Brain tumor, MND, anxiety or something else?!

[jinglebellmel]

Just wondering if anyone can relate to these symptoms and what they could be? Started with a strange episode in a couple of months ago – flashing in vision, couldn’t read for a few minutes and then numbness which started in my hand and travelled up my arm to my face. This all lasted only around 10 minutes and was followed by a mild headache. I googled a bit and it seemed to fit a migraine aura (which you can have without the actual migraine). I didn’t think much more of it.

Had fairly frequent headaches since then, in the last month I’d say I’ve had at least one headache of some sort or another nearly every day. They range from pain over my eyes, tension type headache, sinus type headache and a generally fairly mild, just dull and persistent. This was also accompanied by an ache in my eyes as though my eyeballs were bruised, one more so than the other, and pain in the worst eye when looking too far to the side, the worst eye also has that really annoying twitch thing! I went to specsavers, they said eyes looked healthy but was slightly short sighted in one and gave me glasses (which make my headache worse so I’ve not really worn them yet). I don’t really think this is causing the eye pain though as I can wake with it after resting my eyes all night so doesn’t really make sense to me that it’s be eye strain.

I’ve had a couple of episodes of tingling in my fingers and am now having frequent muscle twitches all over, particularly in the evening and at night. Basically I’ve convinced myself I have a brain tumor or some other awful disease! I saw a GP yesterday, who said I don’t have a brain tumor, changed my contraceptive pill and said head aches and twitching aren’t uncommon. He didn’t examine me or really ask anything about my symptoms, and I can’t get another appointment for 4 weeks. I’m aware I might be causing some of this by stressing about it.

Can anyone relate to these symptoms and suggest anything which isn’t a brain tumor or ALS?? Please, driving myself mad here!!

Oldmum that sounds exactly how I feel! I’ve woken up without a full on headache for the first time in days, but I can still feel the strained feeling in both eyes as though it’s about to start, and even that is stressing me out. I did consider a private mri to (hopefully) convince me there’s nothing serious but apparently I’d still need a gp referral.

Pyra, do you mind me asking if you needed a referral for your mri and how much it cost? Good that they found nothing serious but I suppose it doesn’t put your mind at rest as you still have no answer? Your symptoms sound similar to mine- Had you considered a Cervicogenic headache? I’ve suffered for years with a sore neck and back and am thinking of seeing a physio or something to see if there could be a link. Yes

That’s helpful thanks prya. It’s good that your dr seems to be investigating possibilities for you at least, I hope the head mri gives you some answers and that it’s something easily fixed.

Does anyone have any tips for being taken more seriously in my next gp appointment? It’s just over 3 weeks away and after waiting so long I don’t want it to be another waste of time, as I felt the last one was.

I just had my enhanced eye test where they found nothing of interest (I suppose a good thing but I was hoping they'd come up with something harmless that could be causing the headaches). Can feel the pain in my eye building up again and I could cry :( just want it gone, I'm so sick of the constant worry!

Do you generally suffer from anxiety. I had muscle twitching for six months had mri scan. Was my anxiety causing the twitching. More i worried more i twitched. Some antidepressants actually have twitching as side affects.

Daisygrills
Was your MRI done through the NHS? I've had twitching problems for a couple of years (as well as loads of other possibly neurological symptoms) and GPs aren't remotely interested. I did see a neurologist briefly but my reflexes and balance were ok and that was that.

Yes i got in done on nhs but there was huge waiting list. I kept phoning them to see if there were any cancellations. If you have been having these symptoms for 2yrs you need to go bck to gp and ask for another referral. I know someone who has fnd. Functional neurological disorder. Could it be that?

Are you keeping hydrated? A lot of those symptoms suggest dehydration, especially the headache first thing.

Hi Daisygrills - I'm not generally an overly anxious person and not on any antidepressants. I do feel very anxious since all this began though, and I had become anxious about the head and eye pain before the muscle twitching started, so it is possible that anxiety is playing a part in some of these symptoms, I really hope that it is the case.

I felt as though I really wasn't coping with it all yesterday. I have a small sore on my vulva, which has been there for some time and I didn't realise could indicate anything nasty, but as a result of all this anxiety and googling I got into a total panic over it and managed to get in to see the GP. She's referring my to gynae (fun times) and whilst there I told her all about the other stuff going on and how the previous GP hadn't been much help. She was lovely, is doing a few more blood tests and if they don't through anything up she'll refer to a neurologist.

