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        New Message Board Archives >> 2004 Posts >> In the process of being Diagnosed
        
(Message started by: CharlieInDenver on Jan 9^th, 2004, 1:41am)

Title: In the process of being Diagnosed
Post by CharlieInDenver on Jan 9^th, 2004, 1:41am

[smiley=huh.gif]

Hello people, my name is Charles and I am in Denver, Colorado. Life has been an interesting struggle. I started with a psychiatric diagnosis, and it is working its way to a Cluster Headache also. I did not realize the extent, and when I started suffering as I do. The sinus infections that plauged my late teen years are more likely cluster headaches. I have been incredibely fed up lately because over the last years things have intensified 100 fold, and the doctors act as if asprin will work. They did preform one cat scan, and nothing showed. They have left me with the impression it is literally all in my head, and that I am simply crazy. I plead with my psychiatrist today to do something differently because she has routinely pushed everything to the primary care physician. However, I made progress today, and I have the informatioin and the support of my psychiatrist to deal with this better. It has always amazed me how a term or phrase of words can give so much insight. I have come to the point where I have seriously consider filing grievances with the State Board of Medical Examaniers. The struggles I have read I can relate too in so many ways. This lovely beast cost me my academic career, and my sainity. The thing is trying not to be so bitter and jaded. Life is getting to the point again of being joyful, and I am so terrfied I am messing it up. "Eccentric", I always hated that word, and now I am slowly comprehending it on a different level. I was on the phone with my mom in tears today screaming at how the doctors can't see past my mental illness and to the root of the problem. But, having insight now I have a means of fighting back a bit. The patient advocate will be my first step tomorrow after I see the doctor, and I get an unfavorable response. I am flat out of being in constant pain. It is amazing the insight I have gotten into my behaviors in such a small time frame. I stopped taken asprin and what no a long while ago. My eyes physically hurt, and it is like nothing I can describe on the right side of my face. I am trying not to be so jaded .07 of the population is a small number, but I feel the doctor will listen to my psychatrist since the psych took it on her self to offer a probable diagnosis. It is a different beast now at least it has a face. I have had a headache if you can call it that since mid Novemeber, and the ER doctor shewed me out the door. And, it is time to pull of another mircale. ::) Hopefully there will be good results tomorrow.

Title: Re: In the process of being Diagnosed
Post by Kevin_M on Jan 9^th, 2004, 1:50am

Yes, getting a dr to put a finger on the problem is frustrating. Putting a finger on it yourself and being here will help. Move on to seeing what can be done can only follow once that happens, and none too soon. An understanding dr is what we all need too. Best to you and stick around. Kevin.

Title: Re: In the process of being Diagnosed
Post by CharlieInDenver on Jan 9^th, 2004, 2:13am

Thank You Kevin,

It is funny this last really horrible epsidoe has really gotten me angry, an dI have managed to mellow out in the last few hours, but it has brought to the fore front of mind how horrible they treat you if you experience, display, or are diagnosised with a psychiatric condition. This will be an interesting experience, but I think I have the starts of a tool box to handle this better. I just hope I have missed up a friendship in the process. :'(

Title: Re: In the process of being Diagnosed
Post by BobG on Jan 9^th, 2004, 5:34am

A psychiatrist for help with cluster pain? Huh? I don’t understand. You used the words ‘being in constant pain’ and ‘I have had a headache if you can call it that since mid Novemeber’. By that do you mean the pain never goes away or does it come go many times a day? IMHO neither of those phrases sound like cluster headaches.
Please click on the Cluster Quiz button on the left side of your screen, take the quiz and let us know what you scored.

Title: Re: In the process of being Diagnosed
Post by CharlieInDenver on Jan 9^th, 2004, 6:53pm

I have taken the cluster quiz, and the results say that it may be cluster headaches. I didn't not mean to confuse anyone. I have a pre existing psychiatric condition, and because of that the psychiatrist has to go through and make sure I am not having adverse reactions to medication which I am not. As for the pain itself it does go away for brief periods of time, and returns, and most often it starts with me waking up with a headache. I will have a few days break, and return to pain this usually last anywhere from 1 month to 6 weeks, and after a few weeks remission if you will they come back. My primary care physician has started meds to help with the pain. I hope this clarifies what I am trying to relate.

