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        New Message Board Archives >> 2005 Cluster Headache Specific Posts >> Husband diagnoised today with cluster headache. &n
        
(Message started by: Lana on Apr 22nd, 2005, 11:30pm)
Title: Husband diagnoised today with cluster headache. &n
Post by Lana on Apr 22nd, 2005, 11:30pm
Just got back from taking my husband to the doctor.  He has had sinus infection symptoms for about the past week (teeth hurt, hurts to touch cheekbone area and above eyebrow).  Took him to the ER and was diagnoised with a mild sinus infection (even did x-rays).  His head is still killing him.  ER prescribed Percocet.  They help, but what they mainly to is put him to sleep.  
Went to the family practice doctor tonight and she said that is sounds like he has cluster headaches.  She gave him a sample of Relpax and also a shot of Toradol.  He feels a little bit better...but still moaning and appears absolutely miserable.  She told him to come back tomorrow morning if he is not any better.  Will then try Imitrex.
He has a pounding feeling on his left temple.  It radiates down to his jaw.  It comes and goes in waves--more often than not.  
Any tips on things that may help relieve even a little discomfort?  
Should I just go ahead and make an appointment with a neurologist or wait to see what the doctor says.  
Anything that I can do besides leave him alone and be quiet?  
Title: Re: Husband diagnoised today with cluster headache
Post by nani on Apr 22nd, 2005, 11:54pm
Hi Lana, sorry you're husband is suffering. Thank you for supporting him. Ice or heat help some of us. (Ice for me) Aneurologist opinion is usually a good start, but some primary care docs are capable of treating CH. On the left you'll see a link for oxygen info. Print this out and bring it to the dr. Also read about the various meds used as treatments. Try to keep a headache journal. Include time, duration intensity, possible triggers. Take this to the dr also. Information is your best weapon. Good luck and pain free wishes, nani
Title: Re: Husband diagnoised today with cluster headache
Post by BobG on Apr 23rd, 2005, 12:04am
Hello Lana, welcome to the board. Sorry to hear your husband is hurting.
I am not a doctor and can't diagnose. Some of what you write sounds like clusters but most of it does not.

Quote:
ER prescribed Percocet.  They help, but what they mainly to is put him to sleep.  
Pain killer usually don't help with cluster pain. And I have never heard of anyone that can go to sleep during a cluster attack.

Quote:
He feels a little bit better...but still moaning and appears absolutely miserable.
Are you saying he had the pain continously thru the night? Cluster attacks come on suddenly and ramp up to full strenght in about 5 minutes or less. The pain remains strong for 20 minutes to 2 hours (more or less) and then ramps down and is gone in about 5 minutes.

Quote:
He has a pounding feeling on his left temple.  It radiates down to his jaw.  It comes and goes in waves--more often than not.  
The location of his pain is like a cluster but a cluster attack usually does not 'pound' nor come and go in waves. Cluster pain is extreem and steady.

Quote:
Any tips on things that may help relieve even a little discomfort?  
Ice packs or heat packs? I just don't know what to suggest at this time.

Quote:
Should I just go ahead and make an appointment with a neurologist or wait to see what the doctor says.  
Yes. IMHO something serious is happening and he needs to be checked.

Quote:
Anything that I can do besides leave him alone and be quiet?
You will have to ask him that question. But do it when he is not under attack of pain.
Good luck to you. Please let us know what you find out.
Title: Re: Husband diagnoised today with cluster headache
Post by BlueMeanie on Apr 23rd, 2005, 12:35am
Sorry to hear your hubby is in pain. It does NOT sound like he has Clusters to me. Not sure how his doc could say that on a single visit. Clusters come in cycles and often. Sometimes up to 8 a day. They do not stay all day. They hit, leave, then return for another bout. Prescribing Imitrex without even knowing the facts sounds a little odd from a doctor. Can your hubby sit still during his headache ? Does he want to go lie down and be in a quiet place ? Does the headache last more than 1 hour ?

Hope you get some answers to why he is getting headaches. Maybe the sinus problem ?

Anyhow, good luck to you and your hubby.
Title: Re: Husband diagnoised today with cluster headache
Post by RichardN on Apr 23rd, 2005, 1:02am
Take the "cluster quiz" on the left and let us know how he does.

