Vent from the patient's side of the aisle

[Nightcrawler]

I want to preface this by saying that I am in no way looking for medical advise.

That said, I have been having these headaches for years. When I get them, it is either the same headache that lasts for up to 2 weeks, or different headaches every day.

Recently these marathon headaches, which I have always assumed were tension headaches, have gotten worse; more pressure and with some facial paresthesias. So I go back to my doctor. She thinks that perhaps they are atypical migraines and wants to prescribe Imitrex as a trial. Because I have a history of HTN she wants to get an MRI first just to be sure that there isn't something pathological going on

So I go to the MRI, feeling foolish the whole way about what I feel is a wholly unnecessary test. Then I get the call last night. Apparently there is a >2 cm mass that they think might be a Schwanoma or a meningioma in the region of my cerebellum. Oh, and there are signs of a old occipital stroke.

WHAT!!! I am 38 years old!

So the radiologist wants me to go back for another MRI today with contrast, which I did. And the mass, which even I can identify on the study from yesterday....is not there on the contrast study. AND he now thinks that what he identified as an old stroke was just normal variation

The radiologist doesn't know what to say, other than that I need to repeat the study in 3 months to follow up......

So, I still have a headache, am nauseous, lightheaded, and have left sided facial paresthesias. I may have a brain tumor, and these may be symptoms of increased ICP, OR I have a 2.5 week long migraine, OR I have a marathon tension headache.

I am now waiting for my primary care doc to call me back with a plan.

[Nightcrawler, BSN, RN]

I am still waiting to hear back from my primary doc. I am sure that she is going to shunt me over to a neurologist, which is just fine with me. One other idea I had was to go get a head CT done. I know that they are not as specific as MRI, but if the CT shows a growth, then I am pretty sure that we have our answer.

Part of the problem is that the two studies were done at different studies since I was not willing to wait till Thursday for the contrast scan. Who knows what differences that would cause. Also, no neurologist has looked at either scan, just radiologists, and they were the ones to recommend a repeat scan in 3 months. I am going to pick up copies of both scans tomorrow, and will have a neurologist look at them, hopefully soon.

I actually was able to see the film myself- it was there on one film, and not on the other. Don't get me wrong, I would LOVE to NOT have a brain tumor, but I am actually worse off now than I was before the first scan. Having the tumor out there as a possible diagnosis limits the treatment options for the headache. No Imitrex for me- I might have a brain tumor..... etc. In the meantime, I still have a nonstop headache that is refractory to everything that I have tried which includes various NSAIDS, muscle relaxants, percocet, caffeine, extra water in case I am dehydrated, etc.

On top of everything else, today was the day that I was supposed to have the surgery to place the dental implant that I have been doing the prepatory work for over the course of the last year. Now that surgery is off indefinitely- No MRI allowed with dental implant.

Thank all of you for the opportunity to tell my story- I will keep you all posted.

[Altra, BSN, RN]

Sending you support ...

Wishing you peace.

[Straydandelion]

Just as an aside there was a very strange story I heard of a nurse working where I did. She was diagnosed with a possible tumor, surgery planned and the day finally arrived we all were waiting to hear the outcome. Found out she had a cyst from an infected tooth, not a tumor after all! Hope your outcome just as good!

[Justhere, BSN, RN]

I agree with everyone, get yourself to a neurologist pronto and find out what this thing is or is not.

((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((NightCrawler)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

[trudlebug]

:hgu:Hugs and best wishes.

I know how hard it is to wait for an answer, like the others have said, get to a neurologist, get a second opinion or whatever it takes to get an answer STAT!

Hang in there,

Sharon

:hngon:

[StrwbryblndRN]

As soon as I read about the dental implant preparation I thought also that maybe the headache could be caused from an infection or something from a tooth.

Than I saw the next post who had the idea also.

[Nightcrawler, BSN, RN]

As soon as I read about the dental implant preparation I thought also that maybe the headache could be caused from an infection or something from a tooth.

Than I saw the next post who had the idea also.

unfortunately what they saw was posterior to the pons, underneath the cerebellum. Essentially in the 4th ventricle, an unlikely place for a tooth abcess.

My doc never called me back last night, and no neurologist will see me without a physician referral even though my insurance does not require one.

So I left another message for my doc, and I wait.