I've had a headache for nearly 3 weeks - what could it be?

[IwishIwasmoreorganised]

It started as a normal headache, then went just to the right side of my head. As the day went on it got worse and worse until my vision was affected and I had to lie down all evening. I was feeling nauseous and hot/cold intermittently.

Next day it was much better, vision fine no nausea no hot/cold but still the pain on the right side of my head.

The pain has stayed at variable intensities for nearly 3 weeks now, and for the last 3 or 4 days, I feel a heavy type of sensation around my right eye and side of my nose. The inside of my mouth feels slightly numb. A couple of times the pain has woken me from my sleep.

I've tried taking some decongestants thinking that perhaps my sinuses were a bit bunged up, but it's no better.

I've been to my GP, who has said it if carries on for 3 more weeks then he would consider referring me on (he wouldn't say who to - it would depend on the symptoms at the time).

I've been good and not googled my symptoms as I'm sure it would tell me that I have something awful!

Does anybody have any idea what could be causing this (apart from a brain tumour which I'm slowly convincing myself is what it must be)

No nasal discharge - green or otherwise! I'll hold off on the antibiotics.

I'm hanging on until I can see the dentist and optician (hopefully early next week). If things are no better then I'll go back to the GP.

I'm sure I'm imagining symptoms now too! I was sat still this morning in work for much longer than usual and was convinced that my right leg was feeling numb, and this evening had some sharp pins in needles in the fingers of my right hand.

I think I might be going mad if nothing else!!

Nutrition and lifestyle changes should help. You can help yourself by reducing your intake of tea, coffee, sugar, fizzy drinks, cakes, biscuits processed and takeaway foods. you could also learn some relaxation techniques which will help if you are stressed.

Healthebody joined today and is spamming loads of health related threads...just so you know!

Thanks for such a thoughtful post healthebody

Hi, just wanted to say that I had something similar for nearly 6 weeks. Got sent off for a neck xray eventually (can't remember why) but the very next day the headache disappeared all on it's own.

Do you get pins and needles in your feet aswell?

No pins and needles in my feet, and only once in my hand.

All booked in for my eyes and dental checks next week!

Could definitely also be from your neck, I get headaches and numb hand caused by neck strain.

What painkillers are you taking?

Does anything ease the pain?
Have you started/changed any medication recently?

I have strong Ibuprofen left over from a previous prescription that does ease it significantly, but never shifts it 100%. That's all I've found to ease the pain.

I was taking mefanamic acid during every period until about 6 weeks ago to ease the excessive flow. Have stopped that now as we're ttc (no luck yet though so it's not that!)

When was your last period (if you don't mind me asking?)

iirc it started on 10th October.

I have had the kind of headache you seem to describe on three occasions in my life. The first when I was 22, it turned out I needed a root-canal, and the headache vanished as soon as my dental treatment was complete.

The second time was SO BAD, and going on for six months, on numerous courses of antibiotics for assumed sinusitis. I had antibiotics, nurofen and paracetamol, and still the pain was there. I was referred to a CT scan to rule out a brain tumour. All clear. Then I had my regular dental check up, and the dentist found that I had quite a sever dental problem, with a dead nerve, and puss leaking into my sinuses, (he showed me the x rays and explained what was happening) The nerve was tripple and twisted, I had to go to a parallel street to Harley street to see a specialist for this root canal. Again, the pain disappeared when the dental treatment was complete.

The third time, I recognised the headache and went straight to the dentist. An infection at the base of my first root canal, and the entire tooth had to come out.

It might not be what is troubling you, but a trip to the dentist surely cant do you any harm?

I'm going on Monday quintessentialShadows I really hope they find something that is easily treatable.

Is anyone else in the household suffering similar symptoms, are you in the house more than anyone else?

Bit of a long shot, but could your boiler be leaking carbon monoxide? Would cause a headache, I believe.

No-one else is suffering, and we have a CO monitor in the same room as the boiler so I'm pretty sure it can't be that.

Thanks for the thought though JiggeryFawkesery

Ok.

No problem with my eyes at all. That's good.

The altered senation is apparantly in the distribution of the middle branch of the trigeminal nerve. Unfortunately nothing showed up on x-ray to explain why I'm having this trouble so I'm being referred on to an oral surgeon. I'm using our private healthcare so hopefully will get an appointment very soon. The dentist did say that it is unlikely to be anything really terrible, so fingers crossed!

Private healthcare is fab!

I'm seeing the oral surgeon at 6pm tonight!

Hmmmm. I'm none the wiser.

Being referred to see a neurologist now but told not to worry

This thread is more like my diary now and a space to get my thoughts down!

Have an appointment with the neurologist in 10 days and an MRI sometime next week so that he can see it before my appointment with him.

Still the same symptoms - headache which is variabe in intensity, partially relieved with painkillers, and altered senation on the right side of my face and mouth.

Am more worried now - 6 week today since it started.

MRI was fine - phew.

Blood tests have shown elevated TSH. Now for repeat blood tests and a visit to an endocrinologist.

Glad to hear your MRI was fine. How are you feeling now?

So what was the end solution and problem? My 9 year old has similar problem. I'm worried.