Proper diagnosis is essential.

Sending PF vibes,

  Richard
Title: Re: Husband diagnoised today with cluster headache
Post by jokrs2 on Apr 23rd, 2005, 1:27am
Hi Lana.
First of all, welcome. Your husband is hurting and if my wife wasn't sleeping right now I'd have her tell you some of the things that she does to help me out when I'm in pain. Just out of curiosity, does your husband have any scars on his chin? This may sound like a weird question, but I have "TMJ" as well as clusters and some other junk. I am not a doctor but when you've been ill for 44 years you tend to learn a little  ;). TMJ is/can possibly cause some of the stuff you are describing. You didn't mention any one side of the head swelling or droopy or closed eyelid with weepage out of the effected side "eye or nasal passage". And I have never heard of nor have I ever slept through a cluster attack. Does your husband grind his teeth either awake or asleep and is he showing any other signs of stress? Does he crack his neck often? When was his last dental visit? Don't answer, (it's none of my business) just some random thoughts while I'm pain free. After being misdiagnosed for over 2 decades it would seem "highly unlikely" that a doctor could determine clusters on the evidence that you've stated. I wish you well and I hope your husband is pain free soon no matter what could be going on. Blessing's, Joe
Title: Re: Husband diagnoised today with cluster headache
Post by sandie99 on Apr 23rd, 2005, 2:15pm
Lana,
I am so sorry that your husband has ch... :(
I am glad that you found your way here.  :)
Here's lots of info & support for you both.

Best wishes,
Sandie
Title: Re: Husband diagnoised today with cluster headache
Post by Lana on Apr 24th, 2005, 10:46pm
I think my husband may be feeling a little bit better--he went to work today.  I spoke with him mid-day.  He didn't sound like he felt great or anything, but did sound better than he did that last day that he worked which was Friday, but they sent him home after a couple of hours.  
He slept on the couch last night...was too hot in the bedroom, but the night before when he slept in bed I could hear him moaning throughout the night.  It was just enough to wake be if I wasn't sleeping deeply.  
Last night he was watching TV when I got home and the volume was even loud enough so that I could hear it!  And he even managed to crack a few smiles at my corny jokes where a few days ago I could hardly speak to him.  
He did go back to the doctor yesterday and got another injection of Toradol and they gave him some more Relpax.  They want him to go back tomorrow if he feels that he needs to.  The family practice office seems to have been pretty good with him and get him in with no problems.  
He is the type of person that has no patience...if he wants it he wants it now--if he orders something off the internet, he starts looking the next day to see if it has come, so with the medicines, he want/expects it all to work instantly.  I try to tell him to wait for it to kick in or to at least keep taking it and not waiting until it gets to be really bad.  He is out of the Percocet and the doctor didn't want to give him any more as he was mainly using it because it would kind of put him to sleep, but I guess he would still wake up with headaches, but would sleep once they got a little better.  
Will have to wait and see how he feels when he gets home from work!  I don't know what time he went in, but it has been at least 8 hours since I talked to him when he was at work, so I expect that he will put in 10-12 hours today.  
Title: Re: Husband diagnoised today with cluster headache
Post by Ree on Apr 24th, 2005, 11:13pm
I was worried that your husband had viral meningitis... that is how it started for me.......It doesnt sound to me like cluster either..... if he is over this bout of pain without occurance over the next few days, rest assured he probably did have a sinus attack. It also could have been Migraine..... no piece of pie... but better to have than Cluster..... good luck and let us know......love ree
Title: Re: Husband diagnoised today with cluster headache
Post by Margi on Apr 25th, 2005, 11:53am
Lana, it's really hard to tell from your posts but I tend to agree that this doesn't sound like clusters either...not sure if it sounds like migraine, though.  Either way - narcotics (percoset and toradol) are NOT going to fix him.  All they will do is add to his problems, in my opinion, because they can be addictive.

By all means, get him into a good neuro and do it fast.  To qualify/disqualify from a cluster diagnosis depends on the answers to these questions:

1.  location of pain?
2.  length of attack (headache)?
3.  restless or motionless during attack?
4.  does the pain wake him from a sound sleep?


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