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Topic: Is it really? (Read 461 times) |
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red623
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Is it really?
« on: Aug 13th, 2006, 10:11pm » |
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Hello, I'm new, in case you didn't notice. I was diagnosed by an ER doc with CH Thursday after being admitted to the hospital with chest pains, not to mention an incredible headache that had been going off and on for 4 days.
They stabalized the chest pains and got interested in the headache. On the kip scale I'd say it was about a 7 or 8. The headache started Monday night around 9:00 and diminished enough to sleep with some extra strength tylenol, left me alone Tuesday, and hit me with a wallup on Tuesday night at about 9:00. It was behind the left eye, like something trying to poke my eye out, then spread to my temple and the back of my head. Couldn't sleep all night, cursing my hubby for snoring (sorry dear), took some hydrocodone - it subided a little, then 20 minutes later hit hard. I got up, paced and was pretty much a basket case for 3 hours, wandering around the house and trying anything to get my mind off the pain, hitting the wall, my head, whatever. I had a leaking left eye, nostril and immense pain. I couldn't get back to sleep after that. I slept about an hour around 8:00 am, then it hit again with a vengeance. This pattern kept hitting about every 6-8 hours and then I started having chest pains on Wednesday. I took nitroglycerin and it took the chest pains and the headache away, but an hour later the headache returned with a vengeance.
On Thursday morning I had some horrible chest pain with the incredible headache and it took 3 nitros to get it gone. The headache came back in an hour and was even worse. I called my dr office and they told me to call 911, which I stupidly did, and they pretty much brushed me off. I went to my doctor on Friday and he told me to go to the ER and have them call him. He wanted me transported to another hospital (I live in rural area) to evaluate the chest pain again. Instead they kept me, and a few hours later, the headache hit hard again. They saw that my left eye was so swollen it was rolling off my face (according to the nurse), and my nose was running on the left side and my eye was tearing.
They did 3 CT scans (1 with contrast) which were normal, and an MRI which I don't have the results of yet. The ER doc also threatened me with a spinal tap after 2 IV doses of morphine didn't touch the headache. It finally subsided after an IV shot of Toradol and an anti-spasmodic and I was a pretty happy camper. (they couldn't give me imatrex because of possible cardio problems. He also let me off the hook for the spinal tap. Their diagnosis was cluster headache. I've never had a headache to speak of in my life. I'm 52, female and in reasonably good health.
They let me out Friday night, and my regular doc gave me a script for toradol, which I took at 8 hour intervals for 24 hours. Since, I've had minor pain (shadows?) with occasional stabs behind the left eye. but nothing like what I had before that. I've been taking extra strength tylenol, and saving the toradol for when the eye swells and tears again. That seems to preceed the big one.
I'm pissed as heck because I missed the opening game at the brand new cardinal's stadium yesterday (season tics), and I've never had a bad headache in my life.
Is this really a cluster headache or is it just a fluke? After searching the internet, reading most of the info on this site and many of the posts, I'm feeling doomed. I couldn't work with this kind of pain, I've been off work since Wednesday, and it's a struggle to just think straight when it hits. They mostly tend to last about 2-3 hours, then just a dull pain until it hits again. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
If it is a CH, am I in for another bad bout soon?
Sorry for the long-winded post, and I appreciate any help that you can give me. You seem like a wonderful family and incredibly strong group of folks, but forgive me for saying that I would prefer not to have had to find you.
Fran
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Charlotte
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Re: Is it really?
« Reply #1 on: Aug 13th, 2006, 10:48pm » |
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I apologize but I have questions and no answers.
What exactly did your Dr say? There are a lot of components here that seem to conflict.
Have you followed up on each of these individual health concerns with a health professional?
I may be wrong, but I thought nitro could cause a headache. Did your headache start after the heart problem was treated?
Charlotte
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| « Last Edit: Aug 13th, 2006, 10:49pm by Charlotte » |
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red623
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Re: Is it really?
« Reply #2 on: Aug 13th, 2006, 11:04pm » |
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Charlotte,
Sorry - It's confusing to me, so I should have been more specific. I had chest pains about 4 months ago, and while in the hospital, I saw a cardiologist and was prescribed nitroglycerin after that. They didn't have a definitive diagnosis. I've experienced the chest pains every now and then, but when the headache hit, it seemed like they were occurring with the headache pain when it was most intense. That's when I took the nitro.
The doctor said it was unusual for the nitro to take the headaches away, but the headache came back worse about an hour after the nitro. He said he thought I was having cluster headaches. I'm being referred to another cardiologist Monday. I think the headaches are separate from the chest pain, and that maybe the nitro may have intensified the headache pain after it came back. I'm hoping it's not really a cluster headache after all.
Sorry, I guess my brain is too fried.
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Skyhawk5
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Re: Is it really?
« Reply #3 on: Aug 14th, 2006, 12:07am » |
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I've read that Nitro is used in the research of CH to trigger a Cluster Attack in the patient. I'm no Dr. but your symptoms do sound like CH. Have you taken the Cluster quiz on the links to the left? There's a lot of helpful info on this site and people.
Good Luck, Skyhawk5
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LeLimey
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Re: Is it really?
« Reply #4 on: Aug 14th, 2006, 5:14am » |
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Nitroglycerine is the one thing guaranteed to trigger every clusterhead. Other things will trigger a lot of us but not all of us such as alcohol for one but nitro, well thats a guaranteed hit heading your way.
The fact that nitro has helped albeit temporarily is a big red flag and it worries me because the meds we take for CH are nasty old things and can potentially be fatal if given for a wrong condition.
