Q. My head started to pulsate and hurt during sex. Please help.

Hi doctor,

I am a 37- year-old male who weighs 73 kg, with good health. 18 days ago, I developed a dull headache at the back of my head, affecting the left side only. When it started, it was of medium intensity and did require pain medications for three days (Paracetamol and Codeine). While the headache is mostly dull, on a couple of occasions, during sexual intercourse, my head started to pulsate strongly, and it hurt significantly more. The pulsating pain decreased slowly over 10 to 15 minutes when I interrupted the activity.

After five days since the inception of the headache, I saw a GP who also found me having high blood pressure (145/100). He did not determine the headache, and the high blood pressure was necessarily correlated but suggested a cardiologist's visit. The visit went well, no issues found in my heart (eco Doppler). My blood pressure is now back to normal (125/75), although I continue to monitor it daily.

After 18 days, the headache remains. It is not strong enough to warrant the use of pain medications. It is still dull and located on the left region of my head (at the back). Over the past week, I developed another symptom. I also feel as if the area around my left cheek and eye is slightly paralyzed. However, it is not; I can move it normally, it is just a sensation I have most of the times. Sometimes I feel a bit dizzy or not fully able to concentrate (nothing severe at all; in fact, I keep working). I am a very anxious patient, so I do not exclude stress is playing a role in these latest symptoms.

What is your opinion? I am worried it could be a more severe condition than a simple headache. Should I perform additional tests or scans? I also did blood tests that came back completely normal.

Thanks.