HEAD PRESSURE

[RODNIQUE]

I AM A 36 YEAR OLD FEMALE WHO ALSO HAVE SPORADIC HEAD PRESSURE THAT CAN STRIKE AT ANY TIME AND ANYWHERE'S IN MY HEAD.  IT FEELS AS IF SOMEONE IS PRESSING ON MY BRAIN.  IT USUALLY DOES NOT LAST VERY LONG BUT IS VERY SCARY.  I ALSO GET THE PRESSURE IN MY TEMPLE AREA AND NOTICE IF I PLACE A FINGER WHERE THE PRESSURE IS, I CAN ACTUALLY FEEL A VEIN STICKING OUT MORE THAN IS NORMAL, LIKE THERE IS PRESSURE IN THE VEIN.  I ALSO GET SWELLING OF MY LEFT EYE BUT I DON'T FEEL ANY PRESSURE BEHIND THE EYE OR ANYTHING.  THAT USUALLY HAPPENS ELSE WHERE IN THE HEAD.  NOT SURE WHAT'S GOING ON AS I HAVE NEVER GONE TO THE DOCTOR FOR FEAR OF WHAT IT MAY BE.  I HAVE ALSO BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE (MILD THUS FAR).  HAS ANYONE EVER HAD THE SAME SYMPTOMS AND BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH ANYTHING.  PLEASE LET ME KNOW.

THANKS


This discussion is related to Head Pressure/Stroke Worry.

[Qatada]

Thanks for writing your story. I just wanted to update my story as well. Last month I saw two neurologists. The first one ordered MRI and MRA for brain (without contrast). The result were normal thank God. He then prescribed Sibelium for me, which is actually for migraine attacks but I never had any headaches, so I haven't taken it as yet. The second neurologists said there was nothing wrong with me and my symptoms did not show any neurological problem. He just ordered the ABR (Auditory brainstem response), vitamin B-12 and vitamin D and thyroid tests -- all came out normal except that vitamin D was a little less than the lower range. He just prescribed Cipralex (an SSRI) and calcium supplement, and I never took these either, having already taken Paxil before (though I am thinking of going back on Paxil).

But jainess, haven't you seen a neurologist yet? Have you have any brain or blood tests or any other tests?

As for affecting other blood vessels thing, then yes I'm also experiencing something similar. Since a few months I can feel pulsating sensation at the base of the backside of the head as well. It only happens occasionally.

[jainess]

I'm also a hypochondriac before....It takes time to master our thoughts. It took me 5 years before I understand myself and partially controlled my emotions...Just relaxed and think positive thoughts...and do tai chi or yoga exercises...worrying is worthless because 90% of the things we worry are nonsense all the time...and besides we should not worry for our future...we don't know what will happen...maybe tomorrow we all get healed with our diseases so don't fear the unknown....

[jainess]

I think we have similar problem, I have this disease for 7 years started when I am 16yrs. old. It all began when I felt a sudden pain in my temporal artery/vein (I don't know if it is a vein or artery). I think the usual arteries/veins that swells during migraine attacks. It pulsates for 3 months and I started to feel pressure on that area. After taking pain killers, the pulsation and swelling started to fade away but the worst part is it became numb. And I noticed that the numbness started to affect other blood vessels as if they are getting hard and stiff. For the first year it only affects my right area of the head and then the following year it is also affecting the left area of my head. After this incident I also suffered panic syndromes and anxiety disorders because I don't know what is happening to my head. Even i took a lot of medicines like painkillers, prednisone, antiihistamine...etc after 7 years my whole blood vessels in my head is numb. And now unfortunately I can't travel and find work because I can't be stressed....Thank GOD I surpassed 7 years of suffering. My panic attacks and anxiety disorders fade away when I started to change my state of mind. Always positive and I do now tai chi exercises to relax my self. Well I always told my self that it is all physical. Nowadays I think I can surpass this disease because of the altenative medicine. I changed my lifestyle a lot, no more coffee, man made juice or tea, just all natural. I eat vegetables and fruits no more red meats....and I drink a lot of water plus I take vitamin bcomplex,c,e supplements....My numbness starting to fade away...I know it will be a long journey to get well again but healing is a state of mind to me....I will be healed no matter will happen to me in the future.

[Qatada]

I forgot to say that two years ago (2009) I was put on Paxil 20 mg for 6 months for panic attack disorder. Though I no longer have this disorder I'm still an anxious person constantly worrying about my health. I'm a hypochondriac.

[Qatada]

I know it is probably too late to reply now and you might not even see it, but it might benefit others. I'm posting here because I have similar symptoms with no answers.

I am a 24 year old male. My blood pressure has always been in the normal range. It all started last year when I took an antibiotic without having any infection. It was Cefutil® (Cefuroxime Axetil), 10 tablets 500 mg each, but I took only five of them. Shortly after this I started to feel twitching (spasm) sensation in the left temporal artery. It would spasm for 2-3 seconds when I would stand up from sitting/squatting position. When I would place my two fingers on that spot I felt the heart beat. That is how I know it was the temporal artery.

As days passed by it became worst with more episodes of spasm than usual. Sometimes it would feel as if blood is gushing through the said temporal artery. This went on for one month, at the end of which I also started to feel constant pressure in that spot. There was no pain. It was then I decided to go to a neuro, who did an MRI scan which came out normal, thank God. He then said he could not help me. I then went to another one who did ultrasound on the blood vessels in the neck. It was also normal except for one thing that had to do with insufficient blood flow in some part of the brain. The neuro diagnosed me with vertebrobasilar insufficiency and prescribed ginkgo biloba as a blood thinner.

I never took ginkgo biloba nor any other blood thinner. Shortly thereafter my symptoms became worse. I would sometimes have pressure in the whole head, felt especially in the ears. I would also get vertigo, especially when my head was in stretched position. There were also times when I would feel tingling and numbness in the left (shortest finger) side of the left hand. Once I suddenly lost gripping power of my left hand and the thing I was holding dropped to the floor. I also had occasional sudden partial hearing loss with tinnitus in one of the ears, lasting for about 2-3 seconds.

I then went to a third neuro who ordered a CT angiography, but said it probably it would be normal. However, I didn't go for the test because of radiation concerns.

It was then my eyes started to become yellower, which made me forget all about my head pressure and I went to an internist who diagnosed me with Gilbert's Syndrome (though it is unrelated with the head pressure problem). By this time (two months after the symptoms started) much of my head pressure had gone and other symptoms associated with it were gone, except that the left temporal artery is now fully dilated and feels thick when touching it. It is still like that now.

Now, one year after the episode, I still have very occasional head pressure, though not localized in the temporal artery area. It is felt especially in the ears. I still sometimes have sudden partial hearing loss with or without tinnitus in one of the ears, which happens 4 or 5 times a week. There is also occasional mild dizziness, which is exacerbated by drinking diet cola that has artificial sweeteners. I still have spasm/twitching in the same temporal vein, though this time not in the part which is now sticking out and hard, but in a part deep down where the ear is.

I'm not sure what could be the reason for all this. No member of my family has had any of these symptoms. Yes, I have had nasal polyps and mucus in my sinuses that are always visible in the MRI, but I had an operation to remove them 6 years ago when they were more severe than they are now, but I hadn't any of these symptoms then, so I think they are unrelated.

I am still looking for answers.