She mentioned something about liver tests needing to be re-done so of course I'm panicking again as I think some liver tests can indicate muscle damage? But in my logical mind I know that headache and eye pain isn't a symptom of those conditions and they are the most prominent symptoms. And even in my anxious state I can see how unlikely it would be to have both ALS and a brain tumor!! So yes I think anxiety has taken a hold on me know and is getting a little out of control. Not something I've had to deal with before so not really sure how to stop it.

Sorry for all the grammatical errors there, awful!

jinglebelmel you sound exactly what i get like. Do not google things is not a good idea. Im glad you are getting these tests done. I know its so easy to get bogged down in so much worry. Try to relax you are right you cant possibly have all these things wrong with you. Sending love

Thank you Daisy, your kindness means a lot x

jinglebellmel how are you feeling today?

My GP was, reluctant to send me for an MRI. The ENT consultant though had said that I could go for one if it helped so made it harder for GP to say no.

He said thatcthe problem with health anxiety was that the moment you get reassurance with a health concern you developed anxiety about something else.

He was wrong though. After that scan a year ago, I haven't had any health anxieties, frustrations and concerns but not that anxiety that makes, you convinced your about to die despite a number of symptoms. The MRI did help ne accept these symptoms with more serenity.

I know peoples experiences differ wildly, but just wanted to say my friends mnd did not start with any pain or twitching, it originally started with what at the time drs thought was carpel tunnel in his wrist/arm, which then happened in his other arm, then problems with his foot dragging and then the muscle twitching. It’s a hard diagnosis as it’s basically a case of rule everythin* else out as there’s no specific test for it. When I found out he got diagnosed I actually had muscle twitching myself for a few weeks, I’d never had it before but I think that was brought on by the anxiety of him being diagnosed. It’s surprising how much anxiety can physically affect you.

It is possible to have a migraine with no head pain. I know when I am having a migraine as I become sensitive to noise and light usually and just feel off. Mine started in 2006 and initially diagnosed with labyrinthitis, everything was tilting and moving, blurred vision at times, felt a pull to the left, occasional aura and the numbing and tingling you describe. and other symptoms. I have had brain scans and various medication, nothing really worked. My consultant though it could be hormonal related, 13 years later I actually went through the menopause. I still suffer with symptoms on and off at times, these days I do actually feel head pain and find co-codamol helps. Personally I think I suffer from MAV, migraine induced vertigo.

Just to add, try not to worry about a brain tumour but I know this is hard as you think you are going out of your mind. I think I had 2 MRI's, do not think I waited long for them and yes I had the eye twitching. I had a great consultant and I remember the first time I saw him and was so relieved that someone understood my symptoms and was asking me all the right questions. I remember he asked if I had undeserved hangovers as in after 2 glasses of wine and I do.

My dd suffers from Migraine with Aura. Only just diagnosed officially by a neurologist.

She has tingling/numb arms, vertigo, visual disturbances, nausea. The actual headache that occurs afterwards is never horrendous. It lingers for a few days, tailing off into a 'fuzzy' head.

When we first saw our GP he says in his career he's seem all kinds of symptoms from migraine. Once a man presented as a classic stroke where his whole face had dropped and was numb which effected the whole side of his body. After investigation it was a migraine.

I really hope you find something that helps you. I've yet to find anything for dd that stops or eases her symptoms but I live in hope.

Hi, thanks for asking after me Daisy. My headaches have eased the last few days so that’s a definite positive.
The muscle twitching is still going though, a bit worse than before I think and my right leg is a bit funny. The hamstring has been feeling tight for a while but it’s now very achy and feels a little weak. I don’t seem to be able to find a comfortable position when sitting. I’ve not done anything to strain it, so along with all the twitching it is worrying me.

I’m trying to stay calm, not google and think of less serious things that could be causing the symptoms. Als is on my mind which is terrifying :( I guess it could just be stress and a strained muscle though I guess so trying to focus on that!

Thanks for all of your comments :)

makingmiracles So sorry to hear about your friend. I keep telling myself that maybe the twitching is stress/anxiety. Even when I’m feeling more positive it doesn’t seem to let up though.

I feel very on edge, like I’m waiting to see what strange and worrying symptom will appear next, it feels like my body isn’t my own anymore, I don’t know what it’s going to do next.

Hello. I just read your thread and wondering if you have an update and are okay?