Brain tumour?

[SoreHead22]

Hi all

Just wondered if you or someone you know has experienced a brain tumour, what were the symptoms? Have you overcome it ok?

I have had migraines for around 3 years which have got progressively worse. Also, for the last year or so I've been getting 'hangovers' when I've had no alcohol (headache, nausea and fuzzy head in morning). This was every month or every couple of weeks but the last month it's been every day. Last week my head went numb at the back and my hearing in left ear went funny. The GP (not my usual one) said it was just a trapped nerve.

I've made an appointment with my regular GP for next week as my head is still not right (still a bit numb, especially mornings, and both ears feel a bit blocked deep inside). I also have had problems with urine incontinence for the last year or two.

I'm scared I have a brain tumour. I've also recently had a bash to the head, so wondered if that could have aggrevated the nausea and headaches and numb thing...

If not a brain tumour, any ideas what's going on with me.

Oh....I'm also exhausted ...

How old are you? I was absolutely convinced I had a brain tumour 2 years ago. I had headaches, waking up feeling very lightheaded, dizziness, vertigo, buzzing in my ears, feeling sick, my eye vision was going really bad at times and more.

I was referred to an ENT, who said he wasn't worried but said I could get an MRI if it'd reassured me. I did, was so scared the day after waiting for 'the' call, but it never came. Nothing wrong in my head.

It turned out that all the symptoms were due to the perimenopause. It was a horrible time.

Thanks swingofthinngs. I am 40, so bang on the age for perimenopause. It did half cross my mind if that might have something to do with it, so maybe you're right.

It's good to know the doc offered an MRI as reassurance. I will be asking my GP for one next week, and hopefully she'll refer me to a neurologist. I just want to rule out any nasties ...

Sorry to hear about your situation. Maybe you're so anxious that theres something wrong with you it's actually highlighting symptoms that where there before but you just ignored.

You should try to get our of the routine thinking you have a brain tumour, for instance if you shower in the morning and spend the whole time thinking about it or lay in bed at night thinking about it. Don't play music in shower and sing to block it out, and if you are in bed at night worrying yourself just get up and do something else. You're not loosing any sleep getting up if you arnt sleeping anyway.

Didn't meant the don't !

If you suffer with regular migraines [1-2 per month] you can have periods when they ramp up. Sometims pain meds for migraine can set off what are known as rebound headaches. Sometimes episodic migraine can turn into a chronic form [15+ per month with active migraine] Migraine itself can cause what sufferers refer to as migraine fugg. You get a hangover from the party the migraine threw in your head.
Migraine can affect hearing, sight and cause numbness down one side - usually as part of the predome phase or postdrome phase.

In honesty it does not sound as if your migraine is being well managed at the moment. It s worth keeping a headache diary, try the Migraine Buddy app, it is worth asking about preventive drugs or trying an alternative one if you have not got one or the current one has ceased to be effective. Your GP should be following the BASH & NICE guidelines. Do bear in mind that even when you follow these it can often be trial and error to match you with the preventative drugs that best help you. It is also worth asking for a referral to a headache clinic for further help.
You can also look online for the Migraine Trust as it has useful information on living with migraine available online.

Have your eyes tested. I always suggest this as it has helped me to allay my fears of a brain tumour. If there was something not right the optician would refer you straight away. Do still see your GP of course, maybe you have been by now?

Thanks

I've had a migraine now for 4 days. I normally use sumatriptan, which though it takes 2 hours to kick in, does work. It's not helping this one though. It's far from the worse migraine I've had in terms of intensity (I'm not vomitting and wanting to rip my head off like they have been sometimes), but it is constant and horrible and to be honest, I've had enough. I can't live like this. I don't think it's normal to have these.

Triballeader - I've tried amytriptaline and some kind of beta blocker as preventatives. I've been on sumatriptan for the past 2 years when an attack comes. Do you know what else is available? The sumatriptan has been the best but I feel I need something else.,.

Can you try a higher dose of amitriptylene?

I take 25mg for chronic daily migraine - my neurologist said that migraines are only controlled once a higher dose is used.

Hi - I think you should ask your GP for a referral to a neurologist. At the very least it will put your mind at ease.

After my first baby 10 years ago I was suffering frequent weird episodes. I'd have numbness, feel disoriented & had ear issues. My GP repeatedly told me it was stress & tension due to being a new mother. He prescribed a cocktail of tablets, including amytriptaline & Valium, none of which I took. In the end he referred me to the neurologist, who did an MRI for reassurance. Result - I had a brain tumour 🤷🏼‍♀️. Brain tumours are rare, your symptoms most likely aren't, but there is a chance they could be. Ask for that referral. I am 100% fine now, I was lucky my tumour was benign and I came through the surgery well. I've had another baby & done a degree since.

Good luck & I hope you feel better soon

Are you on hormonal contraceptives? Stopping the pill was the best thing I've done so far for my migraines.

What do you mean you had a bash to the head. Could this have aggravated something.

My mum was diagnosed with a brain tumour a month ago!! Her main symptom was a feeling like her left foot was dead/numb to the extent she could barely walk and now has a stair lift installed. She had a seizure one morning, ambulance called and the tumour was subsequently discovered.

She’s older than you, but please get it investigated and request a scan. Hopefully it’s something fixable. Good luck

My DB had a tumour. No symptoms, seizure out of the blue left us less within 8 weeks. There are many different types of tumour though so best to get checked out and take it from there.

Brain tumour charities such as brainstrust have lots of useful information.

Hopefully though it will be nothing but at least you are getting checked out

Thanks all. Patsycrime, that sounds a bit like me and I will definitely ask for a referral. Hopefully it's nothing, but something doesn't feel right

Thanks all

I would ask for a neurology referral and explain all the symptoms. It's far more likely to be something else than a brain tumour but if you can get a brain MRI they can see if there are any issues or its clear. Neurologist would be able to help too if its migraines. I don't know if they would do a brain MRI but at least seeing a specialist would give an expert opinion.