Re: Desperate for HELP!

Posted By Tina on June 11, 1999 at 09:42:56
Dear Dr.
Hi!  I am a 29 year old female with a husband and 2 small children.
I have been with severe headaches and shooting pains in my head on a daily basis for the past 6 months.  Actually, the shooting pains started about 3 weeks ago.  The pains and headaches get worse when I bend down.  They usually start about 10 minutes after waking up.  This past week the pain was so bad that my face even hurt.  It was even painful to the touch.
I have been to 2 neurologists and they have ordered MRI's (of the head, C-Spine and Lumbar), CT Scans, Sinur X-rays, blood work, eye exam (including a visual field), 2 Spinal Taps (I am assuming that a Lumbar Puncture is the same as the Spinal).  All have come back good.  Well, all but the protein level in my spinal fluid.  The first was 126.4 (that was done back in March) and the 2nd was done about 4 weeks ago which came back as 73 or 74.  The 2nd doctor ordered the MRI of the Lumbar, Lumbar Puncture and just this week ordered another MRI of the brain.
I am getting a tad bit nervous because he mentioned to my husband after the Lumbar puncture that he did not see anything in the MRI of the Lumbar area but the protein level did come down but is still elevated, that he actually thinks there is a tumor starting to form somewher.  We are thinking that it is in the brain because it did not show in the Lumbar area.
Do you think I should be this nervous?  Do you think that if there is a tumor forming that it would show up on the MRI's?
The headaches get so severe that I get very miserable hearing the kids scream and carry on.  I hate feeling this way.  I love my family so much and they too are tired of me feeling this way.  The headaches and pain also keep me from attending work.  I know that I get a lack of sleep because I work until 3 in the morning and have to get up for 7 to get my oldeset off to school.  This does not help the pain, I know.  My family and friend actually could tell when I have these ailments from just looking at my face.
When I talked to the doctor yesterday he said the results for the MRI are not in yet.  I even told him that I could feel when the meds (Neurontin 4 x's a day and Vicodin 2x's a day this one is only when needed) start to wear off.  Another thing I questioned him about was I am starting to forget a lot of things.  That alone is very scary.  He said it is anxiety from the headaches.  Could this actully be true?
I am so looking forward to hearing from you.  Maybe you could put my mind at ease a little bit.
Sincerely,
Tina Floray

[CCF Neuro[P] MD RPS]

Posted By CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS on June 11, 1999 at 23:10:59
Dear Tina:
See your posting.
CCF Neuro[P] MD










Follow Ups: