Should I see a doctor?

meminikitty

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Hey everyone!

Well, I've been feeling for strange lately for the pass two weeks:
-headaches on the left back side of my head
-Periods where I can barely hold my head up and have to rest it on my arm
-Mild dizziness
-Huge lack of concentration, I just blank out

At first I thought I wasn't getting enough sleep so I started going to bed earlier. I'm not tired. I did just recover from the flu. But I'm no longer sick and I'm getting heachaches mostly every morning, and then off and on throughout the rest of the day.

I'm wondering whether I should tell my mom or not. I don't want to go to the doctor, since our doctor is an hour and a half away and I'd have to miss school.


So should I go or not? The dizziness isn't bad, it's mostly the headaches and the lack of concentration that I can't stand! It's like one minute I'm working and next thing I know I'm staring off into space for a whole minute straight
 

nurseangel

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Please tell your mom, she will appreciate it if you let her know you're having problems. And please go to the doctor, even though it means missing some school. I'm not trying to scare you; that's the advice I would give anyone who isn't feeling well. Keep us posted and I hope you feel better soon.
 

ldg

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This is an excellent article on exactly that subject:

http://www.articlealley.com/article_193686_17.html

You may want to continue trying to get a lot of rest, drink a lot of fluids, and add a vitamin to your diet if you don't eat healthy. But it sounds like maybe it's the flu coming back at you.

If you did have the flu, that is caused by a virus, and all there is to do about it is help your body fight it off. There aren't medications to treat it anyway.

But as it has been happening for two weeks - I don't know how much longer I'd give it before getting to a Doc.
 

mismaris777

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Since you have ALL those symptoms that have all basically happened at the same time, I would definitely go to a doctor. Tell your mom- FORGET about missing school. They will not fail you if you need to go to and see a doctor. And think about it, with such a lack of concentration, exactly how well CAN you do in school right now? I'd assume that it's pretty hard. I used to try and stick it out with my headaches for school, and it only made me start failing my classes. Like right now, I'm sitting in a hospital coming on 2 weeks now even though I know that I'm missing a TON of school, and I may probably not be able to recover my classes and may just have to drop them.

You have a choice- you could stick it out and risk it being something VERY serious and not miss school, or you could possibly save your life by missing a day of school and telling your mom to bring you to a doctor. If it were me, I would choose the 2nd option, and I think that everyone that responds to this is going to think the same way. Your health is most important, not missing one day of school. Plus from what you are explaining, it sounds like there may be a serious issue with your head. It could be anything from exhaustion to a mild stroke, even though you're young it can happen. You did mention that you were sick before- it can be an infection in your brain since it is so localized. Or it could be a nutritional deficiency of some sort. Maybe you're low on some vitamin. A simple blood test at your doctor will be able to rule that out for you.

TELL YOUR MOM, GO SEE A DOCTOR, FORGET ABOUT MISSING SCHOOL!!!!!!!!!
 
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meminikitty

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Originally Posted by mismaris777

Since you have ALL those symptoms that have all basically happened at the same time, I would definitely go to a doctor. Tell your mom- FORGET about missing school. They will not fail you if you need to go to and see a doctor. And think about it, with such a lack of concentration, exactly how well CAN you do in school right now? I'd assume that it's pretty hard. I used to try and stick it out with my headaches for school, and it only made me start failing my classes. Like right now, I'm sitting in a hospital coming on 2 weeks now even though I know that I'm missing a TON of school, and I may probably not be able to recover my classes and may just have to drop them.

You have a choice- you could stick it out and risk it being something VERY serious and not miss school, or you could possibly save your life by missing a day of school and telling your mom to bring you to a doctor. If it were me, I would choose the 2nd option, and I think that everyone that responds to this is going to think the same way. Your health is most important, not missing one day of school. Plus from what you are explaining, it sounds like there may be a serious issue with your head. It could be anything from exhaustion to a mild stroke, even though you're young it can happen. You did mention that you were sick before- it can be an infection in your brain since it is so localized. Or it could be a nutritional deficiency of some sort. Maybe you're low on some vitamin. A simple blood test at your doctor will be able to rule that out for you.

TELL YOUR MOM, GO SEE A DOCTOR, FORGET ABOUT MISSING SCHOOL!!!!!!!!!
So I should go to the doctor and take a blood test?!

