Displaying symptoms of a brain tumor but nothing will help.

It started on Saturday when I got out of the shower. I had kaleidoscope vision in my right eye followed by a dull headache. The vision corrected itself after 30 minutes but the headache stayed and still have it. It gets worse everyday. I went to A&E on monday. Saw a triage nurse who gave me a appt card for an out of hrs appt at the hospital for 5.30. He said it's a bit of a wait. I knew what time I went down to A&E but for some reason I read my time wrong. I arrived at the out of hrs appt only to be told I was 2 hrs early. I was so shocked at myself that I didn't read the time on my phone properly and it scared me. Anyway they sent me away with imgrane pain killers which treats migraines and co-codamol. I took the medication straight away but it was not effective at all. I went to bed that night with the headache, it wakes me in the middle of the night and wakes me up in the morning. I woke up with a stiff neck one morning too. Yesterday I started having nausea with the headache by the evening I couldn't take it anyway more so I rang 111 for the third time. They got me a out of hrs app at the hospital again. And this time dispose there being more symptoms they said it may be tension headaches and gave me a pain killer amitriptyline to take before bed. Took before bed made me little drowsy but didn't take the pain away and woke up to the same headache still there. This morning I had a docs appt I had booked and told him everything since Saturday and he said he still thinks it's a migraine and gave me some mouth dissolvable tabs for the sickness and 2 nostril does of migraine painkillers. Took them straight way. The anti sickness tabs did help ease the nausea and used both the nasel pain killer sprays and they had no effect. He decided to book me for a blood test to check arteries in my head. I wanted to request for a ct scan or an mri scan as that would give a better look as what's going on as nothing is taking this pain away but everyone I see tends to pin it on something else. Stress, your too worried and that makes the headache stay. I'm also worried as I have a sister who has had 4 brain tumors and as we are so used to seeing her sympoms everytime they grow back, when this headache stayed and no pain killer is working and everyday they kept getting worse I just want a doctor to refer me to get a ct or mri scan doney to rule out anything bad. So I'm no closer to being pain free, I'm a fulltme mum of 3 so I feel guilty for resting in a dark room as I'm sensitive to light loud noises while my eldest daughter helps me take care of them, I feel I'm failing them while I'm trying everything I can do to get better. The doctor is ringing me on monday to see how I am. I guess until then I just have to put up with the pain. But feels like torture. Don't know why they don't just have me get a ct or mri done to have a look as nothing else is working. Something is going on and feel like I'm not being listened to. 

  • Hey, I understand exactly how you feel!! 
    I'm 23 and I've been getting headaches/pressure type pain in my head for 3 weeks. Feel like I'm struggling to read sentences in the right order and also getting words confused, aching pain behind eye comes and goes and if I cough or laugh etc then I get pain in my head. My vision is blurry especially in low light and started seeing lots of floaters/a little bit of double vision. I don't have nausea and mine is better in the mornings but it's still scary.

    I've had migraine tablets, antibiotics etc and nothing helps. I'm absolutely convinced I've got a brain tumour or secondary brain cancer, but nobody is taking me seriously. I had my eyes checked by a specialist who said they're fine and not causing headaches, plus I went to a&e and got the same as you, sent to an out of hours GP who did a neurological check and said it was all fine so she couldn't send me for a scan. 
     

    Went back to my own GP who is sending me for blood tests but also isn't concerned based on her examination and so wouldn't refer me for a scan either. All they say is "well you're so young and the exam is clear. it's so unlikely to be anything sinister" It's so frustrating!

     

    I've decided to pay for my own MRI scan through a private hospital because I know that I absolutely won't rest until I know for sure what's going on with me. If you have the funds to do so perhaps you could look into it? At least then you'll know either way.
     

    Aside from that, it sounds like you have a lot of anxiety around the topic that could be worse because you know the symptoms as your sister has had tumours. Maybe this is making your symptoms worse? Anxiety can be pretty powerful. Just keep on at your GP and eventually they will have to send you for more tests if you're still feeling the same. But I agree- it feels awful when you're convinced you have a serious problem but the GP isn't taking you seriously.
     

    Hope you feel better soon x

  • Thank u for your reply

    Its good to know I'm not the only one.

