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Sunday, October 15, 2017

Pain on the head

OK everyone, I'm reaching out for help...

In July, I got a pain on the top of my head that hurt to touch my head.  I couldn't brush my hair, I had to hold my hand over my head to take a shower, I couldn't even put my sunglasses on top of my head.  It did not hurt other than touching it.  And it was on the top of my head, on the left side only, about an inch in diameter.  There was NOT a rash.

After a couple of weeks of the head pain, I started having a weighted feeling in my head.  Kind of a clumsiness, and sometimes a dizziness.  And sometimes my ears felt full of air.  It's very hard to explain.  And yes, I was stressing out about this pain on my head.

After four or five weeks of all of that, it started getting better.  Very slowly getting better.   Not all at once.

In September, I went a week and a half with no pain or weirdness in my head what so ever.  NO SYMPTOMS AT ALL!  So it took about two months.  I can actually give you exact dates.  I noticed the pain on my head on July 20.  And the week and half of no symptoms at all started on September 14.

Then, I went to an ear nose and throat Dr.  (Sept 25)  And let me just say, it took about five weeks to get into the ENT, and I made that appointment because we thought maybe there was some vertigo issues (crystals in my ears messed up?) 
BUT at the time I went to him I had been totally fine for almost two weeks.
*He checked the pressure in my ears, he did a hearing test (audiologist did that) and those were fine.  
THEN he did this maneuver where I sat on the Dr.'s table with my legs straight out in front of me.  He had me lie back and as I was starting to lie back, he pushed me back quickly and turned my head to the left.  He held me in that position and I was to keep my eyes open.  When I sat back up the room started spinning.  He did it with my head to the right side, the room did NOT spin.  He did it again on the left side and the room spun, again.
*He does not think it has anything to do with the crystals in my ear.
Since that time, I have had bouts of the dizziness, and I attributed it to the maneuver the ENT Dr. did.  Just bouts, nothing that lasted all day long.

I went to a neurologist last week.  It took OVER TWO MONTHS to get into her.  By the time I got into her, I was only having the few bouts of dizziness, which we thought was from the maneuver the ENT Dr. did.  She did a few tests, I think to test strength and coordination, and said to come back if the pain comes back, and she will give me a nerve block, which I'm not sure I want.

So, the ENT Dr. and the Neurologist appts. were made during the worst of this, but I did not get into them until it was over.

*My regular GP thinks I have a pinched nerve somewhere that is giving me a superficial pain in the top of my head.
*My Ophthalmologist thinks I had shingles, without the rash, and that it will go away as slowly as it came on.
*The ENT Dr. thinks it was a virus, related to shingles, but not shingles, and that it will go away as slowly as it came on. He thinks it was brought on by stress.
These are all theories.

I will say at the time this came on, I was stressed out because I was having problems with my teeth for months (another story), and my eyes.   I had been to the eye Dr. several times because  of flashes in my right eye.  The flashes are from the vitreous (membrane? gel? something....)  pulling away from the retina, which is an age thing.  It causes floaters.  (I had two laser eye surgeries because of very small tears.  on a scale of 1-10, not even a 1, he said) 
The pain ON my head did start during this time that I was going to my eye Dr.  
*He ordered Sed rate (which came back 6 - which is good) and checked my optical nerve and macula.

*I have had an MRI, which came back fine.
*I have had blood work which all came back fine. 
*I've had vitamin levels tested (more blood work) and a TSH (thyroid) check.  All came back fine. 

Yesterday, I had the weighted, weird, clumsy feeling in my head again.
Today, I was dizzy when I got up this morning.  And now it hurts on top of my head, again, plus the weirdness.  I noticed it when I brushed my hair.
The pain on my head gets worse as the day wears on.  Which is what happened when it was at it's peak in August.

Please don't google WebMD and tell me everything you see on there.  Believe me, I've done it.  I was just wondering if anyone out there has heard of this, or knows anyone it has happened to.  I'm at a loss.

