Headache with other disturbing symptoms
by Krista
(Knoxville TN)
It started Feb 4th...mild headache that by the morning of Feb 5th was pounding. It is on the Right side top area of the head. It was associated with nausea, vomiting, confusion, dazed, trouble finding words, and short term memory problems. The pain was severe and throbbing in nature as if someone was boring a hole in my head. Went to ER..was giving Thorazine, Toradol and Benadryl with some relief though the headache never fully went away.
CT scan was negative. The headache persisted though had dulled to what I say feels like someone stuck an egg in my head and left it there. I went back to the MD because I was still having the word recall issues, and the memory issues along with some inability to transcribe numbers and words. He had ordered an MRI which my insurance denied...he gave me meds for the pain and treated me for a possible sinus infection. I am distressed because I usually have an excellent memory...and have never had a headache like this before.
I am female, 41, never smoked. Am currently on Tramadol as needed and still have no answer..
Krista
Answer:
Hi Krista,
You sound like you have classic migraine headache symptoms. If you do not have uncontrolled hypertension or any coronary artery disease, there is no reason why you could not take a triptan like Imitrex. If it takes the headache away or even brings it down, then it is a migraine as triptans only work on migraines or cluster headaches.
It is quite common to have confusion and memory loss when in pain, no matter what the source of pain may be.
Another option is to ask your doctor to put you on steroid for a week or two. That might really help.
If this is new onset of headache for you and you have never had headaches before, then you should consider seeing a neurologist. Sometimes, with some insurance companies, they will not allow a PMD to order an MRI, but a neurologist can. An MRI can rule out the rare possibility of an aneurysym.
Good luck!
Mary Kay Betz MS RPA-C
Does the scenerio above sound like you? If not, or if you think you need more information please read about different types of headaches
to find out which type of headache you are experiencing.
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