What to do with a headache that won't shift at 36 weeks.

[Roxyrocks]

Hi all

Currently 36 weeks pregnant. On Thursday I had migraine aura followed by numb fingers on one hand and my mouth going numb for less than 5 minutes.

Called maternity triage who told me to go to a&e which I wasn't going to do as symptoms had all passed by the time I got through to them.

However since Thursday night I've had the most awful headache which paracetamol isn't touching at all.

I've checked my blood pressure and it's fine, if anything it's a little low.

Any hints or tips for getting this headache to shift?

Not called triage as I'm fairly certain they'll tell me to get on with it.

I know you don’t want to, but I’d call and see what they say. Can’t be too careful!

Get seen ASAP, seriously. Headaches are a huge sign of pre eclampsia. You need review now. Call triage and actually follow their instructions. Even if you believe your BP is fine.

You need to be seen. Go in.

I would go to A&E with those symptoms.
Just get checked.

Definitely go and get checked. I've had the headache and numb hands/fingers/tongue in all my pregnancies - it's always been hypertension.

Like the PP said, you can never be too careful and it will also give you peace of mind 🥰

there are some pretty grim things other than pre-eclampsia that can cause headaches in pregnancy.

Definitely get yourself looked at. You need to take care of your health and baby’s. Good luck

So you had an hemiplegic migraine..( loss of feeling in hands and mouth and going numb).All SATs are usually normal.
It can take ages for the headache part of an hemiplegic migraine to disappear .. days .. even weeks.. ive suffered scince l was 5 years old and im now 65... they can come and go..
Hope you get some relief soon.

Definitely an A & E job

Take a drink, a snack and a charger

Please go to A and E straight away a severe headache is a sign pre-eclampsia (GP here )

always keen to learn a trick.... how've you decided that it's a hemiplegic migrane rather than a cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (which, being the more serious differential is the one I'd be thinking about excluding first). OP hasn't told us whether or not this fits her usual pattern of migraines, or indeed whether she's ever had a migraine, so it seems a bit bold to assume that's what it is based on the info given.

Jumping on to agree with the PPs who have all said you need to be seen urgently, this could be a sign of pre eclampsia

Triage will absolutely not tell you to get on with it. A headache that paracetamol doesn't shift is a classic sign of preeclampsia and home BP monitors are not always reliable when pregnant, unless it is one that is approved for use in pregnancy. As someone who has had preeclampsia, please please go to triage tonight. Don't wait - it isnt worth the risk to you or your baby.

I had these migraines with aura / hemiplegic migraines in late pregnancy, just as you describe. And I had to just get on with it. But I only knew that because I took my health and my baby's seriously and got checked out straight away. I preferred to make sure it wasn't going to kill us both before chilling at home, y'know?
GO NOW.

Please ring and be seen by triage. I would be extremely surprised if they don't bring you straight in. I had similar with my second pregnancy, was bought in and admitted even after they ruled out pre eclampsia as they were concerned about a bleed on the brain. They then picked up on Obstetric Cholestasis which would have gone unnoticed if I hadn't been seen

Have you been checked by a doctor at all since they told you to go in? If not then please go in now.

How are you @Roxyrocks?