Cindy

17 comments:

  1. My first recommendation would be to have them do a CT scan or an MRI if they have not already done that. It doesn't sound like any of the things they think it might be--especially with your SED rate being only at 6. Please insist they do a scan of your head/brain. If for no other reason that peace of mind. Bless you, Cindy. You will be in my prayers. xo Diana

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    1. They did an MRI and it came back normal.

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    2. I did read that and totally forgot it. duh. I am so sorry you are having to go through all this. What a mess. Can you tie it to anything you are eating at all...or something you are coming in contact with? I hope they can figure it out for you. I think just not knowing what is wrong is sometimes the worst of it. Love to you, Cindy....xo Diana

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    3. That's ok Diana. I do that kind of stuff al the time! I'm sorry I'm going through it too! It's crazy. I've thought of everything and can't link it to anything. Even bought a blood pressure cuff and it is sometimes a little low but other than that, nothing

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  2. Wow, Cindy. I'm not sure I have anything useful to offer other than to say that I have pinched nerves in my neck and they sometimes play havoc with my ears or my hands. It comes and goes with no apparent pattern often with weeks between episodes. Same with my sciatica! Do cranial nerves get pinched? I have no idea!

    Sorry - I said I didn't have anything useful! Sending you hugs. Hope you're feeling better very soon.

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    1. I think they do Fiona. They can get inflamed according to the neurologist which is why she suggested a nerve block. Just not sure I want to do that. I'm one of those people that like to treat the problem and not the symptom.

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    2. And PS Fiona, great to hear from you! How are you?

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    3. Thanks Cindy. I’m having one of those years where I’ve lost my motivation. Between deaths in the family (and being very far away), my back problems and my husband being away on business almost all the time this year I’ve been a bit down and unable to settle to anything. Just one of those things that will pass eventually. I have been thinking about maybe doing some crafting again ... just need some inspiration to strike!

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    4. Fiona,
      I'm so sorry about the deaths in your family. If you happen to get back on here, email me at hilltopbeelady@aol.com so I can email you.
      I miss your blog.
      Cindy

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  3. it sounds awful for you and I don't have anything useful to share, except for prayers. I wish you well and that it just goes away. Take care from Iowa

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  4. Perhaps something new in your life (food, medication, matress, noise, habit) causes the symptoms.

    I once tried some naturopathic capsules that were said to boost metabolism. After a while, I felt heaviness/fullness in my ears. I stopped taking the capsules and the symptom vanished. I then had the courage to try the capsules again, and again the heaviness, so I put the bottle of capsules away and so far, it seems I got rid of the annoying symptom.
    Best wishes!

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    1. There isn't anything that I can think of new. Except that it did start when I had teeth/eye problems. New caps on my teeth. I wondered if the heaviness/fullness isn't from stress. I've been more stressed than this in my life, but Dr said doesn't matter. Could just be my body's way now. I've been trying to de-stress as much as possible. Who knows...
      Thanks for sharing DUTA. At least I know someone else out there got that weirdness in the head!

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  5. Cindy, I was hoping the neurologist could give a an answer..I with you on taking care of the cause not the disguising it with meds. Drs...want to make us take meds. There was a flyer in the Indy Star ...it was about Spinal Stenosis. The narrowing of the spinal canal....thus pinching nerves. it can happen in the neck and the lower back. But for one spot to hurt...I do not know. I can tell you I have to sleep at an incline for reflux and it cause me neck pain at times. You can look this condition up and see if it has any symptoms you may be having. Bless you honey. xoxo, Susie

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  6. Hi Susie , I was hoping the neurologist could help me too, but by the time I got into her I was feeling pretty good. I think I'm going to wait a week and see how I do and keep track of everything. If I feel worse I'll go back to her. Good idea about the spinal stenosis. I looked it up and I do have a couple of the symptoms but I don't think it's enough to warrant what is going on. It doesn't say anything about pain in my head. I am beginning to think that there is a nerve pinched somewhere though. Thanks for caring. You are a sweet friend.

    Cindy

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  7. I don't have any suggestions for you, I'm afraid. Please take care of yourself. I sure hope you get this resolved soon.

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Thank you for taking time out of your busy day to leave a comment on my blog. I enjoy reading them. I hope you have a wonderful day.

Cindy