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Suggest Treatment For Persistent Headaches And Anxiety

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Posted on Wed, 1 Feb 2017
Question: I apologize for asking so many questions but the ER and GP write me off with stress and no one really listens to my symptoms for more then one minute.

I have explained my month long headsche and anxiety. But i am also very faint upon sitting up and standing initially. Sometimes vision is blurred. When i am laying down my headaches go away for the most part as well as the dizziness what can be the cause of this? I am concerned with something imminent.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shoaib Khan (4 hours later)
Brief Answer:
A few points based on the information provided sir

Detailed Answer:
Hello sir and welcome.

Thank you for writing to us.

I have gone through your query with diligence and would like you to know that I am here to help. I am sorry you were not given the attention and a listening ear which you so rightfully deserve; doctors these days are in such a hurry due to the burden laid on their shoulders.

But when anxiety comes along with any indefinite symptoms, most doctors assume it to be due to the anxiety itself. But let me put forward my opinion on each of your symptoms:

+The posture related faint feeling could be due to orthostatic hypotension, which is a condition in which the blood pressure changes with a change in posture. Please visit a doctor or nurse and request them to check your blood pressure in a supine position, and then again as soon as you sit up or stand up; if there is a change, then you will have to be treated for it accordingly

+The headache, blurry vision and dizziness could be cumulatively related to a type of headache called migraine headaches. These have other symptoms like: an aura (visual symptoms along with a mild headache) followed by the stronger headache, photophobia, sensitivity to sound, nausea, and some times even vomiting, etc. Please discuss the same with a neurologist

Migraine headaches can be brought on by stimuli like sleep deprivation, excess sleeping, unhealthy dieting or weight loss, poor food intake, excessive fatty or rich food intake, dehydration,extreme temperatures (heat or cold), stress, etc. If you have any of these stimuli since your symptoms have been appearing then we need to remove the stimuli in order to prevent the symptoms from appearing

+I would also recommend a check on your vision, so please visit an ophthalmologist to rule out any vision related abnormalities, if this is ruled out then the blurry vision that occurs could be neurological only (e.g. migraine headache)

+The reason why I am not too worried about your presentation and the reason why you should also not be too worried about it is because in a previous query you mentioned that you had a CT scan of your brain and it was normal? This rules out any/all major issues

I hope I have explained things in a manner best understood by you. Please do not hesitate to write to me for any further clarifications, I am always here to help.

Best wishes.


Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Shoaib Khan (12 minutes later)
The ct scan was done 12/22/16 and the headaches themselves havw not "worsened" but i have been experiencing burning pain on top of my head as well as pain at the base of myy skull top of neck that is an aching. Sometimes the pain shoots rifgt up the back of my ears i could say.

I experience the throbbing behind my eye quite often with movements. Today i lifted sometjing and got an extreme burning on the top right of my head opposite of the normal burning side. Felt like a moist burning.

I am just scared that this is something imminent like an aneurys or something but this is going on a month now i dont know if that time frame alone is clearing.

Also my neck seems to pop even on deep breaths it will crack and always feels tight. Is it possible stress and this can combine for all these pains since i am in 24 hour anxiety GAD diagnosed. The brain zap pains just scare me a lot when the pain actually stops you in your tracks. I am scared to move sometimes fearing pain .
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shoaib Khan (17 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Strongly recommend initiation of anxiety treatment sir

Detailed Answer:
Hello once again sir.

A CT scan that recent does hold relevance, but for your satisfaction you can go ahead with an MRI brain and MRI spine, these 2 investigations will look into some major issues being ruled out, including the risk of an aneurysm which should help put your mind to ease, and also look into the cause for the cracking in your neck sir.

To speak honestly sir, the extreme burning you felt after lifting something can be due to 2 reasons: Blood pressure and vascular cause, or anxiety/depression.

As I mentioned earlier sir, you should have your blood pressure checked along with a orthostatic hypotension check. But along with this, if you do not mind me suggesting a visit to a psychiatrist to check on your anxiety and if required even treat it.

If GAD was diagnosed, then you should have been initiated on treatment for it, yet I see nothing in your history about any medications you are taking. Anxiety is a tricky condition sir, and can result in an array of symptoms, which is why it is always important to treat what has been diagnosed, before suspecting other conditions.

I hope you can visit your doctor and initiate treatment for your anxiety, as that seems to be the most important next step in helping out you to ease.

Best wishes.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Shoaib Khan (5 minutes later)
I have a couple days ago. They prescibed xanax and zoloft for long term. Suffered a recent loss in the family very traumatizing.

But as far as the mri would something like an aneurys last for a month?

Also i have suffered from migraines since i was 10 so i am familiar and these pains are completely different. More random not as consistent they hit for 3 minutes and then stop for 20 minutes and come back .
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shoaib Khan (6 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Great that medications have been initiated, sorry for your loss sir

Detailed Answer:
Hi sir.

