I have had a headache for about 10 days now. It just won't go away. I am not one to get headaches. It is scaring me. My GP says it is stress. I feel like it is a tumor. I am scared

If I worry about it can it make it worse? Or can it give me a headache? My Mom told me if I have a brain tumor it is my fault for worry about it so much. Can you worry yourself so much that you give yourself one or cancer elsewhere?

Hi Christine,
I too have been getting terrible migraines from the anxiety this is a new symptom for me as well but it is for sure stress. You can try a nice warm bath and also if you can get out peppermint oil on your temples and back of your neck helps soooo much just put it in some type of cream about 10-15 drops. I hope this helps and no honey you won't get a brain tumor b/c you are worried about it to much.
I will pray for you that you will feel better.
Also some heat on your neck might help as well.
God bless you and try to breath and do your relaxation tape at least 2 times a day that will help too. I am here if you need to talk.
Love Mimi

Hi. I am a headache sufferer. Look at your headache...are you having loss of vision, vomiting without nausea, worse with lying down, loss of balance/function? These would be more concerning signs. Migraine often are associated with one side of the head, behind the eye, nausea, sensitive to light and sound. You should see your doctor if you have not gotten relief from Ibuprofen/Advil after a few days. Good luck

I suffered with migraines for years. I would guess that's what you have. One that has lasted this long needs to be taken care of. Please see a doctor when you can get there. A simple shot of Toradol can make it go right away. Your stress can be the trigger and the reason it won't go away. Stress over the long haul can have its effects on our health, so it's a good thing we have this program to put us on the right path. Please don't listen to your mother about causing a brain tumor. That's one of those negative thoughts we need to get rid of. Please let us know how you are doing. Beverly

Hi Beverly. My GP says it is stress. Did not give me anything for it. It is mostly in my right temple (My temple is twitching also) but sometimes is a headache in the right back of my head and behind my right sinus or eye.

Sounds like a migraine, and stress is probably the culprit, but you still deserve treatment. They rarely burnout on their own. Not to scare you but I was in a migraine support group where the rule was if it lasts more than 72 hours, you COULD be at risk for a stroke. Not to scare you, it is rare. Are there any walk-in clinics you could go to or could you call your doc back and tell him the pain is still there and to give you something for it? There's no need to live with it if you don't have to. Beverly

Christine,
don't be scared...a few weeks ago i was fed up bc i felt constant pressure in my head for 2 weeks straight..i would wake up and the first thing i would think of is "i wonder when i'm gonna start feeling the pressure". Me thinking about it made it worse..i eventually got so scared over it that i went to the ER bc it was a weekend..they did a CT scan and there was nothing wrong with me..that was a few weeks ago and after i left the ER i had the pressure for a few more days and than the less concerned I was about it, the more it went away..I was thinking the same things as you..I was scared I had a tumor and all..But it was nothing...I still feel them once in a while, as a matter of fact I felt the pressure last nite...The difference is now since I know its nothing serious I don't let it consume my mind and scare me..Try and ease some of your scary thoughts because it's stress that is causing them and making them stay..goodluck...Angelo

i had headachs for yrs. my tryed differnt drs. and thay all had differnt reasens my mom took me to a chiropractor it worked now when i get a bad headach that wont go away i go to the chiropractor. but if you wont to try this make its a good chiropractor. i hope you get read of your headach soon.

Hi, I had headaches for quite a while until I found out I was clenching my teeth all night and that was the cause of my headaches. Good luck in search of their cause.

Hi Christine =

I hope your headaches have gone away by now, but if not you might consider trying Excedrin Migraine formula. I find that when I get horrible headaches (which are not unusual for me), I can take two tablets and the headache is completely gone in 20 minutes. A warning: they do contain caffeine, which is very effective for headaches. The downside is, of course, that we're all wanting to eliminate caffeine and other stimulants. Still, for me at least, it's worth an occasional small dose of caffeine to get relief and be able to function again. If you try it, you must not take more than 2 tablets in 24 hours or you could suffer rebound headaches - you definitely don't want that! Anyway, all the best to you and I hope your headaches go away soon.

Hi Christine,

As a chronic headache and migraine sufferer myself, I completley agree with Beverly; it does sound like a migraine (especially since it's lasted so long). I'm also surprised you GP didn't give you anything.

I use Rx meds for my migraines, but it also helps to lay in a cool, dark room with a VERY cold pack (I keep one in the freezer) right at the base of my head / very top of my neck. Since migraines are vascular, this has been proven to work because this is where all the "migraine transmitters" are.

I also know that some scents are helpful in lessening the effects of headaches / migraines- lavender is really good for relaxation and I've used a peppermint based ointment on my temples. You could probably search the web for aromatherapy to find more info.

I also get massages a couple times a month because my shoulders become so tense and this causes headaches for me. I know this is $$, but thankfully, my insurance covers it. However, there are some really great products by Homedics that work well, too.

Lastly, if you choose to look into the aromatherapy, you might also seach pressure points (acupuncture / acupressure). I know there is a pressure point in the fleshy area between your thumb and your pointer finger. If you squeeze firmly in this spot, it does lessen a headache.

Hope this helps a little. Keep searching, there is NO reason to suffer like this.

Blessings to you,
fischee

I never thought I'd see the day when I said that I wish I had a panic attack 24/7 than to have a migraine. But that day has come. I've had two migraines this week, and I'm now living in constant fear that I'll have another one.

My migraines used to be sporadic, but now I'm having them monthly, and this week I had two, so I'm really beside myself. I've kept a headache journal trying to pinpoint my triggers. So far, no luck. I'm going to the doctor on Monday for my yearly physical and I'm going to ask about a daily med for migraines. I hate living in fear of my next one. I can usually handle the headache - it's the aura beforehand that freaks me out. I teach, so I really need to get a handle on this.

I had migraines for years and they were stress related- I can see that now, but couldn't then.

They have really good triptans out there. I sill have Frova to take for my time of the month. Topamax helped, but hurt my overall cognitive ability and I had memory problems with it. My Brother in law took it once, went into Walmart and didn't know what to do. It's one of those where you weigh the consequences, but I was desparate for relief, living in pain more than not.
Let us know how the doc's appt goes.
P.S. I have Dolgic which relieves the stress portion of the migraine where the neck and shoulders tense up. It works wonders, but has caffeine, so I don't take it at night. Good luck!