migraine but worse when bent over

[james347]

Over the past few years, I have been getting terrible headaches on the left side of my head right behind my eye.  I can feel these headaches start when my left eye gets really dry and uncomfortable (I do wear contacts).  The headaches throb and are horribly painful and can take anywhere from hours and a couple of days to get better.  Normally, just rest, wearing my glasses instead of contacts and some tylenol takes care of it.  I typically get them every couple of months.  I never get nasaus or light sensitive, though.

I went to the doctor today for the flu, but I asked about these headaches since they have been happening for a few years.  She said it sounded like a migraine.  She checked my eyes, ears, had me make some faces (huge smiles, grimaces, furrow my eyebrows) and pushed down on my shoulders and made me shrugg.  With all this, she said she thinks that they are mirgraines.

I was feeling good about this but when I went online to do some research on migraines today, one "red-flag" symptom began to scare me.  I read that headaches that worsen when straining to use the bathroom can be a major symptom of a brain tumor.  When I do have one of these headaches, and bend over and strain to use the bathroom, it does begin to throb worse and more intensely.  I always just dismissed this as something that would naturally happen since my head already hurt, but now I am very worried and scared now that maybe these are more than just headaches.  I did have an mri done about 7 months ago during an er visit (for adverse side-effects to a medication) and was told that I was fine.  But I'm a little worried that maybe they missed something.

Can a worsening headache when straing to use the bathroom always be symptom of a brain tumor?  Is this something that I need to be worried about?

[noops01]

Hi,
Headcahes caused by brain tumors are generally new headaches and yes they do get worse by bending over, accompanied with slurring of speech, seizures, muscle weakness. The neurological examination is always abnormal in patients with brain tumors.Since you have had these headaches for many years now and do not have any other symptoms, with normal MRI you need not worry. But if it is giving you sleepless nights please get yourself evaluated by a neurologist.Good luck!

[Jenny11790]

usually, from what I remember when I've had sinus infections is that my migraines, headaches etc hurt a lot more when I bent over

[alagirl]

any neurologist worth their salt usually checks migraine patients through the mri catscan mill at least once to ascertain that the headaches really are migraines.  I'd ask for the tests and then you can put your mind (if not your pain) at ease.