Scared

[Mary]

I've had a headache for a week now and I'm starting to get a
little scared. The headaches feel like i have lots of pressure
all over my head  like i'm wearing a hair band to tightly (from
ear to ear) The pain is mostly on my left side from my temple to the top of my head  My eyes feel heavy and my nose just got stuffy this morning. Advil did not help nor did Tylnol
I also feel like i'm in a fog the pressure feeling is werid
I'm also starting to get panic attacks  over this I'm real scared
of brain tumors.
My 5 yr. old son has a brain tumor  and he got alot of headaches
in the beginning  I went to see my family doctor yesterday
he checked me out  checked my eyes and he thinks this is all
stress.  This head feeling and headache is with me all the time
when i go to bed when i get up  sometime it's not so bad then other time it is. please help i'm so scared.
Should i go back to my doctor?
Could a stress headache last this long?
What kind of headache to you get with brain tumors?

[CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS]

Dear Mary:

Headaches are due to multiple etiologies.  I am sorry that your son's headache is related to a brain tumor.  Sounds like you have a tension type headache.  Yes, these usually resolve in a few hours, but I take care of multiple patients who have their tension-type headaches over days to weeks even.  Some, even have their headache continously overy months.  

The emotional component that you have is not helping the headache situation.  I think in your case, especially with a family member that elevates the panic of headache, you need to revisit your physician.  Maybe even see a neurologist (my recommendation).  I seriously doubt that this is a tumor.  But, you need to know for sure.

Headaches due to brain tumors vary.  It depends on the area of the tumor.  Many of the patients I take care of with tumors and headache, really do not and did not have bad headaches.  Most, complained of a deep-seated pain that would be episodic.  Those with posterior fossa tumors had more of the classic headache with vomiting.  

Sincerely,

CCF Neuro MD

[Mary - Relax!]

This really sounds like a sinus headache! Did your physician check you for a sinus infection? Try one of the over the counter sinus pain medications (Sine-Aid, Tylenol Sinus).

Good Luck...

[chris]

Ditto!  Nose just got stuffy?  Which side?  Left?  Please relax, like Mary said.  Anxiety will get the better of you because all you can think about is your son's condition.  This is you we're talking about.  I'd go back to the doctor and ask him/her to check you for the sinus infection.  If you have one, antibiotics will get rid of it.  Just relax.  Hang in there. - Chris

[Mary]

Thank you all for your quick replies.
I am trying to relax but it's kind of hard  when this headache
wont let up I've got two other children  one older one younger
i'm a single mom. My life has just gone so crazy.
I want to believe that this is just a tension headache
Why won't the headache go away with Advil
And where does the pressure feeling come from
This is to the doctor I do get a sharp pain in my head once and while. I feel like my head is going to explode
Could any of this be from a cold or a flu
Thank you all for listening I know I'm being a suck
I just want it all to go away
Mary

[jean]

Mary:

Try Extra Strength Excedrin it works for me!  I used to take Fiornal and Fiorcet, but Excedrin saves me everytime for my migraines.  You must take it as soon as you feel a headache coming.  Don't wait to take it!  Lay down and close your eyes.

Good Luck and Relax!

[CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS]

thanks for all your comments.

CCF Neuro MD

[To the doctor]

You didn't answer my last question please if you have time I'd
love to hear from you before the weekend
Thank you  
Mary
Sorry one more question could brain tumors run in the family
My son's brain tumor is a rhabdoid brain tumor

[try this]

http://falcon.cc.ukans.edu/~moriarty/acupressure/acupoints.html

I get sinus and tension headaches.  There are some pressure points I have found through the years that offer some relief.  Here is a web site I had recently run accross that shows some.  Try the headache points, if you get some instant relief from these points I would suspect anxiety of the your childs disease is a factor in your own pain.  Take care!!!!

[John J. Orciuch]

I have been living with MS for 15 years.  My entire body feels like lead.  And yes, I am scared of it as I don't feel that there is much that can be done for me.  I am taking Avonex weekly along with a host of other medications!  What should I do?

[CJenkins]

Dear Mary,

Please listen to Doc RPS.  Go see a neurologist, preferrably one who specializes in headaches.  Your situation may be a leading factor in the problem, but... ease your mind by seeking the answer to the problem that nags at you and makes life miserable.  You're the head of your little family and it doesn't do the little members any good to witness "Mom" questioning her pain.  Focus and relax, then go for the answers.  I support you.  

Sincerely,

CJenkins

[CCF Specialist In Pituitary Tumors?]

Hi CCF,  Looking for a doctor at CCF who specializes in the field
of Pituitary Tumors?   I have a relative who is in your state needing help.  She is currently seeing an Endocrinologist for treatment.  She has been told her tumor is inoperatable.  She currently is been on some kind of medication that comes from Italy to stop its progression.  

Your help is much appreciated!!

Thanks Sincerely, Kathy

[To Kathy]

Who is your post to me or the doctor?

[From Kathy To: Mary and CCF]

Just looking for specialist in Pituitary Tumors at CCF.
Sorry about your difficulties with you and your son.

Hope someone is able to help you here!
Take Care,  Kathy

[CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS]

Dear Kathy:

I would see Dr. Bruce Cohen, if he is not available, then Dr. Glenn Stevens.

Sincerely,

CCF Neruo MD

[Another Maureen]

Mary, I am sincerely sorry about the problem with your son and hope the outcome is good. I also have a son with a brain tumor, though it is vascular. While everybody here is probably right and your headaches are due to stress or something similar, it is also true that stress can exacerbate other conditions or mask something else that is going on. For your peace of mind, as the neurologist says, you should get your headaches checked out. The testing should not take long and will not be difficult.
  If you would like to contact a doctor who is investigating the question of whether there is a genetic component to some rhomboid tumours, try this:
Please contact Dr. Jaclyn A. Biegel at ***@****.

[To Maureen]

Thank you
Where are you from ?

[The second Maureen]

You're welcome. I'm from Vancouver, BC.

[CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS]

thanks for your posting.

CCF Neuro MD

[Alfonso ([e-mail])]

Re: Mary
Seems like Mary's Headache has taken a "backseat" in this forum. Does this mean your Headaches have lessened, Mary?

Hope so.
Definitely keep investigating and asking your Doctor's questions.
I occassionally get massive POUNDING headaches that throb like crazy, myself.
Sometimes it would be accompanied by nausea and vomiting, it got so bad.
Weakness to the point of feeling Anemic.
I asked my doctor and we determined that I was so stressed because of the complications my mother is having due to her late stage Type II Diabetes and the hell we are in, that caused some massive Migraines.
I would spend the entire day in bed and couldn't hold down any food, mostly water, which felt VERY therapeutic after I would throw it up.
Getting up would cause Head Rushes and I thought "High Blood Pressure" but I continue to average 130/75 or so, and sometimes 140/80, not TOO bad, I feel.
Rest and FORCING myself to find ways to relax at least for a couple of hours seems to have ongoing beneficial effects.
I'm not saying it's EASY, but everyone needs at least a couple of hours to stop everything for a bit and "re-charge" before you become the Energizer Bunny again.
As far a drugs go, I'm not aware of anything by prescription buy as for Over-the-Counters go, Advil never worked for my migraines NOR any MINOR headaches. Nor did Tylenol, Aspirin, etc.
What Excedris is is a bit of Tylenol, a bit of Aspirin and a little Caffeine. If your are not allergic to any of these, this combination works for me most of the time. I guess since they're all Blood Thinners and I think they're all Vassoconstrictors they thin the blood and stop your Vessels from being so flared and "open". Thus blood rushes less and not as strong.
This is just what I THINK, I am not positive of that, I just know it works for me. And don't bother buying the "Excedrin for Migraine" if it's more expensive than "Regular" Excedrin. They're the same identical prouduct in a different colored box that may add a dollar or two.
Good luck, and God bless you, your son and your family and anyone else in this forum.

Alfonso

[Naomi]

This is a reply to the man living with MS - I saw no other comments to him. Friend, I was diagnosed 11 years ago with the same thing. It is a beastly disease and the symptoms are so varied. What exactly have you been feeling scared about? Since you didn't say we can not know what is troubling you. Whatever it is, I'm sending you a web hug. If you need a fellow MSer's personal ear emal me at ***@****.  Chin up! That's an order!

[CJenkins-Mary? How R U?]

Mary,

I just thought I'd inquire as to how you are doing since your original post?  It's been 7 days and I was wondering if you are feeling any better?  Please let us know.  I'm sure the good Doc would be interested too.

