Headache - Sinus, What is this? Frustrated

[Raiderette]

I'm 31 y/o female. In September, had an u/s are part of routine genetic screen related to my infant son, dr found solid masses on liver and after CT and other scans, diagnosed as benign FNH.  Since then always worried symptoms are something more serious than typical aches and pains.  Recently on a trip overseas I began to have episodes of racing heart, light headedness, palpitations sometimes several times a day.  When I returned home dr. sent me for holter, which showed nothing unusual.  Episodes have substantially subsided, maybe a heart flutter 1-2 week.  Now I'm having a number of weird sensations in my head.  Basically they are like sharp, stabbing pains in my head.  Sometimes on the right, top near my crown, sometimes left.  Some seem to go from the top of my head toward my eye or radiate to my temples and cheekbones.  I also have had intermittent aching pain behind my eyes, tightness in my face, especially cheeks.  When I touch the spot where the pain originated, the spot is tender on my scalp and sometimes there is a cold feeling on my scalp.  THere are also tender spots on my forehead.  When I bend forward sometimes I feel tremendous pressure in my face.  I also get a lot of pressure on occasion around the bridge of my nose while sitting up.  Dr. has given me antibiotic and flonase for potential sinus infection, however I'm on the last day of antibiotics and head pain is still there.  I haven't had any other symptoms that stand out.  I do find pain is relieved by advil or tylenol.  Could these symptoms be stress related or something else?

Thank you for your help

[Raiderette]

Thanks Sterrio.  Still having the intermittent head pain.  Really strange as it comes and goes all over my head.  Just single sharp muscle like cramps.  Right after the spot is tender and then it goes away?  Anti-inflammatory medication seems to relieve the symptoms.  I'm wondering if it is not related to the my tight neck/shoulder muscles.  Going back to GP today.  

I try not to use artificial sweetners in my food.  Sometimes I do consume it incidentally in a can of soda or the like.  What is it about aspartame that causes these types of symptoms?

[sterrio]

I had just a moment before work, but I couldn't pass by your concern mail without asking you if you consume any artificial sweeteners.  Your symptoms are classic (the non-stop headaches, sinus pressure, face pain, neck pain, heart palpitations, vertigo--I could go on some more).  I know quite a bit about this as I was once a sufferer.  Aspartame or spelnda both cause these and more.  Let me know and also contact me if you want or need more information.  Hope you're feeling better today!

[Raiderette]

Well went to see GP late last week.  She feels it is the lingering of sinus infection and some tension.  Wants me to continue with flonaise for another week or so to see if there is improvement. Apparently the flonaise can take a while to counter the effects of inflamation in the sinuses. Apparently the fact that the pain is very intermittent and that when I do have it advil reduces the pain is apparently a good thing.  If the pains don't go away, then she is going to send me for CT as MRI wait list is way too long.   Had a similar sort of episode last fall and it went away after about a month's use of flonaise.  Funny thing is that both episodes of these symptoms began around when I started swimming regularly.

Thank you all for your posts and input.  It is appreciated.

[Amye1]

Hi there
   I just found this site tonight..... I thought I would tell my story to see if anyone had any advice.  My daughter who is 13 years old was diagnosed with Celiac disease this fall 2003.  Her symptoms were fatigue and frequent illnesses.  After her diagnosis we started her on the diet and her health was to improve.  Well this January she was sick for two weeks and she also missed some school in March.  Then all of a sudden her body just gave out.  She has not been back to school since about April 3rd.  Her symptoms are; pressure in her head and neck; constant throbbing of her head and neck (today she said that she can feel the throbbing in the roof of her mouth), extreme fatigue, aching legs and arms.  She describes her aching as the worst flu multiplied by 10.  She gets flushing in her cheeks and often has dark circles under her eyes.  She fatigues very easy so spends much of her day resting.  
   Our pediatrician cannot figure out what is going on and gave me a note to take to her school that states that our daughter has a significan undiagnosed illness and cannot attend school.  Then she wished us luck.  We have dragged our daughter to many doctors and she has had many blood tests and a sinus xray, they have all come up normal.  When I asked one Dr. for an MRI he said that he did not have a good enough reason to order such a test.  The Drs have suggested that my daughter could be depressed and we could try Prozac. My daughter will be going to a psychologist next week just to please the medical people but we are convinced that she is not depressed.  She is upset at not being able to go to school and not being with her friends. We are caught between a rock and a hard place.  Our daughter to us looks sick and constantly complains about the pain and throbbing.  Tonight she says that she doesn't know if she can stand it much longer...Where do we go....What do we do...Who can we turn to....  We feel so helpless and the medical system seems to be turning their backs on us.  My Doctor was away for a while and her locum Dr told me that Doctors don't like patients like my daughter as they take up too much of their time....
Help!!!!!
Joanne

[CCF-Neuro-M.D.-CS]

Regarding the fast heart rate, a thyroid screen should be performed at some point. The headaches you describe could be consistnent with chronic daily headache. These headaches can be related to prior migraine headaches, stress, or analgesic overuse. A MRI of the brain would be reasonable to exclude structural abnormalities. If sinus headaches are also considered to be a possibility, a CT scan of the sinus may be of help. You should have a consult with a neurologist, and possibly a headache specialist. Good luck.

[SherryDenice]

When you say strange sensations on your skin, what do you mean by this?  On your face or all over?

I have burning sensations on my skin.

[Raiderette]

The sensations on my head are like single jolts of pain.  I think the most frustrating part is that they come and go without any consistency of location.  Some days nothing other days 5-6+ times a day.  Of course anything out of the ordinary I tend to think the worst although the probability is so low with all the media hype on things you can't help but feel worried.  Even worse is when you research the possibilities.

I have Dr. appt. tomorrow so I'm hoping she'll send me for a CT/MRI.  Not sure as the wait time here for non-emerg issues is fairly lengthy.

Keep your fingers crossed.

[bahama_boy]

I have experienced similar problems with headaches, dizziness, preasure behind the eyes and odd sensations on the skin surface. I live in the Bahamas where i went to a neuro specialist  said that it's a possibility that the mild headaches and dizziness could be related to an infection and blockage of the sinuses or Small migraine attacks. My blood preasure was also out of wack, I was given preasure control tabs to control it. I still experience the dizziness and headaches more in the spring and summer, I'm thinking it's allergy triggered, but I'm not a doctor....I'll be looking to see what your response is.

Hoping for your complete healing!
...Bahama boy

[SherryDenice]

I hope that it is just sinuses.  I can tell you this much... I have  a friend who works for a lady that just had some STRANGE things going on.  Her eyes would literally pulsate, horrible head pains, etc.  She had an MRI.  She had a bad sinus infection that had been there for approx. 4 yrs causing all this strange stuff.

You should have an MRI asap!

Hang in there.