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        New Message Board Archives >> 2005 Cluster Headache Specific Posts >> Two-days regular annual headache
        
(Message started by: namelessmic on Apr 6^th, 2005, 8:39am)

Title: Two-days regular annual headache
Post by namelessmic on Apr 6^th, 2005, 8:39am

I suffer from a headache which acts in a regular way.
The first time to suffer from it was in March 2003. It lasted for one month and a half. It used to attack me once every two days regularily without exceptions. Every attack lasted for one hour and a half, increasing regularily during the first 20 minutes and decreasing during the last 20 minutes. After passing the one month and the half, no more headaches attacked me.
During March 2005, I began to suffer from a similar headache. It may occur once or twice every two days. Also, each attack lasts for about one hour and a half...etc. as described above.
The headache attacks the region from above the right eye to the zone inbetween the eye and the ear to below the right lower jaw to the middle of the neck. Sometimes, it may awaken me from my sleep.
What do you suggest as a reason for such a headache?
What do you advise me to do to get rid of it?

Title: Re: Two-days regular annual headache
Post by BobG on Apr 6^th, 2005, 8:54am

Hello nameless. Sorry you are in pain.
Part of your symptoms sound like cluster headaches (the waking you at night part and the location of the pain) and some don't (the ramping up for 20 minutes and the ramping down for 20 minutes. And the every other day schedule).
Have you seen a doctor or neurologist yet?
On the left side of your screen is a 'cluster quiz' button. Have you taken the quiz yet? If not, try it and let us know the results.

Title: Re: Two-days regular annual headache
Post by namelessmic on Apr 6^th, 2005, 2:04pm

Dear BobG,

Thank you a lot for your kindness and quick reply......
Indeed, I have seen a doctor. He told me that was a migraine and advised me to take a medicine called "no migraine". I tried the medicine once I feel the headache starting. The medicine begins to work within 30 to 40 minutes. During this period, I feel the headache increasing bit by bit, then I feel the effect of the medicine. The medicine doesn't prevent the pain but limits it. With the medicine, I can act as if I'm normal. I can think and do my work but I can feel the headache in my head.
By the way. I took the quiz as you have advised me. I recognized that part of my symptoms were like those of cluster headaches and the other part won't -as you have told me- but most of my symptoms were like those of cluster headaches.

Title: Re: Two-days regular annual headache
Post by nani on Apr 6^th, 2005, 2:10pm

Many doctors are not knowledgeable enough to accurately diagnose headaches. Perhaps you should see a neurologist and get a more definitive diagnosis. Look around the site here and print info that applies to you. Take it with you to your appointment. You should also keep a headache "diary". Record headaches by time, duration, pain level and possible triggers (what did you eat/drink/do just before the pain started). Take that with you also. Information is your best weapon. Pain free wishes, nani

Title: Is this a cluster headache?
Post by namelessmic on Apr 7^th, 2005, 3:22am

Hi

Thanks a lot for your help

I need your help to know the kind of headache I'm suffering from. According to the quiz's first 8 questions it seems to be a cluster headache. But through answering the following questions, it seems not.
I recognized that the following circumstances don't match CHs:
- I was awakened from my sleep two times only.
- My headaches don't normally occur at the same time of the year nor same times each day.
- I don't experience a stuffy nostril nor a "droopy" eyelid on the same side of the face as the pain.
- I used to go from totally pain free to totally debilitated as well as from totally debilitated to totally pain free in about 20 to 30 minutes not such 5 to 10 minutes.

Besides, I would like you to take into consideration other points which may help:
- I am a 27 years old male.
- I suffered from ONLY TWO MISSIONS in my whole life, the headache-free interval between them was 2 years. The first was in march 2003 (lasted for 1.5 to 2 months). The second began in march 2005 (still running). 2004 was free of headaches.
- During the first mission (March, April 2003), the headache attacked me once every two days. It never attacked me in two successive days. It used to attack me any time during the day. I insisted on NOT taking any pills.
- During the second mission (March 2005 till now), the headache may attack me once every day or may leave a headache-free day inbetween. It never attacks me twice daily. This mission, I feel pain in my throat region, which didn't occur in the first mission. I took "kataflam 50" pills (didn't help at all) in the begining then I used "No-Megrain" pills (reduced the pain some what.
- I suffer from teeth pain on the other side of my head. I am taking steps in traetment with a dentist who insists that this doesn't affect the headache at all.
- I spend most of the day hours infront of the computer.
- I sleep for 5-6.5 hours daily.
- I don't trust doctors in my country

What kind of headache is this?
May my eye (vision) be a reason?
Can I consider this a headache of unknown origin or reason which may not occur for another mission?
Which is better, taking pills or suffering from pain (even if it makes me feeling tired for the rest of the day)?

Thanks in advance

Title: Re: Is this a cluster headache?
Post by BobG on Apr 7^th, 2005, 9:33am

on 04/07/05 at 03:22:01, namelessmic wrote:

Besides, I would like you to take into consideration other points which may help:
- I am a 27 years old male. That is about the age when many of us started our clusters
I suffer from teeth pain on the other side of my head. I am taking steps in traetment with a dentist who insists that this doesn't affect the headache at all. Mnay, if not most of us have thought there was a connection between bad teeth and clusters. Some have even had teeth pulled to relieve the pain. Didn't help.
-- I don't trust doctors in my country Hate to say this but, IMHO, you need to search out a good neurologist that is educated in headaches.

What kind of headache is this? ???
May my eye (vision) be a reason? Many of us have been to the eye docs thinking of eye strain is the cause of our clusters. Nope, same as going to the dentist. No help.
Which is better, taking pills or suffering from pain (even if it makes me feeling tired for the rest of the day)?Many say take the meds and relieve the pain. Others say the meds make the cycle longer or cause re-bounds. It's a personal thing, I guess

Title: Re: Two-days regular annual headache
Post by Tiannia on Apr 7^th, 2005, 6:24pm

Sorry you are in pain, but none of us are doctors to be able to tell you for sure what type of HA it is. Most of the medications that we do have work similar to what you discribe with your "no migraine" Nothing will completly elimiate the pain but it lessens it to the point that we can function. I have been to many doctors and have yet to find one that I trust completly. So it will take time.

-Tia