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Title: I'm having Bad Headaches...? Post by ToddToddTodd on Aug 30th, 2003, 6:38am My reason for posting this is that I am hoping someone here can give me some more insight on what it is I am suffering from. I know that my best and most reasonable option is to see a doctor, but I am living on my own currently and am not covered by my parents insurance anymore since I turned 21. So my only reason for not going is due to being uninsured. Allright, some background information. I am a 21 year old male, I remember when I was younger my father used to get very bad headaches but he called them clusters AND migraines, so I'm not sure what he meant. I have never experienced this before in my life, but recently, within the last half a year I have been experiencing some of the worst pain I can remember. I can tell when it is coming on, doesn't hurt too bad at that point, but within 5-10 minutes I am in terrible pain that causes me to thrash around, squeeze my head, bang it against the walls(actually have put my head thru the drywall doing so), but I cannot even talk for some reason, let alone yell out, curse, or cry. The pain is always in the exact same spot, all above my right eye and extending to my right temple. No pain in my nose at all though, as I have read most clusters are associated with, which lead me to believe it may be migraines I suffer from. On the other hand I read that sound/light makes a migraine much worse. In my case dark and quiet, bright and noisy, my pain is the same and not any bit more comfortable/uncomfortable in either situation. It actually seems worse in the dark and quiet, but I think that is simply because I have no other distractions whatsoever to take my mind away from the pain. I also have NEVER been woken up in the middle of the night from one of these headaches which seems to contradict characteristics of clusters. A normal episode occurs once or twice a day, the most I've gotten were 5 in one day's period. The longest I've gone without them in the last several months was probably less than a week. It will last anywhere from a half hour to no more than 2 hours. The pain onset and offset are so quick it doesn't seem possible, and once they are gone I almost always pass out for a few hours because I am completely drained of all my energy. Over the counter medications seem to help with little avail. I have taken upwards to 5,000mg of Ibuprofen to try and get rid of these once I feel it coming on, but the help from that is minimal at best. I have also noticed that drinking even a moderate amount of alcohol seems to greatly increase the chances of one of these headaches coming on, not always, but enough to take notice that it plays a factor. But even when not drinking for over a months period, I will still get them at a 'constant pace'. Alcohol just seems to bring more about than normal. As I said, I know the best thing to do is see a doctor, which I actually plan on making an appointment for today(just experienced one of the worst ones ever earlier this morning and decided I cannot handle it anymore, even if it costs an arm and a leg without insurance). They just keep getting worse and worse every day.. But if anyone has any thoughts or insights on what exactly it is I may be suffering from that would be great. Because everything I have read seems to say that I show symptoms for both migraines and clusters, but not specificly one alone. |
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Title: Re: I'm having Bad Headaches...? Post by 5-string on Aug 30th, 2003, 7:02am Hey there ToddToddTodd, Good morning. Sounds like a cluster to me,but weather or not it is, you need to see a health professional about this. No insurance makes it tricky,maybe someone here knows a way around it but either way you should get to one. Even if they tell you this is what you've got,the only meds that seem to work for this are prescription. Besides,it might be something else. Good luck, you're not alone here.There's a huge well of info in this sight. Take it easy, Mark. |
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Title: Re: I'm having Bad Headaches...? Post by suzy617 on Aug 30th, 2003, 7:07am Hi Todd and welcome. Sorry you are in such pain. Have you taken the cluster quiz found on this site? I suggest you do. It is possible to have both migraines and clusters. Some of us here do experience both. To me it does sound like clusters. You dont have to have pain in your nose or wake up in the night from them. Maybe when you do go to see the doc, you can ask him for samples of meds such as imitrex (if he is prescribing them to you). Some docs have tons of them stashed. They are quite expensive to purchase. Well keep reading, there is a ton of info here and I wish you luck. Stick around. Suzy |
