Severe, searing side head pains

[nh_user_1028953]

Prior to what you are about to read I had never suffered with head ache/pain in any way. As a child and until my teens I did suffer with embarrassing nosebleeds that would happen anytime/anywhere. This was eventually stopped via cauterisation.

A couple of years back I began experiencing severe head pain; I don't mean a headache but the worst kind of searing pain one might imagine. It began one evening while I was watching television. I did not know what was happening to me and had to sit completely still to find any kind of relief.

My wife and I were obviously alarmed and concerned, but at ten o’ clock at night, completely disorientated by the suddenness of the whole thing, we were stunned and at a loss as to what to do; but as the thing appeared to pass within a few minutes we did not call for help. However, it happened again a few days later.

Again at night, but this time it lasted much longer and was completely unbearable and an ambulance was called. I was taken to hospital where a doctor examined me, but during the examination he tried to have me lie down – I could not. Whereas I could find a position to lessen the pain whist sitting or standing bolt upright any movement of my head to the side (any side) caused the intense pain to return. The doctor ignored my protestations and tried to force me to lie down, which I could not do. The upshot was: he said he could find nothing wrong with me and discharged me.

Since that time I have experienced these head pains on numerous times, generally at night when I try to lie down in bed. I have often spent the night in the spare room sitting-upright in a chair. The sensation is one of pressure inside my head (although my GP advises me it is not pressure). I have noticed if I squeeze my nose and blow (the way one does to equalise pressure in an aircraft) I obtain some relief, I also find that a watery discharge is released from my nose.

Finally, in order to appreciate the intense and unbearable pain I experience - if one has ever dived below 200 feet you will know what I mean. I am not a diver, my friend is and this is how my friend explained how the pain sounded to him.

Does anybody have any idea what might be the matter with me and can anybody help me please, I am 70 years of age and otherwise fit?

[nh_user_292332]

Have you seen a specialist. I have the same issue in planes and driving to men's. It's a pressure build up in my case. And I take antihistamines. Never experienced nose bleeds. But I get dizzy and experience severe pain in ears. 

Never ER at sea level that whaynImthink you may need to see a specialist and keep fighting for a explanation stays etc. 

dont nut give up until you know some answers. Ot look up on line some of your symptoms and call a specialist. Tape conversation with IPhone and be sure you get testing and answers. 

 

[nh_user_1028953]

Hi, and thanks for your input hope4cures.

When writing about the events that have taken place over a long period of time it is easy to overlook certain points, that and being aware that one’s piece might be too long and bore people. One of the things I neglected to mention is that I have seen two specialists. To better understand what I am about to say, please see the following overview…

I have always suffered from a build-up of earwax. In the early days I would have my ears syringed by the GP. This consisted of my putting warm olive oil in my ears for four nights and on the fifth evening my GP would syringe my ears, the old fashioned way, the process went as follows:

A large metal syringe was filled with warm soapy water (I’d guess about half a pint). The syringe was placed in one ear, with a bowl held below, then a plunger was slowly pushed down forcing the solution into the ear. The water came back carrying the (now broken-up) impacted wax, which was collected in the bowl. The other ear was done in the same way.

If the reader has ever had this procedure he or she will know the instant relief it brings from the misery of compacted earwax; all at once the effect is felt. One can hear the slightest thing, even the wrinkling of one’s shirt (although this super hearing, I’ll call it, only lasts a few hours until the ear has grown used to the sounds) but for another ten years or so, until the wax begins to build again, one experiences great hearing and more to the point no head pains.

The last time I felt that I required this procedure my GP referred me to see an Ear, Nose and Throat Specialist who told me: “we are not allowed to syringe ears, you need to see a specialist.” This specialist consisted of a nurse plugging me into an electrical machine, putting what I could only describe as a rigid baby’s bib over me; a kidney shaped basin under my ears; tubes in my ears and turning the machine on. I sat in a chair feeling odd impulses in my ear for about ten minutes at the end of which the nurse told me it was over and my ears were wax free. I replied: “What did you say?” I kid you not. In polite circles this new procedure might be described as less than successful (and in other circles far more scathing labels might be applied) as my hearing was no better than when I went in – worse in fact, as I had the sensation of solution washing about in my ears.

It was only after I had posted my initial post that I remembered there might be a correlation between my head pains and compacted earwax. So now I should like to ask: does anybody know of anybody who performs the old wax-syringing, ear clearing the old fashioned way – the way that works?

Cheers and thanks, for taking the time to read my ramblings.