24/7 head pressure!

[scottio19]

for the past 3 weeks now my world has seemed to have ground to a halt! This time 2 weeks ago if you said I'd have been to the doctors 4 times, A&E ECU twice (one overnight stay) I'd have said you were mad given how rare it is for me to actually go see about any pains ect I have.

My story began just over two weeks ago where I was watching TV in bed and I got the strangest feeling and my eyes went all funny and I couldn't focus on anything, I had to take off my glasses and just lie down and try to go to sleep. I thought nothing of it until I awoke the next day with the strangest 'foggy' feeling in my head like I was walking about in a daze, then came the pressure in my head that wouldn't shift.... Straight away I was terrified and thought something was seriously wrong but my fiancée put it down to tension headache (never had a headache in my 26 years on this planet).

A few days later and it was no better so I went to GP who thought it was a sinus problem sinusitis. Got a week dose of antibiotics (amoxicillin) and a steroid nasal spray...did nothing! By this point I was in a state my head, the pressure would just be crippling to the point I was close to tears. I was googling things at work and kept seeing 'tumor' which made things unbearable. I went to out of hours at the hospital where I was told migraines and fobbed off with more cocodomol and told it wasn't my sinuses (I did have a constant blocked nose for 2 months but it had cleared and I felt no mucus since).

2 days later my GP sent me for a CT scan at the hospital but on arriving I saw the neouro doctor who done some tests, blood ect and said I was fine and sent me on my way. Again I was in bits. The next night I checked my self into hospital where I spent overnight and got CT scan next day along with more bloods, ECG ect. Everything ok.

Now I'm told its anxiety despite me not having a care in the world before all this began, I did go through a hellish 2 years (more than most I'd reckon) 6 months prior to this but I didn't suffer anything like this in that time so I can't accept it's anxiety.

The headaches have eased off but I'm still left with this heavy head drunk feeling all the time and the head pressure that always seems to be present untill I lay down at night.

It's so hard to try and describe but this has been 20 days 24/7 and no one can tell me what's up! The only relief is when I'm in bed at night although I always wake up 3 or 4 times a night now and struggle to get back to sleep (no pain or discomfort involved).

I've had eye exam
CT of brain
Bloods
ECG
Passed the doctors neuro tests.

I'm not sure what another visit to the GP will do as I hate being seen as wasting their time but I have tried keeping busy (work, gym 5 nights a week and drinking plenty of water) Nothing is taking this pressure away!

The only thing I can do now is pray one day I wake up it's gone!

[Misticmac]

Hi please someone give me some advice or some treatment. I have put up another post and no one has answerd yet so I thought I'd ask my another one . I have headaches every single day and my eyesight is difficult to explain but I can't focus on things and especially light really hurts my eyes and makes them go blurry and feel some nausea. I get migraines every so often but these other headaches are constant, from when I wake untill I sleep. It makes every day activities almost impossible to complete as I'm currently a footballer for my city academy team but everythime and train or have a game I'm so afraid that I'll get an attack after as I usually do , my eyes have been checked and all sorts good apart from a little bit long sighted but I doubt that's the problem , any ideas please let me know and I'm and 18 year old male
Thanks

[Misticmac]

Hi please someone give me some advice or some treatment. I have put up another post and no one has answerd yet so I thought I'd ask my another one . I have headaches every single day and my eyesight is difficult to explain but I can't focus on things and especially light really hurts my eyes and makes them go blurry and feel some nausea. I get migraines every so often but these other headaches are constant, from when I wake untill I sleep. It makes every day activities almost impossible to complete as I'm currently a footballer for my city academy team but everythime and train or have a game I'm so afraid that I'll get an attack after as I usually do , my eyes have been checked and all sorts good apart from a little bit long sighted but I doubt that's the problem , any ideas please let me know and I'm and 18 year old male
Thanks

[kiqmarques]

Did you get better after amitripiline?

[Ball123]

To me it is clear that you are suffering from migraine and possibly tension type headache (which I regard as just another form of migraine).

If your head feels like high pressure but you don't vomit all the time, then it is migraine.

That the amitriptyline helps proves this as well.

High csf pressure will typically be seen on MRI or during eye exam and there is no need for an LP. It was wrong of them to put you through that unnecessary procedure.

That you have low LP opening pressure and that you feel better when lying down also speaks against high csf pressure. Because of that you don't even have to think about the possible causes of high pressure, like benign intracranial hypertension (pseudotumor cerebri), chiari malformation, dural sinus stenosis, brain tumor, hydrocephalus etc. They can all be ruled out.

Low pressure which is seen in spinal csf leaks don't improve with amitriptylin and they don't give you the pressure feeling in the head, so you can rule that out too.

To be honest I don't even think that they should have needed to do any tests at all on you. Sure, a neurological exam and maybe maybe a MRI just to make you feel safer could have been warrented. But the diagnosis is clear. To start thinking about anxiety or similar is just ridiciolus.

The truth is that migraine is a cameleont and if it doesn't present in the typical way it almost always leads to unnecessary testing and misdiagnosis. That is a shame because migraine is a serious disease and needs serious treatment. I am happy you have found some help in the end.

