Health anxiety brain tumor?

Mental health
1

I'm 29 years old and never sufered any mental health issues before this.

I work quite a high end stressful job and in June this year I had what can only be described as a break down, I couldn't get out of bed, couldnt eat and was in a state of complete fear all the time and had pressure headaches non stop.

I started slowly improving mentally but the headaches stayed and got worse and worse, I had them non stop for literally 3.5 months from the minute I woke up until I went to bed, They moved around my head sometimes at the back, sometimes over my temples, the top of my head, painkillers worked but only for short amount of time, I also got and sometimes still get shooting pains in my head (It's worth saying before this I didn't have a history of headaches).

I went to see 7 different doctors all diognosed anxiety and stress and wanted to put me on medication, I tried Sertaline once had such a bad reaction I refused to take it again. I spent weeks at a time researching brain tumors as I was convinced this was the reason behind my head aches, the worry made me fatigued and the anxiety presented me with weird symptoms at one point I was having weird shooting nerve pains down my left arm and leg, which convinced me even more.

I started CBT counciling and went to a chiropractor which both really helped the counciling helped with the worry and the chiropractor released the pressure in my neck which reduced the headaches (but not totally). The 7th doctor prescribed me diazepam 2mg they help with the anxiety and said they should help with headaches as they're a muscle relaxant, as my headaches are pressure headaches they will relax my muscles in my neck, I took 1 diazapam headache went away and didn't have another headache for 2 weeks! Anxiety dropped and I felt good for a couple of weeks.

Now my anxiety is back same worry, different symptoms, I have a dull ache in my head, my memory is getting bad, I'm saying the wrong words when I talk, I fail to remember simple things like names or people etc I'm constantly tiered (fatigue) but most scary I get pulsating electric feelings through my head not brain zaps but weird sensations 3 or 4 times a day.....all of this is making me think brain tumor...again! and that at any time I'm going to have a seizure....I detach myself from my family to research brain tumors non stop (I'm now an expert haha) the more research I do the worse it gets and it's slowly taking over my life.

I don't know if anyone else has had symptoms like this or knows what I should be doing to help get over this? I'm completely rational and understand that 17,000 people out of 67,000,000 in the UK get them so the chances are I don't have one but I still can't get it out my head!

Any advice or help would be great smile

2

Forgot to mention when it first started I was signed off work for 4 weeks

3

Omg I had sameeee symptoms and same worry about a year ago lol. I totally know how you feel =(

I was experiencing heightened anxiety for a few months, and started getting bad headaches. They were similar to cluster headaches - it was mostly the left side of my head behind my ear. I'd get these sharp, painful spasm feelings throughout the day and it would even wake me up at night! I also had dizziness. It lasted about a month. I was sooo scared and anxious, I kept googling about brain tumors and I remember telling my mom something is wrong bc I've never had anything like this b4 and I nvr rlly even get normal headaches nvm these painful zaps! But she kept telling me it was just my anxiety/stress and probably muscle tension in my head.

I ended up using a heating pad and taking tylenol and both helped. When I realized both helped, that made me calm down a bit bc I realized if it was actually something serious tylenol or heat probably wouldn't help it. Eventually as I stayed calm the headaches went away. I haven't had anything like them since, just some reg tension headaches from time to time. It's amazing what your mind can do to your body =/

Also, if it helps - my best friends sister actually had a brain tumor 5 years ago. The symptoms she had were off balance like she couldn't even walk, seizures, and vomiting. Those symptoms are wayyy more severe than anything u mentioned. Actually all of the symptoms you've mentioned I've had from anxiety at one time or another =)

4

Omg sounds horrible. What areas do you get the electric shock sensation on your scalp? Is it in one spot or all over? I am also experiencing such weird sensations for about two months now, as well as the painful spasms on my scalp. Medication/nothing tends to make it go away. I also get a spasm pain at my upper neck. Do you any sort of neck pain etc? Please advise. 