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Title: Re: I'm having Bad Headaches...? Post by Karla on Aug 30th, 2003, 7:47am I have been chronic for over 5 years and I have never been woken up once with a ha. There are some of us that differ in that we have them during waking hours. So don't let that make you think you don't have clusters. I get both migraines and clusters. A migrane is about a kip6 compared to a kip 10 for ch. Migranes last several hours if not days. Cluster headaches last 15 min. to a couple hours. I have never wanted to put my head through anything with a migrane but have with a cluster headache. If you do decide to go to the dr. find a neurologist that specializes in ha and go see him/her. The dr will want to perscribe some meds for you. A preventative and an abortive. Preventatives are not that expensive usually unless you get prescribe topamax. That costs an arm and a leg. lol. There are cheaper preventatives that your dr. could try you on first like verapamil, lithium, predesone, elavil, etc. Abortives are very expensive if you are talking imitrix, zomig, axert, amerge, frova, etc. Like $150.00 expensive for just a couple of days worth of meds. So ask for free samples from your dr. Ask to take imitrix one week. Zomig another week. Axert another week. So you can get plenty of samples. Also if you contact the drug company directly they do have programs for people with no insurance to help low income people afford medicine. Maybe your dr. could give you more info on that. Good luck and wishing you PFDAN. |
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Title: Re: I'm having Bad Headaches...? Post by Donna on Aug 30th, 2003, 8:08am Glad you found us......you'll get more help here than anywhere else in the world....from people who have experienced the whole spectrum of cluster activity. Yes it really does sound like clusters. But first your doc will probably want to rule out other causes, like tumor, etc. This is the proper route to go. You need to educate yourself on this site and the OUCH site, make copies to take to your doc and be sure to read the insurance info post nailed at the top of this page. There is help if you look for it. Like the others have said, the most common meds for clusters are Prednisone first to break the cycle, Verapimil (since we use this one in a higher dosage than most docs prescribe, take info pertaining to that fact) to use as a preventative, Imitrex to abort and oxygen to abort. Read up on these meds before your appointment so that you can talk to your doc and take part in your treatment. You may have to get a little aggressive, but do it. Good luck to you and be sure to keep us posted. |
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Title: Re: I'm having Bad Headaches...? Post by ave on Aug 30th, 2003, 9:59am What was said before... I used to get them at night, now in the daytime only. When I have migraines, the dark is a blessing. With clusters, I want to move and moan. Yes, for most alcohol is a trigger and no, nobody here has had any results from ibuprofen, except the holes burnt in their stomach lining. There are no painkillers that kill this pain, short of a knock out shot from a doctor which does work for some of us. try this http://www.clusterheadaches.org/doctors.htm to see if a knoledgeable doc lives in your neighbourhood. good luck |
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Title: Re: I'm having Bad Headaches...? Post by BarbaraD on Aug 30th, 2003, 11:16am Todd, You said you can feel them coming on --- try this (it works for me - sometimes) 3 Excedrin Extra Strength and a STRONG cup of black coffee (or two or three cups). Sometimes this will abort an attack - sometimes not, but it's worth a try. But.... if done too often can cause rebound ha's. Caffeine sometimes is an abortative for CH. We all react differenly to these darn things. I'm chronic CH and have arthritic migraines on top of that as well as post concussion tramatic headache something or nother. All my problems are in my head!!!! Keep a sense of humor..... Most doctors have forms from drug companies that can be filled out for meds that you can't afford. You'll need proof of income (last year's tax return as well as year to date earnings for this year). ASK for it for any meds he/she gives you. They don't volunteer this - you have to ASK. ANother thing --- it might be a good idea to get some insurance BEFORE you are diagnosed. This way you don't get a rider put on your med insurance. Just a thought. At 21 your insurance shouldn't be all that high, but if you are diagnosed with CH or even migraines you might have a tough time getting covered. Right now you can truthfully answer NO to the HA questions - later you can't cause there will be a record of it. :-X Take our cluster quiz - try theExcedrin ES and coffee. GEt some insurance - see a doc and get some PF relief. Hugs BD |
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Title: Re: I'm having Bad Headaches...? Post by cathy on Aug 30th, 2003, 3:26pm Todd..........hate to have to welcome you but Welcome to your new family!! Great site, great people....grab an oar and start rowing...PF vibes to you. Cathy |
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