Sincerely,

CJenkins

[Hi it's Mary Again]

Hi it's me again I just want to let you know how I'm doing the pain part of my headaches are gone but I still have the pressure like feelings It's a constent pressure  in my temples and on somedays I get pain in the back of my head on both sides.
I've been to my doctors twice now He still thinks its stress but if the pain get's worse he said to go to the ER and get a cat scan. I'm still very worried that this could be a brain tumor but I'm also scared to get a cat scan done too. I'm scared what the results may be.  When my son got sick the neurosurgen said he was sure he did not have a brain tumor but he'd get an MRI done to prove it (boy was he wrong). Anyway thank you for caring on how I'm doing . I really have no one to talk to i'm a single mom with 3 kids and right now I'm not being a real good mom.
Thank you
Mary

[CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS]

Dear Mary:

Glad your pain is gone.

CCF Neuro MD

[amr]

I can understand what you are going through, I too have been fighting this battle of "what is wrong with me" for about a year now. I have gone to my PCP so many times this past year, they have done extensive blood work and nothing has come up.  I have a variety of symptoms, it started with this "headache" on the right side of my head that feels like touching a bruise the length of time it last varies but it always feels better after rest or sleep. Then about two months ago I started having somewhat of a weakness on my right side only. I don't have any visual disturbances even though it does sort of feel like my right eye is not as strong as my left, I went to my opthomologist, he checked the nerves in my eyes and said they were perfectly healthy and their was no loss of vision. I also get like really bad nervous feeling.  I also noticed the right side of my face feels weird. All of this comes and goes but always seems to be there. It never holds me down to where I can't do anything.  I guess I'm just so tierd of feeling this way. I found out about 4 months ago I have an arrythmia it was really bad at first, but I am currently on Atenolol, it seems to be doing a lot better. I had a Cardiac MRI (not a great experience) done and everything came out good.  I thought this was all anxiety and that's what a lot of the doctor's seem to think too.  I went to a new doctor last week (family doctor) and he was great he did a thorough neuro exam, off of that he said everything was very normal, before he did the exam he told me he would order a scan since I have been have feeling this way for so long. Which has never even been offered by any of the other doctors. I went yesterday to have it done. I'm not sure how long the results will take, but I'm pretty scared. The Dr. told me that he really doesn't think I have a brain tumor, stroke, or MS. He said something would have shown on the exam he did.  I just want to be rid of all of this no one thinks I should be feeling this way since I am so young (20).I hold a full-time job and am a mother of a 2 year old. I feel like I'm cheating him out of something because I never feel good. Any comments would be appreciated!

[Joyce]

Hi Mary,

I read all the posts concerning your case and would like to
share my own personal expierience with you briefly.
Eight years ago an over confident arrigant neurosurgeon prior to any exam, told my husband on his first visit, "Don't worry, your not suffering from anything exciting ,like  brain tumor or a blood clot". He ordered a cat scan which was the wrong test to do in his case, it should have been an MRI. The Dr. Perscribed meds for migranes and said come back Tue. of next week because he would be going away. I woke early one morning to find my husband lying on the floor unable to get up . I called this Dr. at 5:ooam. Boy was he mad about that! Too ____ Bad! He calls into the pharmacy for a new  perscription and says bring him back on Tue. remember, he'll be away till then. Four days later after being seen by a new Dr. who had the courtousy of listening, my husband was on the operating table 60 mi. from home while Dr.'s rushed to save his life. Turns out his not so exciting headaches were actually a massive blood clot that was pushing his left side of the brain to the right side. Thank God he pulled through.Even the Dr.'s admitted it was a miracle he went that long considering the size of the clot. They told us that he must have hit his head some how, bled, healed and bled again. This would explain pain, certain times of the day, being worse than others. Also it explains the interruption in the pain over a period of 6 to 8 mo.'s.
Do yourself a favor since you still seem to be unsure, get to a Dr. who will take you and your concerns serious. We had three children at the time. The youngest was 1 yr old. I was so scared they would grow up without a father. Eight years later we now have 5 children,my husband is doing great fully recooperated, only he can't go in circles on amusement park rides, but thats a very small price to pay for being alive! We had twin girl 3 years ago.
so now we are blessed with 4 girls and 1 boy. And not a day goes by that I dont somehow manage to think how close we came to losing this wonderful man. Also "GOD BLESS THE DOCTOR WHO TRULY LISTENS" So for your sake and the sake of your children make sure
you are getting the right type of help.

