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Original poster

Petrified I have a brain tumour

55 replies

squashie34 · 10/09/2021 10:32

Long story short, I've been having dull headaches every day for the last 10 days. It started off with what I thought was a sinus infection as I had pain behind the eyes/bridge of nose and teeth following a cold, and I had some orangey discharge out of that nostril. Gp prescribed steroid nasal spray over the phone so never saw me in person to check this.

Every day since then I've had a dull headache at the front of my head, along with random stabbing pains at the side of my head (happens around 3/4 times per day for 4 seconds max and although on the right mostly it happens on the left too) and I'm petrified this means I have a brain tumour.

My face has started tingling today on the tip of my nose etc. I had a twitching eye 2 days ago. A twitching leg the week before that.

I've spent hours and hours trawling google and all it seems to come back to is brain tumour. I find myself constantly testing my Eyesite to see if it's blurry and I just feel I've got every single symptom listed on the internet as soon as I read it.

I already suffer from health anxiety so it's sent me into overdrive. I wake up every morning and just feel so anxious that I'm going to die but the gp has just said it's tension headaches and there are no flags to point to anything sinister and that the tingling sensations etc are anxiety so I'm no further forward. Surely a tension headache wouldn't last so long?

Can anyone offer any advice as to what I should do next? I'm so frightened.

OP posts:
mariebaby3 · 11/09/2021 18:06

I would def go for an eye test just so you can tell the gp that you’ve ruled that out if you go.

Could you be having migraines?

Re tension headaches, I’ve had ones that have literally lasted weeks. Syndol is the only thing that shifts them!

PurplePumpkinDream · 11/09/2021 20:54

Have you seen an optician yet? I’ve always found their thorough examination, including picture of retina, quite reassuring. You could mention your headaches and your fears too. They should be able to reassure you or refer you straight away.

Hidehi4 · 11/09/2021 21:00

I’ve had a brain tumour and the symptoms suddenly started by non stop vomiting, blurred vision, worst headache ever I was literally climbing the walls, the pressure in my head was unreal. But I can’t say yours isn’t a tumour but they are very mild symptoms. You can get a private mri for £300 if you are really concerned something is wrong

WalkingFred · 11/09/2021 21:05

First, book yourself in for an enhanced eye test with Specsavers and they will do a thorough eye and optic nerve health check - they will observe so much more than just rye sight issues and will be a good first port of call.

WalkingFred · 13/09/2021 19:49

Hey OP, hope you are OK. Have you managed to book an eye appointment?

Original poster
squashie34 · 13/09/2021 20:08

@WalkingFred the earliest appointment I've been able to get at Specsavers is Friday so I am on countdown until then. Thanks so much for asking after me.

OP posts:
WalkingFred · 17/09/2021 10:47

Good luck for today

WalkingFred · 17/09/2021 20:05

OP?

Original poster
squashie34 · 17/09/2021 20:56

@WalkingFred thank you so much for your message today, I've only just seen this as I've been trying to stay off my phone to curb my anxiety.

The eye test went well in that they said there isn't anything they can see behind my eyes that's of concern- I did have to do the field test 3x with my left eye as there was some things I couldn't see in my peripheral vision but they signed me off in the end so they said I now need to go back to the gp to investigate further. The headache hasn't been there for the last 2 days except for a random sharp pain that lasts 30 seconds once so I don't know if the gp will just dismiss it again. My sinuses definitely feel clearer now.

OP posts:
WalkingFred · 17/09/2021 21:15

That's good positive news - take a moment and breathe. Yes, go back to your GP - could well be sinuses but investigate that further. Have a restful weekend.

Mammaaof · 19/09/2021 05:38

I hope your ok OP! I had convinced myself I had MS i started to get actual physical symptoms after I would read another symptom of MS I would then feel that sensation in my body. It was horrific! The symptoms were all in my head, once I had a clear mri the symptoms went away. I did the same with my eyes, convinced myself there was something wrong I then "developed" shooting pain in my eyes and twitches, until I went to the specsavers and was told I needed new glasses, all the symptoms went away then.
Also when we are constantly analysing all of our bodies, normal bodily sensations, aches and pains can be symptoms of all sorts when actually have always been there your just focusing on them now X

PurpleSapphire · 19/09/2021 06:07

Have you recently started putting the heating on? Sounds strange but having the heating on gives me terrible headaches. I always have the back door open as long as I can until i'm too cold (even in Winter) otherwise my nose gets stuffed up and my head starts pounding. I cant even visit someone who has a fire on for long because I wont stop sneezing and my eyes stream. I have no idea what it is that causes it (i'd actually be interested to know) but it's a real pain.

Spiindoctor · 19/09/2021 06:14

Keep in mind, headaches are not usually early warning signs, but can occur once a tumor has reached a considerable size.

This was the cancerliving website - seizures, numbness, vision problems and changes in personality seem to be the main pointers according to the webpage. So I don't think it's that likely that it's a tumour.

Are you gritting your teeth, clenching your jaw - tension in your neck?
You can find exercises online to help with this, it might be worth trying. There is a gadget to use at night for teeth clenching.

