brain aneurysm or what?

[Mels22]

Ok I would appreciate ANY help at this point as I have been told MANY MANY different things.  I am worried sick.  Let me start by saying I had a baby in May.  I am almost 26 and had always been healthy except for chronic sinusitis and anxiety.  While I was pregnant I started having these weird spot headaches.  I had a neuro consult, an MRI and a CAT scan - just showed chronic sinusitis.  That was back in April '06.  Headaches subsided for a while.  Then in October, they came back full-force and were those strong weird spot headaches - mainly on one side.  My vision also got a little blurry - my contacts bothered me.  Also I noticed a lot of pressure behind my eyes.  I had a eye exam - normal, MRI and CAT scan again - normal except the sinusitus.  Have been taking nasonex and topomax.  It has been better over the last several months but last Monday they came back with a vengence.  I had a headache all over that was different adn wouldn't respond to topomax or anything.  Over the course of last week, I also started to have a sense of fullness and ringing in my right ear - mainly at night.  I could also feel my heartbeat in that ear.  I have also noticed my hearing has worsened.  Well the spot headaches are back and the bandlike pressure behind my eyes - I can't even wear my contacts.  I have also had this terrible neck pain for the past couple months.  My questions are...
1. Could this be an aneurysm or a tumor?
2. Do an MRI and CAT scan rule these out?
3. Do you need an MRA to rule it out?
4. Can an aneurysm grow since my MRI on halloween?
Any help would be appreciated!

[tlsteven]

i had all those same symptoms the heart beat in ear drove me nuts my mom had anurysum when i was 15 she died immediatly i have been checked many times for my own MENTAL satisfaction tests always neg. i saw an ent and found all my problems were from anxiety disorder and TMJ the problems tmj can cause are unreal you might want to check that out it was the cause of my headaches ,head fullness, pressure  and pain behind eyes and my facial  muscles  were swollen inside by my jaw and ear which put pressure on the nerves and blood vessels that are close to your ear so you hear your pulse then. Mine was really bad when i would bend down and sleep on that side. I used nasonex lexapro and xanax for meds and it flairs up every few months depending on my anxiety leval oh i also got a mouth splint from dentist . Hope this helps you Try to be positive about your tests i always second guessed to  

[leighannette]

MY BABY IS 7 MONTHS OLD AND IM GOING THROUGH THE SAME MIGRAINE ANXIETY ISSUES YOU ARE I THOUGHT I HAD A BRAIN TUMOR MS AND EVERYTHING ELSE AND IM STILL WORKING ON KNOWING THAT AT AGE 20 IM HEALTHY AND NOT GONNA HAVE A STROKE OR HEART ATTACK I HAVE SINUS PROBLEMS YEAR ROUND AND RIGHT AFTER I HAD MY BABY I EXPERIENCED HEADACHES I NEVER EXPERIENCED BEFORE JUSLIKE YOURS AND ONE DAY I POKED MY SELF IN THE EYE NOT REALIZING IT AND I THOUGHT SINCE I WAS HAVING THIS HEADACHE I HAD AN ANURYSM BUST IN MY HEAD SO I RUSHED TO THE ER TOLD THEM WHAT WAS GOING ON THEY DID A CT SCAN EVERYTHING TURNED UP FIND AND FOUND OUT MY EYE WAS JUST IRRITATED, IF YOU EVER NEED ANYONE TO TALK TO YOU CAN EMAIL ME ***@****

[Mels22]

I just want to thank everyone for being so kind and offering such encouragement.  It has been a hard time as I'm sure many of you have gone through and I just appreciate having somewhere to come and chat about it.  I need to enjoy my precious baby...he is almost 9 months and crawling and I can't believe it!  I hope we all get answers and pain releif soon.  
Good luck and may God bless!

[samismom22]

I just read your post and the fact that you recently had a baby and their are sooooooooo many crazy hormonal things going on in your body I would pursue the migraine link.  Fluctuations in hormones can cause migraines, and your symptoms sound like migraines.  Plus the fact that you had CT/MRI results that looked good.  I have migraines and let me tell you, your symptoms sound familar.  One side of your head can be affected including your ear, jaw, sinus area etc.  It's usually on one side.
May God Bless you, and encourage you.....enjoy that precious baby!!!  :)  I know after I become a mommy I worried so much more about my health, it's normal.  I hope you get some answers.