                                      Best of luck

[rhianna]

Hi all,

Well, I've never posted here before, but I'm getting VERY scared. I have had a constant pressure in my head, for the past 13 months. I have been to a neurologist and MANY doctors who tell me just to relax. I want an MRI or CT Scan done, but since British Columbia's medical system is so screwed up, no one will give me one, and even if they did, it could be MONTHS before I even got in. I am so worried, I can't sleep at night. And this morning I woke up, and I forgot which toothbrush was mine!! I've been very forgetful lately. I get tingling, cold feelings in my head, hand and feet. I also have very awful dizzy spells. The pressure is mostly on the left side of my head, but a lot of times it is on the top as well. My neurologist diagnosed me with chronic tension headaches, and put me on Amitriptyline, but it did nothing. I am going to see a massage therapist next Thursday, so I'll see how that goes. I am getting so frustrated with these doctors that won't listen to me. I need help, and I feel so alone. Should I be this worried, or am I just freaking out and making a bad situation worse. Oh, by the way I am only 18 years old, and I have had to quit my job, and drop out of school because the pain and pressure is so bad, that I can't concentrate any more. Any suggestions?? Please??

[CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS]

Dear Rhianna:

I would seek a second opinion.  Usually, if the headache is due to a tumor or something of a structural lesion one would have some neurological sign that is evident.  But, we never say never in medicine.  So, I would get a second opinion from another neurologist.

Sincerely,

CCF Neuro MD

[To Rhianna From Mary]

Hi Rhianna  Why don't you try going to the ER when you have one of your bad headaches and they will give you a ct scan if your real worried.  I know just how you feel. I hope you get some answers soon.
Mary
P.S I'm from Ontario

[rhianna]

Hi Mary,

I have been to the ER during one of my episodes and all they do is look in my eyes, tell me I'm fine and maybe give me a pill and send me home. It's like I'm just an inconvenience. Luckily, I've found a doctor on Saturday that actually wants to help me. I went to see him today and he checked me over again and told me that it doesn't seem like a tumor headache, and the back of my eyes are normal and clear so he feels that I'm over-reacting. He said it couldn't be an aneurysm because it would have exploded by now. He's got me on Zoloft now, because he says I'm depressed and that once I feel better emotionally, the headache will be gone. I sure hope he's right. I've had about enough of this. I'm supposed to go to a job interview on Wednesday. I sure hope I feel well enough. Wish me luck. Thanx for your comments :0)
Rhianna

[rhianna]

Oh, I forgot to mention that for the last couple of days my headache has turned into more of a sharp, constant pain, only on the left side of my head above my ear. I also feel very dizzy and nauseous. I have ringing in my ears and I dunno what to do. Doctor???Any help???

[CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS]

Dear Rhianna:

I would get a second opinion from a neurologist.

Sincerely,

CCF Neuro MD

[from BC, too]

Rhianna, I'm from BC, too. It's true that there's sometimes a long wait for scans, but usually only for an MRI, not a CT. If your doctor won't refer you to a neurologist, ask to be referred to the mood disorder clinic at UBC hospital, since you have been told you are anxious or depressed. They are very thorough there and have neuro-psychiatrists on staff, and they will ensure that you have a CT to eliminate any physical problems before they treat you for any mood disorder. And if, by good fortune, you don't have some kind of physical problem causing your headaches, they will be able to help you treat the anxiety. The point is, to stop the headaches one way or another.
  By the way, the wait for scans is often exaggerated. Don't be put off by rumours.

[rhianna]

I have to see my doctor again tommorrow, so I'll bug him again about the scan. If he doesn't give me one, I'll try to find another doctor. I feel a little better although now my neck is tight and achy, and my ears keep ringing. But I guess I'll survive, for now. Pills the doctor gave me are making me nauseous, spaced out and dizzy. He says it'll go away. Thank-you for your comment:0)

Rhianna

[To Rhianna]

Hi it's me Mary again.  So what did your doctor say today. Are you getting a CT scan?

[rhianna]

Hi Mary,

Nope, no CT Scan, but now I think I might not need one. My head feels a lot better now :0) I went to a massage therapist today, and I have also been practicing Yoga relaxation tecniques. It's really helping. If you still have your headache, Mary, you should try a massage therapist. It feels great, is really relaxing, and if tension is your problem, as I now believe mine really is, then it should really help. My headache is not completely gone, but it is 60% better. It is such a strange feeling because I have had this headache for so long, I feel all light in my head, a good feeling. What relief!!! Try it out, it really helps.
Rhianna

[CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS]

thanks for your comment.

CCF Neuro MD

[st. devan]

Pituitary specialist. University Hosp
Endo Dr. Baha Arafah
Neurosurgeon.  Dr .Warren Selman

[CCF Neuro[P] MD, RPS]

thanks for the information

CCF Neuro MD