · 20/05/2024 18:53

Although not cheap, but hundreds rather than thousands, you can ALWAYS go private - just Google a specialist in the field you feel is most relevant and find the most local/convenient one and make an appointment - you literally just ring their secretary and book and they can examine you and arrange for an appropriate scan which will be days rather than months away.

notanotherrokabag · 20/05/2024 18:55

wibblywobblywoo · 20/05/2024 18:53

Although not cheap, but hundreds rather than thousands, you can ALWAYS go private - just Google a specialist in the field you feel is most relevant and find the most local/convenient one and make an appointment - you literally just ring their secretary and book and they can examine you and arrange for an appropriate scan which will be days rather than months away.

Consultation will be a few hundred
Scan will be upwards of £1000
And the OP has no clue what specialist to ask for.

IroningThrone · 20/05/2024 18:57

notanotherrokabag · 20/05/2024 18:52

Brain tumours pretty much never present with a headache. Neither does high blood pressure by the way, @IroningThrone

Go to their GP for their opinion.
Not with a fixed thought about what test you want.

Edited

High blood pressure can cause dizziness.

notanotherrokabag · 20/05/2024 18:57

IroningThrone · 20/05/2024 18:57

High blood pressure can cause dizziness.

No it doesn't. except possibly in exceptionally rare malignant hypertension, which wouldn't last for two weeks.

IroningThrone · 20/05/2024 19:00

notanotherrokabag · 20/05/2024 18:57

No it doesn't. except possibly in exceptionally rare malignant hypertension, which wouldn't last for two weeks.

Edited

Then why did my GP tell me it did?

AnnaMagnani · 20/05/2024 19:01

I've had headache for years, including seeing several neurologists and never had a brain scan.

There are clear indications for them and 2 weeks of headache plus anxiety isn't one of them.

wibblywobblywoo · 20/05/2024 19:01

notanotherrokabag · 20/05/2024 18:55

Consultation will be a few hundred
Scan will be upwards of £1000
And the OP has no clue what specialist to ask for.

Nope, I had a private MRI scan and it was nowhere near £1000 for that and the consultant fee combined.

And all consultants will list in their biogs what they specialise in - match what OP is concerned about with what the consultant specialises in and take the first step - if not correct then the consultant will redirect before any further expenses have been incurred to the appropriate specialist.

What's better, trying or not trying? 🤔🙄

notanotherrokabag · 20/05/2024 19:02

IroningThrone · 20/05/2024 19:00

Then why did my GP tell me it did?

No idea
But as a GP of 20 years experience, with a background in medical education as part of which I've worked on many resources to do with headache, I can tell you that it doesn't.

notanotherrokabag · 20/05/2024 19:03

wibblywobblywoo · 20/05/2024 19:01

Nope, I had a private MRI scan and it was nowhere near £1000 for that and the consultant fee combined.

And all consultants will list in their biogs what they specialise in - match what OP is concerned about with what the consultant specialises in and take the first step - if not correct then the consultant will redirect before any further expenses have been incurred to the appropriate specialist.

What's better, trying or not trying? 🤔🙄

perhaps going to the GP for their opinion as a start? Which the OP hasn't yet done.

IroningThrone · 20/05/2024 19:03

Interesting. Thank you.

midlifepisces · 20/05/2024 19:04

Rare things are rare common things are common. Have you had some bloood tests? I was dizzy and it turned out to be low iron. I had an iron profusion and felt much better. Lots of causes for dizziness and headaches. I'm not saying it is this but one major cause is... anxiety. I've experienced this myself lots of times.

Hellohah · 20/05/2024 19:04

I had a pretty traumatic time a while ago, and I was suffering with a constant headache for about 4 months.

When I went to the GP he referred me not because of my headaches but my posture, no idea what was wrong with my posture, but there you go!

I did have an MRI. They diagnosed me with tension headaches through stress. They offered me antidepressants which I refused, but had counselling instead, did some yoga and got myself an app to help me sleep and the headaches went away.

PeppermintPorpoise · 20/05/2024 19:08

Go to the GP and start from there. Anxiety/depression can cause headaches and dizzyness so it could be as simple as that. GP will know if you need a scan or not.

CulturalNomad · 20/05/2024 19:14

Neither a CT scan or an MRI is completely benign. The CT exposes you to radiation and the contrast medium (gadolinium) used in MRIs has been found to accumulate in the brain in some cases.

Fine if used to diagnose or monitor a condition but unnecessary to "put your mind at ease".

See your GP, don't self refer yourself for unnecessary tests. Your symptoms could be just about anything.

QuestionableMouse · 20/05/2024 19:18

Anemia can cause headaches and dizziness. It's my first symptom when I start getting low.

Sageyboots · 20/05/2024 19:22

Could be musculoskeletal/neck tension - a chiropractor/osteopath might help.

Charliebrow · 20/05/2024 19:30

Could it be TMD? It can cause chronic facial pain, headaches at temples and dizziness. We paid £500 a couple of years ago for an MRI for partner as he was having severe pressure headaches, it came back clear

IHateGeckosGarage · 20/05/2024 19:39

As someone who did have a brain tumour (all sorted now), symptoms would not get better - they would get progressively worse.

DontYouStartMadam · 20/05/2024 19:43

@IHateGeckosGarage thanks for the info and I'm very glad you're all well now :)

OP posts:
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