Worried about possible brain tumour?

[Jenn283]

I feel like I have many brain tumour symptoms such as:
- headaches for 10 years
- clicking in ears when I swallow
- dull ear pains
- sharp head pains that go in seconds
- twitching in eyelids, arms and legs
- sometimes a hot or cold pain in head
- sometimes pressure above right eye
- head pressure when I lay down that is on top of my head and forehead area
- pressure above right temples when I move my eyebrows
- pains in head when I lay on my right and left sides (constant, worries me the most)
- headaches worsen when I look down
- slight dizziness (sometimes worsens)
- feeling as if I'm not real
- constant dull head pain, which sometimes worsens

In April I went to the doctors because I was severely dizzy, nauseas, weakness in my right arm and leg, head pains, and my face felt like pins and needles. He did neurological tests on me, checked my blood pressure, and did blood tests, everything was fine! He said it was due to anxiety which I truly believe that some of it was because right after the doctors my dizziness, leg and arm weakness, nausea, and face tingles almost all went away. (Took about a week for it to fully go). I still have all symptoms listed above. I'm scared that it may be a brain tumour. Any opinions?

Right now I'm feeling a bit dizzy, worried, just overal not myself. I have a heavy feeling in my forehead and top of head too :( so scared about brain tumours

[Daniel M Prevedello, MD]

Thank you all for answering Jenn283.
We are building a great support group. Special thanks to Rumpled.
Jenn283: A second opinion is always recommended in these situations.

Thank you

[rumpled]

Your doctor can give you valium or the like and you can basically sleep in a haze through the scan if an MRI (have a driver!) - CTs are super quick and the big donut is not closed in at all and you are in and out quick.

There is no sense worrying so much - please see a doctor and set your mind at ease! The bad thing about reading up on the internet as you can really get yourself freaked out, but the internet is not doing a history, running tests or evaluating you properly. Find a competent doc, and see one.

I have migraines from time to time - they do not cease when I lie down.

[Jenn283]

Thank you both. I will try to face my fear and look into it.

[Jenn283]

Thank you so much for replying. I'm claustrophobic and just thinking about it gives me so much anxiety. I'm also unable to lie down flat because of the pressure and slight pain I get in my forehead and top of head. I get worried that if I lie down for too long something bad will happen.

I'm thinking the exact same you are. But then my mind wanders and I think about slow growing tumours. I've had this for over 10 years, but it seems like over the last 4 years the symptoms have been becoming worse. I'm worried it's going through some kind of growth.

I'm sorry to hear of all the things you are going through. Do you also get bad head pains when you lie down?

I went to the eye doctors in October, and you can guess I was worried because I heard you can sometimes tell you have a brain tumour from pressure on the optic nerve. They did a thorough test and everything was perfect. Which I'm very happy about. :)

[rumpled]

I have had some 20+ head MRIs, lost count of CTs of whatever and all that - the imaging is not to be feared. I am obviously not healthy and I do fine with it all.

I am no doctor, but I would guess that you are suffering from migraine headaches. You may also have some sinus and other issues. I would advise that you see a very good ENT as well as a neurologist that can evaluate you for migraines (which would include ruling out any tumors). Frankly, if has been 10 years and a tumor, it would have been so advanced by now your symptoms would be quite different. I know I have migraines, facial nerve issues and sinus troubles and many of the symptoms are the same.

Have you as well seen an eye doctor?

[Shannon79]

I've had many MRI's and there's nothing to be afraid of.

I agree it's something you need to do to get some closure on this

[Sms1983]

Hello , no need to be scared.  It's what you need to get a closure on what's the source of these problems.  You can do a open MRI which is easier or ask for larger machine.  I'm sure you will be glad you chose to do that after doing so.

[Jenn283]

I haven't had an MRI. My doctor told me it's anxiety, that I wouldn't have these symptoms for so long. Either way, id be too afraid to have an MRI :(

[Shannon79]

Did your doctor do an MRI? If not, I suggest you ask for one. That's a great way to either determine if you have a tumour or rule it out.