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Brain tumor or anxiety?
hello everyone. I don't have insurance, hence my seeking of internet support. So I know I am a hypochondriac to an extent, but don't know how far. About a year ago i started getting bizarre symptoms that my doctor later defined as cluster headaches. I was surprised he even gave me an answer to what my symptoms were since i secretly assumed it was psychosomatic. While my headaches seemed stress related, they always would start with me thinking i was getting one. Then I realized xanax would help if i took it before I felt one coming on. I haven't had an MRI as I can't afford it. The migraines come and go, and I really do think I bring them on myself. But now I have a pulsating headache only in the upper left part of my head. Also my pupils always seem dilated, lately I've felt really out of it (almost like I'm dreaming when awake), dizzy, and also have felt like I have pressure in my head. All of these symptoms though occur when I am obsessing about not feeling right. Could I really have a tumor, and are the migraines/ cluster headaches related? Or am i a severe hypochondriac? I do have bad anxiety and have had panic attacks before. I also get really bad after I research all my symptoms on the internet. Please help ASAP!
Thanks.
Thanks.
Yes I do this constantly! I'm working on top of being enrolled in early graduation, all after months from moving back from Austin tripping out constantly! I have attached the majority of my compulsive thought disorder in to this matter, fearing that the reason I do something or act in a certain way being attributed to a brain tumor. I have spent so long fearing the worst, and I have gone so long with this fear that it makes me so sick! It all started watching so much House, then escalated to seeing Cancer advertisements on T.V. and feeling like they were pointing out to my undetected illness
you guys are all mental! I turn 20 in a month and I have a brain tumor and I had no symptoms whatsoever! I went to the hospital for something totally different, they happened to notice one of my pupils was dilated while the other wasn't. They gave me a routine CT scan, said they noticed an "abnormality." A few hours later I was given an MRI and next thing I know the radiologist is in my room telling me, "I'm sorry, there is a tumor in your brain, I am sorry." And then she walked out, leaving me alone in my room to wail.
The only thing I ever had was some headaches and memory loss/brain fog, but I always just associated that with the medications I was on (xanax, ambien, cymbalta, ect....) and not with anything worse. I did have suspicions that I had something going on in my brain because I do have hardened hematomas from concussions/trauma (never drink alcohol kids). I've also been extremely tired, but unable to sleep AT ALL, and my periods either come, never come, are super short, always irregular, or super heavy. My tumor is entwined in my thalamus/hypothalamus, which regulates all my hormones.
Incredibly, my pupils being dilated was only a fluke. My tumor is too small to cause uneven pupil dilation, and the opthamologist I saw today also agreed that there is nothing wrong with either of my eyes. Both my neurologist and my neurosurgeon have said that there is no way my tumor could have caused the dilation. Also the dilation went back immediately after my MRI !!!! If the nurse/EMT hadn't noticed that one little fluke in my eyes, I would have never known about this tumor until it was too late! Don't believe in miracles? I sure as hell do!
The only thing I ever had was some headaches and memory loss/brain fog, but I always just associated that with the medications I was on (xanax, ambien, cymbalta, ect....) and not with anything worse. I did have suspicions that I had something going on in my brain because I do have hardened hematomas from concussions/trauma (never drink alcohol kids). I've also been extremely tired, but unable to sleep AT ALL, and my periods either come, never come, are super short, always irregular, or super heavy. My tumor is entwined in my thalamus/hypothalamus, which regulates all my hormones.
Incredibly, my pupils being dilated was only a fluke. My tumor is too small to cause uneven pupil dilation, and the opthamologist I saw today also agreed that there is nothing wrong with either of my eyes. Both my neurologist and my neurosurgeon have said that there is no way my tumor could have caused the dilation. Also the dilation went back immediately after my MRI !!!! If the nurse/EMT hadn't noticed that one little fluke in my eyes, I would have never known about this tumor until it was too late! Don't believe in miracles? I sure as hell do!
