Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
General health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

Left side of face and head numb - waiting for a call from the doctor

51 replies

shocked2 · 09/09/2011 22:06

Hi all
Am panicking a little as since this morning I have had numbness - it started off on the left side of my face but seems to have progressed to the left side of my head, neck and my left arm as well. I called NHS direct this evening and am now waiting for a doctor to call me back.
I am just wondering if anybody knows anything about this? I know that I have a cracked tooth that really needs seeing to (with a filling in the middle of it) and I am going to the dentist next thursday - could there be a link? Is it possible to have an infected tooth without huge symptoms?
The other strange symptom I have had is a weird smell that only I can smell (I thought it was the house at first but have realised it is me since we went away last weekend) - a sort of sweet, musty, mouldy smell. This has gone on for about three months.
I am panicking because what I read on the internet when I google these things (especially the numbness) is really frightening. Does anybody have any experience of any of this?
With thanks!

OP posts:
Original poster
shocked2 · 12/09/2011 03:01

I do have a slight headache on the left side of my head but I think that might actually be tooth related? - Or just a normal headache iyswim.

OP posts:
TanteRose · 12/09/2011 03:04

a/bs - antibiotics...to fight an infection.

hope you get it all sorted soon Smile

Original poster
shocked2 · 12/09/2011 03:47

Thank you TanteRose Blush - I'm embarrassed I did not think of that! I don't know if I can get my dentist appointment moved closer than Thursday as I am a new patient in that practice, but will try.

OP posts:
PIMSoclock · 12/09/2011 07:57

Migraine would explain it all even the smell.
The smell is often part or the 'aura' the sense that at migraine is coming and the last thing to go xx

PIMSoclock · 12/09/2011 08:00

And don't stress too much about antibiotics. If your tooth was causing an abscess that managed to reach your brain, your symptoms would be on your RIGHT side.
That's not to say you might not need them for your tooth, but if the dentist says it's ok, you don't need to push for them for your other symptoms xx

Original poster
shocked2 · 12/09/2011 09:33

Thank you. Have gone into overdrive stressing about every little thing. My current one is should I find a holistic dentist for the tooth - I am pretty sure that the filling will have to be taken out and the dentist I am going to see is NHS and not holistic. However holistic dentists seem to always be private and I am worried I might come across somebody unnecessarily expensive. I think I might start a thread to ask about this.
The mouldy smell is still there and really I won't rest until that is gone!! I don't think it is the tooth though as it started in my nose a long time ago (at which time I thought it was in my house).
Thanks again PIMSoclock and everyone else. PIMSoclock - is it possible to have a migraine with no real headache and that goes on for so long (ie. the smell is there most of the time at the moment)?

OP posts:
Original poster
shocked2 · 13/09/2011 01:28

Hi. Think I have ruled the tooth out as being cause for either weird smell or numbness - went to the dentist yesterday who could find no infection. On Friday I am going to have the filling in the cracked tooth replaced in the hope that this will stop it hurting when I eat on it.
So onwards and upwards. My next step is sorting out the CT scan - the doctor has given me very little information as to what exactly it will be of so am going to contact her and tell her about the numbness which happened last weekend and which might make a difference to what exactly has to be scanned - or is it that the CT scan is routinely of the whole head, brain and sinuses?
Thanks again for your support, it really helps to be able to write stuff down here.

OP posts:
hellhasnofury · 13/09/2011 07:16

My first two scans were of my sinus. A growth was picked up at a routine appointment (had a camera up my nose to find out what was causing my blocked nostril) and I was sent for a scan. There was some concern that it could've been the root of a tooth that had migrated into the sinus cavity. I had an op to remove the growth which turned out to be a benign nerve end tumour. I have since had further scans of my whole head and neck.

gruffalosarse · 15/09/2011 09:36

Any news shocked? I had my appointment with the ENT consultant this week. Ears are clear of infection, however, my hearing on my right side is down. I've been referred for a mri scan and i am so scared. He seems reassured that it's nothing sinister but you still worry. The numbness in my forehead has returned too but i think (hope) that may be related to anxiety.

Original poster
shocked2 · 15/09/2011 22:57

Hi gruffalosarse (like the name by the way!) - I am sorry you are freaking out but I totally understand as I am too. When is your mri? The fact that the consultant is reassuring about your scan is good i think so please try not to worry too much. My ct scan is booked for the 27th and in many ways i wish it were sooner as I spend all nighttime / alone hours panicking that I have a brain tumour or some other awful degenerative condition. Weird smells signify some kind of damage to the olfactory nerve and there are lots of horrid things that could do this Sad.

OP posts:
oldqueenie · 27/09/2011 19:56

have been thinking of you op. hope you're ok...

oldqueenie · 27/09/2011 19:58

have been thinking of you op. hope you're ok...

oldqueenie · 27/09/2011 19:58

oops

Original poster
shocked2 · 29/09/2011 10:44

Thank you oldqueenie you are very kind. My CT scan was over very quickly and am now waiting for the results (which according to the nurse should be imminent). The numbness that I experienced on that day has not reappeared but the funny smells are still there. If the scan doesn't explain these then I suppose the GP will advise as to what to do next. First things first though - am a little nervous about scan results and am wondering if I should call the surgery or they should call me

OP posts:
ThePosieParker · 29/09/2011 10:47

Just wanted to add good luckxxx

ThePosieParker · 29/09/2011 19:15

bump

Original poster
shocked2 · 30/09/2011 06:54

Thank you. Am going to ring surgery today. Plus I have had a couple of what feel like really sinusy headaches on one side so I don't know if this is related.

OP posts:
Gincognito · 30/09/2011 07:00

Just seen this and wanted to add my good wishes. If it does turn out to be migraine I will be back with tips!

Elibean · 30/09/2011 14:46

Been thinking of you too, shocked. Good luck with results, and may they be reassuring Smile

noyouhavehadawee · 01/10/2011 10:29

Hello, just wishing you luck and hope you have had some reassuring news from your scan now.

Original poster
shocked2 · 02/10/2011 08:19

Thank you all so very much. No results yet - surgery seem to think hospital promising two days was a little strange. So hopefully next week.

OP posts:
Original poster
shocked2 · 04/10/2011 14:05

Hi
I phoned the surgery today who said that my CT scan came back normal. I am really happy about this but was surprised that my GP (whom I spoke to briefly on the phone because apparently you need the doctor's approval before getting a copy of the radiologist's report which is what I want to do) did not ask me if my symptoms were still there - she was the one I went to about the strange smells and who ordered the CT scan upon the advice of an ENT consultant. So I am not going to book an appointment with a different GP (same surgery) to see if I can get more advice regarding my strange smell - which was present all day yesterday for example.
How are your Gruffulosarse? Have you had your MRI scan?
I wanted to say thank you so much to everybody on this thread who has been so kind. I also wanted to ask you, Gincognito (I did have two headaches yesterday and the smell was quite strong, but there are many other days during which I get the smell but no headaches), how I find out if I have migraines? Would the CT scan have seen this? This is one of the many questions I want to ask the GP.

OP posts:
Original poster
shocked2 · 04/10/2011 14:06

Meant to say how are YOU Gruffalosarse Smile

OP posts:
ThePosieParker · 04/10/2011 16:02

Good news. Smile Still would be nice to what it is, not what is isn't!!

Elibean · 04/10/2011 18:44

Hurrah, shocked! So glad Smile

No, migraines would not show up on a CT scan, afaik. I sometimes get eye symptoms without the headache, so its possible....