I'm really scared it's something serious

I'm sixteen now, but I've been getting bad headaches on and off for longer than I can remember now- definitely well over a year. At first I thought it might be due to stress what with exams etc. and would go away by itself, but after it didn't I decided to go to my doctor last summer. He just told me to take some painkillers when the pain came and to ignore it.

I've still been getting them on and off since, but I didn't go back because I think he'd probably say the same thing again, and the pain is often quite mild (like right now) and I've started to be able to ignore it. The thing is, it's not so much the pain which bothers me, it's more that I'm starting to worry that it might be something more serious than just isolated headaches. Recently I've noticed that I find it quite hard to focus, and simple things like the names of characters on TV programmes I've watched for ages seem to escape me for a few seconds until I really think about them. Plus a few years ago I found a lump on my head behind my right ear, which my doctor said was probably a lymph node, but I can't help but wonder if it's connected.

I've been away on holiday recently, and I was planning on making an appointment in the next few days when possible. I don't have a regular doctor though (my surgery is really odd with appointments and doctors, otherwise I would have got one today), so it's quite possible that I'll just get told to take some painkillers again. And a small part of me is thinking that if it is bad news, then I almost don't want to be told- if that makes sense.

Could it quite easily be caused by stress or lack of sleep, and I'm just being hypersensitive?

Reply 1

beach surf babe

14

Go and see a doctor and tell them that pain killers don't help. If you make that clear then they might look at other ways to treat it and also whats causing them. Severe headaches aren't fun and if they are giving you grief then you need to get that looked at.

Reply 2

he_is_innocent

It may be that because you're worried of what it might be, you are getting very very sensitive so thinking that random, normal headaches are connected which actually aren't so try not to worry too much :smile:

I'd go back to the doctors if I were you, even if you can't see the same one, and make sure that whoever you see knows that you are worried and you have been seen before about this. Also make sure they know how long it's been going on for. If you can, make a note of when you get the headaches, and when you forget things (and what they are etc) to show the doctor, just so they know exactly what you mean! Good luck, hope it gets better for you :smile:

Reply 3

Saffie

11

Recently I've noticed that I find it quite hard to focus, and simple things like the names of characters on TV programmes I've watched for ages seem to escape me for a few seconds until I really think about them. Plus a few years ago I found a lump on my head behind my right ear, which my doctor said was probably a lymph node, but I can't help but wonder if it's connected.

My memory's a bit rubbish like this and i've noticed lumps on my skull (behind ears) before. I don't really get headaches though, so I don't think they're related.

Many people have chronic headaches without serious (or even any) reason.

Reply 4

Angelil

19

See your doctor again, and if he's still useless, see another, as evidently normal painkillers aren't working and something stronger is needed.

I'm really scared it's something serious

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