Hello all! So I have been having this strange dull ache/pressure/fullness on the left side of my head/top of head/temples since October. It all started back in October 2 days after I noticed a large lump behind my left ear. The lump has since gooten much much smaller and sometimes feels almost flat, but other times it is much more noticeable. This weird feeling in my head, I should note, actually started in the left side of my neck/throat area-under my jaw as well, then seemed to go into my head. I went to the doctor telling them about my symptoms and fear of cancer/brain tumors and they told me it was just anxiety. All of my blood tests over the months have come back normal too. However, it still continued on. I finally had an ultrasound done of my neck and they found that I had Thyroiditis. I saw an endocrinologist and he said that he would check again in 6 months time, but as of then (late Feb), all of my Thyroid hormone levels were normal and the feeling in my head was unrelated to that. So the feeling I have in my head is a sort of fullness kind of feeling on the left side, I can also feel it on the left backside of my head and it feels like a dull sort of painless ache. I also feel it around my temples/cheekbone and over my eyebrows and it feels like those muscles feel kind of tight or dull achey as well. I also feel a weird feeling around the back of my ear near where the lump is. Some days it is worse than others, some days when I am out if feels okay. when I wake up in the morning sometimes I also feel like the top of the left side of my head is throbbing and slighlty painful, and almost like a pinched feeling inside my head. I know I am being very detailed I am just wondering if anyone has experienced anything similar to what I am describing. Also, I have been persistent with the doctors and they are finally sending me for an MRI on Saturday; however, now I am completely petrified that when I go they are going to find something like Tumor or aneurysm or something. I am so scared. I am always afraid of having tests done because I am sure they will find something. Years ago I had a kidney stone and was in pain for a month before the doctors finally agreed to give me a CT to find that I did actually have a large stone that had to be removed. Now a few months ago after the doctors told me nothing would be wrong, they found I had Thyroiditis. So now, naturally I am terrified I will be right again and will have a brain tumor. So anyone who can shed some light on my situation, I would greatly appreciate it. I am so afraid I am going to be sick and die young and leave my husband a daughter behind. I am going to be 30 in a week and I am so afraind of what lies ahead. [sad]
I am in no way medically trained though if for one moment they believed you had a brain tumour, if your bloods indicated and cancer they would have acted straight away. Anxiety can do awful things to your body and the more you think about it the more intense those feelings become x
Kristen ..peace and good health to you and your loved ones..
Here's my humble penny's worth...
1. Doctors are not Gods or Superhuman; nor is medicine always a precise science. Both have their limitations and no matter how convincing a GP/Doctor can sound ..he/she can make mistakes. That said, doctors are trained and qualified and knowledgeable AND should know generally speaking what signs/symptoms mean what etc. If their initial diagnosis doesn't sit with you, get a second opinion.
2. Given 1 above to be true, the good news is you can ALWAYS get a second opinion (as mentioned) AND if you're up to it, you can always improve your own knowledge, underdtsnfing by researching things online etc.
3. It is a REAL fact that anxiety/depression/stress etc etc can and DOES often manifest itself over time in physical outcomes, esp. tension regions of the body like head, brain, neck, upper torso and back (i.e. for example experienced particial facial paralysis and numbness around my neck and shoulder which lasted for several weeks as a result of stress. I was worried and thought the worst but in the end it just disappeared one day over the course of a few days.
4. You are having things investigated properly (allbeit at your insistence). Blood tests if you've had one/any are often good indicator of any serious health issues.
Be well ...and hope all goes really well with your CT scan tomorrow...
Best wishes
Thank you. All of my blood tests have come back normal. It's just a frustrating feeling ?I have in my head that I have had for months and it is driving me crazy and making me feel like i will never feel right again. I just want the pressure/dull/full feeling to go. Thank you.