Strange head pain.

Good day, I am at my wits end with this head pain that I have been having for the past 7 days! Its on the top front left of me head and at the temple area! They are fast pains that last under a minute but the come often, every few seconds or minutes. The pain is not severe but it does hurt and if I had to describe I would say sharp pains because it fits closer to that. After 5 days of this pain I noticed my left side of head and face even the side of my neck began to swell. I am now having pain on the lower right side of my neck in the back and the side. I am a 29 year old female if that helps. There is no time of day when the pain is worse its just there. It started 7 night ago suddenly and has stuck around ever since. I am sure the advil and pain meds work some but do not take it all the way away. I had a negative MRI a year ago without contrast but I dont know if that means anything since it was a year ago. I have been to the ER 3 times, no cat scan was done maybe cause I have no Insurance or they just dont feel the need to. I have been to the health department and today shelled out over 100 bucks to the doctor I used to see and everyone looks at me as though I am crazy. I have been seeing small silver spots for months. I am just frustrated and feel like no one can help me. If it means anything I had an infected tooth 2 weeks ago that needs to be pulled on the right side though and I just started antibiotics 3 days ago. I had blood work done at the ER yesterday and they said the blood work was fine. Please help me!  

[Dr Santos]

Hi,
How are you? Can you elaborate on the swelling? It is good that the blood work done at the ER was fine. The head pain and swelling may be due to the infected tooth and if you have already started pain medicine and antibiotics 3 days ago, this should have provided some relief. You could also benefit from another imaging study to rule out any other issues or organic causes. If this persists, have this checked by your doctor for proper evaluation. Take care and do keep us posted.

[mrsboston3122]

Well the infected tooth is on the opposite side (right) from the head pain and swelling. The headache has slowed down some, still present but not as frequent. Swelling is on the lest side of face, cheek, side of face, neck and shoulder and back of shoulder area also. Went back to ER today, blood work good, cat scan without contrast of brain negative, cat scan of sinuses showed min rt sinus inflammatory changes. Not sure what this means but he said it was on the right side should not effect the left. I had a brain MRI about a year ago without contrast that was negative and but I dont know that it would be good now. The swelling is not very bad to others they say puffy! I can tell that it is swollen. Since last night my right side neck and shoulder have started to bother me too. Not the head pains on that side yet but the pain that started on the left started with the head pains and then the bottom of my neck and shoulder.

Blood work is.
CBC- WBC, 10.7, RBC, 4.72, HGB, 14.5, HCT, 41.7, MCV, 88.4, MCH, 30.8, MCHC, 34.8, RDW, 14.8, PLT, 325, MPV, 7.7

RENAL- NA, 135 and thats flagged low, K, 3.8, CL, 103, CO2, 29, BUN 10, CREATIINE, 1.0

CHEMPRO- NA 135 and thats flagged low, K, 3.8, CL, 103, CO2, 29, GLUCOSE 116 thats flagged high, BUN, 10, CREAT 1.0.

CHEMPRO- CALCIUM 9.0.

SEG NEUTRO 55.8, LYMPHOCYTE 35.4, MONOCYTE 4.6, EOSINOPHIL 3.7, BASOPHIL 0.5, NUET ABS # 6.0, LYMPH ABS 3.8.
MONO ABS #, 0.5, EOS #, 0.4, BASO ABS # 0.1, EGFR NONAF >60, EGFR AFRIC > 60 C.

Sorry if thats a lot of information but these are the results of the blood work I had done today. I have to admit I have a lot of discomfort at the base of my neck to the left. There is swelling in that area also and its hard. The inside of my left arm has discomfort also and it seems like its all connected. I am frustrated because I have seen in the past week 4 ER doctors, one doctor at the health department and one doctor at my old primary care doctor that I use to see before my insurance was terminated (lost job). The doctor I saw yesterday at the primary just said that he does not have an answer for me. I have a referral to see a nueroligist and that appointment is for next Friday, I got that through the ER today however I am worried that something serious is going on and thats a long time to wait.

