CancerCompass message board discussion started by Infinitbelt on 10/31/2006 http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,7540,0.htm Fri, 10 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT Fri, 10 Oct 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ Hi, I am an 18 year old male and in good physical shape. I have no prior medical history. One day at about the end of July, I started getting dizzy, lightheaded, and developed pressure in the head. These symptoms came on suddenly, without any warning. I was taken home from a friend's house as I was feeling terrible. A lot of it was probably the fact that I did not know what was happening, so I was getting worked up (numbness, fast heart beat, etc.). Anyways, I went to see the doctor the same day, who put me on torprol and zoloft, thinking it was anxiety (at this point, I had a high blood pressure, approx. 150/110. My usually blood pressure before this was 110/70). I was still very nervous and could not get my heart settled down. A few days passed and the symptoms did not really get better (the same head pressure, sweating, fast heart beat, numbness, etc.). Many of the times, I felt like I was at the verge of fainting. So I went to the emergency room where they did a CT scan on me. They said that everything was fine with the CT scan and nothing was abnormal. They sent me home after running an IV and giving me medicine that calmed me down. I still had high pressure-feeling in the head so I went to my general physician. They did all sorts of tests on me, including urine, blood, and EKG. Nothing was out of the ordinary. So he continued to think it was anxiety. I started doing relaxing exercises (breathing, autogenic training, etc.) which seemed to help. After several weeks, the symptoms diminished and I started feeling better. After that, I went to college. I still have some of the head pressure here, on some days it is severe, while on others it is practically non-existent. I saw the doctor here and asked to get an MRI done but he said that he did not see a need to based on my history. I currently have a headache and mild pressure in the head. I was wondering if this sounds like it could be a brain tumor or whether it is just anxiety causing physical symptoms. Should I urge the doctor to get an MRI again? If so, how would I ask him about getting one done? Thank you very much, Alex Currently, the headache has died down a bit. The pressure is still there, but it fluctuates from being there to almost being non-existent. I also have a slight vomiting sensation. Infinitbelt Tue, 31 Oct 2006 00:00:00 GMT I am wondering if they checked your thyroid when they were doing all of these tests? I started off with hypothyroidism and now have Hashimotos disease. My Aunt started off with hyperthyroidism and ended up with Graves disease and later anaplastic carcinoma of the thyroid. The thyroid deals with so many organs and functions of the body, you would be so surprised. After finding out about my thyroid disease nearly 17 years ago I am still learning so many things about it. Often times when there is a problem with the thyroid there can also be a problem with other glands such as the pituitary gland, reproductive glands, adrenal glands, etc. This sounds to me like a glandular problem and more than likely a thyroid problem. I would look in that direction first before concerning yourself that it is a brain tumor. I am not an expert of diagnosis but I definately know how it can make you feel. Dizziness, lightheadedness, palpitations, can affect your BP, hearing, hair loss, nail problems, joint pain, etc.,etc.,etc., Check your thyroid to at least rule it out if they haven't already... Best of Luck Concerned Mom Fri, 03 Nov 2006 00:00:00 GMT Hey Alex. I'm Jenn and i have brain cancer. Im 19 and was diagnosed with spinal cancer when i was 16 and had surgery and treatments and was in remission. over this past summer i would wake up with a raging migraine and i would throw up. my neck was stiff and i was always in pain. Since i was throwing up so much i figured it was a stomach ulcer and took prilosec. When my parents came back from a trip they took me to my doctors at UCLA that handled my case 3 years ago. They gave me an MRI and it was determined that the tumors spread to my brain and now i have brain cancer. None of the symptoms that u had i ever experienced. I am a cheerleader so i am very active too and i dont get a rapid heartbeat or high blood pressure. You should see if u can get an MRI with contrast becuase it is very effective. Hope everything works out for ya! Shelby17 Wed, 08 Nov 2006 00:00:00 GMT Alex: It certainly sounds as though a brain tumor could be present although it could also be so many things. You need to calm down and think about what precipitated the feelings of pressure and headaches. Did you experience a blow to the head? It could be a mild concussion or head injury. Make sure they follow up so that you can seek the appropriate treatment!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Vavvy Vavvy Wed, 22 Nov 2006 00:00:00 GMT