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Severe headaches and now clumsiness. Should I be concerned?
Hello everyone. For the past three years, Ive been experiencing dull headaches that have been on and off every couple of weeks. However, they have become substantially worse with time. Last July, I experienced the worst headache I had ever had in my life. My headache was so bad, I couldn’t leave my bed. My boyfriend had to carry me to the hospital. Once there, they prescribed Tylenol (typical) and sent me home without further testing. Of course the medication did not work but with no other options I sucked it up and slept it off. I woke up 13 hours later, oversleeping through my alarm. I am a 20 year old college student, so they probably brushed off my condition as general stress. Recently though, my headaches have become more consistent throughout the week. I’ll have strong, dull headaches on one side of my head at least 3 times a week.
I have also noticed that I have been losing my balance. At work, school, and even at home. I’ll be simply standing still and suddenly I find myself leaning to one side. I have not fallen on the ground yet, but I have been very close. I just catch myself every time, but this recurring situation is very weird. My hands have also become very shaky. I cannot hold things without dropping them at least once.
Maybe I am overreacting, or maybe I’m not. I was wondering if there was any reason for me to head to the doctors office. I have gone before, but they still believe it is because of stress. Not sure. Should I try a different doctor? Opinions?
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hi there - please see your doctor ASAP. The symptoms you have described should be thoroughly looked into. Didn't the hospital do a CT scan or an MRI ?.. I think your ongoing balance difficulties is quite
serious - for so many reasons - and should not be blamed on stress! Get your doctor to take care of this. Please!!!
Gloria
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1 ReactionGo to a Neurologist ASAP! Good luck.
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1 ReactionMy two cents: Migraines generally are on one side of the head; tension headaches generally take over your entire head (for me, it's like my skull skin is on fire). They are handled differently. I use Sumatriptan for the migraines; it took a little time to learn which were migraines and which were tension headaches. I've had them since middle school; I'm over 50 now, and the definitions of migraines has shifted probably a dozen times.
I hope you can find a neurologist; maybe your college health center can help? In my neck of the woods, finding a neurologist who is both competent AND still a human being is very hard, especially as a woman. We haven't got equal rights yet, that's for certain.
Good luck. Other things that I tried that sometimes helped for migraines: cool washcloths on my head; a beaded black-out mask; caffeine; friends with an opiate you can have (seriously, the obsession with allowing women to suffer is disgusting), warm milk mixed with honey and turmeric if you aren't vomiting (also good for menstrual cramps). Crying makes a migraine worse, but sometimes you just can't help it.
I also have unsteadiness. I bounce off the walls of my house. Nobody seems to be too concerned - though I think they should be. Bring an advocate to ask the questions you don't want to ask. Let them be the "bad guy." Unfortunately, it works. Plus, if you're hurting and under stress (ie, am I dying?) it's fair that your brain is full NOT in the relaxed, "let me think" state. Biology. Imagine!
Good luck. My heart goes out to you. Good job boyfriend, and don't let those doctors push you around. Help him learn how to be an advocate for you; now that I drag my husband along to all my appts, there are fewer insults, and the ones that come slashing my way are at least observed by him so it's not just me being over-sensitive.
Sensitive should not have that "over-" prefix. Personal beef with how a male-dominated society looks at people born with wombs.
Good luck. Sorry for adding my rant to it, but don't let them jerk you around. You are too young to have your life derailed by something that they actually KNOW how to reasonably control.
Cheri