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Topic: Sinusitis and Cluster Headache (Read 3573 times) |
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rforward
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Sinusitis and Cluster Headache
« on: Oct 1st, 2007, 8:54pm » |
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I am seventeen years old. For two years I was treated by an ENT for chronic sinusitis. My sinusitis was always textbook, achy upper jaw, bright red eye, post-nasal drip, very sore / hot face, facial pressure, and most notably, neon looking snot! The ENT did many rhinoscopies where he could see that my sinus cavity did in fact have "pus" and infection within it. The sinus infections always occured on the left side of my face. I took endless quantities of antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, decongestants, nasal steroids etc.
About a year and a half into my bout with chronic sinusitis I began noticing a different, more intense pain when an infection was not present. At first I always felt the pain was indicating that a sinus infection was coming but often they never developed in coordination. The "new pain" created eye tearing/redness, a much more intense / brutal pain, and other cluster-headache type symptoms. When I reported this to my ENT he recognized it as the symptoms of cluster headache.
For the past year, up until this week, the sinus infections have gone away! However, they were replaced with much more frequent cluster headache attacks. I saw a neurologist who said that I have both cluster headache and paroxysmal hemicrania. I have been taking verapamil but I still experience attacks.
What complicates the situation now is that I have both a sinus infection that seems to be heading in the direction of chronic, and cluster headache / paroxysmal hemicrania attacks. My current situation is less than favorable as I now suffer from the constant pain/pressure of sinus infection intertwined with bouts of agonizing cluster/paroxysmal attacks.
Long story short, I am curious as to the possible relation between cluster headache and sinusitis. Could sinusitis have caused cluster headache? Does anyone else suffer from this?
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Well, isn't that the thing about people like us? We hope, against all logic, against all experience...
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Beastfodder
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O2 and clusterbusters - naturally
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Re: Sinusitis and Cluster Headache
« Reply #1 on: Oct 2nd, 2007, 7:08am » |
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Sorry to hear you're suffering.
All sounds familiar to me - albeit I was twenty years older.
Always had some sinus issues before CH and always used to be bunged up in Autumn before the cycle started.
You've got a good diagnosis too, I ended up having surgery - and more anti-biotics than you could list as my cure for CH cycles!
Lots of good news too for getting the thing under control. Speak to someone about trying hi-flow O2 as your front line abortive and a can of Red Bull at the first sign of things can also help.
As for the link between the two - it was definitely there for me, but I've not read anything linking the two. Plus CH seems to be linked to the hypothalamus, not the sinuses.
Thing is although the bottom line is we get CH, very few of us share the same route. Alcohol's a trigger for some, not for others. Some smoke like chimneys others don't. Some are Chronic others episodic. What is good is that there's no shortage of opinion out there - and plenty of options to try.
All the best and feel free to ask as many questions as you need,
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Melissa
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Re: Sinusitis and Cluster Headache
« Reply #2 on: Oct 2nd, 2007, 9:14am » |
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on Oct 1st, 2007, 8:54pm, rforward wrote:
Long story short, I am curious as to the possible relation between cluster headache and sinusitis. Could sinusitis have caused cluster headache? Does anyone else suffer from this?
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I went through the same thing you did, with the recurrent "sinus" infections. (which I DID have) The thing is the insane pain that I'd get at almost the same time everyday was the tip off to my ear, nose & throat specialist that told him I have clusters. I did have a huge cyst in my sinuses too, but CH was seperate from that and no, I don't believe it was a cause to my clusters, but a TRIGGER to getting my cycles. Make sense?
Sorry about everything you've been through, but welcome to the family and if I were you I'd try and get into see a good neurologist. Indomethicin (sp?) is used to treat CPH, it's supposed to be 100% effective, which might be why the verap isn't helping THAT part of your problem, hence the suggestion of a good neuro. Here is a list of sufferer recommended CH doctors by state: http://www.ouch-us.org/chgeneral/doctors.htm
Good luck to you and take care!
