Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

General health

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

Flip

Original poster

now im getting worried

21 replies

starshaker · 25/01/2006 21:58

as some of you may know i have been getting really bad headaches that nothing helps. i have had blood tests pills everything really. today i got the results of my xray to check if it was my sinusis and it came back clear. the only thing left for them to do is a brain scan and im really worried they will find something really wrong

OP posts:

starlover · 25/01/2006 21:59

have you been prescribed migraine medication to try?

Original poster

starshaker · 25/01/2006 22:01

yeah it doesnt help either. sleep, moving basically anything makes it worse. i have a constant headache but sometimes its unbearable. i had to take a week off work not that long ago cos i couldnt move for te pain

OP posts:

Original poster

starshaker · 25/01/2006 22:13

i know this sounds really dramatic but i can help thinking what will i do if something is really wrong. i have a gorgeous dd and i want to see her grow up.

OP posts:

bramblina · 25/01/2006 22:15

Don't even think like that, it won't do any good, just add to your stress. I had a friend who had unexplained awful headaches for 3 yrs, gone now and still unexplained. Just don't think the worst.

Twiglett · 25/01/2006 22:16

One step at a time starshaker, of course you are concerned but it is far more likely to be nothing. The reason they have left the scan till last is because it is the least likely cause

when is your scan?

As an aside in the BBC2 programme on acupuncture (1 of 3 started last night) one of the research programmes was on migraines and it seemed to be helpful in managing the pain .. it might be something that you could consider

Original poster

starshaker · 25/01/2006 22:18

not sure when the scan is ive got an appointment with the docs on friday to talk about the results and im gonna see if he can move my appointment with the consultant forward so i have less time to panic. at the mo my cons appt is for march think i will go mad if i have to wait this long

OP posts:

skettle · 25/01/2006 23:59

Hi,

I had a constant headache for about 3 months, its only just starting to disapear now. I tried to find the address of a headache site I used to use but its under construction. Their forums were full of people like you who had unbearable headaches, some constant for years...none of them were found to have anything serious wrong with them.

The chances are extremely slim and if it's a tumour you're worried about (I was) headaches are usually a secondry symptom. People with tumours usually suffer from fits etc before going to the doctors with headaches.

Like my doctor said to me - "I see lots of people with headaches, I see very few with tumours".

Please let us know how you get on.

Meanoldmummy · 26/01/2006 00:52

Hi starshaker,

I know how scary and horrible this is - I really feel for you. I had a brain scan (as well as every other test under the sun) because of chronic, blinding headaches which went on for nearly three years. There was no tumour and nothing horrific or dangerous wrong with me - it was tension, stress. I didn't really want to accept that explanation as I felt it belittled the amount of pain I was in. But that was what was causing the headaches. I still get towering migraines and headaches that can linger for weeks when I am going through difficult times.

I don't know your situation and I'm not making any assumptions, but please try not to worry about the brain scan. It's overwhelmingly likely there won't be anything on it. If it does turn out that the headaches are stress-related, I find that they don't respond to pain killers but they do respond to relaxation/breathing exercises, visualisation and deep massage.

I hope you find some relief

Original poster

starshaker · 26/01/2006 08:03

ive tried riki(sp) massage going to sleep. if i go to sleep with a headache i wake up and its worse its so hard to get on with things when i feels like something is trying to escape from ur head

OP posts:

Meanoldmummy · 26/01/2006 08:28

I know - and it's really hard not to panic when it's intolerable and you don't know if it's going to end. But it will, starshaker, you just have to keep going and find the treatment that helps for you. I found deep breathing and relaxation (takes LOTS of practice before it starts to help) useful, but I don't know what's causing your headaches, so I don't know what will help them. The "something trying to escape from your head" sounds horribly familiar though. I feel so sorry for you, it's a terrible way to live

DelGirl · 26/01/2006 08:31

Could it be something to do with your back/neck perhaps? Has that been considered by anyone? Sorry for the quick post, not read the whole thread.

tatt · 26/01/2006 09:03

have you tried seeing an osetopath, maybe a cranial osteopath?

After years of knee pain (and no help from gp) my partner has seen an osteopath who believes the pain can be easily dealt with - and without further appointments. Too early to tell if it's making any difference , especially as we haven't managed to do all the things he suggested yet, but at least it is giving hiim hope.

Elibean · 26/01/2006 10:20

You poor love, it sounds horrible. And I think its really normal to be worrying about scans - how could you not? Its just human, and you're right - the sooner you can get an appointment the better for your peace of mind. And peace of mind can only help your head, IYSWIM.
That said, everyone is right - there are lots and lots of cases of immoveable headaches (my friend had them, had scans, turned out to be hormonal) and lots of causes, and the nastiest ones are the rarest.
Also agree it can't hurt to see an osteopath or at least have some good, gentle, neck massages - if nothing else, your muscles must be tensing against all that pain.
Really hope you get your apt. soon, and some relief even sooner!

Original poster

starshaker · 27/01/2006 21:30

was at the docs today and they said they cant move my appointment forward and i just need to wait and not worry (eisier said than done)

OP posts:

chipmonkey · 27/01/2006 22:03

starshaker, they have to do a brain scan to rule out tumours etc. but the chance of finding anything is very slim. Lots of people come to me with headaches ( I'm an optometrist) but in 15 years of practice I could count on the fingers of one hand those who have turned out to have brain tumours.

busybusybee · 27/01/2006 22:11

Hi Starshaker

A friend of mine suffered terribly like this for ages - she took mega painkillers for months on end - very often they didnt help

To try to reassure you! My friend went for a brain scan and they found nothing wrong at all - she was petrified of having it done - but they found nothing wrong

THen the gp suggested stopping the tablets - which she did, having taken them for months on end- the headaches seemed to go - and since then she has developed several very serious food allergies

I have no idea whether these two conditions are connected but i wanted to tell her story just in case it helps you. Because i cant help wondering - did the anti headache pills ruin her ability to tolerate food! -

HTH

busybusybee · 27/01/2006 22:12

On a positive note - try 4head - available over the counter from chemists - I have heard it works.............

Hope all goes well starshaker

Original poster

starshaker · 27/01/2006 22:13

i tried 4head for a while and it didnt do anything apart from make my head cold lol

OP posts:

Mirage · 27/01/2006 22:21

starshaker,I don't have any advice for you about the headaches,but 2 members of mine & dh's family have had brain tumours & neither of them had headaches as a symptom.Skettle is right,both of them had falls/fits/blurred vision,but not headaches.When it was suspected that both of them had tumours,they were scanned immediately.The very fact that you are having to wait is 'good' in a way,although it certainly won't seem like it.

I hope you can get some relief from the pain soon.

tatt · 28/01/2006 11:32

allergies do sometimes cause really bad headaches, think I remember something about it in this book

www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/search-handle-url/index%3Dbooks-uk%26field-keywords%3Dallergy%20bible%26results-process%3Ddefault%26dispatch%3Dsearch/ref%3Dpd%5Fsl%5Faw%5Ftops-2%5Fbooks-uk%5F9642178%5F2/202-1188595-2266259

Also have you asked your dentist to check if it could be tempromandibular joint disorder as that can cause headaches? Really think a visit to an osteopath is worth the cost - we paid £37 and had an appointment (45 minutes) within 3 days.

biglips · 28/01/2006 11:46

ive been getting really bad headaches for 3 weeks and it kicks my sinuses off. my ears was blocked and jaw was aching, tension on my head and back of neck too....

its now gone cos ive been going to bed early for the past week and feel ssooo much better

must've of been lack of sleep as have been going to bed late every nite since Xmas !!

Flip