I am posting in here to get some advice of others, I have seen my GP and finally been referred to neurologist as my GP is at a loss as to what might be causing these head pains.

I have always suffered with headaches / migraines since I was a teenager but for the last 15 years on and off I have also suffered with sudden and severe pains in my head. These are best described as a sudden intense bursting / pressure pain in my head, all over not just in a specific area. They come on suddenly and only last for approximately 30 seconds – 2 minutes each time although occasionally a bad one may go on for 5 minutes to the point where I am crying or thinking I’m going to pass out with pain. The pain is immense and stops me in my tracks, I have to sit and hold my head until the pain passes. I usually get distorted vision and ringing / whooshing in my ears and dizziness at the same time. Usually once the the pain has passed its like it never happened however when I get a bad one or several a day they do leave me a dull headache and I am more likely to get these pains if I have a headache anyway. The pain is always triggered by some kind of effort i.e, coughing, laughing, shouting, bending down, stretching etc. but they are not brought on by by physical activity ie, running etc

I did visit the GP about 10 years ago and he fobbed me off with stress as my blood pressure was “the high side of normal”. I have now been back to the GP twice in the last month due to the increasing intensity of the symptoms in the last 12 months and have finally been referred to a neurologist clinic. I have had full bloods done only thing found was low ferritin which I am now taking iron for. My bloody pressure was perfect both sitting and standing and my eye tests was perfect with no visible signs of swelling in the optic nerves.

I also get “pulsatile tinnitus” at times usually when lying in bed at night. I didn't mention this to doctor as I thought it was normal ! only realised after doing some of my own research that this could be a symptom ! I also have bad neck / shoulder pain which is like a burning pain but again I have assumed this is related to the fact I sit at a desk all day and is posture related, not sure if this is related to my head pain or not as this pain is constant.

I was a healthy weight as a child but gained weight in my early teenage years and I am overweight, I managed to lose a lot of weight 4 years ago and the symptoms did get better however I have now gained all of that weight back and I am struggling to lose it and the symptoms are worse than ever !! On a bad day I can have up to 10 of these episodes and they are really affecting me now.

The GP didn't seem to have any idea what it might be, I think she thought I was either making it up or exaggerating the symptoms !! I’m not looking for a diagnosis I just want to know a bit more about the headache symptoms and to see if anyone else have suffered these type of head pains as I want to arm myself with some information for when my referral comes through. It’s getting to the point now where I dread coughing, laughing, shouting etc as I know it will trigger the pain.

I have many other symptoms but the GP has put these down to my low ferritin (iron) levels. (13). Other symptoms are tiredness, hair loss, aching joints, heartburn, difficulty in losing weight, muscle cramps, restless legs, carpal tunnel. I had my thyroid levels checked and GP insisted these were fine at 3.3 (TSH)


Any ideas, experiences, suggestions would be much appreciated

Are you working on bringing up that Ferritin. I have been low but never that low that I knew of. Thyroid TSH is high which can indicate hypo. Doctors need to check t4 and t3 too not just the tsh. TOO MANY doctors just don't work enough with thyroid as it addresses so much of our body issues...some 69 or more symptoms of low thyroid. I've been that route for 10 long years from 1991 to 2002 when I finally got on armour thyroid. My money is on your thyroid. You talk about some of the classic symptoms.

If you are drinking fluoridated water, that is causing more thyroid issues. It's so complicated and one has to learn so much to get to a healthier place. I've been working alternatively/holistically for over 25 yrs and my main MD is an integrative doctor.

One has to work so much on their own health as the doctors just don't do it and don't have the time if they could really help.

I've been taking grape seed extract for 20 yrs and swear by it for so much of my pretty good overall health. I have issues but I manage by talking and researching and working with a lot of supplements.

DGL is a great stomach protector which also addresses reflux/gerd/heartburn. I don't know which meds you take, but they can do negative things to our bodies. I take ibuprofen for OA pain and hip surgery mess, and DGL protects my stomach. Well enough said for now. Hope some of this helps. C

Some of what you mention, desk job, carpal tunnel, neck,shoulder, back pain...and the headaches, might be related to Thoracic outlet syndrome... TOS for short..
Here is our TOS forum useful sticky thread , you may find some helpful information..even if you don't have full blown TOS the tips & info in all the sticky threads there is beneficial.
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread84.html

You might benefit from an expert PT evaluation, or even expert chiropractor if you are open to that.
Soft tissue tension & muscle spasms can cause many issues.. headache is one.

But a MRI of head & C spine is usually done , just to rule in/out any possible spinal issues or internal brain issues. Also a vision/eye check is a good idea..

If GP isn't following up as you would like, I'd find another GP...

I have a physio assessment booked for Tuesday. To be honest it was not until doing some of my own research today that I had even considered the neck pain was connected to my head pains.

htch, make sure you take adequate Vit C with iron for best absorption. I have talked to others in the UK on other health groups and I know some end up with naturopaths or integrative MD's if they are able to go this route.

I was just talking to a friend who is older granted, but her main issue is horrid fatigue and she doesn't get issues addressed with conventional MD's she sees. I tell her about my integrative MD, but it's up to her to change. I know money is no issue with her but many people just don't change their mindsets. My mindset was changed more than 25 yrs ago.

I see a chiropractor once a week for laser and ultrasound work for the arthritis I live with.

My TSH is lower than 1.. too bad they don't do better with thyroid health.

Thanks Caroline, I am taking iron supplments of 200mg 3 times a day.

I do believe I have underactive thyroid symptoms, my mother and also has this and was diagnosed about the same age I am now. I also have dry skin (although not severe) and suffer with cold hands and feet, heavy periods and have difficulty sleeping etc etc..

However my GP will not treat or refer, as she insists all of my symptoms can be explained by the low iron, and that the low iron is caused by heavy periods . In the UK most GPs will not treat anything below a TSH of 4.5

I know that a previous test some years ago had my levels at 1.6 so they have definately increased. My plan is to take the iron for the 3 months that they insist I do and then go back for my iron levels to be tested and re-iterate my symptoms again.. this time I will also ask for my TS4 Level results as well.

I have read some information about Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (IIH) and I think this may explain my head pains but this also can be associated with Underactive Thyroid. IIH is also linked with being overvweight and losing weight can help with the condition however I just cannot seem to lose weight so I go round in circles

Maybe the neurologist will listen to my thyroid concerns !