Severe headache

[greentea11]

I suffer with headaches every now and then I was prescribed with naproxen for it helped me massively.

Wasn't until early hours in the morning I woke up to a headache was so bad it generally felt as if I was smacked so hard with a metal bat or something. Worst headache I've ever experienced. My neck went completely stiff and painful I was also feeling nausea was so close to throwing up. My headache was so bad that taking 2 paracetamol didn't work and after an hour it only got worse it got to a point where I had to lay still otherwise I'll make things worse. I was so weak and and dizzy and trying to make it to bathroom without throwing up I was wobbling. I felt so confused but I think that's because I just woke up in shock.

It was the worst headache I've ever experienced my head felt like it swelled up or something I was so close to going to A&E even now my head aches not a head ache more of a dull bruised inside.

Has anyone who suffer with headaches or has this happened to you before did you find out what it could or been?

Have you ever knowingly had migraines before? Or a family member?

It's just that sounds very much like my migraines. Was it more on one side of your head than the other?

I suggest you call out of hours today.

You need seeing today, worst headache ever like being hit by a baseball bat needs urgent investigation for subarachnoid haemorrhage. Go to A&E or at the very least call 111.
(I'm a doctor btw!)

@girlandboy as far as I know, no (was put in care at 13) so family history is a tad bit of blur but as far 'real' family I do talk to they don't suffer with headaches (well migraines) just me I'm afraid that's why I was put on naproxen

Yes, worst headache ever, feeling like you've been hit from behind and neck stiffness would all be features of a possible subarachnoid haemorrhage. I would go to A&E with that history. (Also a doctor)

@girlandboy and no it was at the back of my head mainly my neck

Thinking of you OP.

@PenguinPoser @bizzylizzy99 as your doctors would be head still feel a little achey the next day?

Sorry @PenguinPoser @bizzylizzy99 that didn't make sense I was meant to say... as you are both doctors... if it is what you say it is will I have a full ache the next day?

I think you should get checked out as well. My mother had a headache from hell over one weekend and died from a brain haemorrhage on the tuesday.

The symptoms you describe could be from a subarachnoid haemorrhage (basically a bleed inside the brain). Sometimes you can get a small "warning bleed" which may happen before a more serious bleed. Without meaning to worry you, I would get seen today with that history whether or not you still have a headache. It could of course be a much less serious reason but if a patient came to me describing those symptoms (especially since it actually woke you up) I would want to exclude subarachnoid haemorrhage above all else. Please get checked out and hopefully reassured that there's nothing serious going on.

@bizzylizzy99 ok thank you! I'm not the one to normally make a fuss I'm always the one to stay at home and deal with it with a packet of paracetamol normally with anything! But I thought I'd come here first to make sure before I waste anyones time! Well I'll definitely go call the out of hours doctor and see what they have to say!

@bizzylizzy99 I called my out of hours doctor but they didn't seem worried and that instead I should just call a GP tomorrow instead

Did you tell them your symptoms like you described on here? Honestly if I were you I would just go to A&E. I see so many threads on here where people are advised to go to A&E for things that I personally think could be seen by GP/walk in centre etc but your post really rang alarm bells for me. I am a major lurker and hardly ever post but when I read your post earlier I couldn't read it without replying. I mentioned it to my husband as well who is also a doctor and he agreed with me. Sadly his best friend died from a subarachnoid haemorrhage almost 3 years ago so it's a subject close to our hearts. I don't mean to scare you but if you were a relative of mine I would be insisting you go to A&E tonight and make sure you tell them worst headache ever, woken from sleep, felt like you'd been hit by a bat, beck stiffness - I cannot believe anyone could fail to take that seriously. Sorry for the epic rant!

@bizzylizzy99 it's ok, and yea I described everything but she had to do the procedure of asking me questions like an out of hours doctors suppose to! Which had nothing to do with my symptoms I did tell her clearly but she insisted see a doctor tomorrow or within 3 days!

@bizzylizzy99 and apologies for what happened! The difference is I can't stop thinking about the pain I was in. I thought I was going to pass out it was that bad! My eyes feel sore just above my eyes and I took a naproxen aswell to see if that will calm not really doing anything. I spoke to my mum about it today on the phone and asked me maybe it's just the heat? But sorry for tmi I sleep naked and had a fan on me always have water next to me so it couldn't be that!

Also doctor. If you phoned 111 and spoke to someone who sounds like they are working through a checklist, you did NOT speak to a doctor - they are 111 call handlers who follow a checklist to decide whether you need to see a doctor. They are not medically trained.

I agree with previous poster - waking up with sudden headache like you've been hit over head is "textbook" for a serious condition. If this is really the case you should go immediately to A&E.

I went to the doctors today explained to her about my headaches and stayed 6 times this isn't anything I've ever experienced but because I have history of headaches they didn't seem to care really! Nothing more I can do if they aren't worried!

That is terrible. What awful care. A friend told me on the weekend about the aneurysm she had recently and how it all started with a thunderclap headache - followed a week later with a seizure. Go back to the doctor.

@BlackSwan do you know if she had continuous headaches after? Or did it just disappear?

I'm sorry I don't know - but the way she spoke I understood it went. She didn't say she had a headache the entire week leading up to the seizure, just the worst headache of her life a week before, she did go to the drs and she was sent away. Then she had a seizure the following week. Anything else going on?

Some migraines do make you feel this bad, mine normaly last a couple of days. I tend to get them when the weather gets really hot and constantly have fans on to try and keep cool. The hotter i am the more i seem to feel sick and vomit too with them

@BlackSwan no I just had this random sudden head pain and the rest of the symptoms in my main post and nothing else happened! I feel fine all of sudden again and that's why the doctor turned me away she said well id be worried if your head was still hurting. Etc.

@greentea11 hey are you okay now?