Back of head pressure, lightheaded, and fear of fainting...

I have been getting this pressure in the back of my head, for like 2 months now, not constantly, but mostly everyday.  There was one week where it totally went away, but it csme back. Some days I get it so bad, the only thing that makes me feel a little relief is when I lay down. The sooner I get this pressure or tightness in the back of my head, I get nervous, and start to think bad things like what if I pass out, and what if I panic and get a panic attack... (I also have anxiety disorder) the first thing I feel like doing is going to the ER, but I have been there already twice last month is the same week for this head pain, and they did CT scans, cat scans, EEG test, chest x-rays, head x-rays, blood tests, you name it. Every single test and scan, and x-ray they have done to me came out negative. They all say there is nothing wrong with my head, sinuses (even though they are constantly clogged and I can't breathe through my nose), or heart.

I am very distraught about this, because in the back of my mind I am thinking terrible, that maybe I may have brain cancer, or a tumor that is causing this. I doubt it, but it terrifies me. I am also terrified to pass out. Sounds kind of stupid, I know, but I have fainted several times in my lifetime so far, usually when I see a needle coming towards me, and I hate that feeling of passing out.  I also recently read somewhere that some guy can't look at an LCD tv, or a Plasma tv for more than a few minutes otherwise he gets a migraine. I have an LCD computer monitor, as well as a Plasma screen in my bedroom where I spend all of my time.  Could that be the cause? My doctor is sending me to a sleep apnea specialist to do a sleep study on me on March 9th, as she says may be the cause of my headaches and other issues. I will let everyone know how that goes. I take Paxil 12.5mg for my anxiety, and my doctor said that I should take Tylenol if I experience a headache/head pain. I have been doing this, but not everyday. Some days are worse than others, and the amount of pain I feel changes all day long.

If anyone has any experience in this field, please let me know what I can try to make this go away. I go to a Chiropractor, and it works occassionally, but it won't last all day. I also have had someone suggest I make a journal of the time I wake up if I have pain or not, to what I eat, and how much I eat, and the times I eat and if the pain gets worse, to write it all down. I am going to attempt this this week to see if there is anything that is triggering my head pain. I read an article that some foods like cheese, and too much bread triggers some headaches and other things. I will let everyone know what goes on in the course of the week

Hi BabyGaBe

In case you haven't yet found a cure to your symptoms,
I suffered with what you are suffering from for a few months a year ago. In my case, it was an ophthalmology problem. I am slightly more myopic in my right eye than in my left. This imbalance caused a "headache" similar to what you've described. Kind of like a tightness from the top of the back my head down to the middle of the back of my neck. I found it quite debilitating.
What fixed it in the end was getting corrective glasses. It went right away.

You can actually test this yourself by putting on sunglasses and waiting a bit. If it goes away, then it's probably a problem with your vision.

Migraines/stress can also bring it on. Unfortunately, our minds have more control over our bodies than we might like, in some cases. Stress can certainly cause your symptoms as well.

Hope that helps

Hi, I'm 17 years old and you've just decribed exactly how I've been feeling for a few months. I get this tight pressure at the back of my head and down to my neck very often and sitting down makes it worse. Sometimes the pressure gets so bad that I can feel it all around my head and it's really stressful. I'm really scared of passing out or something in class and I get really anxious, and then I start to worry that I'll panic in class, if I'm asked to participate it gets much much worse. At first I thought the pressure was just stress and psychological but it's gotten worse to the point where I can just be at home with no stress and it will happen. I also was suffering from anxiety attacks during my exams, it's my final year and the works kinda hard so I don't know if that brought it on. But if I focus really hard on relaxing when I get the same feeling then normally I'm okay... I've been put on manesium B6 for anti-stress but I don't think it's helping. I had blood tests done and they showed nothing, but I think it's something in my head anyway. I'm getting an MRI scan in a couple of weeks and an EEG, and I really hope they might come up with something. I know these posts are pretty old, but if any of you have found an answer yet to what it might be please let me know. It would be a really great help! Thanks and I hope the problem has already gone for you.