P.S If you are healthy enough to go jogging I must say that jogging always takes away my feelings of pressure when I have those. D.S

[Theral]

Hey Scottio19,
      
         My name is Thera. I am a 26yr old female. I have your symptoms exactly! I have had them since October 2012, almost 2 years! I have constant 24/7 head pressure and headacheish pains. I have had 2 normal MRIs, a MRA, Lumbar Puncture, 3 hearing test, steroid injections in the inner ears, nasal sprays, balloon sinuplasty, rounds of antibiotics, eye exams, 3 CT scans, 1 of inner ear and 2 of sinuses. I have been to chiropractor, acupuncturist, physical therapist. I have seen 4 ENTs, 3 GPs, Internal Medicine, 3 Neurologist, 1 Neurosurgeon, 3 Dentist, Ruhmatologist, Cardiologist, allergist. I have had extensive blood work done. I have hit a wall with all medical professionals. I am not sure who to see or what to do now. I have read every health board I have read up in every disease, disorder, etc. I am wondering if you have came across anything since your last post. I have more info on what I have tried and my symptoms on this health board...

http://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=31&m=2898199&p=2

I hope you are doing better and have found some relief. I am very sorry to hear you are struggling with this problem as well. I look forward to hearing from you.
Healthy wishes, Thera

[scottio19]

Received a LP last week and was told the opening pressure was on the lower side of normal, it was 9 on opening and 9.5 closing. I've no idea what that means or what it means in regards to my headache but I've still to hear back from the results from fluid they got.

I'm finding amitriptyline 25mg is really improving my headache and after 7 months it seems to be finally easing off. Hopefully this continues!

[scottio19]

Anyone have ideas?

[scottio19]

I have been scheduled for a lumbar puncture in the next month or so.

I suppose that's one of the last things my Neuro can do test wise for me now.

[scottio19]

Sorry to hear your daughter is going through this at such a young age!

I'll give the sudafed decongestants a try thanks!

Take care.

[TressyJane]

My daughter is 11 and suffers from two forms of, at this point, almost debilitating migraines. She has at times gotten a very intense pressure in her head that will last for days. We tried a lot of things and I got desperate to relieve her pain and tried a decongestant, nothing added to it just that. It didn't take away all the pressure but something worked and took some of it away. I don't know if this will help at all for you but just wanted to suggest it. Good grace with your appointments and remember to speak up to the doctors.

[scottio19]

Yeah I feel pressure and crackling in ears along with a constant buzzing

[scottio19]

Update.

I have since been to see an ENT who done a hearing test which was fine so no obvious reason for ringing.

I have just completed an MRI with contrast which doctor told me was normal with no abnormalities.

My 24/7 headache, light-headedness and buzzing in head/ears is now in its 6 month period with no breaks. I'm over the moon no tumor ect has been found obviously but still at a loss as to why I'm feeling like this.

So to recap I've had:

Extensive blood work several times
CT with contrast
ENT with hearing test
MRI with contrast
Been to headache specialist next appointment on Thu

I've been told I have new daily persistent headache whatever that means.

Anyone going through this?

[hc1]

Do you feel pressure in your ears?  I just had a 3-4 week episode of horrible head pressure and dizziness along with ear pressure and drainage.  I am wondering at this point if it was some sort of virus.

[selmaS]

  I also have constant sound in my ears and it changes .....I know how distracting it can be.

Cost of MRI's are high, I know....INS here in the USA are no better, but I use to be able to just go to a Dr I did not need a referral....now with the changes the current GOV. is doing not sure how much more medical care I can get.....

U may want to get a noise machine...one that sounds like waves or rain....as it may help drown out the other sounds....and help u relax.

[scottio19]

Thins seem to be getting worse now I have developed a constant 'cricket' like sound in my left ear(or is it in head) very noticeable at night and along with the constant head pressure as dizzy feeling I'm really starting to fear the worst.

GP on Thursday but he won't send me for MRI because CT came back normal so I feel lost now and very scared. I look into private MRI but even then you need a referral from GP before you can get seen (it's upward of £500).

[selmaS]

  Wish I could tell u ...I have no idea....

I have had a lot of pressure lately too, I know mine is due to the weather....we r expecting rain....and I have always gotten bad HA's just b4....

Let me know what u find out.

[scottio19]

Calling doctors tomorrow, head pressure is horrible and I'm seriously worried something is wrong. Wish I was sent for an MRI in the first place, why use CT when it's not as accurate if the problem is in the head are?

[selmaS]

  Wishing u a good nights sleep : )

[scottio19]

Thank you.

I've been reading up on all sorts and came across that one too. I suppose it's a process of elimination.

The only other thing than lying down that seems to help is very cold weather outside(winter time in Scotland now) I don't notice the pressure as much.

Taking a kalm capsule tonight to try and help with my poor sleep so fingers crossed a decent sleep could help me tomorrow!

[selmaS]

  The excess CSF can be due to a condition known as POTS and it changes with position....BP can be affected as well.

Another CSF condition known as ICP or intracranial hypertension....this can have no reason for it to form.....

Good luck and do keep me posted <3

[scottio19]

Thanks.

I've read up on CSF and it looks like a possibility since I feel much better when lying down.

I have 3 days left of a weeks course of antibiotics and then I will go back to the GP and see what he thinks about the LP procedure. I think my 'insomnia' isn't helping matters either but he overlooked that last time around.

[selmaS]

  The headaches are bcuz there is a CSF leak, and they happen if u get up too soon afterward and do too much once u go home...it is important to rest and keep hydrated after this procedure.

If u should develop the HA's after, call ur Dr asap....lay flat, and keep hydrated with water.....some leaks can heal on their own, I know as I had one that did, other wise u may require a blood patch....but it is talking out of turn to suggest treatment for that when u  have not had the procedure yet.....

[scottio19]

First doc sent me to hospital for LP and CT scan but the neuro in hospital said I don't require LP. Will ask doctor about it next time, worried that people say you get headaches from it?

[selmaS]

  Has a Dr suggested a Lumbar puncture to see if it is excess CSF pressure building up?