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        New Message Board Archives >> 2002 Posts >> Do I have cluster headaches?
        
(Message started by: theapprentice1 on Nov 11^th, 2002, 10:58am)

Title: Do I have cluster headaches?
Post by theapprentice1 on Nov 11^th, 2002, 10:58am

It started in late September with a cold that only lasted about a week. As the cold was getting better, I noticed a headache that wouldn't go away. I'm not prone to headaches, so it was a concern when I was going through 8 Advil or Tylenol a day and still complaining of my head hurting. I tried Migraine medicine, thinking that might make it go away. Nothing seemed to work.

The headache was the worst that I've ever had. I won't lie to you and tell you I was thrashing about on the floor because of the pain, I could actually make it to work and function, though barely. More than once I woke up to the pain, laying in bed crying and begging something to make it go away.

I saw a doctor who told me it was an allergy problem. I'm 27 and have never had allergies before, but I understand they can develop at any age. I took Claritin and then Sudafed, but the headache didn't go away. It lessened and seemed to move to a spot right on the top of my head but to the left. I saw another doctor who told me it wasn't allergies and he recommended an MRI. He can't seem to find anything, and the headaches have finally gone away. My doctor said it could be cluster headaches. It lasted about five weeks.

Being that my pain wasn't as bad as many of you who have posts, it makes me think that I'm either crazy or it's something completely different. I also have occassional double vision, as though my left eye is turning inward. That is mostly when I am waking in the morning. Does anyone have any feedback they might be able to provide? It's gone away now but it drives me crazy that nobody could tell me for sure what it was.

Sincerely,

Beth in North Dakota

Title: Re: Do I have cluster headaches?
Post by echo on Nov 11^th, 2002, 11:06am

You probably have -- but if not, the quiz to the left can help in a base determination of CH. The top of the head is not necessarily a CH indicator. Normal is behind the right and sometimes left eye. Double vision has not been a problem for me either. When getting hit hard anything is a problem for me. No way to work, sit still, sleep -- yada yada.
I'm positive the others on the board will respond with additional questions and information.
Hang in there.

Title: Re: Do I have cluster headaches?
Post by RevDeFord on Nov 11^th, 2002, 11:16am

"I noticed a headache that wouldn't go away"
"It lasted about five weeks"

These are not an indication of Cluster Headache. Did you sneeze hard when you had a cold? Could be concussion related.

Title: Re: Do I have cluster headaches?
Post by Hound_Dogg on Nov 11^th, 2002, 11:25am

What Echo said, but also in the words of Jeff Foxworthy:

"If you get the worst pain pain in your life, behind your eye on one side of the head? It just might be a Cluster."

"If your eye and nostril, on the side the pain is, tear & run? It just might be a Cluster."

"If your eye, on the side the pain is, becomes red & droops? It just might be a Cluster."

"If the pain makes you dread the day you were born? It just might be a Cluster."

" If, during the pain, the only feats you can perform are holding your head & rocking back & forth? It just might be a cluster."

I'm sure there are many others, apprentice. But definitely take the Cluster Quiz, to the left...

Dogg

Title: Re: Do I have cluster headaches?
Post by Ted on Nov 11^th, 2002, 11:44am

How long do your headaches last for? How often do you get them? Give us a better idea of what it is like and it might be easier to answer your questions. I hope its not CH.

Title: Re: Do I have cluster headaches?
Post by pjbgravely on Nov 11^th, 2002, 1:15pm

Beth, Sounds like sinus problems to me. There are sinus cavities that are at the top of your face. Once I had the sensation of something dripping in my head from these. Can you push on the corner of your eye and make squishing noises? Claritan is useless, next time take benadril with a decongestant and see if that helps. sinuses can push your eye out and make them not work right. Did you have a x-ray or cat scan? Sinus problems will stick right out on these. Hope you don't have clusters and actually have something easily treatable. PJB

Title: Re: Do I have cluster headaches?
Post by don on Nov 11^th, 2002, 1:38pm

Fourth button down on left.

Title: Re: Do I have cluster headaches?
Post by Charlie on Nov 11^th, 2002, 10:37pm

That they went away and a Doc said they might be clusters is an indicator. For me, that fact that they wake you up is what clusters always do. The thing is, no one lies in bed with a cluster....or rarely.

Keep in touch and let us know how you're doing.

Charlie

Title: Re: Do I have cluster headaches?
Post by Mark C on Nov 11^th, 2002, 10:50pm

on 11/11/02 at 13:38:50, don wrote:

Fourth button down on left.

YUP