Headache

Hey guys I know this isn't bipolar related but I said I would keep you updated.

I've had to call an emergency helpline (NHS24) regarding my headache.

Back ground info... I've had a headache since Dec and it's quite severe. It affects the bottom of my skull. Like a hammer/drill going through my skull. I made a GP appointment but it wasn't until 23rd (Thurs). So the pain started getting sever on Thursday (16th) my neck is now affected and I can't lie down, sit or turn without being in agony.

So today I called 111 (NHS24) at around 10:40am and got asked questions etc then the operator told me to await a phone call to go for an outpatient appointment at a local hospital. So I got an appointment for 2:45pm. Off I went unsure what to expect.

The doc wants me to get an x ray she thinks it might be the discs in my back. Gave me meds for it. Took my blood pressure it was high the 3 times she took it.

So on Thursday morning at my GP appointment they will have my notes from today so should read them. But if they don't then I'm to ask for an x ray, blood pressure to be checked and also my cholesterol. Ironically I'll need to either go back to the hospital I was just at to get the x ray or I will have to go to the main hospital. The hospital I was just at is a smaller hospital made up of lots of services but x ray department isn't opened at weekend's so you have to go to the main hospital where A&E is

So here is to me getting better I need sleep please

I hope things ease quickly, Miss Laura. Ideally you would be well enough that you didn't need to keep those appointments with NHS.

How horribly painful that sounds!

I'm sorry to read that you've been in such pain for so long, Miss Laura. I'm glad that you are getting help. Hopefully they'll figure out the cause quickly so the proper treatment will come quickly.

I am also so sorry you have been struggling with this misery, Miss Laura. Have you already had a brain MRI, by chance?

Hey there,

No I haven't had anything. Hopefully the x ray will come back with something (I hope) if not it'll be what the doc thinks I need. I volunteer next to physios so gonna see if they can see me tomorrow I hadn't thought of them until a friend suggested them

How are you today @Miss Laura? Did you see the phisios?

Hey I'm so much better actually got a sleep last night no pain at all. However today its back to being sore. Meds are just taking the top off the pain unlike last night when it knocked the pain right out of me. I couldn't see the physios today they were all at meetings. I'm sure I can handle it until Thursday

Hi Miss Laura!

I am sad you have been in pain. It seems you are on the right track in looking after yourself! Great job! I hope you will be comfortable from here on out. I also hope to read great news on Thursday! (((((( Ms Laura ))))))

Making spaghetti with hamburger and sauce for the kids. Well, N3 and his gf. I may have some too.

Hey guys update....

Saw GP this morning. Waste of bloody time. When I saw out of hours GP on Sun she said I need an x ray, bloods took and my blood pressure took again as it was severely high and maybe a med to help it.

Goes in today to my own GP surgery. She was like why you here (so hadn't read the notes from Sun). Went through the story with her about the headaches how sever they were etc then said I went to out of hours GP. She then looks at my notes. Then asks a few minimum questions. Comes to feel my neck (2 sec job). Tells me in that 2 sec examination its MUSCULAR and nothing to worry about EXCUSE ME??? Tells me she would get an MRI done but it's not necessary IS IT NOT??? Tells me she will give me a month's supply of Naproxen and Lansoprazole but NOT Codeine despite getting that on Sun. Why I do not know. Come back in 4 weeks. Then says come back in 5 weeks instead as I'm off on holiday.... IT'S OK LOVE I'LL SEE ANOTHER GP.

Told me blood tests aren't necessary why??? I was told I needed them. Nope. It was for my cholesterol btw

Wasn't going to take my blood pressure as in her words "it was done on Sunday" HELLO!!! ARE YOU LISTENING TO ME AND OR READING THE NOTE FROM THE OUT OF HOURS GP??? It's a must as it was massively high. She took the reading as I demanded it. The top reading was 171 over I don't know and then she took it again as it was high no s@@@ sherlock. 2nd reading 161 over I don't know what. They are meant to take it 3 times to make sure your ok. Nope not thus GP. I have to make an appt and see the nurse in 2 weeks time to get blood pressure took again.

I have a mole on the left hand side of my face. It's been there 2 years and last year was small. It's now the size of a grape and is darkened in colour and has a dark dot in it. Get it checked right?? Nope she takes a quick glance at it. Gives it a long name and says your fine

I have water retention in both feet. I struggle with getting shoes to fit and I get massively swollen feet if standing or sitting for long periods of time. I asked about thus. Without examining me at all. Socks and shoes still on she quickly said I don't give out tablets for that to someone as young as you. Right but you gonna check it NO???

Lastly I said I'm coming down with the flu I have sweats (hot and cold), muscle and joint aches, cough, runny and block nose, again sore head and I always get sore gums which is unbearable. She again quickly told me no. There is nothing for flu. Oh right so the meds I got 2 years ago when I had the flu exactly like this were all in my mind???

Yes I'm angry, yes I'm upset she dismissed everything another GP said to me and made out that everything is fine and dandy. Like hell it is. I'm suffering like mad here.

I'm just away to make another appt for 3 weeks time. My support team at mental health centre who I saw today told me to do this as its unacceptable. I certainly will not be getting her again in a hurry

Sorry to rant as you can tell I'm not at all happy

I am so sorry you had such an unsatisfying experience with your GP. Is there any possible way you might see a different one next visit?

I have just booked to see my actual GP on 10th Feb. So see what happens but if I'm feeling any worse I'm to call NHS24 for an out of hours GP to see me

Good. I think that is very wise.

