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        New Message Board Archives >> 2005 General Board Posts >> Cluster or no cluster??
        
(Message started by: CraigS on Jan 12^th, 2005, 4:41pm)

Title: Cluster or no cluster??
Post by CraigS on Jan 12^th, 2005, 4:41pm

Hello to everyone in Clusterville.
I live in Melbourne, Australia, and have recently started to get headaches that I can't explain. I'm a 40 year old guy and am a migraine sufferer, (classical migraine with aura) but these are different. I'm wondering if the collective knowledge here might give me an idea if I am suffering cluster headaches or not. Here are the features.
1. They started about 3 weeks ago, every day or every other day
2. Always on the right side of the head, (above the eye, and sometimes in the cheek and also often in the back of the head) Usually at about 10pm at night, but sometimes during the day. Throbbing on and off for about 1- 2 hours.
3. Definitely exacerbated by alcohol
Sounds like cluster headaches? Yes, but..
4. Pain ranges from background to somewhat painful, but I would not describe it as "excruciating".
5. I have never had tearing or drooping of the eye or a blocked nostril with it.
6. It has not prevented me from my daily activities (at its most painful, it is still bearable).
7. Over-the-counter pain killers taken 1 hour prior seem to prevent it.
I'm booked in to see a neurologist, but can't get in until March 4, Being a bit of a worrier, I'm trying to get some info more promptly.
Thanks very much,
CraigS

Title: Re: Cluster or no cluster??
Post by guesst on Jan 12^th, 2005, 4:59pm

Doesn't sound like clusters to me, but I'm not a doc, just a bloke that has them.

Title: Re: Cluster or no cluster??
Post by vig on Jan 12^th, 2005, 5:02pm

maybe it's in early stages or something, but normal Cluster headaches are incredibly excruciating. and that's an understatement

They're usually painful beyond description.

Title: Re: Cluster or no cluster??
Post by john_d on Jan 12^th, 2005, 5:08pm

ditto, hope it ain't

Title: Re: Cluster or no cluster??
Post by kissmyglass on Jan 12^th, 2005, 5:25pm

nope not clusters. # 4 really gives it away....maybe rebounds from the over the counter stuff you are taking. stop taking those otc pills and see what happens....just my opinion.

Title: Re: Cluster or no cluster??
Post by PrettyH8Machine on Jan 13^th, 2005, 12:14am

Craig, take the cluster quiz on the left.

I guess I am an odd ball in that, when I started getting CH's in 1987 they were NOT excruciating. They were mild, and mainly sat in the eyeball. It kept occurring though, several times a day, even waking me up - but was not bad. It just felt like I had put a piece of ice on the eyeball and froze it. They eventually went away.

My next couple of cycles, it picked up into the 'excruciating' category and the night I went nuts during a CH and started punching myself in the head in a rage, my mom knew it was out of control. By then it was no longer just the eyeball, but intense pain in the temple, and an ache in the jaw and at the base of the skull in the back of the head.

In 1993, I had my worst cycle ever and lost my job, house, etc. For me, they have only intensified over the years...I never get used to the pain.

So, you could be going through early stages of onset IMHO. The key to getting any kind of headache under control is proper diagnosis and treatment.

Hope you get things figured out soon.

Peace,
CD

P.S. - I think the 'background' pain could be the dull ache we call 'shadowing.' Possibly maybe.

Title: Re: Cluster or no cluster??
Post by Mr. Happy on Jan 13^th, 2005, 12:31am

Nyet clusters. According to your input.

Thank your luck stars, man....
RJ

Title: Re: Cluster or no cluster??
Post by Charlie on Jan 13^th, 2005, 4:35am

It doesn't sound like clusters....be glad, very glad. One very good test is that you cannot sit still when having a cluster attack. They will also wake you out of a sound sleep. The pain prevents one from doing much of anything.

Good luck and let us know how you are doing.

Charlie

Title: Re: Cluster or no cluster??
Post by unsolved1 on Jan 13^th, 2005, 8:46am

Ditto on the excruciating part.

< / Unsolved >