iHuman Patients-Bebe Babbitt
NR509 Week 6 iHuman Case Study
Bebe Babbitt 26 y.o. 5’6” (168 cm) 122.0 lb (55.5 kg)
Reason for encounter: More frequent severe headaches
Chief Complaint: Concern for more frequent severe headaches
Ask 2 open ended Questions: “How can I help you today?” “Any other symptoms or
concerns?”
History of Present Illness (HPI): B.B is a 26 year-old female graduate student and waitress
who came into the clinic who has been experiencing progressively worsening episodic
headaches over the last few months. Episodes can last up to 15 hours, which tends to
interfere with school and work responsibilities when they occur. She reports pain at a 2-
3/10 upon onset that increases to 8-10/10. Headaches are accompanied with nausea and
vomiting and are preceded with spotty vision characterized as “zig-zaggy lights” about 30
minutes prior to onset. Headaches are located behind the left eye and are described as
throbbing and intense. In the past, headaches were characterized as “the hat from hell
strapped to my head”. Patient reports sensitivity to light and sound which aggravate
headaches. Relieving factors include sleep; use of over-the-counter acetaminophen and
ibuprofen are no longer effective. Denies traumatic injury, loss of consciousness, loss of
vision, tinnitus, numbness or tingling. Reports mother has a history of recurrent
headaches.
Question Response
How can I help you today? I’ve been having these really bad headaches over the
last few months. I don’t’ have one now, and haven’t
had one in about a week, but I thought I’d have it
checked out anyway.
Do you have any other symptoms or Just the symptoms that I always have with these
concerns we should discuss? headaches, like nausea and vomiting. There’s nothing
else I can think of off the top of my head.
What symptom is most distressing for you? I can’t work or study when I have one of my bad
headaches and I usually have to sleep the headache
off. It’s really messing with both my school and work
responsibilities. And I know this might sound crazy,
but I’m afraid it might be something really serious; you
know like a slowly growing brain tumor.
Can you tell me about any current or past The usual childhood stuff. I’ve had headaches for
medical problems you have had? about 10 years. Otherwise, not much to tell.
Have you seen another healthcare provider No, they’ve always seemed to improve eventually.
for this situation or concern?
, iHuman Patients-Bebe Babbitt
Have you had any significant traumatic No I have not. Never been knocked out or anything
injuries or accidents? like that.
Any previous medical or surgical or dental No, nothing other than a few fillings.
procedures?
Has anyone suffered from migraines in your Maybe? My mom has had headaches like mine for
family? years and years but I’m not sure if they’re migraines or
not.
When did your headaches start? They have gotten worse over the last few months.
How long does your headache last? It’s not always the same, but they can last the whole
day, like 15 hours.
Does your headache pulsate? They’re a throbbing-type sensation. Really unpleasant
What are the events surrounding the start In the past, they were much less frequent and they
of your headache? felt more like I had the hat from hell strapped to my
head. These ones feel bad but a little different than
that. They might correlate with stress. I have had a lot
going on lately.
What does the pain in your had feel like? Intense, throbbing
Does anything make your headache better It helps if I lie down in a dark quiet room and try to
or worse? sleep it off. And, definitely, light and noise make the
pain worse.
Where more precisely is the pain in your When I get a headache, it’s pretty much on the left
head? behind my eye.
How severe (1-10 scale) is your headache? Oh, it’s pretty unbearable. When my headaches start,
it’s a 2 or 3, and it becomes an 8 or even a 10 when it
really gets going. I just can’t do anything when I have
one of my bad headaches. They can last up to 15
hours, which means the entire day is shot.
Do you have any awareness or warning Often my vision in both eyes gets spotty before the
symptoms that occur before the headache headache actually comes on. I can still see-it’s kid of
begins? like a bunch of zig-zaggy flashing lights. My Eyes are
otherwise okay. It’s not like they’re swollen or
watering or anything. But that’s pretty much it.
D you have any pain in your eyes? No, no pain. I sometimes have these flashing, zig-
zaggy lights that show up about 30 minutes before a
headache.
What treatments have you had for your Well, I haven’t really been seen by a doctor for this. I
headache? use acetaminophen, but by the time I take it, I can’t
keep it down because I am so nauseated. Same with
ibuprofen. Acetaminophen and ibuprofen used to
work, but now they really don’t help.
Does the headache awaken you from No. Actually when I get them, sleep helps. But
sleep? sometimes I do wake up with one in the morning.
Dose your headache come and go? Yeah, I’m super glad they’re not constant.
, iHuman Patients-Bebe Babbitt
Do you have a problem with No, my energy’s good-other than in the middle of a
fatigue/tiredness? bad headache. I need all the energy I can get with
school and work and all.
How is your overall health. Good, apart from these headaches.
What do you think might be causing your Not sure. Do you think it could be stress?
symptoms?
How does this affect your life? When I have bad headaches, it’s pretty disruptive. I
have to call out of work or class, studying is
impossible. I’m down for the day when one of these
comes on.
Do you have new weakness in an arm, leg No.
or your face?