Hey guys I know it been a couples year back but I'm back with the Head pressure again it's been 3 months already I'm thinking the same thing about if imma pass out or just hoping is nothing very bad, tomorrow I am going to see if i can find a neurologist, I can't do my regular stuff i do, I'm afraid to go out again because of my headache, I never knew a stress headache can do so much to a person :(

Post Edited (BaByGaBe) : 8/22/2011 7:23:49 PM (GMT-6)

Hi bri in ohio

Thank you for your reply, I'm sorry to hear that you felt the sameway.. I will try the ice pack and the heat to back of my neck I usually won't go for a walk cause I be extremely lazy and also fear I might pass out outside but soon I will try it.. I'm going to a chiropractor in a few mins hopefully that will help, thank you for the info and keep in touch.

Hey Dudry,
Thank you for writing... I'm sorry to hear you have the pressure also. I never heard of it.. Did you looked it up on google? I have a appointment with neurologist for the first time september 14 hopefully he will have a answer for me. Thank you and I hope you get feel better also.

Hey, sorry it took too long to respond...but I still have had no luck :( the meds did nothing, possibly even worsen it so I'm just miserable everyday...but hey things could be worse

Hey Annuk, I'm so sorry to hear about whats happening with you :( thats awful to have to deal with it for 4 years. My doctor gave me Lexapro thinking depression was a side effect of the pressure in my head and it actually has started taking away the feeling, I know you said you've tried anti depressants, which ones did you try?

Have you guys looked into the possibility of Lyme, or chronic Lyme disease?

I recommend seeing an llmd, a Lyme literate medical doctor.

Message me if you want to know more.

Lou

i also experience the same thing as baby gabe, i really do not what started it or a clue of how to stop it??? It make me think things, like something must be seriously wrong with me! I always have bad dreams now and watching movies where others die or is a lot of fighting seems to make the pain worsen. BABYGABE did you find a soloution? , ive done exactualy the same as you, head scans, blood tests the lot and they still said nothing is wrong. I was provided with amitryptillin, it hasnt worked and the thought of having to take it forever with not possitive help from it just seems ridiculous.The constant burning pain just never seems to get better


Please help

klk8251,

I have something very similar, except mine has been generally 24/7 for nearly 8 years.  I also don't usually have the dizziness, but I do have the fatigue.  Alcohol can make the pressure worse, but generally it's more like I have an intolerance, in that I can get very unpleasant symptoms from just a couple drinks.  Certain kinds of exercise make it worse too--especially anything strenuous.  Running and any kind of lifting activity seem to cause the most problems.  However, walking a few miles (or more) seems to be the best--it doesn't make the pressure worse, and it just makes me feel better overall.

I know of one person who used to be here who also shares our symptoms, and she found a lot of relief with Amitriptyline.  I haven't tried that drug though--for a few reasons it's not a good fit for me.  I have tried Topamax, though, but it didn't help and the side effects were very annoying.  The next one I'm going to try is Flexeril, probably.

lemme know if you find anything helps, or if you have any progress otherwise.

Hey Sam2011. Have you been depressed/anxious for awhile? Have you tried any types of anti-depressants (SSRI's)?

I have been dealing with all kinds of headaches for more than 20 years. I have been diagnosed with migraines, stress headaches, sinus headaches and cluster headaches. I have been on most of the meds discussed in the messages above for anxiety and headaches. Just recently i started feeling the pressure in the back of my head that will radiate behind my eyes, nose mouth and neck. Seems to get worse when i move my head or eyes from side to side. Overwhelming feeling that I will pass out or something. I am in the middle of the EEG, MRI and cardiologist test, but my regular doctor put me on lexapro for anxiety and it seems to help the pressure and headaches. The neurologist put me on amatriptalin (sp?) but i could not function well on it so i stopped taking it. I have a 3 yer old and a job that will not allow me to come in with a cloudy mind.

I am so glad i found this post....I thought I was going nuts! My wife and doctors look at me like im nuts. I really hope someone figures this out and is kind enough to post their results on here.