How many had headache as the only first symptom of a tumor

chazman · Regular Joined: 12 Jan 2009 Posts: 15

I am making myself crazy I know but I have this headache every day for 2 weeks now. Its not a painfull one just constant or almost constant pressure at the temples, top of head, back of neck, it moves around.

My big worry,brain tumor, my Dr feels its sinus infection, I do not agree but I am on Prendisone and Augumentin. I think I need an MRI my wife thinks its tension headache.

I have NO other symptoms at all, not dizzy, upset stomach, no weight loss nothing just the head and neck pain. Ibuprofin doesn't seem to help. Warm corn bag on the neck seems to slightly relieve.

Should I jsut go to the ER and hope that tehy will get me to a CAT or MRI sooner than anyother way or wait...

brainman · Last edited by brainman on Mon Mar 02, 2009 4:00 am; edited 1 time in total

Hi chazman. I am very sorry about your health concerns. While headaches sometimes are a sign of brain cancer, headaches are not the primary ones. In fact, a majority of us did not have headaches at all. Most often, headaches are caused by sinus pressure or stress.

Keep working with your own medical team to try to figure out what the root cause of your headaches is.
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chazman · Regular Joined: 12 Jan 2009 Posts: 15

Brainman, how common is it to have a headache off and on everyday for 2 weeks ! Shouldn't that be a call for an MRI even though I have no other symptoms ??

Its weird that it moves from temples to top of head to back of neck and back again all throughout the day.

Also would a CAT show a tumor IF there was one ?? So IF you got a CAT and it was clear you probably dont have a tumor ??

Also can you say that if you were me right now you wouldn't go to the ER and complain of the headaches and try and get a Cat ?

Thanks for your help

KelJ

Chazman,

Headaches were the primary indicator for my wife's tumour, however they were not the only symptom. She also had some numbness on her cheeks and a change in taste. The headache was caused by a significant increase in pressure as the tumour was blocking the third ventricle. Although we did have a CT completed which showed the possibility of a tumour, we ended up in Emerg for a neuro consult with a surgeon who took one look at the back of her eyes and rushed her in (apparently a bulge in the back of the eyes is a simple indicator of increased pressure). We had also waited several weeks for a CT.

Having said all that, I would have to agree with Brainman and try and work it through your doctor. My wife's headaches were devastating and could only be somewhat controlled with Tylenol III's. Nausea was also present. The only other option for us in Canada was to pay for an MRI privately, which we were in the process of when a routine CAT scan became available.

Not sure it helps and perhaps it's already resolved.

Kel

chazman · Regular Joined: 12 Jan 2009 Posts: 15

Thanks, my headaches all but left for a week now again off and on. They are good at night when sleeping, I have no other symptoms at all other than sinus plugged on one side or the other.

My Dr has looked nto my eyes and everywhere else,lol

Mine are kinda mild not even real bad pain more like pressure and mild pain just annoying

KelJ

Okay, well, maybe you can take a little piece of mind from it then. Good luck with whatever it is!

SFGiants13 · Senior User Joined: 21 Feb 2005 Posts: 126 Location: CA SF

Sorry if this may be a late post since I haven't been on here for a long while due to school. For me having pounding migraine headaches almost every day were the main concern of being diagnosed with Germinoma. My first primary doctor couldn't figure out what was wrong with me, instead my older sister's doctor, an Endocrinologist noticed something was seriously wrong, ordered an MRI and he discovered it. If it's not painful for you then I don't know, with what everyone said, it wouldn't hurt to ask for an MRI just to be on the safe side. Good Luck!

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