Axis of Advil
Comments: 13
My head has joined the Axis of Advil. I’ve been getting headaches migrating across the top of my head each evening like flocks of birds across a winter sky. Probably a brain tumour.
There’s a word that means having a strong fear of cancer, but I can’t remember it. I recall it meant more than just fear (which would seem a perfectly natural and commonplace thing where cancer is concerned): it was closer to a premonitory sort of knowledge that you would in fact develop cancer and that it was just a matter of time.
I’ve always had a touch of it, but then my inate pessimism kicks in and I begin to suspect that the reality will be a lot more mundane and that there will be no opportunities for stoic heroism. I will live to be 100.
Anywhere, where was I going with this? I don’t really think I have a brain tumour. Time to experiment with my headache power phrase and see if I can’t … block the receptors.
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Posted to General Rants • 2004.01.05 (Mon) • 23:18
Comments
Posted by MacDara 2004.01.05, 23:31
Could be just stress. When I’m under stress it usually manifests itself physically in tender spots that move around the top of my head (or my arms, sometimes). Unnerving and uncomfortable, yes, but nothing life-threatening. Yet.
Posted by myshpa 2004.01.05, 23:55
could be just cold, or stress, tumor :) …
could be also migraine … it affects also men no matter that most thinks it’s just women’s disease
if it’s migraine, you should change your lifestyle - but you’ll be suffering from this your whole life - as my doctor told me …
and sitting in front of the computer doesn’t help either - it has something with staring to the single point etc etc.
the word you’re looking for could be cancerophobia/carcinophobia
Posted by Seb 2004.01.06, 00:00
When did you last have your eyes tested?
Posted by ak 2004.01.06, 02:26
he would know if it was a migraine. the typical migraine consists of numbness, spotty vision, and a headache that will have you writhing on the ground. it’s definately something bigger than a headache.
Posted by Peter 2004.01.06, 23:07
You use a cell phone a lot, don’t you? …
Posted by Dave 2004.01.06, 23:30
I used to get lots of headaches and just put up with them. Eventually my dad suggested I go to a chiropractor. A few x-rays showed that I had misaligned vertebrae in my neck that were causing muscle spasms.
Posted by Gazer 2004.01.07, 15:06
I have ‘suffered’ from conditions that Dave and Seb mentioned, in other words check your eyes and visit the chiropractor, come to think of it I am under stress too…
Posted by Dran 2004.01.08, 19:41
Probably just dehidration apparently something stupid like 75% of headaches are caused by people not drinking enough water. Cut down the coffee and drink a few glasses of water/cordial. You do get cordial there don’t you? ;)
Posted by Stephen 2004.01.09, 18:51
I’ve come to think of myself as an expert on headaches, seeing as how I’ve had them since the 7th grade. A neurologist explained to me that I have tension, sinus, and migraine headaches.
The best thing I’ve found to fix almost all of my headaches is: two Extra Strength Tylenol, One (or two) Advil/Motrin and a cool washcloth over your forehead and eyes. Works 99.5% of the time.
However, you should still make an appointment with a neurologist so that you can get an MRI; it could be serious.
Posted by jh 2004.01.11, 10:16
Thanks for the advice, everyone.
I have friends who suffer from migraines, and what I have is definitely no migraine (for which I thank the gods in heaven). I almost never get headaches, so these were somewhat curious despite not being very serious.
It turns out I caught a typical sore-throat type cold, so I’m wondering if they had something to do with that (but why did they appear weeks in advance…?).
As for dehydration, I think this is an excellent point. Winters here are extremely dry and you really do have to make an effort to drink all the water you need. Some days I end up looking like one of those Chilean mummies they find high atop the Andes, wrinkled but preserved in the moisture-free air. I’ve been trying to increase the amount of water I drink and suspect that Dran may be right about this having something to do with it.
In the meantime, Stephen’s advice about the cool washcloth is spot-on.
Posted by Sam 2004.01.15, 08:19
I think the word you are looking for is Carcinophobia, “A morbid fear of acquiring a malignant growth.”
I don’t think you have it. Water is a good suggestion though. Remember what Ma used to say, “Water is nature’s soda pop! Mmm!”
Posted by Tom 2005.10.10, 20:48
Speaking from experience,if this is still bothering you I would get an mri of the brain.That is the only way they can find something if there is something going on in your head.I had a cyst in my brain and that is how it was found.This would also give you peace of mind if everthing is ok.Goodluck!Tom
Posted by Keith 2006.01.05, 21:50
I wonder why wouldn’t you call it AXIS OF EVIL after goingn through such agony.
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