Beginning a few months ago, at the end of May; I began experiencing some odd symptoms. I have had a mild headache every single day, but it is on and off. Also, for a brief period (about two months) I had a ringing in my left ear that was also an everyday thing; but off and on throughout the day. I have also been having muscle twitches, mostly in the left side of the back of my head and in my left eye. But I have also experienced the muscle twitching all over my body, both legs, both arms and even oddly enough; my butt cheeks. I have also been light headed, it started off and on up until the last week. Now it seems like I am light headed a lot more throughout the day and also, I have been feeling very sick to my stomach. I have had dull pains in the side and back of my head as well and today, I started feeling this feeling on the left side of my head that feels like somebody is touching my hair even though nobody is. The back of my neck aches on and off; it started as every single day and now it is every few days. I have gone to the E.R., a local clinic and my own doctor. None of which thought that I had anything to worry about. At the clinic they took my blood and it came back good, they said that if I had a Brain Tumor that it would show some sign of robbing nutrients in my blood. My Doctor seems to think that everything is caused by my obesity. As she told me a few weeks ago that I am "morbidly obese" and they are almost sure that I have sleep apnea. My doctor believes that the sleep apnea causing me to have lack of sleep is causing the headache, lightheadedness and muscle twitching etc. But, I can't help but worry. I have been worried and depressed for almost four months now. This whole thing has put such a strain on my mental well being and my marriage. I can't help but worry that it is a brain tumor. Please, if you can give me any insight I would be so appreciative.
Hi everyone, i'm an 18 yr old female..
i've suffered from severe anxiety for only about a month now.. i know its a big contrast to some people on here as they have been suffering from it for years..
Anyway, i had an abcess on my bottom which was really painful, so i went to the hospital and had it removed, i was in hospital for 4 days. The day after i came out i started to feel really lightheaded, bombarded with at least 4-6 headaches a day, i had a bad earache, my neck was sore, always very tired, i had a tight chest, i was having body tremors(not seizures), i was smoking twice as much, i was contstantly searching my head for lumps, i was forgetful and emotionally detached from family and friends. I obsessed about the fact that i had a brain tumour, it was on my mind 24/7. I looked on the internet at least twice a day for symptoms. I had a ct scan 4 years ago and it was all clear, so what made me think this i do not know!
But because my mind was constantly thinking i had one, my mind was telling my body i had one...
i went to the optician, he told me there was no pressure in my head as the nerves were flat. I then went to my gp and he put it down to tension headaches, but i just wasn't convinced! I went again to a different gp and she re-assured me again and prescribed me with fluxotine (prosac).
Im starting to feel much clearer about things now, i picked up a few self help books and the best one was 'you can heal yourself' by louise heyes, this was a tremendous help, i came to the conclusion that if i kept telling myself i had a brain tumor, i must have thought i didn't deserve to be here. i have also started to listen to relaxation cd's and i feel so much better, i have the occasional headache but i strongly believe that its all in the mind. If you train the mind to think a certain thing you start to belive it. If you can train your mind to think that way, u can re-train your mind. Just don't forget you control your mind, not the other way sround!
I hope i have been some help!
i've suffered from severe anxiety for only about a month now.. i know its a big contrast to some people on here as they have been suffering from it for years..
Anyway, i had an abcess on my bottom which was really painful, so i went to the hospital and had it removed, i was in hospital for 4 days. The day after i came out i started to feel really lightheaded, bombarded with at least 4-6 headaches a day, i had a bad earache, my neck was sore, always very tired, i had a tight chest, i was having body tremors(not seizures), i was smoking twice as much, i was contstantly searching my head for lumps, i was forgetful and emotionally detached from family and friends. I obsessed about the fact that i had a brain tumour, it was on my mind 24/7. I looked on the internet at least twice a day for symptoms. I had a ct scan 4 years ago and it was all clear, so what made me think this i do not know!
But because my mind was constantly thinking i had one, my mind was telling my body i had one...
i went to the optician, he told me there was no pressure in my head as the nerves were flat. I then went to my gp and he put it down to tension headaches, but i just wasn't convinced! I went again to a different gp and she re-assured me again and prescribed me with fluxotine (prosac).