Title: Re: In the process of being Diagnosed
Post by pubgirl on Jan 9^th, 2004, 7:04pm

Hi Charlie

The usual caveat of 'I'm not a Doctor" but the persistence of your pain suggests other headache syndromes rather than CH e.g. Chronic Daily Headache, Tension-type headache.

It would also suggest that you need a clear diagnosis from a neuro specialising in headache syndromes, as treatments are all different depending on the diagnosis.

The good news if it isn't Ch is that many of the others are easier to treat

Wishing you well

Wendy

Title: Re: In the process of being Diagnosed
Post by chronic_chic on Jan 9^th, 2004, 10:08pm

Hi Charlie,

I'm sorry that you've had such a hard time finding a doctor who can help you and a proper diagnosis for your headache condition. What I think would be first and foremost important in your condition would be to find yourself a comprehensive headache center. Most of these centers have neurology and psychiatry staff. The point is not to diagnose the headache as being some sort of psychiatric condition, but to find out if any psychiatric comorbidities could be contributing triggers to your headache condition. It sounds like this could be the case for you as you already know of your own psychiatric conditions. The headache is not "all in your head" as it were, but psychiatric issues can contribute to headache pain at times, and it helps to have someone to simply discuss these issues with. They aren't biased about pushing everything off on a psychiatric diagnosis.

OK next. Are you keeping a good headache diary? This would include times of day you feel your pain, times the pain starts and stops (if there are actual breaks in the pain), any triggers you note, and any medications you take in an attempt to stop your pain. This would be helpful for a doctor to see as well.

Things they will look for that differentiate different types of headaches is that chronic daily type headaches are headaches that last more than 4 hours a day and more than 15 days a month. There are many subclasses to investigate here. Do your headaches throb, stab, or ache? Are you sensitive to light, sound, smells? Do you wake up with headaches in the night? These are all questions you will be asked by a good headache neurologist and it will help them to differentiate what type of headache you really have.

If you find the right kind of neuro, they're not going to brush it off as a psychiatric condition. Hang in there and keep us posted on how you wind up doing!

~Lizzie :)

Title: Re: In the process of being Diagnosed
Post by Patrick_A on Jan 10^th, 2004, 12:22am

Hey Liz, You used this word "comorbidities". WTF does that word mean? ;;D

Patrick :)

Title: Re: In the process of being Diagnosed
Post by chronic_chic on Jan 10^th, 2004, 12:45am

comorbidities = more than one illness at a time

In this case, psych and neuro diagnosis.
Hope this helps!
~Lizz

Title: Re: In the process of being Diagnosed
Post by Dave_Emond on Jan 10^th, 2004, 1:43am

Hi Charlie,
Are you by chance dealing with the clinic MHCD? Having lived in Denver for years, and having a brother who has psychiatric problems, I know a lot about this place.
MHCD is a joke and they don't give a damn about their patients. >:( Most people with psychiatric problems were forced to go there if they were on disability Medicade.
If this is your case and you'd like to talk about it privately, please E-mail me. They don't like me there as I wouldn't let them treat my brother as they did, but I got things done for him. Just maybe I can help you as well, but I'll need to talk with you indepth first.
I moved out of Denver to Buena Vista, CO, about 130 miles from Denver about two years ago.
If you're going to MHCD, let me know and we'll see where we can go from there. Whether Clusters or not, you need to see a neurologist as soon as possible.
Dave
ExplodingEye@aol.com

Title: Re: In the process of being Diagnosed
Post by captdshea on Jan 10^th, 2004, 9:22am

cluster headaches are just that, headaches that come in Clusters. may last 20mins to and hours often 3 to 6
times aday. often waking you out of sleep.

IMO you should keep a headache log for the Neuro.
List date, time ha begins and ends. the log will be very helpful in diagnosing.

The nuro will start you on prevenative, most do not offer
a abortive until deem needed.

PFDAN

David