Please, please, please get a second opinion. From a HA specialist and let us know how you're getting on okay?
Take care
Helen
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big guy
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Re: Is it really?
« Reply #5 on: Aug 14th, 2006, 6:07am » |
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I am no Dr either, but I am pretty sure that nitro can cause bad headaches other than clusters, especially if you don't really need the nitro. Apparently it also triggers clusters if you are in cycle. You need to get this sorted out by the doctors. A cardio for the chest pain and a neuro for the headaches.
I hope this is resolved soon
Big Guy
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red623
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Re: Is it really?
« Reply #6 on: Aug 14th, 2006, 7:32am » |
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Thanks for replying.
Skyhawk5, I did take the quiz and it does point to CH. I've also read that nitro can trigger the headache. Funny thing is, the headache started before taking the nitro.
Helen, I do plan to get a second opinion - as soon as the MRI results come back. I can't take the imitrex because of the cardio problem, so at least they are considering that.
Big Guy, You're right, nitro can cause headaches other than CH. I had one the first time in the hospital (in April) for chest pain. They put a nitro patch on me that caused a pretty bad headache several hours later while still on the patch. It didn't feel as painful as this one did and was more around the lower right side of my head behind the ear and moving up. It also pulsated which this one didn't, and the nitro ha went away soon after they took the patch off. It also didn't subside to a dull pain for a few hours then hit again.
I'm getting a referral to a cardiologist today, and will ask about a referral to a neuro when the MRI result is in.
I'm also hoping it gets resolved soon and that this is just a fluke. I woke up last night at about 12:30 with another headache (about a 4), and I just want it to quit. I can't imagine how you all cope with this for months/years on end. Thanks for all your input and I'll let you know what I find out.
Fran
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LeLimey
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Re: Is it really?
« Reply #7 on: Aug 14th, 2006, 8:04am » |
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Hi Fran,
One thing I meant to say but got distracted was that if they suspect its a form of vascular headache you do have other options within "vaso constrictors"
Most, obviously triptans, are out of the question for you but breathing 100% Oxygen at a high flow rate of 15 litres per minute works fantastically.
Oxygen is a vaso constrictor, it will constrict the blood vessels in your head thus reducing pain (when used with a non rebreather mask) The beauty of it isthat it works in a way unlike anything else and ONLY constricts the blood vessels in your head so will not affect your heart.
I hope this is of help while your looking for a definite answer!
Hoping it is a fluke and your PF soon
Helen
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alchemy
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Re: Is it really?
« Reply #8 on: Aug 14th, 2006, 9:04am » |
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Hi Fran. Welcome aboard sorry you have to be here but your in good hands here. I was given two doses of nitro in an ambulance when they thought I was having a heart attack. The Nitro triggered my clusters like you would not believe. I was admitted to the hospital because they couldn't get the ch to break. Get hold of a good nuero and make sure you get treated for the correct headache. Lots of help here for you on the board. By the way wheres Morristown? Is it around the Tollison area? I'm up near Cavecreek
jim
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red623
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Re: Is it really?
« Reply #9 on: Aug 14th, 2006, 9:10pm » |
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Hi Helen, thanks for the info on the oxygen. I had read about it and they gave it to me in the hospital, but I think it was too late to help much. I'll talk to the neuro if/when I get a referral.
Hey Jim, Morristown is about 10 miles se of wickenburg, at the junction of hwy 74 and us60. Just a hop skip and a jump to cave creek! I have a question on the ch you had from the nitro - did it kick in right away, or was it later? I've been thinking about it today, and I had taken one sublingual nitro earlier in the day Tuesday, so maybe it is what started my headache that night. I haven't had a nitro since Thursday though, so am wondering why they're still going on.
Thanks again to everyone for the help.
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alchemy
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Re: Is it really?
« Reply #10 on: Aug 14th, 2006, 9:25pm » |
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Fran, the nitro kicked a ch in right away for me. I was still in the ambulance. The second one they gave me made me insane. I know where Morristown is now and no it's not that far from Cave Creek. goodluck and let us know how you make out at the nueros
jim
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Margi
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Re: Is it really?
« Reply #11 on: Aug 15th, 2006, 10:21am » |
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on Aug 14th, 2006, 9:10pm, red623 wrote:I had taken one sublingual nitro earlier in the day Tuesday, so maybe it is what started my headache that night. I haven't had a nitro since Thursday though, so am wondering why they're still going on.
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That's a lot of nitro for a clusterhead!  Please do listen to what Helen tells you - if you've got heart problems you absolutely CANNOT use the triptan meds. Also, please keep your doctors digging, maybe your head would improve if you could get completely off the nitro? Or maybe the h/a is something cardiac related? Could it be blood pressure related?
I'm so sorry you're having these problems - must be so scary for you. 
Please keep us posted.
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red623
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Re: Is it really?
« Reply #12 on: Aug 15th, 2006, 11:03pm » |
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Thanks Margie, I am a bit scared about it all, but I'm not prone to be overly anxious about things. I tend to take things as they come.
I'm beginning to think it's not CH. I haven't had a bad HA since Saturday. I've gotten mild ones about 2-3 times a day, then today I didn't have any until I came home from work and a couple of tylenol took care of it. It seems to have been tapering off, so maybe it is something else. Probably an unusual reaction to the nitro.
I have an appointment with the cardio doc Aug 30, so I'll hopefully find out what's going on with the heart. Right now they think it's unstable angina, so that needs to be taken care of first.
If the headaches come on strong again, I'll ask to see a neuro. I'll keep you posted on what I find out.
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