Im starting to feel much clearer about things now, i picked up a few self help books and the best one was 'you can heal yourself' by louise heyes, this was a tremendous help, i came to the conclusion that if i kept telling myself i had a brain tumor, i must have thought i didn't deserve to be here. i have also started to listen to relaxation cd's and i feel so much better, i have the occasional headache but i strongly believe that its all in the mind. If you train the mind to think a certain thing you start to belive it. If you can train your mind to think that way, u can re-train your mind. Just don't forget you control your mind, not the other way sround!
I hope i have been some help!
I have had a brain tumor successfully removed over a year ago and I now suffer just like all of the above, from the same symptoms of hypohondriasis, headaches and enxiety, due to the fear of a recurrence.
I'm afraid to say that very little is actually known by doctors themselves about the nature and the causes of brain tumors, and the symptoms themselves vary on a case to case basis, usually being very subtle and difficult to identify.
This is why doctors have been unable to convince me it will not recur even though the statistics and prognosis on my particular low grade, benign type of tumor are very favorable and indicate I should have nothing to worry about.
The ordeal of achieving a correct diagnosis, (I was misdiagnosed several times with conditions varying from panic attacks to schizofrenia - btw this is not uncommon for brain tumor patients) and the terrifying, possesing ( I would go so far as to compare with the descriptions of religious possesion) and debilitating experience of the symptoms themselves (that do actually ressemble those of mental illnesses such as bipolar dissorder and paranoia), serve I suppose as a sufficient excuse for my enxiety and panic, though not so much for my persistent headaches and hypohondriac tendencies.
I can assure you that if you actually DID have a brain tumor, other than enxiety, you would be experiencing frequent hallucinations, in some cases smelling, seeing or feeling things that don't exist, occasional nausea and mainly and in most cases to my knowledge, a feeling of constant underlying body fatigue and irresistable lethargic sleepiness, ressembling narcolepsy. A kind of feeling of beckoning sleep, body strain, increasing irritability, as well as an increasingly frustrating feeling of cognitive decline or difficulty functioning in daily tasks.
I would not suggest neglecting to have an MRI scan to disperse the fear of a brain tumor, as although brain tumors are rare they are in any case virtually impossible to diagnose without MRI or CT scans.
Hope this helps with descriminating between hypohondriasis and actual brain tumor cases.
I'm afraid to say that very little is actually known by doctors themselves about the nature and the causes of brain tumors, and the symptoms themselves vary on a case to case basis, usually being very subtle and difficult to identify.
This is why doctors have been unable to convince me it will not recur even though the statistics and prognosis on my particular low grade, benign type of tumor are very favorable and indicate I should have nothing to worry about.
The ordeal of achieving a correct diagnosis, (I was misdiagnosed several times with conditions varying from panic attacks to schizofrenia - btw this is not uncommon for brain tumor patients) and the terrifying, possesing ( I would go so far as to compare with the descriptions of religious possesion) and debilitating experience of the symptoms themselves (that do actually ressemble those of mental illnesses such as bipolar dissorder and paranoia), serve I suppose as a sufficient excuse for my enxiety and panic, though not so much for my persistent headaches and hypohondriac tendencies.
I can assure you that if you actually DID have a brain tumor, other than enxiety, you would be experiencing frequent hallucinations, in some cases smelling, seeing or feeling things that don't exist, occasional nausea and mainly and in most cases to my knowledge, a feeling of constant underlying body fatigue and irresistable lethargic sleepiness, ressembling narcolepsy. A kind of feeling of beckoning sleep, body strain, increasing irritability, as well as an increasingly frustrating feeling of cognitive decline or difficulty functioning in daily tasks.
I would not suggest neglecting to have an MRI scan to disperse the fear of a brain tumor, as although brain tumors are rare they are in any case virtually impossible to diagnose without MRI or CT scans.
