I have very little health insurance, do not have much ...

This could be a type of migraine, Tension headaches are generally a dull pain but steady. It may be the beginning of even a pimple that may develop in a few more days. It could be the start of bells palsy.. There may have been a bug bite.. as I'm sure you know, there is no way to pin point the exact cause without even perhaps some testing etc.

I understand the fact of the insurance aspect, but if this doesn't go away or gets worse, you can even go to the ER, they can do some tests there, and you can always make them payments vs paying for an office visit up front.

In the mean time make sure you blood pressure is normal. Take some ibuprofen which is good for inflammation and try either a warm compress or cool compress (see which may feel better)

Hope this helps, If you need anything else please feel free to ask. If you found this helpful don’t forget to click the *accept* button!

Could you briefly go into bells palsy? Sounds like a nerve disorder? Anyway, it doesn't hurt at all, just feels awfully strange.Happens ever so often. Thought it was artificial sweentners, but I swore off those a few days ago. I did feel it intensify somewhat when I played the clarinet today. I am a musician in the Dallas area. Never felt anything like it before. Can I rule out the onset of a stroke? Really worried about that, particularly. I feel great otherwise. Again, there's no pain.

A little more info: I noticed a slight bleeding discharge on my pillow the last few days. Not profuse, but enough to really notice. I don't see dried blood coming out of my ears at all. Wonder if the two symptoms can be related? I can hear great otherwise.

Bells palsy is related to facial nerves, but with that said, generally most of the severe symptoms would come on within 48 hours or less and this has been going on for a few days.

If the ear and this is related would be hard to say, but from the location you state, would be highly unlikely but not impossible either. Now if there was possible was build up or something like that, it's possible the nerve from the ear may be causing this, but generally if there was a type of infection, and just saying this blood came from the ear drum, then chances are the ear drum would begin to heal, unless you keep seeing blood.

Since you felt it intensify during clarinet playing, it may be nerve/migraine related as when you play the clarinet you are pushing air out and using muscles etc., to play.

I don't know your full medical history etc.. but as far as stroke, you don't talk about being dizzy, trouble seeing, loss of balance, you state no pain, which in a stroke would be severe headache, confusion etc.. so this wouldn't indicate stroke. Then again, I don't know what your blood pressure is, if there is stress in your life right now, how your eating habits are etc... Which in reality are all the things needed plus more in order to even help pin point what is going on.

If you have taken any medication and perhaps stopped etc., or started any new medications.

I would still at this point go with the above of the ibuprofen, just in case there is any type of inflammation anywhere, you can even get your BP checked at your local pharmacy store, monitor this feeling, try to be aware of it and see what may or may not cause it to intensify.

You may actually want to keep a log as well. Which will be easier to look back on if something new should come along. But as I stated as well. Insurance or no insurance, if something just seems wrong or different, go to the ER, they will have to evaluate you.. and you can send them so much a month as long as you send something.. Thats why it's always best to know your own body and when something isn't right.. then check up on it or monitor your symptoms.

Hope this helps Hun. If you need anything else, please feel free to ask..

Sorry, I do have a few more things to add. All the bad signs. I have hypertension, had it for years. I exercise regularly, 6'2", 203 pounds, have a gym membership, active. I'm a New Orleans evacuee, relocated in Dallas. I am somewhat stressed at the driving on the Dallas freeways. I take small amounts of propranolol(beta blockers), but only when I perform, which is 4 times a week. Sometimes I don't take it, because I'm already on Verapamil for hypertension. I'm about to go check on my blood pressure right now, though. I try to eat well, vegetables, fruit, chicken, sometimes the junk (not too much) in small amounts. Hope this helps. From what you said, it's prob not stroke sympts, but just want to be sure. I know I probably have to go to check on it, but I got some blood tested recently and just got a $300 bill! Now you see my reticence in going again to get fleeced. I would go right away if this weren't so expensive. I just don't have that kind of money.What should I do?

I will pay, definitely, I just need to know my options. Oh, also, can I exercise, like do some Elliptical work, not weights or anything.

By your age and if your BP is basically controlled, exercise is fine. That natural endorphins are great for the body.

I would rule out stroke at this point, not sure what your cholesterol and so forth is etc.. You seem to eat well, not sure about your alcohol intake.

Your BMI is 26.1, which normal is up to 24.9, so you are on the low end of being overweight.. nothing a bit of exercise wouldn't help with and your eating habits are good already.

So do try the above Hun.. and go from there..

And I do understand about the blood work etc... $300.00 is a lot..