What if my head doesn't hurt all the time? There are times when I feel fine. It's mainly in the mornings and then it comes and goes... but yeah, you're right, it is hard to concentrate in school and PE is pure torture. I'm going to go tell my mom now, but I'm not so sure about a doctor yet. :/
 
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meminikitty

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ALSO during school, PE is the worst. Its like when I go up to run or participate in an activity, my head starts hurting even more. Running gave me a huge headache, but I completed the mile without complaint.


There are just times when the inside of my head just aches. The headaches last from 5-15 seconds... they come frequently and sometimes are spaced apart...
sorry everyone, I'm acting as if you are all in the medical field! I should be asking my doctor this... but I just don't think it's that big of a deal...
 

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I'm not in the medical field, but I would say that it could be something that could be easily fixed but if you let it go will turn into something major. Please go see a doctor.
 

catkiki

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Don't ignore this. Go to a doctor. I don't want to scare you, but something similar happened to me in 2004. I would ignore problems with my vision and speaking as it would only be for a few seconds or at most a minute or two. In Dec of 04, (5 days after my 48th birthday) I was getting ready to start work, joking with my friends, and I suddenly couldn't talk. I could just say a word or two.

Well long story short, I was rushed to the hospital where I spent 5 days (right before Christmas! I got out the 21st) and had to be off work 7 weeks. I had to learn to talk again! I still have problems when I get overly tired. I had had a small stroke, not saying that is what is happening to you. But it is better to be safe than sorry. It could be residuals from the flu or it could be something more serious. Tell you mom and get it checked out.
 

natalie_ca

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Originally Posted by Misty8723

I'm not in the medical field, but I would say that it could be something that could be easily fixed but if you let it go will turn into something major. Please go see a doctor.
I am in the medical field and I vote going to see a doctor. The symptoms you have are a concern, especially since you say you have had the flu recently.

Please, I commend your desire to not miss school, but you really need to take care of your health, and going to a doctor when something is wrong is majorly important.
 

trouts mom

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I actually can't understand why you would even ask if you should see a doctor. If something isn't normal that I am experiencing, I certainly go.

It's not a hard decision.
 

calico2222

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Originally Posted by Trouts mom

I actually can't understand why you would even ask if you should see a doctor. If something isn't normal that I am experiencing, I certainly go.

It's not a hard decision.
I agree, go to the doctor. It may be nothing, but it COULD be, and that's what I'm afraid of. I don't want to scare you but you need to get it looked at.
 
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meminikitty

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Originally Posted by Catkiki

Don't ignore this. Go to a doctor. I don't want to scare you, but something similar happened to me in 2004. I would ignore problems with my vision and speaking as it would only be for a few seconds or at most a minute or two. In Dec of 04, (5 days after my 48th birthday) I was getting ready to start work, joking with my friends, and I suddenly couldn't talk. I could just say a word or two.

Well long story short, I was rushed to the hospital where I spent 5 days (right before Christmas! I got out the 21st) and had to be off work 7 weeks. I had to learn to talk again! I still have problems when I get overly tired. I had had a small stroke, not saying that is what is happening to you. But it is better to be safe than sorry. It could be residuals from the flu or it could be something more serious. Tell you mom and get it checked out.
Ohmygosh, are you alright? That's terrible--I'm so sorry!

And I told my mom. Here is how our conversation went after I told her how I've been feeling:

MOM: "It's not such a big concern. A lot of people get headaches. I get them a lot too. Besides, you've just been sick."

ME: "But Mom, I get them off and on, and sometimes I think I'm concentrating, and then I'm really not."

MOM: "Maybe you just need more sleep."
ME: "I've been trying to get more sleep! I am getting more sleep. But it still happens."
MOM: "Well you just recovered from the flu..."
ME: "I know but what if its something more serious?"
MOM: "It probably isn't, but if it lingers then I'll ask the doctor if I should be concerned. Until then, some Tylenol will do you wonders."