Hope this helps with descriminating between hypohondriasis and actual brain tumor cases.
please worry not ! most people think they have brain tumor turn out not having it while people who has brain tumor know nothing about it until the last minute. I, too have anxiety and panic attacks although I was taught how to get the panic attack under control, the anxiety is still there. I had MRI, CAT scan, Xray all over my head and they found nothing, the result came out in one word "ANXIETY". I still think sometimes I have brain tumor but after reading all the posts here, I don't think I have one. LOL....come on, anxiety can do lots of craps to you. DONT WORRY
I just had a CT scan with contrast done today. For the last 9 months I have been complaining of bad headaches, and seems I always have a complaint about something-people think Im losin it! Painin my neck, my chest, my head-shortness of breath, can't get to sleep at night, then always exhausted during the day....its one thing after another, Ims tarting to get on my own nerves! lol Anywyas, first trip to the doc last oct he told me I was stressed...and left it at that, next trip he told me I had a sinu infection, gave me a prescription, next visit he gave me migraine pills..then one weekend the headache was so severe and I was so scared I went to the er, they gave me a shot for a migraine and said I was having a muscle spasm inmy neckl--fianlly croke down int he doc office--Im so worried all the time, and my life was controlled by these headaches............now Im so scared to get these results back.
In the last month or so-my head has been ok......I have a few headaches, but nothing owrth complaining about--then I look at my life, and think of all the stress I do have, work-husband-family-buying a house, just had a wedding,...it was one thing after another these last 2 years---and Im now leaning towards the stress, now that things are turning around, I dontc complain as much !lol
You should look at your own life, look at all the possible stress sighns, cause you really dont know how your body will react tothings,....I certainly dont FEEL stressed, but I should be! lol
Nways, good luck--and wish me the same, hope to get tese results back, and I hope it is just stress!
In the last month or so-my head has been ok......I have a few headaches, but nothing owrth complaining about--then I look at my life, and think of all the stress I do have, work-husband-family-buying a house, just had a wedding,...it was one thing after another these last 2 years---and Im now leaning towards the stress, now that things are turning around, I dontc complain as much !lol
You should look at your own life, look at all the possible stress sighns, cause you really dont know how your body will react tothings,....I certainly dont FEEL stressed, but I should be! lol
Nways, good luck--and wish me the same, hope to get tese results back, and I hope it is just stress!
I suffer from anxiety as well; I hate how consuming it is over your life. I recently have had a lot of big changes take place in my life and feel everything is now catching up with me. For the last six months I've had want seems to be everything wrong with me. But currently ( the last few months) I've been experiencing head pain mostly on the left side and the top part of my head with some feelings of dizziness. I really feel "out of it" I haven't been sleeping well to top it all off. I had a CT scan done about a month ago that came back normal. I didn't have it done with contrast because I was freaked out about it. I feel now that maybe I should've had it. My Dr. assures me not to worry about a tumor, but I am not convinced yet as I am still experiencing the pain in my head. I am currently uninsured as I am looking for a new job. So I haven't been able to go further with testing. It's becoming difficult to get through the day because I am worrying about have a brain tumor. I just want it to go away!!!!
Lately I have been having the exact same feelings as everyone else, the only difference is, is that I am also getting pains in my heart whenever I get pains ion my head and only recently I have been getting anxiety episodes all over again just when I thought i got over them. Family problems have been happening my whole life but I dont feel like its anxiety this time, I just wanna shout out HELP ME! I honestly sometimes think I'm dying........ Im only 17 so its really weird that Im getting all these pains. I'm not overweight, I'm actually quite physically active and I'm honestly scared. i wanna have my doctor send me for an MRI because I am extremely afraid. I cant even bare the sound of silence anymore it hurts my ears for some odd reason. Anyways somebody please reply, I need some kind of positive and assuring answer.
Thank You
Thank You
I also have this! I have finally found somewhere where others do as well. I realize that I have hypochondriatic as well as obsessive tendencies, but the following problems are logical and bother me a great deal. First, it is possible to have a brain tumor with no symptoms. If you dont believe me look it up or watch the movie "click."(of course the reliability of this source is debatable but to make my point this came to mind). This bothers me a lot because, although I have a fear that it (the tumor) would lead to death, I have a bigger fear that having a brain tumor makes me different, somehow, so I find myself using this as an excuse to myself when I perform poorly. Next, I find that there is no way to tell if not your brain function is being altered by a brain tumor, a crappy day, depression/anxiety, schizophrenia, aneuyrisms, the list goes on and on. The same can be said about headaches and in general, there is no real way for anyone tell at any given moment whether they have a brain tumor or not. The amount of stress this causes me is unbelievable and ive never had anything like it. Regardless of the symptoms I seem to have a complex that makes me feel that having any kind of tumor would make me different and inferior.
