Thank you for your lovely message, I've sent you a friend request. I had a call a few days ago with my GP after some comprehensive blood tests (which were all good) and I've been referred to a headache specialist/neurologist given that the headaches have been ongoing for a while. Although I'm aware the waiting list will mean I won't be seen for weeks, it's reassuring to finally be taken seriously. 

Hi everyone,

I'm so sorry to hear you are all going through the same thing as me! I feel so alone in this situation so it would be nice to finally speak to other people going through this as well. 

I am 27. Around 12 weeks ago I started getting headaches, every day on and off. At first I thought it was down to the stress of buying my first home, which it still might be, but I didn't think it would go on for this long. Around the 2nd week my anxiety levels peaked! I was waking up and having panic attacks and had convinced myself something is wrong with me. Every day since I have suffered. Its effecting my life and my relationships. I am constantly consumed with the fear that I have a brain tumour. To make matters worse I have started feeling really nausaus these last few days. I have also just been noticing things which just seem too much of a coincidence. Like signs every where and stories of people getting a brain tumour. 

I have spoken to the doctor, over the phone due to covid, and he asked me to check my blood pressure which was fine, and has put me on some medication which I haven't picked up yet. So not sure what they are. He said to call back in a week if the meds don't work. But I just want someone to tell me I am okay. I don't want to be given some random medication. I just want to know I am fine!

I just want this to be over and to feel normal again. I'm considering the MRI scan just to put my mind at rest. 

Google has made this so much worse for me. Reading stories of people of similar age to me getting headache and then feeling sick. Its driving my crazy with worry. Yet here I am googling to try and make myself feel better. 

I hope they just go away as they are making me a person I hate.

I hope everyone else has overcome this. 

Tel

Hello and thank you for your post.

You have posted on a thread that has not been active since May so it's possible you will not get a response from anyone on it.

I am sorry to hear about your headaches. You did the right think in contacting your GP about them so you should now follow his advice and take the medication he has prescribed. If after taking them your headaches persist then go back and let your GP know. 

Have you have been asked already if you have had an eye test recently? If you have not please do consider having one as a worsening in your eyesight can cause headaches.

Being worried and stressed about something can make physical symptoms such as headaches worse too so do your best not to worry (too much) and don't assume you necessarily have cancer.

I hope you will be okay.

Take care

Caroline

Hi, my husband is currently suffering from something similar. He has had very localised head pressure,

left side temple, for over a month now. He says he feels it constantly. Like literally from the moment he wakes. Says it not always painful but just feels like pressure but can get more painful at times and usually gets progressively worse throughout the day. Sometimes spreading to the other side. Sometimes he describes it as a biro in sensation or a dull ache. Sometimes it gets very painful. He says paracetamol and ibouprofen can help a bit with the severe pain but not the pressure sensations the doctor prescribed migraine tables which have done nothing. He says it has got progressively worse over time. He was also diagnosed with health anxiety last year. I ended up having to call an ambulance because he thought he might be having a heart attack. I suggested if this might be related to that and he got offended. We are both really worried as we have a young daughter who needs her daddy. I'm tempted to say he should go and get a scan privately. I lost a friend to brain tumour and my own father to cancer. Both didn't last a year after diognosis. I can't help but feel so worried.

Hi, thank you for the reply. Yes, he will go back to GP. Unfortunately I think it will be long wait till he can get a scan and find out what is going on.

Hi everyone,

I'd really appreciate it if I could get some advice please. I am only 22 and have had exactly similar symptoms to what are being described here. I have a dull ache in the top right hand side of my head which is made worse by coughing, clearing my throat or bending over. The ache is not there constantly and is not very painful, moderate at most I would say. Always seems to be worse at night but doesn't wake me up or anything.

I have no other symptoms so was very surprised when I googled this to be told, even on the NHS website, that this type of headache is prominent with brain tumours. Well I am now a total wreck. My anxiety has gone through the roof and to top it all off, I've made an online consultation through my local GP where I type out a message describing my symptoms and somebody gets back in touch with me to discuss it. Nobody even rang me back, I got a text later that day that they had booked me in for a face to face appointment on Monday morning! This has made me overthink why they are taking this so seriously, especially given how short supply GP appointments are at the moment. Please can somebody who had these head symptoms with the coughing let me know how you are doing now and how the doctors went for you? I am absolutely petrified

Hello Beaver017366 and thanks for posting, 

I am sorry that no one has got back to you and that you are so worried about these headaches. Remember that Google is no substitute for seeing a doctor and that headaches, even ones that might have features associated with brain tumours, can occur for other reasons and may be nothing to worry about. And brain tumours are quite rare so a more common explanation would be more likely.  

I am glad that you will be seeing the GP this morning so you can get properly assessed and sorted out. This is what is meant to happen so I don't think you should read anything into the fact that you have a face to face appointment. It is just good practice. 

Worry and fear can take us over sometimes, most people in the middle of a health scare are at least a bit troubled but hopefully you know more today. We always say to take things one step at a time and not anticipate what might be the matter. Our usual advice is not to spend too much time on line looking for answers either as they are seldom to be found there and doing this tends to increase worry and keep it front of mind. 

Do be frank about what is worrying you when you see the GP and ask questions if you need to.

Best wishes, 

Julia

Honestly reading this has just put my mind at ease just that little bit more. Im 23 years old and I've always suffered with health anxiety. A pain in my chest I think im dying, a pain in my head it's something serious, it's awful and it effects me everyday. I had to have a mri scan a few years ago because I convinced myself I had a brain tumour and im getting the exact same thing again but it doesn't help the fact im looking on Google and every symptom im reading I seem to be getting but then im sat there and thinking im probably creating all these symptoms myself...it's just one vicious cycle. 

Hello and thank you for posting,

I am jumping in here to reply to you for two reasons; because you are in the Ask the Nurses area and I am a nurse and because the person you have replied to last posted here last year, so there is a chance he will not see your post.

I think you are right about using google as it cannot diagnose but can cause a lot of worry. Also remember that the symptoms of cancer are the same symptoms that are more likely to cause far less serious conditions. Getting stressed out and worried can also cause a headache.

It might also help you to get some help by looking a the NHS website called Every Mind Matters, it might help with your health anxiety. You can see it by clicking here 

If you feel that your symptoms are not getting better then make a GP appointment to get checked out and hopefully make you less worried.

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