That is good to know, but the medications prescribed will take some time to start taking effect, so please be patient and report any/all developments to your doctor, I am sure that if we can get you the right medication to treat your anxiety, all these will become much less complicated and will help you to a great extent very soon.

I am sorry to hear about your recent loss sir, my condolences.

No sir, the risk of an aneurysm can be assessed, but this cannot be an aneurysm itself.

The description of the headaches are more consistent with anxiety and/or depression sir.

Best wishes.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Shoaib Khan (6 minutes later)
Thank you! For the help and condolences. But what do you mean they can be assessed but not for aneurys itself?

My main concern with that or teason is the shooting pain behind the eyes and the brain zaps.

Brain zaps are common with anxiety?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shoaib Khan (25 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Yes sir, brain zaps are commonly seen with anxiety

Detailed Answer:
Hi sir.

What I meant what that n aneurysm lasting for a month can have some serious outcomes, and so the purpose of an MRI would be to rule out any possibility of an aneurysm and is not in this case to look for an aneurysm, as an aneurysm would not last for a month and would result in serious implications.

Yes, brain zaps can present with anxiety sir, they have been reported in many such cases.

Best wishes.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Shoaib Khan (5 hours later)
So you do not think that would be the reason?

Also the burning pain seems to be located mainly in one spot and the pain avove my eyes is same spots just on both eyes primarily. Above the eye in the socket.

Also happens alot upon movement like i said or looking fast in a certain direction. I notice sometimes i hear my nose clicking. Could this be generating from my neck pain?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shoaib Khan (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Thank you for that information, here is what you need to do next

Detailed Answer:
Hello once again sir.

With the new information at hand I would recommend a visit to three specialists for:

+Neurologist to look into possibilities relating to the spine and/or headaches

+Ophthalmologist: To rule out any vision related issues

+ENT: To look for vertigo and find the cause for it

Along with the orthostatic hypotension which any doctor can look for, I would recommend a check on all these plausible causes, and if after all these specialists have not found any abnormalities, it would be safe to blame your anxiety for the symptoms.

I hope I have explained things in a manner best understood by you sir. Please do not hesitate to write to me anytime, I am always here to help.

Best wishes.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Remy Koshy
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Shoaib Khan (3 hours later)
Ok thank you. Yes my GP said stress. The ER did the cat scan and said stress and anxiety and so did the psychiatriast so everyone juat keeps writing it off immediately when i tell them my symptoms i guess based on records .
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shoaib Khan (3 hours later)
Brief Answer:
I understand how you must be feeling, I am sorry about that

Detailed Answer:
Hello once again sir.

I understand you might feel neglected because of this, but please do not worry. Now that you have started the anti-anxiety medication, if these are the right medications for you then you will soon start feeling much better I am sure of it. :)

So keep smiling, and try to enjoy life to the fullest. And please, do not hesitate to write to me about anything, I am always here to help.

Best wishes.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Arnab Banerjee
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Answered by
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Dr. Shoaib Khan

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2009

Answered : 9409 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Persistent Headaches And Anxiety

Brief Answer: A few points based on the information provided sir Detailed Answer: Hello sir and welcome. Thank you for writing to us. I have gone through your query with diligence and would like you to know that I am here to help. I am sorry you were not given the attention and a listening ear which you so rightfully deserve; doctors these days are in such a hurry due to the burden laid on their shoulders. But when anxiety comes along with any indefinite symptoms, most doctors assume it to be due to the anxiety itself. But let me put forward my opinion on each of your symptoms: +The posture related faint feeling could be due to orthostatic hypotension, which is a condition in which the blood pressure changes with a change in posture. Please visit a doctor or nurse and request them to check your blood pressure in a supine position, and then again as soon as you sit up or stand up; if there is a change, then you will have to be treated for it accordingly +The headache, blurry vision and dizziness could be cumulatively related to a type of headache called migraine headaches. These have other symptoms like: an aura (visual symptoms along with a mild headache) followed by the stronger headache, photophobia, sensitivity to sound, nausea, and some times even vomiting, etc. Please discuss the same with a neurologist Migraine headaches can be brought on by stimuli like sleep deprivation, excess sleeping, unhealthy dieting or weight loss, poor food intake, excessive fatty or rich food intake, dehydration,extreme temperatures (heat or cold), stress, etc. If you have any of these stimuli since your symptoms have been appearing then we need to remove the stimuli in order to prevent the symptoms from appearing +I would also recommend a check on your vision, so please visit an ophthalmologist to rule out any vision related abnormalities, if this is ruled out then the blurry vision that occurs could be neurological only (e.g. migraine headache) +The reason why I am not too worried about your presentation and the reason why you should also not be too worried about it is because in a previous query you mentioned that you had a CT scan of your brain and it was normal? This rules out any/all major issues I hope I have explained things in a manner best understood by you. Please do not hesitate to write to me for any further clarifications, I am always here to help. Best wishes.