I wonder if anyone else experiences this.
I also would like to ask if anyone else is faced with the problem of feeling like they have to know that they dont have a brain tumor before doing anything and how they deal with this problem subject to the constraint of no singularity (knowing everything at every moment).
I wonder if anyone else experiences this.
I also would like to ask if anyone else is faced with the problem of feeling like they have to know that they dont have a brain tumor before doing anything and how they deal with this problem subject to the constraint of no singularity (knowing everything at every moment).
I started having anxiety problems over a year ago after my cousin died. I had an episode of tachycardia, trembling severely, problems taking a deep breath and feeling like I was going to die. I went to the Er and they said it was anxiety. I came home and stated having periodic episodes of flushing, tremors in my right arm and pain in my neck, shoulders and top of head. I am now convinced its a brain tumor. I had a cat scan 8 months ago that came back negative but I'm convinced that the tumor was somehow missed or located in my brainstem where a cat scan can't get good enough detail to see. I still have all the symptoms of tachycardia and trembling and breathing issues as well. I was just hospitalized for it a few weeks ago and the Dr's swore I had heart trouble. After 3 days and numerous heart tests, blood work etc.. I was released from the hospital with nothing more than what they now call anxiety. I wanted an MRI so bad, but the Dr's think I'm nuts. I've lost so much sleep over this matter...oh and if thats not enough I started having apnea episodes about once every 3 weeks that have me convinced of this tumor in my brain. I wake up gasping for air as if I quit breathing and end up in a state of complete panic. I do take a beta blocker and lorazepam and admittedly feel better, but I still think its masking my brain tumor symptoms.
iv ha dseveral misscarriages and the head **** as i posted that u mausta replied to now im thinkn i have a brain anurysm or nueropothy does any one get tingling numbness my head alway's feel's pressure to some extent and my left pupil dialate's i had the doc that got my cat scan done take a lot of my headache away the intensity that is. or has any one been on lexapro for a period of tyme and had problems? i get so scared i just cry and cry. i am in counseling and under a lot of stress try tapping technique.com. im going to try that for my pupiol dialation. also i have 6 kids so i really cant do this i often like to switch thing's i do to see what happen's to my mental space or body reaction's. many blessing's ans prayer to us all it is a horrible place to be stuck"IN OUR HEAD"S". jenn any more question's or help let me know im in counseling i got a lot i would like to share.
Oh my Gosh...The exact same symptoms hit me a few months ago, with each detail you describe and with the pain in my left ear and eye....So many days I was convinced it must a brain tumor...I wrote somewhere here on the forum how symptoms vanished after I did MRI and assured myself there is no tumor ....
Our migraines and all sorts of headaches are consecvence of our anxiety. Our bodies are so tense and giving us those sygnals...Then we start worring more and feeling more tense ...Just like endless spinning in a circle...
Don't believe you have a tumor. You would not feel this way, trust me, it is much sever.
However, only MRI or CT/scan can tell you what's inside there.
Hang in there...stop worring so much(know easier said than done:))))
luck....
Our migraines and all sorts of headaches are consecvence of our anxiety. Our bodies are so tense and giving us those sygnals...Then we start worring more and feeling more tense ...Just like endless spinning in a circle...
Don't believe you have a tumor. You would not feel this way, trust me, it is much sever.
However, only MRI or CT/scan can tell you what's inside there.
Hang in there...stop worring so much(know easier said than done:))))
luck....
I am really sorry for your lost...There are great pills for migraines, just with my insurance they were circa 500bucks...cannt remember the name, if I do, will let you know...
Hang in there...keep us posted
Hang in there...keep us posted
Wow, we are all mental!!
I am soo relived after reading this thread. I started suffering with shooting pains in my head about 2 years ago. Saw a neurologist who diagnosed me with shooting headaches (oh come on, I gathered that!) she said they should go away on their own, and they did.