Update

Eventful day ended up at hospital at 11am. Originally had a GP emergency appt at 10am. Blood pressure was 196/123. Here's the same GP and another GP telling me it was just inflammation and or muscle spasms. Fast forward to 10:20am my GP has called the hospital and is sending me up there with a letter and a copy of my medical sheet (tells you all the times I have been to the surgery and what the reason was) not kidding you its from birth to present day. Had on it right at the start of it that I was premature and that I'm a twin lol.

11am until 11:45am I'm just sitting in the bay waiting to be seen it's really busy. I was on the AMU (Acute Medical unit). Then I was summoned by a male nurse to get blood pressure x 3 took, temperature and heart beat took. I then sat for 30 mins and a female nurse came to take blood. Typical couldn't find a vein and an ECG. Eventually got 4 tubes of blood took. Back to my original seat in time for lunch a sandwich. My Sister joined me at 1pm. I had to do a urine sample. At around 2pm I was took by the Doctor lovely woman from America. She did a full history, took a full physical, said bloods and urine were fine as was ECG. She said we'll send you for a CT scan... never had one before. To be honest I've actually never been in the hospital. Today has been a first for me in many ways. I was due to get the CT scan at 4:20pm so I got to go off the ward for a breather my Sister and I went to the main level where there are shops, vending machines, cafes and fresh air lol. Went back at 3:55pm per Docs request. Sat fir 10 mins then was whisked to the CT scan. Road in my first wheelchair lol. By 4:15pm I was waiting to be took back to the ward by the porter. 4:30pm until 6pm I was just sitting in the bay getting my blood pressure took over again getting my temperature took and also doing another urine sample. At 6pm I was took to a room. The Doc told me the CT scan shows a small lesion in my brain but that they are not concerned about it. However they need to get to the bottom of the pain. So I'm needing to go for an MRI scan and possibly a lumbar puncture may be needed. She says there is a possibility that I have pressure on my brain. Its concerning I'm in a lot of pain, am feeling sick, have a chronic headache and that my blood pressure is still high despite being took since 10am when I saw the GP.

So off home i went with more Codeine, instructions to call the GP surgery on Friday to get a home monitoring blood pressure machine, keep my nurse appt on 6th as its for my blood pressure, stick to my GP appt on 10th as this is recommended. Get the GP to do a urine test again and finally wait for my appt to come through fir the outpatient MRI clinic.

So long day I've been in hospital for 7 and a half hours. I literally thought they were going to admit me lol.

So much for my GP surgery telling me its basically a simple inflammation and or muscle spasms. Also they weren't too concerned about my blood pressure.

Btw my blood pressure all day has been anything from 171-209 (top numbers) bottom numbers are well into the 100's. I have a family history of high blood pressure (this includes my twin), stroke and heart attacks (both are my Mum and she had them in 2013 and 2017 respectively). My Mum actually was having a heart attack in the waiting room to the GP's. Yet it's not on my notes at all. Oh and nor is the fact I have a diagnosis of Bipolar and Anxiety. Yet they had I had Asthma despite it being in childhood and I haven't had an inhaler through the NHS in 20 + years. No joke. Doc asks me about it I said I'm not on any she was confused as was I. Yet Bipolar again wasn't written on my notes in front if here. She guessed by the meds.

Anyway this is long so I'm going to bed now its 9:30pm here. I hope to get sleep as I haven't slept since last Monday. Will keep you updated with what's going on

Thanks for reading guys :-)

This makes me sad. The unsatisfying experience you had... and more.

Sooooo grateful you are finally getting some healthcare. I was quite suspicious there was more to your story than that disinterested GP seemed to feel. Sending you support and headache-relief!!!!

So, they didn't talk about treating your BP at all?

My GP printed off a list of all the times I had been there and why I went all there were was 3 separate spots for insomnia, 3 separate appts for low mood and anxiety and that was it. No mention of my diagnosis I was diagnosed on 27th Oct 2010. These appts above are all prior to the diagnosis. But the Doc at the hospital write it down. They will have access to my NHS notes which are stored at the hospital and get copies from the mental health team. So the info will all be there. But medical records are swamped as the number of patients the hospital see's is a lit on a daily basis. They had made a thin folder for me to take to CT which had my current symptoms, blood pressure readings, blood work done and ECG results. They will transfer all thus info in my file which is kept in the medical records room. They will write to my GP surgery with the outcomes of all the tests. So all I can do us wait and see

Ugh! Still really feeling ill (stinker of a sore head its blinding, sore eyes, dizziness, feeling sick) I've been like this since Wed so it's nothing new. Nothing is helping with it. Only good thing is the fact I can physically turn my neck albeit a bit sore but massively has improved. My thumb still has constant pins and needles.

Was at the nurse today to get a BP home machine. My BP when took just before 3pm was (168/116 and 179/118) the nurse asked if I wanted to stay and see a GP but i had another appt i was actually late for cause she took me 15 mins late. I have this for the week and she has cancelled my appt with her on 6th so I just need to go to my see my GP on 10th. Any problems at all and if my BP is higher tomorrow call in.

Tomorrow is my Birthday and I have plans so not exactly wanting to ruin the day as my Twin and I are doing stuff.

What a frustrating entanglement! GP's....I recall a time before GP's had so much power over a patient's life. They were for simple symptoms...sore throat, earache. That type of thing. Referrals to specialists were not needed. Over the past 30 years I have had but one GP worth her salt. The rest...pfffft. Not only useless, but even dangerous.

I am so sorry for you.