    I just wish the doctor would just do a scan u rule it out at least. And wish any pain killer would just start working so the pain would go away.

    I'm supposed to be going away with my kids for a few days on holiday on Monday and I don't want to let them down so iv got to put on a smile and shoulder on with this pain. Just wish I had answers instead of getting a run around. 

  • Hello Rubia86 and thank you for your post,

    I am so sorry to hear about this terrible headache you are having. It sounds very distressing for you.

    I realise that you are worried that you could have a brain tumour and this is very understandable because of your sister's situation. But your symptoms, no matter how awful you feel with them, do not necessarily mean you have cancer. The symptoms can be the same symptoms for non-cancerous conditions.

    I do think that you should have some reassurance that your GP does want to understand what is causing your symptoms. Have you been able to have the blood test done? When this has been done and if you still have these symptoms go back to your GP and ask if you need to have a scan, your doctor will do one if it is necessary.

    The NHS has some useful information about headaches, it may be good to read, click here to see it.

    Please get back to us if you need any more information or support.  You may find it helpful to talk things through with one of the nurses on our helpline.  The number to call is Freephone 0808 800 4040 and the lines are open from 9am till 5pm Monday to Friday.

    Take care,

    Caroline

  • Yeah my sister is diagnosed with benign tumours (non cancerous) im waiting on my blood test results and the doctor says he'll ring me on Monday to check how I'm feeling. I woke this morning with no pain which I was happy about, just pressure sort of feeling but then after about half hr of me waking up the pain started up again. I had some co-codomal to see if it would take the edge of and thankfully it did a bit. The headaches are always worse in the evenings and mornings. Time will tell but hope they stop coming back soon. 

  • Hi Rubia, sorry to start up your thread again, I'm just having the same worrying symptoms and wondered if you got any answers/relief? 

  • Hi

    No the migraine tablets did nothing even though they were dead sure the head aches I was getting were jot budging even after trying every pain killer and prescribed migraine medication. After nearly 3 weeks non stop of hell the slow decided to diminish to nothing, I get the same pain back every now and then and I dread will it stay for weeks but it diminishes. Little to no faith in doctors, even though I was in agonising pain they could have a bit more investigation to get to the bottom of whats causing them. I would still like to know what it was and they do come back like I said but I know I won't receive nothing but crap pain killers so it will put me off seeking n"medical attention" in the future should I need it.x

  • Thank you for replying to fast. I've been to the doctors, opticians and eye hospital now and everyone says it's nothing to worry about. I don't want to go back to the gp because I know all they'll do is pawn me off with some pain killers. So fraustrating! I hope mine decide to just disappear soon... it's been 5 weeks now :( 

  • Hi Lunafax

    i hope you don't mind me contacting you. I just wanted to ask how you are and did you manage to get an MRI scan

    My daughter is 21 years old and has been experiencing headaches for the last 3 months. She's also told me she's stumbling on her words. Her eye test was fine and she's just booked an appointment at the doctors and I'm worried sick

    kind regards x

     

     

     

  • Hello there

    I am sorry to hear your daughter has been having some headaches the past few months that are concerning you both.

    Symptoms can be caused by lots of different things. Common causes for headaches are hormonal changes, stress, tension, poor posture, too much alcohol or not eating or drinking enough. It is however important to get symptoms that are ongoing checked out just to be on the safe side. It's good news that her eye test was fine as alot can be picked up through an eye check but i'm pleased she has booked in to see her GP.

    Doctors are the best people to assess symptoms as they can then arrange further tests if needed to find out more. Hopefully they'll be a simple and straightforward reason for the headaches and the doctor will be able to give your daughter some peace of mind.

    I hope the appointment goes well

    Best wishes

    Naomi

  • Hi Naomi

    Many thanks for your kind response. She has seen the doctor and has arranged for her to get her bloods done. He's also said he wants her to have an MRI,, which as you can imagine and thrown me into complete panic. He's said it's just rule out a thing sinister. My daughter has a full count blood test in April last year,, would that have showed anything that wasn't the norm.

    I also think there's a concern she's having the headaches in the night which again is another symptom.

    any help or advice would be hugely appreciated 

    kind regards 

    Alison