NR509 Week 6 iHuman Case Study
Bebe Babbitt 26 y.o. 5’6” (168 cm) 122.0 lb (55.5 kg)
Reason for encounter: More frequent severe headaches
Chief Complaint: Concern for more frequent severe headaches
Ask 2 open ended Questions: “How can I help you today?” “Any other symptoms or
concerns?”
History of Present Illness (HPI): B.B is a 26 year-old female graduate student and waitress
who came into the clinic who has been experiencing progressively worsening episodic
headaches over the last few months. Episodes can last up to 15 hours, which tends to
interfere with school and work responsibilities when they occur. She reports pain at a 2-
3/10 upon onset that increases to 8-10/10. Headaches are accompanied with nausea and
vomiting and are preceded with spotty vision characterized as “zig-zaggy lights” about 30
minutes prior to onset. Headaches are located behind the left eye and are described as
throbbing and intense. In the past, headaches were characterized as “the hat from hell
strapped to my head”. Patient reports sensitivity to light and sound which aggravate
headaches. Relieving factors include sleep; use of over-the-counter acetaminophen and
ibuprofen are no longer effective. Denies traumatic injury, loss of consciousness, loss of
vision, tinnitus, numbness or tingling. Reports mother has a history of recurrent
headaches.
Question Response
How can I help you today? I’ve been having these really bad headaches over the
last few months. I don’t’ have one now, and haven’t
had one in about a week, but I thought I’d have it
checked out anyway.
Do you have any other symptoms or Just the symptoms that I always have with these
concerns we should discuss? headaches, like nausea and vomiting. There’s nothing
else I can think of off the top of my head.
What symptom is most distressing for you? I can’t work or study when I have one of my bad
headaches and I usually have to sleep the headache
off. It’s really messing with both my school and work
responsibilities. And I know this might sound crazy,
but I’m afraid it might be something really serious; you
know like a slowly growing brain tumor.
Can you tell me about any current or past The usual childhood stuff. I’ve had headaches for
medical problems you have had? about 10 years. Otherwise, not much to tell.
Have you seen another healthcare provider No, they’ve always seemed to improve eventually.
for this situation or concern?
, iHuman Patients-Bebe Babbitt
Have you had any significant traumatic No I have not. Never been knocked out or anything
injuries or accidents? like that.
Any previous medical or surgical or dental No, nothing other than a few fillings.
procedures?
Has anyone suffered from migraines in your Maybe? My mom has had headaches like mine for
family? years and years but I’m not sure if they’re migraines or
not.
When did your headaches start? They have gotten worse over the last few months.
How long does your headache last? It’s not always the same, but they can last the whole
day, like 15 hours.
Does your headache pulsate? They’re a throbbing-type sensation. Really unpleasant
What are the events surrounding the start In the past, they were much less frequent and they
of your headache? felt more like I had the hat from hell strapped to my
head. These ones feel bad but a little different than
that. They might correlate with stress. I have had a lot
going on lately.
What does the pain in your had feel like? Intense, throbbing
Does anything make your headache better It helps if I lie down in a dark quiet room and try to
or worse? sleep it off. And, definitely, light and noise make the
pain worse.
Where more precisely is the pain in your When I get a headache, it’s pretty much on the left
head? behind my eye.
How severe (1-10 scale) is your headache? Oh, it’s pretty unbearable. When my headaches start,
it’s a 2 or 3, and it becomes an 8 or even a 10 when it
really gets going. I just can’t do anything when I have
one of my bad headaches. They can last up to 15
hours, which means the entire day is shot.
Do you have any awareness or warning Often my vision in both eyes gets spotty before the
symptoms that occur before the headache headache actually comes on. I can still see-it’s kid of
begins? like a bunch of zig-zaggy flashing lights. My Eyes are
otherwise okay. It’s not like they’re swollen or
watering or anything. But that’s pretty much it.
D you have any pain in your eyes? No, no pain. I sometimes have these flashing, zig-
zaggy lights that show up about 30 minutes before a
headache.
What treatments have you had for your Well, I haven’t really been seen by a doctor for this. I
headache? use acetaminophen, but by the time I take it, I can’t
keep it down because I am so nauseated. Same with
ibuprofen. Acetaminophen and ibuprofen used to
work, but now they really don’t help.
Does the headache awaken you from No. Actually when I get them, sleep helps. But
sleep? sometimes I do wake up with one in the morning.
Dose your headache come and go? Yeah, I’m super glad they’re not constant.
, iHuman Patients-Bebe Babbitt
Do you have a problem with No, my energy’s good-other than in the middle of a
fatigue/tiredness? bad headache. I need all the energy I can get with
school and work and all.
How is your overall health. Good, apart from these headaches.
What do you think might be causing your Not sure. Do you think it could be stress?
symptoms?
How does this affect your life? When I have bad headaches, it’s pretty disruptive. I
have to call out of work or class, studying is
impossible. I’m down for the day when one of these
comes on.
Do you have new weakness in an arm, leg No.
or your face?
