Why do I have headaches, memory issues, and a sore throat?

Question

Hello doctor,

I have symptoms of head pain behind the back of my head, sometimes in the front, and swelling on one side of my shoulder. There are a few things I am experiencing:

I get a catch if I sleep on my face. I have throat pain and extreme throat irritation if I get a cold. I also have a dry cough with gel-like mucus, especially in the morning.

I feel like I am bleeding in my throat if I shout too much. I forget things very easily. Also, I forget what I said within an hour. In addition, I get angry and irritated with people. I have gallbladder polyps, sinusitis, bacterial vaginosis, and anemia.

I am currently not taking any medicine. And I have no surgical history. Also, I had another concern: if I eat bananas, prawns, or sometimes certain mangoes, I get abdominal pain.

My vitals are:

Blood pressure (bp) was 88/60 millimeters of mercury (mmHg) the last time I checked.
Hemoglobin (Hb) was 87.
Random blood sugar level (rbsl) was 111 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL).
Blood pressure (bp) was 97/64 millimeters of mercury (mmHg) again.
Pallor ++ve.

Kindly help.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

You seem to have multiple overlapping issues happening together, and some of them may also be affecting each other over time. Head or neck or throat symptoms could be cervical spine tension, sinusitis (given your sinus history), and possibly postnasal drip, causing the gel-like morning mucus.

Sometimes chronic sinus irritation can also give pressure in the back of the head and throat discomfort, especially in the morning or after exposure to cold weather.

Shoulder swelling and pain after sleeping on one side or face may be musculoskeletal strain or posture-related, but a swollen area should still be checked to rule out lymph node or joint involvement.

Neck stiffness and shoulder tightness can sometimes also contribute to headaches. Forgetfulness, irritability, anger, and tiredness could strongly relate to anemia (hemoglobin 87 suggests moderate anemia), low blood pressure (88/60 mmhg, 97/64 mmhg), disturbed sleep, and overall physical stress on the body.

When anemia remains untreated for a long time, people often notice poor concentration and mental fatigue. Throat burning or bleeding sensation is likely irritation from repeated coughing, throat dryness, shouting, or chronic sinus drainage.

Food triggers (banana, prawns, certain mangoes) may indicate possible allergy, food sensitivity, or histamine-related reaction causing abdominal discomfort.

Other conditions like gallbladder polyps, bacterial vaginosis (BV), sinus issues, and anemia all need separate follow-up and monitoring, as they can collectively affect overall well-being.

What to do first:

See a general physician for anemia workup (iron, vitamin B12, folate) and low blood pressure (BP) evaluation.
Ear, nose, and throat (ENT) review for throat irritation, sinus symptoms, and gel-like mucus.
Neurology consultation if headaches worsen or memory problems continue after anemia improves.

Immediate concern is mainly anemia with low blood pressure (BP), which can increase the risk of weakness or fainting. Stay hydrated and maintain adequate fluid and salt intake if you do not have heart or kidney disease.

I hope you are satisfied with my answer. For further queries, you can consult me at iCliniq.

Thank you.