Dehydration gives me headaches.

Fcuk38 · 19/09/2021 06:39

Are you being sick? Are you struggling to keep your food down? Has your personality changed? Have you had a seizure? Headaches are not the number 1 sign of a
Brain tumour. My husband died of a brain tumour aged 38. Rather than googling and self diagnosing please just go back to the doctor is.

Snally82 · 19/09/2021 06:58

Hi OP. Many of those symptoms can be stress related without a doubt, and many other things too. Recurrent symptoms should always be reported to your gp so keep doing that, they won’t routinely refer you for a scan unless you meet certain criteria but you can push for one if symptoms persist. If any major concern or development you’d be referred within 2 weeks. Brain tumours are extremely rare and often display no symptoms at all (only being diagnosed after a seizure for example).

Bluesheep8 · 20/09/2021 16:21

If you're still worried, just get an MRI and rule it out.

You can't just request one!

fedup078 · 20/09/2021 19:18

@squashie34 I had sinus problems which lasted weeks just recently
Even after the snot dried up I'd still get this weird popping sensation in the bridge of my nose followed by a blinding pain for a few seconds in my head and a horrible pain if I bent over
This went on for a while before I blew my nose one morning and something felt like it shifted and all this blood came out and I've felt better since
Sinus infections and the aftermath can last a long time

mommaof1 · 21/05/2022 21:56

Hello I know it's been a while did you manage to see a GP?

Mumof2xxx87 · 29/02/2024 23:09

Hi, I'm going through the exact same thing @squashie34 and would love to know what happened ? I'm on day 17 of tension headaches (this is what the doctor has told me ) I've been so worried and am so tempted to book a private scan

solomonsfish85 · 01/03/2024 06:36

@Mumof2xxx87
I'm going through similar with pressure pain like the original poster, have been to the doctor and he recons its sinus so have been prescribed a nasal spray, my symptoms are OK during the day it's the night time that the pressure gets worse around my face and forehead, so I'm still not convinced it's sinus, I have an eye test today and I'm terrified in case they find something behind my eyes,
What kind d of symptoms are you getting?

Mumof2xxx87 · 04/03/2024 22:15

@solomonsfish85 sorry to hear this , how did your eye test go? I also had one last week and nothing was found all was okay. I have booked a private MRI scan for tomorrow morning because I've just been getting so worked up It's something serious.
my symptoms are just head pains like 3/4 times an hr pretty much all day, like pains that don't last very long, mine are on my forehead or around my ears , I'm constantly massaging my head for relief. Someone recommended me take migraleave which I feel did ease it a little , but can only take it for 3 days. I have had acupuncture twice also which hasn't really done much. How are you getting on and how long have you had your head pains ?

solomonsfish85 · 05/03/2024 11:29

@Mumof2xxx87
How did the mri go?
Hope all is well
My eye test went fine, no issues thank god!
Definitely fel like the pressure and slight pain is after getting a bit better, getting bigger gaps between pressure so I'm taking that as a good sign, I'm more interested in sorting my anxiety now as it doesn't seem normal to be freaking out about slight pain amd pressure the way I have 🙈
Has the doctor said what he thinks your pains are?

Mumof2xxx87 · 05/03/2024 12:55

@solomonsfish85 glad your eye test came back okay. MRI Went okay , won't have the results for a few days yet. Doctor thought it was tension headaches caused by anxiety. I hope they are right, but to me I just feel like they can't go on for this long .
the doctor did prescribe me sertaline (anxiety tablets) but I haven't as yet started taking them as I'm not sure I want to be on them. I have suffered with a bit of health anxiety since having my daughter more worried about her and they think it's a build up of stress and anxiety. But I'm glad I've had the MRI just to know for sure. Will uodate with results but I'm glad to hear yours have eased. I also did have a Swedish massage which did help for that day and she did say I had a lot of tension built up.

solomonsfish85 · 05/03/2024 14:13

@Mumof2xxx87
Glad all went ok, I think the same with mine, why would they go on so long? Mine are definitely magnified by anxiety I think, I had my first migraine a couple of weeks ago and panicked alot at the time that I think it might have brought on the pressure aswel,, you would be sick of all the thoughts about it wouldn't you?
Do yours ease if you take any painkillers like ibuprofen?
Flowers

Mumof2xxx87 · 05/03/2024 17:33

Yeh, sometimes I feel like it could be anxiety but then other times there pretty constant pains and I think this can't be, I'm not even feeling anxious. I did try paracetamol and ibroprofen in the beginning but they didn't do anything so I have stopped. I did try tiger balm on my temples and that kind of worked, I also think migraleave worked a little but I've already taken as many as I'm allowed. Today they've been pretty bad where as they wasn't really as freequent the last couple of days. How long have you head yours for and is yours a constant headache or more pains that come and go? Has any medication worked for you? I feel like I have tried everything the doctor recommended.... more sleep, more water, started yoga, massage. Just didn't start the anxiety medication ... 😓