About 12 months ago I had y first pupil dilation episode. They just got huge for no reason. I suffered a bad migraine and the next morning they were back to normal.
Since that night it has started happening virtually every night. I have terrible migraines and I feel spaced out for hours. By the next morning Im fine. I have been to the doctors and he keeps reasurring me I am suffering froma type of migraine, but when I am having a bad night, I cant help but worry its something else.
I too have suffered years of anxiety, panic attacks and a type of health anxiety. I am no longer pregnant (as I posted this query on here a couple of weeks ago stating I was 3 months pregnant) as I lost the baby last week. I am now able to start taking some anti migraine pills.
I will let anyone who is interested in the results know what happens.
I am soo relived after reading this thread. I started suffering with shooting pains in my head about 2 years ago. Saw a neurologist who diagnosed me with shooting headaches (oh come on, I gathered that!) she said they should go away on their own, and they did.
About 12 months ago I had y first pupil dilation episode. They just got huge for no reason. I suffered a bad migraine and the next morning they were back to normal.
Since that night it has started happening virtually every night. I have terrible migraines and I feel spaced out for hours. By the next morning Im fine. I have been to the doctors and he keeps reasurring me I am suffering froma type of migraine, but when I am having a bad night, I cant help but worry its something else.
I too have suffered years of anxiety, panic attacks and a type of health anxiety. I am no longer pregnant (as I posted this query on here a couple of weeks ago stating I was 3 months pregnant) as I lost the baby last week. I am now able to start taking some anti migraine pills.
I will let anyone who is interested in the results know what happens.
I get exactly the same feelings, i never really suffered with headaches but in the last month and a half i have had two migraines with the zig zag patterns and feeling out of sorts for days after, i am 33 so migraines are new for me, no one is explaining why at my age im getting them, i do suffer with anxiety and a bit of stress, if any one who reads this is my age and suffering the same symptoms let me know.
i get the same feelings i often get a pain in my head right at the top of my right side of the head though i hope it is all due to ongoing muscle tension and i hope i am a hypochondriac.but i always go back to the feeling of a brain tomour!the only way to console myself is that i have had these symptoms for over four years a nd figure i would have died of a brain tumour by now if thats what it was!
I'm currently having the exact same worries about a brain tumor because of persistent headaches, dizziness, and dim vision. I have been told by a doctor that a brain tumor is hardly worth considering, but I can't shake this worry or focus on anything else!
Hey. am the SAME way. i thought i had a brain tumor now for like 3years. lol.
i always get headaches, dizzy, and out of it or werid feelings. but im pretty suree its all in my head and same for you. people with anxiety always think the worst. its prob stress, allergries, sinus, headcold. we need to realize to look at the little things first before jumping to a brain tumor. i think its hard but we have to.
but try NOT thinking about it, take your meds and relax. and see what happens. if your symptoms go away then you know its in your head. dont think about stuff and dont look up stuff online. it makes it ALL worse. trust me, ive been dealing with anxiety for years now.
i hope this helps.
stay calm
and good luck.
i always get headaches, dizzy, and out of it or werid feelings. but im pretty suree its all in my head and same for you. people with anxiety always think the worst. its prob stress, allergries, sinus, headcold. we need to realize to look at the little things first before jumping to a brain tumor. i think its hard but we have to.
but try NOT thinking about it, take your meds and relax. and see what happens. if your symptoms go away then you know its in your head. dont think about stuff and dont look up stuff online. it makes it ALL worse. trust me, ive been dealing with anxiety for years now.
i hope this helps.
stay calm
and good luck.
I never liked the term "hypochondriac" since it's so often misunderstood. Except for your pupils all the symptoms you describe are common with anxiety, but to really know for sure you'll need a C/T scan. There really isn't a way around that.
I'd say it's very unlikely you have a brain tumor, but nobody except for a doctor can tell you for sure. Maybe someone here can tell you how to get the scan at low cost. Your county hospital should be able to help.
Good luck.
I'd say it's very unlikely you have a brain tumor, but nobody except for a doctor can tell you for sure. Maybe someone here can tell you how to get the scan at low cost. Your county hospital should be able to help.
Good luck.
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