Hello,
I have been under extreme stress lately (I would the most I have ever been at once), I have noticed lack of appitie, and lots of stomach discomfort as a result. This has been going on for about a week now (The Stress) and has recently brought upon a new symptom...

I woke up one morning about 7 days ago, and I felt kinda dizzy/disoriented, not enough to keep from doing my normal morning routine, but it definitly slowed me down. And I had this feeling like I had somthing heavy sitting on the back of my head, kinda like pressure, almost like a very very mild sinus headache but on the upper back part of my head. So I figured I would wait till the next day and see how things turned out, well I woke up the next day and I still had the feeling in the back of my head, but no dizziness or disorientation. So I figured I would begine poking around the net to see if I could find anything that sounded like my symptoms. Turns out this sounds exactly like a tension headache, so I kinda thought thats what it is, I just wanted to list my symptoms here and see if anyone else thinks the same. I haven't been to a doctor for this yet for to reasons, when I get the flu or really sick I get this same kinda headache, that often takes at least a week to feel perfectly normal again after I am better. The other reason is starting 1/1/05 I will have health insurance at which time I will defeinitly bring this to a doctors attention, I am just looking for some peace of mind in the meantime.

Here are my Symptoms:
•Upper portions of the back of the head feels like it has been weighted, causing it to feel like it is the center of balance.
•Exists on both sides of the head, and feels as if it is symetrical.
•The feeling is very dull and I would never say it felt like pain, more like weight.
•Somtimes it run from the upper almost top of my head down to the base of my neck on both sides. (At worst times)
•When I stress more, or do somthing active that involves movement of my head (Like Jogging) the feeling gets more intense, again not pain though, just dull ache/weight.
•Has existed for a week now, but the stress has not yet been resolved yet either.

Possible Contributions:
•Extremely Stressed Out (Worst I have ever been in my life)
•Increased Coffee Intake (I drink normally a 2nd cup of coffee around 6PM-8PM)
•Mild Depression
•Restless sleeping (I sleep ok, but I know I am tossing and turning more than normal)
•Exposure to very low concentration of Ozone for a long period of time (2 Months), currently the ozone has been removed for 5 days.
•Extremely dry sinus, some much so that somtimes there is small strains of blood in the phelgm or whatever you call the stuff left in the tissue after you blow your nose :)
•I need glasses and I haven't gotten them yet and I have minor eyestrain looking at computer monitors (Which I do all day cause I reapir computers for work), they are also very sensitive to light (Not a new symptom).

Well I guess thats all for now, sorry to make you read all that :)
Any help would be greatly apreciated,
Thanks so much :)
Todd
•

Todd, you are very wise to consider stress as a possible cause before you start imagining all sorts of horrible ailments. However, you may POSSIBLY have something else, like a ligament problem, a vertibrae pressing on a nerve, or as you said, a sinus infection. But most likely, whatever the problem, you are right in assuming the stress is probably making things worse. Go to the doctor as soon as you get your insurance and sooner if things get worse.
For now, try meditation in a dark room lying flat (no pillow) listen to relaxing music and tell yourself over and over.....this too shall pass.
And if you so believe, see yourself putting all your stress in a box, closing it up tight, and giving it to God and tell Him you are handing it over to Him. Then trust, truly trust Him.
Feel better soon!
Tink

Well it's been quite awhile.... And I still have this weird headache, it definitly has gotten better, but it's still there, somtimes now it causes very very mild pain for a very short period of time 5-10 seconds. It switchs sides, but occurs more often in the right back part of my head. My eyes have been increasingly bothersome, and I am still stressed a little over a recent "lump/bump" I found in my abdomen muscle. Also my heartbeat seems to be very strong lately, I used to never be able to find my heartbeat in my chest and now it's become very aparent. Is it possible that may high blood pressure could be causing this headache? I have read several sites about tension headaches and it sounds exactly like what i have but it doesn't seem to be going away.
Anyone have any ideas?
Thanks,
Todd

Sorry to hear you are not feeling well. I suffer from horrible headaches and I know stress plays a giant role. Here is my advice:
Make you dr's appt. right away as soon as you have insurance!!!

Limit your caffine intake. This is surely aggrevating your headaches.

Take a walk, get some fresh air, take a few deep breathes each and every time you get stressed out.

Keep in mind that when you are really stressed- you become more aware of your body and it's functions. Don't ignore your symptoms- tell your doctor everything, but keep in mind that stress can make you hyper-sensitive to physiological processes. I do this all the time, so I'm not suggesting you are a hypochondriac.

Get perspective- NOTHING is more important then your health and happiness. Relax, enjoy yourself, and take a break from whatever it is that is causing you so much stress.

Hope you feel better.
Lewis

Todd
Stress can raise your blood pressure and make you more aware of your heart rate. Hight blood pressure can very definitly cause morning headaches and usually they don't go away completely. S.A.D. can be made worse by stress. Not sleeping soundly will throw your whole body off. Lets face it -- stress can make everything go bonkers. :) The rest of the poster's are right, be aware of the symptoms, don't obsese on them, talk to your Dr and find a way to vent the stressfull energy--walking, working out, meditating, or whatever works. (Sex is good:)!) Laugh-- it relieves stress. I wish you all the luck in the world and hope whatever is making you feel so stressed out goes away with the New Year.

BB -- Magna