If you've read some of my previous posts, you may have gleaned that I I'm not a big fan of the medical community. Actually, I don't mind them in general, I just don't think they like me. Why else would they pull my nails, not give me prescriptions to medicines that could prevent later problems and yell at me after we got hit by an 18 wheeler? (Yes, I will tell those fun, fun stories soon)
But today, I kind of don't mind them so much.
I have had a headache for about a month now. Not most of the time, not after certain activities--non-stop headache that is just pissing me off and making me less angelic than I normally am. Sometimes it's worse, there is the straining/pinching feeling that comes and goes, but generally speaking, I have been in pain for a while. Which is why I finally went to see my doctor who listened, nodded and finally said I should get an MRI.
In light of some of my past experiences, I do not take well to the idea of getting an MRI, mostly because they're looking for things that do not belong in my head. Also, I'm ridiculously claustrophobic. So while I waited for the appointment setting lady to get back to me with time, date and instructions, I thought of all of the horrible things an MRI could find. Swelling? Runaway fluids? Inflammation? TUMORS?!? DEAR GOD WHAT IF THERE ARE TUMORS?!?! I know I'm hideous as a bald person, which is just adding insult to the TUMOR that may be growing in my head. I'm not old enough to have tumors, but then again young people get tumors in their brains all the time. I'm not ashamed to say I was close to tears before the nice lady asked me if I preferred a 5 o'clock or 7 o'clock appointment...
Since I didn't hear back from the doctor's office, I called today and they promised to call me back. The nurse (I'm assuming it was a nurse) called later in the afternoon, right after I got off a particularly unpleasant business call.
"Hello, GWCH? Yes, this is Mandy from Dr. W's office. I just wanted to give you the results from your MRI--it's clear, there's nothing in there."
"Excuse me? How can there not be anything in my head?"
"Oh! Ha ha ha! I didn't mean it like that. I meant there wasn't anything of concern in your head. Except for a thickness in your sinuses which is causing discomfort and pressure. I know a lot of people worry there are tumors when they go in for MRIs--but it's just your sinuses."
To recap: my head (still) hurts, I am having a very bad spell at work, and the Loud Tube of Horror (MRI) proved that there is nothing in my head (to worry about).
Now I can go back to my regularly scheduled neuroticism.
5 comments:
Well, that was momentarily terrifying. Glad to hear all is well.
man, if any of my friends could read this comment I'm about to make, they would probably shoot me, but:
have you tried a saline flush? It's fantastic. After you get past the whole putting salt water through your nasal passages. Oh, and one mistake not to make: do not just pour it in, as it will sit there and make things worse. You have to snort it.
And yes, I'm totally serious.
TK--I'm sorry for the scare. I was trying to imitate our governor and couldn't quite convey it. Plus, once the initial fear was behind me, I thought the results were kind of humorous.
Boo--My dad used to do those all the time and I thought it was crazy. But I think I will try it. Then I can sit back and relax about my empty head.
I'm just passing through and I thought ask... Have you thought about seeing an athletic therapist? They do crazy things with neck muscles, and that might relieve pressure on your head, too. My experience with it was after my concussion- I started to get nasty migraines that would last weeks at a time. The CT was clear, but an AT managed to work my neck enough get my head to be more comfortable. :)
I agree with the "nasal lavage" but I don't snort the saline- unless you have a deviated septum, it should flow through your sinuses and out the other nostril without any effort... It's still really uncomfortable though. Kind of like drowning. lol
Good luck!
Its called sinus infection..:)
But I'm no underpaid doctor...
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