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        New Message Board Archives >> 2004 Cluster Headache Specific Posts >> CPH or Ch or both
        
(Message started by: becky8 on Sep 24^th, 2004, 11:18am)

Title: CPH or Ch or both
Post by becky8 on Sep 24^th, 2004, 11:18am

I know I have CH or CPH, but someone told me their Dr. said you can have both. I know sometimes they are on and off all day. I was always clueless to CH or CPH, I was one of those people who always thought I had sinus trouble or allergies. Only til the last year where nothing showed with sinus or allergies and they also started to become chronic that dumb me said what's going on here. I just now have an appointment to see a neruo next week but I am SURE they are CH or CPH or both together. I have every symptom, Except when they are bad I don't want to move ( I also heard its not true that everyone does) just most. But its ALWAYS one sided and my eye swells and droops, hurts and my ear feels clogged and hurts and my jaw hurts. So I want to ready when I see this Dr. and maybe you all who have CH and tell me what to expect and what to tell him (in case he's not the best informed about CH or CPH).

Title: Re: CPH or Ch or both
Post by thomas on Sep 24^th, 2004, 11:29am

The biggest difference between the two is the duration of the attacks. How long do they last? Have you tried indomethicin?

Title: Re: CPH or Ch or both
Post by Lizzie2 on Sep 24^th, 2004, 11:34am

Yeah I agree with Thomas. CPH attacks last about 2-20 minutes in length and come many more times a day than CH. Clusters are 45 to 90 minutes in length...and that can vary for some people. My personal longest CH was 4 hours, but that is very rare for me..most of mine are about an hour to an hour and a half if untreated.

Another thing with CPH is that indomethacin (indocin) will almost always (like 99.99999% of the time) clear up the problem. Although my one neuro says I have hemicrania continua with clusters, which is another one that indomethacin stops, and indomethacin doesn't work for me. Sooooo it's not a 100% thing that if indomethacin does not work, it is not CPH. A few of us don't fit the stereotype for indomethacin responsive headaches that should be.

He never expected my clusters to respond to the indomethacin because clusters don't really. That's why that drug is sometimes used to differentiate between the two diagnoses.

Title: Re: CPH or Ch or both
Post by Karla on Sep 24^th, 2004, 8:54pm

My ear and jaw hurt when I am getting hit also. I a particular sore tender spot in front of my ear that just kills me every time. Sure sounds like clusters to me also. I went to an alergist and had my sinuses checked out also after being diagnosed just for a second opinion and to make sure nothing else was contributing to this terrible pain.