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Suggest Treatment For Pressure In The Head

Posted on Fri, 1 Jul 2016

Question: Hi I had anxiety and a few panic attacks for about a month and a half I finally went to the doctor and was given a blood test and some anxiety medication,my anxiety was do to a friends finding of cAncer and my mother being ill,I get very bad anxiety when I go to the doctor and just added to my situation,I was petrified to get the blood work done but I did and the 4 days I waited for my results were torture on me 24/7.on day 4 I was able to read my results online when I popped the page open if my results I felt a stress wave run from my shoulders up my neck to the bottom of my head like a wave,I was scared worried and almost had a panic attack,that was about 4 pm and went home and stressed and felt pressure in the back of my head in the cerebellum area for the rest of that evening until bed time at 10 pm,I called the doctor the next morning so he could explain the results and thank god they came back normal this was friday morning I felt as if a ton of bricks were lifted off my shoulders,then on Saturday at work about 9 am I noticed I felt a little bit of pressure in the back of my head it dosnt hurt just annoying well for the past 2 weeks I wake up feeling fine but as the day progresses I can geel the pressure in the back of my head and aboit 3 days ago I feel a slite pulse kind of behind my eye or back of the head not all the TIME but the pulse feeling kind of like a.migraine but just 2 days ago I dont have the.anxiety anymore but I still feel this pressure type feeling in my cerebellum I also feel like I have to pop my ears and ice makes me.feel normal again also heating pads,I also hear like cracking or fluid running in the back of my head,know rhat its been week 3 and I have been feeling better than the first week but it has not left completely and im.starting to get worried,please help

Answered by Dr. Alexander H. Sheppe (24 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Consultation

Detailed Answer:
Hello, and thanks for your question.

What you are describing is classic migraine headache. This is likely being caused by anxiety. You can treat it with ibuprofen, but it is also important to treat the underlying anxiety. Anxiety is treated in the long term with either an antidepressant (such as sertraline or escitalopram), cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), or both. I recommend you ask your doctor about starting an antidepressant medication for anxiety, and I also recommend looking for a CBT therapist in your area.

Please remember to rate and close this answer thread when you are finished and satisfied.

In the future, for continuity of care, I encourage you to contact me directly at my private link below. After you ask a direct question, it would be my pleasure to be your dedicated personal physician on this website. My name is Dr. Sheppe, and I am an XXXXXXX doctor working in New York City at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, ranked #1 for Psychiatry in the United States (tinyurl.com/psyrank). For a personalized comprehensive evaluation, treatment recommendations, and individual therapy, ask me at HealthCareMagic at this private link: tinyurl.com/DrSheppeAnswers

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T

Follow up: Dr. Alexander H. Sheppe (2 hours later)

but the problem is that as of me getting back my blood results and everthing came back normal I have no more anxiety as of 3 weeks ago but the pressure in my head started about a day after I recieved my results and I am anxiety free and have felt this way for about 3 weeks now I feel if I was still feeling anxiety and worried that it would be from that nit im not worried and I dont have anxiety anymore,the thought of my friendgetting cancer hadme feeling as if I might have cancer and was really worried about my health Nd that was causing my anxiety and slight panic attacks in the morning I had the anxiety for about a month and a half and never felt a migraine,or headache and definitely not the pressure in the cerebellum aread and from left ear to the right ear,it started that.day I was going to read my blood results online and at that instance felt a wave of pressure from my shoulders up my neck and to the bottom of my head then I was.so stressed out the.rest of the.day that for the.first time I felt like a tension headache then the next.day was stress and anxiety free after.I was told my blood test were normal,si do you think that even though I no longer have anxiety or worried that the pressure in my cerebellum is still caused by anxiety that I have not felt.for the last 3 weeks but still have rhis tension pressure??the doctor prescribed me zoloft and I took it for 3 weeks but did not help me at akl I still had anxiety all day everyday and mild panic attacks in the morning due to my mind going in circles thinking that I could if had cancer like my friend,as soon as I got my blood test back my anxiety was gone and I stopped taking the zoloft and right after I started feeling the pressure in the back of my head,ears popping as if I climbed a mountain I hear like fluid running in the back of my head were I feel the pressure and ice and heating pads is what makes my head feel normal,its wierd because I wake feeling normal and as I go to work and the hours go by I start feeling the pressure,I start work at 7 am and by lunch at 12 I feel the pressure so at lunch I take a slight nap and lay down and it goes away.this has been going on for 3 weeks now.

Answered by Dr. Alexander H. Sheppe (3 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Followup

Detailed Answer:
"even though I no longer have anxiety or worried that the pressure in my cerebellum is still caused by anxiety that I have not felt.for the last 3 weeks"

This is exactly it. It was also a mistake to stop taking the Zoloft, as Zoloft takes at least 4 weeks to actually begin working. You stopped taking it too early. Go back to it with your doctor's help, and this will help your anxiety.

Please remember to rate and close this answer thread when you are finished and satisfied.

In the future, for continuity of care, I encourage you to contact me directly at my private link below. After you ask a direct question, it would be my pleasure to be your dedicated personal physician on this website. My name is Dr. Sheppe, and I am an XXXXXXX doctor working in New York City at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, ranked #1 for Psychiatry in the United States (tinyurl.com/psyrank). For a personalized comprehensive evaluation, treatment recommendations, and individual therapy, ask me at HealthCareMagic at this private link: tinyurl.com/DrSheppeAnswers

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Sonia Raina

Follow up: Dr. Alexander H. Sheppe (21 minutes later)

but the thing is im not feeling anxiety and have not felt anxiety for the last 3 weeks.I dont want to take medication if I don't see a need too.

Answered by Dr. Alexander H. Sheppe (16 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Followup

Detailed Answer:
Your anxiety is manifesting in somatic symptoms. This is common. Headache is a common somatic symptom of anxiety, even if you don't feel anxious. Talk with your doctor about trying Zoloft, and don't stop too early this time.

Please remember to rate and close this answer thread when you are finished and satisfied.

In the future, for continuity of care, I encourage you to contact me directly at my private link below. After you ask a direct question, it would be my pleasure to be your dedicated personal physician on this website. My name is Dr. Sheppe, and I am an XXXXXXX doctor working in New York City at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, ranked #1 for Psychiatry in the United States (tinyurl.com/psyrank). For a personalized comprehensive evaluation, treatment recommendations, and individual therapy, ask me at HealthCareMagic at this private link: tinyurl.com/DrSheppeAnswers

Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Sonia Raina