I have had a decline in health for about 3 weeks now seems like problem after problem, 3 weeks ago I was constipated stomach pains and blood culture was done, guy connected blood culture bottle to my IV to draw blood and held it so the needle that punctured the bottle was inverted in the solution inside. The media from the bottle refluxed into my vein. I felt it go in and it burned my whole body though no one wanted to listen to me after is happened, they said it didnt happen but it did. I spoke to BAtec the makers of the blood culture bottle and they did not feel that I would be in any harm from the solution. I should feel better with the negative CT-SCAN and I do a little but I still have a problem that no one can figure out. I also have noticed in the past 2 weeks that I keep getting petechiae, thats what they said it was, tiny blood dots under the skin. I have never had these before. It started with one, a few days later another and so on. These are just some things that I have noticed since all these problems have started. I am sorry for the lengthy post, I know its impossible for you to diagnose me over the internet. I guess I am just looking for some ideas since I can not seem to get any help from the medical people here. Would something serious have been found in blood work or the CT-SCAN?? Thank you so much for taking the time to read this and for all your help:)

Tanya

[mrsboston3122]

I am trying to think of how to describe the swelling, I wish I could post a picture to you so you could see what I mean. My left side of my neck is for sure bigger then the right side. The left side of my face, cheek and head are puffy, you can see that it is bigger then the other side, my husband says it looks funny, like I have a big head on one side and a skinny one on the other. The back of shoulder where it connects to the neck is hard and swollen when compared to the other side and on my left side of my forehead temple area is a little puffy. On my left side of head I think called the temporal lobe, the skull that kind of sticks out above your ear is puffy also, like a soft swelling maybe and the top of my shoulder close to my neck is swollen a little also.

Can it be a reaction to the medication? I am not sure that it would only effect one side if that was the case. 5 days before I started Azithromycin for the tooth I was given Clindamycin and I think I had a reaction to it and asked them to change it. I have had that medication before with no problems, but after the second dose this time I got very hot, kept getting hot flashes and a salty tasty in my mouth and a nasal drip. I didnt take anymore because I felt uncomfortable with it (bad reaction to pencillen) and didnt want a replay but the flushing lasted for 2 days after the last dose and then went away. I called the dentist on May 10th because it was the weekend when it happened but he refused to change it so I made another appointment at a different dentist and was put on the present Azithromycin. I am wondering if this is being caused by one of the medications but like I said on one side?? Probably not. I dont know. Could the tooth on the right side give me problems on the left? Thanks again sorry..

[Dr Santos]

Hi Tanya,
Thanks for the updates. Are there other symptoms like difficulty of breathing? The usual side effects of Azithromycin include upset stomach, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain. However, if you experience severe skin rash, itching, difficulty breathing or swallowing, rapid heartbeat, and  swelling (irregardless of the position or side)  of the face, throat, tongue, lips, eyes, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs, it is best that you have this checked by your doctor for proper evaluation. Take care and dope to hear from you soon.

[mrsboston3122]

No, not really any of those side effects. I do have a slight rash on my chest, but not like hives or anything, more like bumps with pimples, some of them have a little pus in them. I got that a few days ago and I did notice an increase in palpations (PVCS) since taking this medication. I am just clueless. The headache is going away though so thats good right? I am done with the medication so maybe things will go back to normal if it was caused by the medication. I was at the regular doctor again yesterday, brought them results of ct-scan and blood work. I dont understand the medical people now a days. They said they have no answer and refereed me to to Neurologist and a Dermatologist for the swelling, this makes no sense but whatever though, I think they treat me this way because I no longer have insurance and am self pay!

[Dr Santos]

Hi,
Thanks for the update. It is good to hear that the headache is better and you had your follow-up with your attending. Yes, if it is medicine related, everything will be back to normal. Referrals are sometimes given if the management needs specialists' evaluation. Do keep us posted with your follow-up and I sincerely hope you're well on your way to recovery. Take care always.

[Kadey]

Currently in hospital. today i have been here total 1 month, 5 days. please contact me for another opinion. i think it's great you take the time out of your busy schedule to put people at ease in your spare time..

( kadey.***@**** ) MSN Messenger I use. Email also appropriate.

25/F.  Heart disease, pleurisy, recently caught C Diff.

Concerned about reoccurring symptoms, and new ones such as low temp ( 34.8-35.4C) & SEVERE migraines that nobody has done anything about as of yet.   I feel like they just want me to go for the open heart surgery for a new valve.   Please respond.