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Topic: A word of caution... (Read 505 times) |
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squishy
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A word of caution...
« on: May 5th, 2008, 8:24pm » |
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Hi, folks.
I don't post here often, but I lurk from time to time. I just wanted to pop in and let you know about something that happened to me last week, because I can easily see it happening to another CH sufferer.
I've had cluster headaches for a few years now, and my attacks are always the same. Pain in my cheek that spreads to behind my eye and, when things are really bad, up into my forehead. This is how my headaches ALWAYS present themselves.
Well, last Tuesday night, I started having the exact same pain. It was identical to a CH attack, so naturally that's what I thought it was. However, my daughter then noticed that my eye was very bloodshot and so I calleled my ophthalmologist at once. By the time I got to his office, I could barely see anything. I still had no pain in the actual eye itself. It was all deferred pain, into my cheek and brow, and behind my eye, just like a CH.
As it turns out, I had, over the course of just a few hours, developed a very severe case of closed-angle glaucoma and the pressure in my eye had risen to dangerously high levels. Had I waited any longer, I would have lost the vision in that eye entirely. Fortunately, I was able to receive treatment quickly in the form of medication to bring the pressure down from critical levels, and later, laser surgery to further correct the problem. I will likely suffer no lasting effects from the glaucoma, though it's something I'll have to watch out for for the rest of my life.
So my point is, if you're having what you think is a cluster headache, keep an eye (no pun intended) on your eye, and also take note of any changes in your vision. If you notice anything out of the ordinary, get to an ophthalmologist immediately (or if you go to an ER, ask to be seen by an ophthalmologist, as this is often missed by an ER physician who isn't specialized in diseases of the eye). Closed-angle glaucoma can get very bad very quickly and can do permanent damage within hours.
For the first three hours, I thought this was a normal cluster headache. if I'd waited another two, I would likely be blind in my right eye now (which would really suck sine I'm already blind in my left due to an entirely unrelated issue).
I just wanted to mention it here because it started just like a CH and happened so quickly and is potentially so damaging.
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Jonny
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Re: A word of caution...
« Reply #1 on: May 5th, 2008, 8:39pm » |
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Thank you for this warning!
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It is up to YOU to educate yourself and then help your doctor plan your treatment. If you just sit down in front of your doctor and say "make me better" you are setting yourself up for a great deal of pain.
- Guiseppi
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Charlie
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Re: A word of caution...
« Reply #2 on: May 5th, 2008, 10:14pm » |
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Wow. I'm glad you caught it when you did.
Like Jonny says: Thank you for this alert.
Charlie
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George_J
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Re: A word of caution...
« Reply #3 on: May 5th, 2008, 10:21pm » |
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Excellent words of caution. Thanks for bringing this to our attention.
Glad things worked out for the best.
Best wishes,
George
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Ah! The foreigners put on such airs
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The pain they inspire
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It all comes to light in the sheer
Debonair.
(Ellen)
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Rosybabe
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Re: A word of caution...
« Reply #4 on: May 6th, 2008, 2:12pm » |
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Thank you for the warning I hope you get to feel better soon.
Hugs
Rosy.
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midwestbeth
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Re: A word of caution...
« Reply #5 on: May 6th, 2008, 3:04pm » |
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Thank you for sharing this. Glad everything turned out ok!!
Beth
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Sandy_C
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Re: A word of caution...
« Reply #6 on: May 6th, 2008, 5:05pm » |
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Thank you for sharing this warning.
Probably many of us, me included, would just chalk off the eye problem to a cluster hit. You've given all of us valuable information and something that we should share with our docs.
The info is much appreciated.
Sandy
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DonnaH_again
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Re: A word of caution...
« Reply #7 on: May 6th, 2008, 6:40pm » |
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Good advice!
I have narrow angle glaucoma, which is probably a little more common. It is something that your opthomologist can easily detect. When it presents its self, it is considered a medical emergency.
Next time you have your eyes checked, ask about it.
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| « Last Edit: May 6th, 2008, 6:44pm by DonnaH_again » |
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sandie99
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Re: A word of caution...
« Reply #8 on: May 7th, 2008, 3:17am » |
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Thank you for the warning. 
Sanna
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CH happends, Live anyway! PF days to us all!
"Do what you can and let God take care of the rest. Leave your heart wide open and always wish for the best" (Sanna Hillu)
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