As you can see, I did not go very far. I suppose I'll have to wait. Although, my brother believes I may be anemic... but he just tries to freak me out!
 

mismaris777

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I think I forgot to add: I've seen TONS of people that suffered from headaches and never got it checked out, and then once they did find out what it was, it was almost too late and could've been prevented or identified/treated much earlier. I'm actually sitting in a hospital right now that specializes in headaches because they couldn't determine what was causing my headaches. My headaches were left untreated for a LONG time (I'm talking years here) and when I finally got my first MRI they found that I had a mass in my head and then when they went to check and make sure it wasn't cancer or anything by doing a lumbar puncture (spinal tap) they found that the pressure in my head was over twice as high as the normal high should be in any person. My doctor had told me that I should've been blind for the amount of time it took to diagnose it. If I never did address my headaches, then I can assure you that I WOULD be blind today.

I'm not trying to scare you, I'm just trying to give you the worst case scenario. If you have any concern about the way you feel, you should always go to a doctor. It wouldn't hurt to just go and see what they say.

About the blood test... I didn't mean to freak you out or anything. I'm totally not afraid of needles or anything so thinking of a blood test is absolutely nothing to me when it is a HUGE problem for others, that I understand. Drawing blood (if done well) shouldn't hurt much at all, and if they do have you get some sort of scan you have nothing to worry about there because most of the time they don't use needles for that (unless you're getting a scan that requires contrast, but that's totally a different story lol)

Your doctor will do what's best for you. That's his/her job. Who knows, it could be something as simple as a mineral or vitamin deficiency in your body that needs to be taken care of, which is easy because all you would need to do then is take supplements. I would assume that it is something like that because you did just say that you did have the flu very recently, and when you have the flu it's kinda like your body goes into "hyper-drive" lol and uses up all its resources in your body. So, that's my guess. I'm no medical professional, but with all my health issues and medical problems that I have, I may as well be in the medical field lol, especially when it comes to headaches. I'm pretty much the queen of ridiculous, constant headaches. So I know how you feel.

Trust me, I know how you feel and how it can be very scary to go to the doctor and not know what to expect, what they will do, what kinds of tests they will want, etc. But in the long run you will only be helping yourself. I commend you on your dedication to school too, but you can't do well in school if you aren't well yourself. I've already learned that the hard way.

Last thing, I swear. If you do go to the doctor, the doc CANNOT make you do anything that you don't want to. If they want to draw blood for a complete blood panel, you do have the right to refuse that as you are there on your own good will. You're your own advocate- and I know that if you care about yourself you will do the right thing and do tell your mom and go to a doctor.

(I always write way too much, my bad
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strange_wings

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^You've covered everything pretty well, though.

RE: Getting blood drawn. It really isn't that bad. I've had cat scratches that hurt more - the type where your cat tries jumping on you and slides down.
It helps not to look down at the needle and if you're right handed make them take blood from your left arm.
 
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meminikitty

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Originally Posted by mismaris777

I think I forgot to add: I've seen TONS of people that suffered from headaches and never got it checked out, and then once they did find out what it was, it was almost too late and could've been prevented or identified/treated much earlier. I'm actually sitting in a hospital right now that specializes in headaches because they couldn't determine what was causing my headaches. My headaches were left untreated for a LONG time (I'm talking years here) and when I finally got my first MRI they found that I had a mass in my head and then when they went to check and make sure it wasn't cancer or anything by doing a lumbar puncture (spinal tap) they found that the pressure in my head was over twice as high as the normal high should be in any person. My doctor had told me that I should've been blind for the amount of time it took to diagnose it. If I never did address my headaches, then I can assure you that I WOULD be blind today.

I'm not trying to scare you, I'm just trying to give you the worst case scenario. If you have any concern about the way you feel, you should always go to a doctor. It wouldn't hurt to just go and see what they say.

About the blood test... I didn't mean to freak you out or anything. I'm totally not afraid of needles or anything so thinking of a blood test is absolutely nothing to me when it is a HUGE problem for others, that I understand. Drawing blood (if done well) shouldn't hurt much at all, and if they do have you get some sort of scan you have nothing to worry about there because most of the time they don't use needles for that (unless you're getting a scan that requires contrast, but that's totally a different story lol)

Your doctor will do what's best for you. That's his/her job. Who knows, it could be something as simple as a mineral or vitamin deficiency in your body that needs to be taken care of, which is easy because all you would need to do then is take supplements. I would assume that it is something like that because you did just say that you did have the flu very recently, and when you have the flu it's kinda like your body goes into "hyper-drive" lol and uses up all its resources in your body. So, that's my guess. I'm no medical professional, but with all my health issues and medical problems that I have, I may as well be in the medical field lol, especially when it comes to headaches. I'm pretty much the queen of ridiculous, constant headaches. So I know how you feel.