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Mikella
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Re: Sinusitis and Cluster Headache
« Reply #3 on: Oct 2nd, 2007, 3:38pm » |
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OMG.......... Dr. B (ENT) and Dr. M (neuro)....... (not saying full names).... in Dart. I kept you in the back of my mind, wondering if you would turn up here..... I live in Dartmouth, and I'm having a HELL of a time with this... Dr. M was shitty to me and couldn't have cared less..... and Dr. B (ENT) has been a Godsend...... He told me about you, not that I know anything about you, but he said that we had the exact same story, same age-range (I'm just about 22).... and you had just been diagnosed. I've been dealing with this for 10 years, and am still not diagnosed.......... How has Dr. M treated you (not as far as meds go, but how has he treated you as a person?) He didn't keep me in his office for more than 10 mins.......... he looked at me in disbelief the whole time.... I have chronic CH, absolutely no doubt. I've been through the wringer with all this. I'd LOVE to get in contact, for support, help, anything...... And find out more from you about Dr. M, and what he has taught you about this. So far, Dr. B is convinced that it's either CH, or CH w/ migraine components..... But I don't know if Dr. M will even see me again, I may have to wait for a new neuro.......... I'm just so frustrated. It's not that hard to figure out, especially for a neuro, that I have CH.............. 
I hope your pain improves, sending you PF wishes and hugs.. Maybe together we can figure some things out. If you want to know more about me, I have a thread in "Getting to know ya"..  Hope to hear from you. & I hope you're the right person LOL But I'm pretty sure you are. Take care
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Mikella
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Re: Sinusitis and Cluster Headache
« Reply #4 on: Oct 2nd, 2007, 4:23pm » |
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Thought I'd add: I saw Dr. M BEFORE Dr. B.... which I think has something to do with the way Dr. M treated me... had I have seen Dr. B before, I know Dr. M would have given me the time of day and shown interest. Dr. B is contacting Dr. M tomorrow, so I have my fingers crossed that Dr. M will swallow his pride.........
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"Know how sublime a thing it is.. to suffer and be strong" HWL
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mathieulives
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Re: Sinusitis and Cluster Headache
« Reply #5 on: Oct 2nd, 2007, 4:50pm » |
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This is kinda crazy, but I was just signing in to ask about sinus issues as related to CH, because they have a couple similar feelings and I go into my cycle usually after my worst sinus issues... my eye, and nose on the right side just start running, that side of my head.. these are all signs for me that it's coming. i've been out of cycle for 10 months, but this is the time it hits for me... I saw my dr and started on verap today... there has to be some kind of connection...  [/color]
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Mikella
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Re: Sinusitis and Cluster Headache
« Reply #6 on: Oct 2nd, 2007, 5:31pm » |
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Hi Mathieu - I'm very interested to know as well.. my experience with this has been: I had chronic sinus infections, one after the other.... for years.. alongside these cluster headaches (chronic). I always thought I had sinus problems....... but other than abnormalities, and signs of previous bad infections, my sinuses are fine! What I'm wondering is...... maybe the CH causes the infections.... whereas it clogs us all up  And when you're clogged for a long time, infection brews..... Maybe our sinuses swell and they can't drain properly when we're getting attack after attack.. just some thoughts. Like I said, I'm also very interested to know.. I haven't found much to read about this.... but I will keep looking and let you all know if I find anything of interest. I hope your verap keeps you PF. <3
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"Know how sublime a thing it is.. to suffer and be strong" HWL
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rforward
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Re: Sinusitis and Cluster Headache
« Reply #8 on: Oct 3rd, 2007, 11:42am » |
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on Oct 2nd, 2007, 3:38pm, Mikella wrote:OMG.......... Dr. B (ENT) and Dr. M (neuro)....... (not saying full names).... in Dart. I kept you in the back of my mind, wondering if you would turn up here..... I live in Dartmouth, and I'm having a HELL of a time with this... Dr. M was shitty to me and couldn't have cared less..... and Dr. B (ENT) has been a Godsend...... He told me about you, not that I know anything about you, but he said that we had the exact same story, same age-range (I'm just about 22).... and you had just been diagnosed. I've been dealing with this for 10 years, and am still not diagnosed.......... How has Dr. M treated you (not as far as meds go, but how has he treated you as a person?) He didn't keep me in his office for more than 10 mins.......... he looked at me in disbelief the whole time.... I have chronic CH, absolutely no doubt. I've been through the wringer with all this. I'd LOVE to get in contact, for support, help, anything...... And find out more from you about Dr. M, and what he has taught you about this. So far, Dr. B is convinced that it's either CH, or CH w/ migraine components..... But I don't know if Dr. M will even see me again, I may have to wait for a new neuro.......... I'm just so frustrated. It's not that hard to figure out, especially for a neuro, that I have CH..............