[Pum]

Are you still on prozac?
I think ppd can strike any time in the year after birth.  not that I'm saying you have that but you probably have more time on your hands to obsess.

One sided headaches behind the eye can be migraines.  I found after having a baby I had a real change in headaches (heaps more migraines, sharp stabbing pains etc.) and these are only just settling down 3 years later.  It was also due to all the infections I caught from my son (gotta love those childhood illnesses) and lots of sinus infections.

Try to get out and about.  Follow through with the testing your doctors order but in between times try to get on with your fantastic new life.

Good luck.

[Mels22]

Hello,
Yes I do think you are right to some degree...I do tend to obsess about my symptoms but they just keep getting worse.  As far as your questions, I did not breastfeed because I had to take prozac.  Also, I never have any caffeine and I don't drink or smoke.  I never have.  I have had some postpardum issues but I didn't think that could happen 8 1/2 months after the birth.  I did take the Z-pack about 2 weeks ago and it cleared up my colored discharge and sore throat but my headaches have stayed.  Do you think it could be migraines?  Like I said my MRI/MRA and CT scan 2 1/2 months ago showed chronic sinusitis.  Can a brain aneurysm grow that fast?  I mean, can one develop that fast?  This tinnitus in my right ear has me so concerned.  I haven't been able to hear very well out of my right ear for a week now and I can hear ringing and my heartbeat in it.  Plus these spot headaches are crazy and last night for 5 hours I had a headache behind my right eye.  Do these sound serious?  Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!
Thank you!

[Manhattan]

I really think this sounds all sinus related in your case. Have you seen an ENT? I did some research last night on whether an MRI would pick up an aneurysm because I had this horrible sudden headache with pain behind my eyes and couldn't move my head it was in such pain. From what I read, yes in most cases it would pick it up. MRA is better, but a clean MRI should make you feel pretty good. What I read said some people get diagnosed when getting MRIs or CT scans for other reasons. I had a clean MRI too but when I see my headache specialist will ask this question specifically. Have you tried any nasal washes or irrigators? This might help relieve some of that pressure.

[justlookingforanswers]

I am very sorry for all that you are going through.  And because I am not really familiar with this area I am probably not going to be much help but  I do know from experience with my cardiac stuff that searching the internet is NOT a good idea.  There is alot of good info out there but trying to self diagnose based on your symptoms can only bring a bunch of unwanted anxiety.   I can't tell you the number of ailments I have "had" in my head since I started looked up each and every little ping, pang and twang!!  Some fit sooo good I just KNEW that I had found the problem.  Not so.  My doctor is STRONGLY against trying to find your symptoms and self diagnosing online.

I have had SO many tests, seen SO many doctors and all my tests are normal but my PHYSICAL symptoms are not.  My chest pain is something I cannot describe.  No one can find anything and you would think I could find comfort in that.  So, now the headaches start.  I did fall off a ladder but now the "what if?" is killing me.  The mind is a very powerful thing.  I have gone from a year ago thinking I had a heart attack to having afib to heart failure (based on, silly enough,--a little cough that wouldn't go away!!)  Anyway, I'm just trying to say that the mind is very powerful and can cause all sorts of symptoms and irrational fears.  (I KNOW that heart failure in someone my age is so very rare but every time I had that little uncontrolled cough--the anxiety skyrocketed).

Please get tested thoroughly and make sure you feel comfortable with the doctor.  Comfortable enough to trust and more importantly BELIEVE what they tell you. Make a list of your symptoms--all of them.  Think hard about it and keep a note pad nearby that way when you leave the docs you didn't forget to tell them anything.  Don't discount anxiety as the culprit for some of your feelings--it can happen.  On good days, I think they are right, on bad ones I'm writing good bye letters to my family the whole time knowing that it is totally IRRATIONAL.  It is scary.

Good luck to you and I wish you the best at your visits.

[Mels22]

justlookingforanswers:
thank you for you kind words.  I do appreciate it.  

