AboutDina Q Goldin, Ph.D. Expertise Information and advice for Acoustic Neuroma patients who would like honest patient-to-patient interaction about their symptoms or about treatments and related medical procedures. If you are unsure if your experience is "normal", or are wondering whether your information is complete, feel free to ask.
Experience I am an Acoustic Neuroma patient and the founding editor
of the Acoustic Neuroma Patient Archive (http://www.ANarchive.org).
Expert: Dina Q Goldin, Ph.D. Date: 5/20/2007 Subject: Head Pressure, Face Numbness etc
Question Hi there.
I am a 26 year old female and I'm about to sound like a complete bag of ailments! Please bear with me - this reads like a novel!
I will empty the bag below:
- Head pressure, right side only. Located behind eye, more recently extending towards temple and ear. Until approx mid last year I had very few Headaches (would only experience perhaps 1 Headache per year!). Headaches more frequent in past year, fullness feeling is more frequent - squeezing/pushing sensation behind right right eye.
- Pressure has been particularly distracting this week and exhausting. This caused me to take 1 day off work (yesterday).
This morning, I woke with a bizarre soreness (to touch) around the right temple - cheekbone. Almost like sunburn.
Fullness in head arrived again approx 1hr after this.
- Vision. Have noticed mild vision changes over past few months. slight "glassiness" / Blurred vision in right eye. Only mild.
In last 2 weeks black spot/floater appeared in the LEFT eye (resembles a small fly flying through my vision). This is still here.
In past 3 months, noticed (while doing make-up) that my right eyelid had become less visible (skin under brow hides crease). This has become far more prominent in last 2 weeks (the drooping skin now rests on my eyelashes and feels heavy). I catch myself raising my brows to ease it. I also experienced a spell of frequent "twitching" around the eye about a month ago.
Ear - Hearing in right ear has deteriorated slightly over 2 years or more (not sure if this is related to other symptoms). Mild ringing has appeared over last year (usually only noticed when in quiet room/bed).
Periods - Over the last year my periods have become irregular. My cycle has always been normal. 33 days with 6 days on - for years.
Over the past year, my cycle has been anything from 44 - 64 with different durations (my last cycle was 64 days and the period only lasted for 3 days).
Tiredness - I feel tired more easily that I used to. I generally sleep for 8hrs (or more) per night, generally have a good diet (my boyfriend thinks I'm a saint!) and until the last 2 weeks or so, go to the gym regularly/exercise at home. (I've not felt well enough to train more recently).
Unusual - Particularly since the start of this year, I have noticed that I have had more difficulty in concentrating/absorbing information and "thinking on my feet". I would normally consider myself to be very articulate and quick witted. However, more recently, I have had strange episodes of mental block/freezing during conversations/not remembering words. The most recent being 2 days ago during a meeting. I became lost whilst describing something simple.
Also, I have no reason to feel unhappy, anxious or stressed (lucky for some) but have recently felt myself become agitated for an unknown reason/more easily. Work colleagues have also commented (either directly to me/or to each other) that I seem quiet or not myself. They have also commented that I do not look well/look tired.
- I have also been experiencing episodes of Nausea and gagging/heaving. Certain sights and particularly smells which I was previously indifferent to, now cause a gagging reaction (?!). I feel as if I will be sick.
Chest pains - I have been experiencing unusual sensations in the chest. Approx 2 months ago, whilst washing up, I experienced a strong pain in the chest (central/right) and had shooting pains along my right arm. Due to my age and that I should be more concerned by pains on the opposite site, I was not overly worried. However, later that day and for the following week, I had bouts of the same sensation (albeit milder) along both arms. I still occasionally get a twinge now. I thought it best to mention this as I have a family history of heart problems.
Please can I get some feedback on the above. I'm fully aware that this may appear totally and utterly unbelievable (and this is why I have been reluctant so far to go to a doctor) but I can assure you that each symptom is 100% genuine and is now beginning to cause me some concern.
Many thanks
Answer Many of your symptoms sound like the cause is hormonal (i.e. problems with the endocrine system). Others indicate a possible problem with the brain (i.e. a tumor). The two issues might be unrelated, but they probably are, because the hormonal issues are probably starting in the brain as well. My recommendation is not to wait any further before doing something about it, in case whatever is causing your symptoms is fast-growing. I would start by meeting with a neurologist, and to have them do an MRI. They may also refer you to an endocrinologist. Those are the two specialists who might be able to help you best.
