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Suggest Treatment For Severe Headaches And Pain Across The Eyes

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Posted on Tue, 22 Nov 2016
Question: I woke at 2 am oct 30th with a headache so bad i could hardly walk to the front room. after about 5 min i knew it was something bad. It was from the back of my neck, up to my temples and across my eyes, i began to drink water only to keep throwing it up, I called to my husband i needed to go to the hosp. I was so weak and unbalanced he had to help me walk. it took about 20 min before they checked my vitals to register me, my B/P was 179/102. another 20 to 30 min to be taken back to be examined, my B/P by then was 205/117, I have never had high B/P in my life, I dont smoke or drink, or ever taken birth control. I am on no medications. after a cat scan, and ekg. they gave me what the called a cocktail of 4 medications, my B/P dropped to 145/90, it knocked me out for about 30 min, as soon as i was awake they told me to drink lots of water and Tylenol as needed. This morning I woke with the right side of my face drooping so much i dont even have a smile line on that side, my lips dont even go up on my right side. I stumble and lose my balance walking, and busted veins on the back of my rt. leg from my ankle up to the back of my knee, my rt. arm just feels or tired. as well as still having a slight headache, so I went back to ER. They gave me a shot of Valium, prescribed, flonase, 20 mg prednisone for 10 days and zyrtec everyday. My face feels like clay and have bitten my tong several times today trying to talk. Four people who know me well say I look like I have had a stroke. I was at the ER at least 45 min to an hour before they treated me for the high B/P. Should I do anything else
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Answered by Dr. Olsi Taka (2 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Read below

Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concerrn.

Regardig the first episode of intense headache I would say all the necessary measures were correctly taken at the ER, judging from that description the diagnosis to be considered was a brain hemorrhage and that is detected almost always by the CT scan. Ischemic stroke doesn't typically present with such intense headache and usually has other accompanying symptoms.

This second episode though seems different, judging from your description of weakness involving one half of the body, it does indeed look like a stroke. So I do not agree with the way it has been handled, I believe a repeat brain imaging by CT or even better if available MRI is necessary. Even if the first CT is normal still there is a new event to be evaluated. Also headache and balance issues can at times be the only manifestations of an ischemic stroke in the posterior part of the brain which may be missed by a CT, in particular a CT performed in the first few hours after the appearance of the symptoms (ischemia needs some hours to become visible on CT).
So if that weakness you speak about is clear, I believe you should return to the ER and insist on being re-evaluated, if they have doubts by a neurologist.

I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Olsi Taka

Neurologist

Practicing since :2004

Answered : 3673 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Severe Headaches And Pain Across The Eyes

Brief Answer: Read below Detailed Answer: I read your question carefully and I understand your concerrn. Regardig the first episode of intense headache I would say all the necessary measures were correctly taken at the ER, judging from that description the diagnosis to be considered was a brain hemorrhage and that is detected almost always by the CT scan. Ischemic stroke doesn't typically present with such intense headache and usually has other accompanying symptoms. This second episode though seems different, judging from your description of weakness involving one half of the body, it does indeed look like a stroke. So I do not agree with the way it has been handled, I believe a repeat brain imaging by CT or even better if available MRI is necessary. Even if the first CT is normal still there is a new event to be evaluated. Also headache and balance issues can at times be the only manifestations of an ischemic stroke in the posterior part of the brain which may be missed by a CT, in particular a CT performed in the first few hours after the appearance of the symptoms (ischemia needs some hours to become visible on CT). So if that weakness you speak about is clear, I believe you should return to the ER and insist on being re-evaluated, if they have doubts by a neurologist. I remain at your disposal for other questions.