I hope your pain improves, sending you PF wishes and hugs.. Maybe together we can figure some things out. If you want to know more about me, I have a thread in "Getting to know ya".. Hope to hear from you. & I hope you're the right person LOL But I'm pretty sure you are. Take care |
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I was in to see Dr. B yesterday and he told me about you! I have been convinced for the last year or so that I am some freak of nature. It was nice to hear that somebody else is going through this, even though I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy!
My referal to Dr. M came through Dr. B. Once the sinusitis cleared up, the pain did not. I also was not a "typical" sinusitis patient, no allergies, no asthma etc. After countless visits to Dr. B he became convinced that the issue was more cluster headache than sinusitis. After a few (loooong) months of waiting I had my appointment with Dr. M who felt that it was textbook for CH. During the months of waiting for my second appointment I was taking verapamil and things were getting worse, not better. I would have CH attacks, but I would also have very short (2-3 minutes TOPS) attacks that were more intense (to the extent that I would vomit). Dr. M upped my dosage of verapamil and did give me indomethacin. He also said that this was more characteristic of paroxysmal hemicrania.
I saw Dr. M last week for a follow up. Indomethacin really did not agree with me so he upped the verapamil once again. At this point, I had a cold for about 3 weeks. While visiting Dr. M I mentioned that I thought my cold had developed into a sinus infection. Knowing my history, he wrote me a note and sent me down to see Dr. B right away. Turns out, I most certainly did have a sinus infection. I was given antibiotics, but they have yet to clear up the infection. I saw Dr. B yesterday again, he tried to drain the sinuses through a needle that went under my lip, through the bone in my face and into my sinus cavity but he couldn't get the needle through the bone ("young and healthy" . I was sent home with some prednisone which I will be taking for the duration of the month. During this period I will probably be having the surgery to have the sinuses drained/enlarged.
As for Dr. M, I have always brought my parents to the appointments. He certainly is not warm and fuzzy, and does not have a sympathetic bone in his body. He has given me a referral to see another neurologist (whos name I would be happy to give you via email/msn whatever) who specializes in headaches and migraines.
Please feel free to drop me an e-mail, I would love to hear more about your story! It is so ironic.
rforward123@gmail.com
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Mikella
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Re: Sinusitis and Cluster Headache
« Reply #9 on: Oct 3rd, 2007, 12:23pm » |
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Hey girl! Just a quick note to say I read your reply!! So interesting, you sound sooo much like me... I can't write now, but I will be sure to get in contact with you tonight. I know the specialist you're talking about, I'm hoping to see him, too.. Dr. P, right? One thing that struck me: I throw up when the pain is excruciating, too.......... And I DID used to have severe sinus infection after sinus infection for years.. now, I haven't gotten them in a while, but I have WHATEVER THIS IS..... which is similar and feels in ways the same, I just don't get the massive amount of green discharge (ew LOL)..... Whenever I get sick, my sinuses are affected in a major way. And I have countless flare ups throughout the day where I block up on one side. ANYWAYS, I will talk to you soon and we'll "compare notes" and see if we can figure some things out I have reached my breaking point with all this.......... I'm just one big BREAK DOWN haha So good to hear from you. Talk to you soon, I hope today goes ok for you XO Feel free to add me to MSN, facebook, email me, anything. I'll write you tonight. 
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"Know how sublime a thing it is.. to suffer and be strong" HWL
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CostaRicaKris
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Re: Sinusitis and Cluster Headache
« Reply #10 on: Oct 7th, 2007, 1:18pm » |
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Hmmm... I had sinus infections as a child (9 - 12 years old) CH hit me at 29.
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