5

Hey , I had a complete breakdown I feel your Pain. my flvery first health anxiety was over a brain tumour I think it's quite a common fear.

Have you had tests to rule everything g out? Anxiety does cause a lot of very odd symptoms though.

I was lucky and got put on citalopram and it worked for me a lot. CBT did me well as well.

How's your stress levels now? Work can be a real f****r.

Hope you feel better soon

6

Hi Marie,

I get neck pain at the very top of my neck where it joins my skull, I've been going to a chiropractor for 4 weeks to releive tension in my neck and back (which I have alot of!).

The muscle pains and tension I can deal with the memory problems is what really scares me!

7

Hi,

I've had full blood tests, 2 eye tests and seen so many doctors....the doctors don't really do alot though as it's mostly based of my own diagnosis.

It's strange I'm back to work since August and I'm fine at work no anxiety it always kicks in when I have time on my hands to think/Google stuff.

Stress levels are still high as I just bought a house and have to move etc but that'll calm down soon enough.

I'm pretty sure brain tumor symptoms don't come and go like mine have which helps..

Thanks for the reply

8

Thanks for the reply

Good to hear I'm not the only one! It's horrible going from being fine to thinking you're going to die lol.

Think I'm going to see an anxiety specialist and figure out a way I can fix this once and for all.

9

I'm going through a similar situation though I'm withdrawing from antidepressants. I've shifting headaches that move from Right to left temple, front and back and move to the top middle or right or left. Also had, somewhat blurred vision that comes back for a millisecond, fatigue or arm or leg weakness. Or feel like electricity is shooting from both arms. Though then shifts to stomach cramps or constipation, rashes, or hyper sex drive.

My primary did blood work after she checked my ears and lymph nodes and nothing. Though, noticed my neck muscles are tight as hell, and gave me a worksheet to stretch those muscles. She contributes this to my anxiety.

Though, my health anxiety doesn't let me see that. My therapist has to remind me brain tumors don't cause rashes or hyper sex drive. Lol! It's just your anxiety.

10

Forgot to add, feel off-balance. Though as the weeks have gone by, these symptoms are becoming less frequent. If it were a tumor, they would get worse. 

11

Do you get a sharp pain at the top of your neck where it joins your skull at times? I’m just trying to see if anyone has similar symptoms as me. 😫 it’s so frustrating. 

12

Hi Sam,

I’m also 29 and got the exact same symptoms as yourself, saying wrong words, weird sensations on the scalp, slight vision changes. Same as you this came out of the blue after a stressful 6 months, first thought was stroke or brain tumour which just intensifited all my symptoms.

ive had every test known including brain MRI which all came back negative, so take it from me your not dying I know what your going through. 

It came to the point where I tried sertraline to help with the physical symptoms but it just had them worse and stopped after 9 weeks. I would suggest not trying anti depressants unless your physically not able to function.

Things I’ve found that help me and pretty much reduced the stress levels are, essential oils, yoga and meditation (good app called head space).

If I find myself stressed I get tense muscles on my right cheek so I know now if I feel this that I’m stressed and try relieve the situation. I never feel stressed in my life but I guess deep now I was and now it’s just my body telling me I need to left the foot off the gas.

hope this helps, any questions let me know.

13

Hi Bob,

Thanks for the reply and makes me feel much better to know someone else has gone through this. Really Strange how it presents it's self it's really a horrible condition.

It's slowly easing up so hopefully with some more help I can get away from it.

I currently use the head space app which really works for the short term.

14

I have the exact same symptoms as you and I’m only 13😭 what are your brain zaps/ sensations like because I have them also and I have convinced myself I have a brain tumor for the past 4 months!

15

I have these brain sensations also and I’m only 13. If your friends sister had it, how long did it take for her off balance and other symptoms take to kick in? Thanks

16

Pretty sure they were right away, she was feeling this way for maybe a few months only when they found the tumor.