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        New Message Board Archives >> 2002 Posts >> Does anyone have any advice?
        
(Message started by: Circe on Nov 28^th, 2002, 9:09pm)

Title: Does anyone have any advice?
Post by Circe on Nov 28^th, 2002, 9:09pm

Hi all :)

A little over a year ago I started getting daily headaches. I have seen 3 Drs and been on numerous meds. The Dr has put forth the idea that they may be cluster headaches. He does know that they aren't migraines.

In the summer I took myself off all my meds because they didn't seem to be helping anyway. Shortly after this the intensity of my headaches lessened. However, now that fall/winter is here again my headaches are just as intense as they were last winter.

Does anyone have any advice or suggestions?

Title: Re: Does anyone have any advice?
Post by BobG on Nov 28^th, 2002, 10:19pm

Can you tell us a little more about your pain? How long does each attack last? How many a day? Do they wake you from a sound sleep? Where, in your face/head, is the pain located? What medications have you tried?

Have you taken the cluster quiz under the button on the left side of the screen? Did you win or lose?

There is lots of info under the buttons. Read and print. You may need to educate your doctor.

Please let us know more.

Title: Re: Does anyone have any advice?
Post by Circe on Nov 28^th, 2002, 11:06pm

Thanks for your response, its appreciated. They may not be cluster headaches, I don't know but I can't seem to get satisfactory answers from my Dr. :-/

Pain is more often then not constant. They sometimes wake me but not always. If they don't then I usually wake with them. Pain varies, sometimes its prickly, others its like an ice pick, sometimes its pressure. The pain moves a little, from side to side and sometimes to the back of my head and at other times around my forehead and into my eye(s). Also there are times when my headaches make my entire neck stiff (not severely but noticable)

I had a CT Scan done which came back normal (not surprising). I can't remember exactly the meds I have been on, I am going to have to get back to you on that one. Any info is greatly appreciated..

What cluster headache quiz? ??? I don't think I saw it.

Title: Re: Does anyone have any advice?
Post by BobG on Nov 28^th, 2002, 11:20pm

I'm not a doctor and won't try to diagnose but, I'd say you do not suffer from clusterheadaches. The "more often than not constant pain" and being able to sleep through an attack says you may have a different type of headache.

On the left side of the screen is a row of radio buttons.
The fourth one from the top is "cluster quiz". Click it, take the quiz and let us know the results.

Title: Re: Does anyone have any advice?
Post by Charlie on Nov 29^th, 2002, 4:25am

I don't know, but a cluster will always wake you and no matter when you have them, sitting still is almost impossible. They come on quickly and can stick around for a time. The length varies. No one sleeps off a cluster.

Tell us how you did with the quiz and good luck in any case.

Charlie

Title: Re: Does anyone have any advice?
Post by ave on Nov 29^th, 2002, 5:40am

I have wondered about this, Charlie, since you keep using waking up as a yardstick...

At the moment I am unmedicated and not suffering. Yet I have small attacks every day and evening. It feels more like an itch than a pain, BUT IT IS THE CLUSTER BEAST! I know because I know IT.

I also know that before my attacks really got started, years ago, there was a period when I also had these unconclusive little itchings and stabs and jabs, a few seconds of ice pick and then it was all over again.

Had I asked you then, you might have told me I could not have clusters, (though you might have reconsidered when I told you I could absolutely not sit still, even for those short and mild attacks).

I sometimes wonder about the pre-attack people, coming here and going away again, looking elsewhere.

I do agree with you, though, Circe is most unlikely to have clusters - and needs to see a good neuro asap.