Trust me, I know how you feel and how it can be very scary to go to the doctor and not know what to expect, what they will do, what kinds of tests they will want, etc. But in the long run you will only be helping yourself. I commend you on your dedication to school too, but you can't do well in school if you aren't well yourself. I've already learned that the hard way.

Last thing, I swear. If you do go to the doctor, the doc CANNOT make you do anything that you don't want to. If they want to draw blood for a complete blood panel, you do have the right to refuse that as you are there on your own good will. You're your own advocate- and I know that if you care about yourself you will do the right thing and do tell your mom and go to a doctor.

(I always write way too much, my bad
)
haha no that wasn't too much
I love to read so it wasn't torture... and yeah, I decided I'll go to the doctor, I guess better safe that sorry. And are you OK now? I hope you are!

And I'm definitely going to the doctor now... it's just a matter of when they are open for an appointment. My mom is calling on Monday.
And one more thing...
sometimes at night, I hear people talking in another room, but everyone else is asleep. I tell my brother and he keeps saying "No burglars can get in! All the doors are locked! And do you see anything stolen?"

Yet at night, I always hear people walking and I hear talking. Could this be related to my headaches? Because when I heard them the other night, I was so freaked that I woke up my sister and she couldn't hear anything and thought I was joking...can my head play tricks on me like that?

Please don't say ghosts!
It doesn't happen every night... but once in a while, should I mention this to the doc or is it nothing to worry about? I do have a big imagination. But this never happened to me before and I;m not afraid of the dark. This started about when my headaches started as well... now that I think about it... IDK lol
 

strange_wings

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Hmm. If you mention hearing things like that your doctor may start thinking schizophrenia. Careful with your wording so you don't actually lead them down the wrong direction.

Auditory hallucinations can be caused by other things. My worry would be a tumor, epilepsy, infection, or lesion somewhere (no, I'm not trying to scare you!). Some people will hear things as they're falling asleep, my understanding is this isn't that uncommon and really isn't a sign of anything serious - something to do with your body already falling asleep.

Do try to push them into getting and MRI of your head and neck.
 
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meminikitty

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Originally Posted by strange_wings

Hmm. If you mention hearing things like that your doctor may start thinking schizophrenia. Careful with your wording so you don't actually lead them down the wrong direction.

Auditory hallucinations can be caused by other things. My worry would be a tumor or lesion somewhere (no, I'm not trying to scare you!). Some people will hear things as they're falling asleep, my understanding is this isn't that uncommon and really isn't a sign of anything serious - something to do with your body already falling asleep.

Do try to push them into getting and MRI of your head and neck.
Oh gosh... schizophrenia? I definitely don't want them thinking that! Its usually like this: I fall asleep and wake up to heavy footsteps, I wake up and I get all tense and stay up half an hour to two hours just listening to them talk in low voices and walk around... it's creepy! But there's no sign of burglary

Thanks for your great advice! An MRI? Is that like a head scan? I'll look it up...
 

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I had a brain MRI just recently, and as long as tight spaces don't bother you, its no big deal. The hardest part was just being bored during the scan.
The place I got mine done at played music in the room, gave me ear plugs, and just did a pretty good job at making things very calm and comfortable.

Basically, they stick your head in a tube with a big magnet that takes pictures of your brain. Doesn't hurt at all, just some knocking noises as the machine does its job.
 
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meminikitty

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Originally Posted by Sandtigress

I had a brain MRI just recently, and as long as tight spaces don't bother you, its no big deal. The hardest part was just being bored during the scan.
The place I got mine done at played music in the room, gave me ear plugs, and just did a pretty good job at making things very calm and comfortable.

Basically, they stick your head in a tube with a big magnet that takes pictures of your brain. Doesn't hurt at all, just some knocking noises as the machine does its job.
lol good think I'm not claustrophobic! Do you get to see the pics of your brain? That'd be really neat. haha being bored? How long did it take? lol!
 

sandtigress

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I did, but there wasn't really anything to look at in my case. It all depends on your doctor, I suppose.


Mine took about 20 minutes, but some take around an hour! Twenty minutes was bad enough.
 
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