My symptoms keeping getting stranger. At first I was scared of an aneurysm but after exploring on the internet I am now scared of a stroke or cvt or venous sinus thrombosis. I don't know what to think. This is very scary. I have had a headache...not non-stop but still a headache for 9 days now. I am also VERY tired. I sleep probably about 12 hours a night and take naps during the day as well. I have these strange spot headaches on the right side (the same side as my "pulsatile tinnitus") and I have an almost constant band-like pressure in the front of my head over my eyes. It feels like increased pressure in my head. So I'm tired all the time, have lots of weird headaches, head pressure, ringing in one ear and can feel fullness and my heartbeat in that ear. Does anyone know what this could be????? I called my neuro who set up an appt. next week but I can't wait that long - I'm going crazy!!! She told me I had a CT, MRI and MRA on Oct 31st of '06 so not even 3 months ago. What could have changed? I do have migraines but I have never had this ear thing. Do you think I could have a stroke or something like it at 26? What about increased intracranial pressure ICP?  Does anyone know about this?  Any answers would be greatly appreciated!!!
Thanks!!!

[Pum]

I have had similar symptoms last winter and I reckon it was all due to sinuses (and obsessing on it).  My theory is that the fluid gunks everything up in your canals leading to the ringing, heartbeat sounds, and headaches.  have you had a course of anti-biotics?

You are in the post partum depression risk time and being charged with a new life is a wonderful but pretty stressful event too.

It's good you are seeing a doctor but try to trust them and not search the internet for all the worst case outcomes.  You're young and have been well tested.  Reduce coffee and red wine to help with headaches.

Also, have you recently stopped breastfeeding?  Hormone changes after pregnancy can totally change your patterns of headache plus giving up breastfeeding changes your hormones all over again.  

Good luck.

[justlookingforanswers]

Hi.  I am by no means any expert in this area but coincidentally I just had an appointment with my doctor about headaches.  Mine are not as bad and are probably related to a fall off a ladder (a very tall one).  My GP, who I have seen for 20 years, told me that headaches are rarely a symptom of an aneurysm.  I trust him but I don't know how text book accurate that is.  We talked about aneurysms because my mom had one almost 17 years ago and it was him who sent her for the test that ultimately found it.  He said that heredity, more so than headaches, are common with aneurysms.  He also said a regular MRI would not show one, that a MRA was needed.  Again, I don't know how accurate the info is, I do trust him but he is a GP not a neurologist.

And I know what you mean about not wanting to leave little ones.  I have two great littles myself and have been going through a VERY tough year of cardiac/anxiety stuff.  

I wish you the best.

[Manhattan]

I believe the MRA is more accurate but the MRI would pick it up most likely as well. Is this how you understand it? I don't know what a BAER test is, but as a long time sufferer from headaches I do know that any worsening of your headaches or headaches lasting longer than 72 hours with no break warrants a visit to your doctor at least. Also, have you specifically discussed your fear of an aneurysm? Don't be shy! Call tomorrow and point blank ask this question. Maybe she has good reason for thinking an aneurysm is unlikely. Please let us know what happens.

[Mels22]

Hi, Thanks for all the concern and comments...I really appreciate it!  I'm not so much concerned about a tumor as an aneurysm.  I'm in fact scared to death of it!!  I have a baby and all I think about it is leaving him.  Do you think I could have one even though my MRI was clean?  My headaches are all on one side and I called my neurologist who wants to do a BAER test?  She can't get me in until Feb 8th and its so scary to wait til then!  I'm so afriad I'll have an aneurysm rupture before then.  The headaches have gotten so much worse just for the past 8 days.  She doesn't seem that concerned since my MRI was clean in Oct '06 but I heard only an MRA can effectively diagnose an aneurysm...is this true?  I would appreciate any advice...thanks so much and God bless!!!!

[Manhattan]

I would take comfort in a normal MRI and CT scan. I know that in the past when I had a bout of sinusitis, my Propranolol which I take as a migraine preventative did not help the headaches. I was given antibiotics and Nasonex prescriptions and it resolved. I could be wrong, but I believe the aneurysm would have shown up. I would get to your doctor though to make sure you don't have an ear infection and using a nasal wash or irrigator couldn't hurt you especially if you have chronic sinusitis. If you don't clean things out, the breeding ground is still there for bacteria to flourish. Anytime a headache is different than usual or more severe it should be checked out with a doctor a.s.a.p. It may be nothing but migraines or sinus headaches or it could be something that needs treatment.

[kitlyn]

HI Iam not a DR. But i feel for you w the headaches. If your MRI was normal , and CT i would think that would be a good sign, what does neuro say about  head pain ? I am sorry and can identify w having a new onset of head trouble myself. How bad is the pain. Mine can be as bad as a 12. its piercing and sharp and very very scary. I hate it. You may need am MRA which will show more, or other tests, which show more to do w anything vascular is so noted. Peace  Jackie