Clusterheadaches.com Message Board


    
      
        Clusterheadaches.com Message Board
        (http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi)
      

        New Message Board Archives >> 2005 Cluster Headache Specific Posts >> Am i a clusterhead?
        
(Message started by: aradon on Aug 12^th, 2005, 7:31am)

Title: Am i a clusterhead?
Post by aradon on Aug 12^th, 2005, 7:31am

Hi all,

My mum found this site and ive spent most of the day reading through stories it.

I cant seem to pin point my problem, and only started researching Cluster Headaches after my specialist mentioned them.

My pains started when i was in college when i was 17, the first year i recorded around 600 attacks of varying degrees of strength and duration. The main symptom of my attacks are an immense stabbing pain through my right eye into the area of my right upper frontal lobe. I can only describe it as a hot needle being slowly pushed through my eye, the pain in my head then feels like a little man has climbed in and is tightening a vice in one specific spot, in a steady pulsing kind of action.
Generally the pain is equal to a 10 on kips scale, the only difference to most attacks ive read about is that mine normally last no longer than 30-40 seconds.

Over the years they have started to follow a cycle, every 6 months, Feb and Aug, they start and last a month on average. Frequency of attacks vary massivesly and the intensity is totally random, ive had 3 this week so far and all have lasted less than 20seconds but have been enough to stop me in my tracks.

The worst of my pains have followed a longer period of remission, and normally have the "lights out" effect (i have called it this because thats whats its like, one minute im there, next im out)
My first "lights out" was when i was at work i was knocked out for about 30mins, when i came to i was very disorientated and jittery, by the time i got to the hospital there was no sign that anything had happened.

Another time happened when i was at home, i got up to go into the kitchen and get a drink, i took 3 steps, i woke up 3 hours later in a pool of blood. Seems i caught my face on the corner of the kitchen table on the way down.

I once got an attack on the stairs and nearly broke my neck on the way down.

Ive only suffered a "full" attack once, at a works do i had the usual pains, but all over my head, the pressure in the front of my face and nose, under my eyes, felt like my face was going to explode, my vision was blurry and moving my head made it worse, i was sobbing and begging my mates to hit my face to stop the pressure, on the way home in the taxi i passed out several times, by the time i got home i wanted to die, i had to be carried in and was totally burning up, i drank like a camel and took a full packet of Distalgesics which did nothing to ease it, the whole episode lasted 8 hours and went as fast as it came.

Whenever i get a twinge i pray its just a migraine and worry that ill never be able to drive due to the unpredictable and destructive nature of the attacks, i just wish i knew what i could do. Because they last for such a short amount of time theres nothing i can do to stop them, and as they happen so randomly i am not keen on taking anything to prevent them, i have 3 kids and a busy life, the last thing i need is to be drugged up!!

Does anyone else get attacks that come and go so fast? if so what do you do to get by?
Will grow out of them?

Any advise would be great :D

Cheers

Ryan

Title: Re: Am i a clusterhead?
Post by E-Double on Aug 12^th, 2005, 7:46am

Hi Ryan,

All pain sucks!!

I will tell you this, based on duration they are most likely not cluster headaches.

If you want to learn about any and all identified HA read through this......the International Headache Societies Frameset:

http://216.25.100.131/ihscommon/guidelines/pdfs/full_form_watermarked.pdf

Read up on Paroxysmal Hemicrania, Idiopathic Stabbing Headache and some other Shortlasting HA types.....

In addition to CH, I get Idiopathic Stabbing Headache AKA Icepick HA's.
They are 99.99% responsive to Indomethacin/Indocin....
As are several of the short lasting HA's.

Good luck, read and keep us updated!!!!!

Regards,

Eric

Title: Re: Am i a clusterhead?
Post by aradon on Aug 12^th, 2005, 8:16am

Excellent, thanks for that link, sounds to me that i get in-frequent episodic CH (last one was 2 years ago) and episodic Paroxysmal Hemicrania, still dont know why the knock me out tho :( Prolly the pain i dunno, either way imma look into the treatments suggested as they are reported to stop them absolutely, which would rock :D

Thanks again, ill keep you all posted

Title: Re: Am i a clusterhead?
Post by Bob P on Aug 12^th, 2005, 8:50am

I'm with e-double on this one. Your attacks are too short lived to be CH. I'd look at the episodic Paroxysmal Hemicrania.

Title: Re: Am i a clusterhead?
Post by Bob_Johnson on Aug 12^th, 2005, 1:36pm

Headaches can, at times, be masks for other important disorders. Periods of losing consciousness hints at some kind of seizure disorder--this is certainly not associated with cluster headache.

I'd encourage you to get a referral to a neurologist for a good diagnostic workup.

Title: Re: Am i a clusterhead?
Post by lionsound on Aug 12^th, 2005, 4:00pm

Hi Ryan,
This is the part that concerns me.
on 08/12/05 at 07:31:22, aradon wrote:

The worst of my pains have followed a longer period of remission, and normally have the "lights out" effect (i have called it this because thats whats its like, one minute im there, next im out)
My first "lights out" was when i was at work i was knocked out for about 30mins, when i came to i was very disorientated and jittery, by the time i got to the hospital there was no sign that anything had happened.

Could very well be you have lots of HA types going and in addition to those the passing out can be a sign of something else entirely. I have migraines, CH and icepicks and I have never passed out.

Please get yourself to a knowledgeable neurologist that can help you sort it all out.

Please keep us posted,
Be well and PF,
lionsound

Title: Re: Am i a clusterhead?
Post by LeLimey on Aug 12^th, 2005, 4:33pm

Hi Ryan.
Nice to meet you!
One of the best ways to check on PH is to try Indomethacin which has an almost 100% success rate in treating PH. Have a look at OUCH UK

http://www.clusterheadaches.org.uk/home/index.cfm?address=../home/txt_welcome.cfm&added=Dec2001&code=AD

There are links there which will explain PH and we also have members who are PH sufferers who can answer questions for you in greater detail.
We also have a GP info page you could direct your doctor to where he/she can get further info.

http://gpinfo.ouchuk.org/

If Indomethacin hasn't worked for you WITHIN a week it is extremely unlikely that it is Indomethacin. Please bear in mind that Indo is a bit abrasive on the old tum and ask your doctor for something to protect it from all the extra acid too.. not an OTC remedy this time please!

Let us know how you get on okay? Its by no means certain its PH - although it sounds pretty much like it. None of us are doctors and nothing beats a proper diagnosis. PH is very rare, its rarer than CH even so you will need to be pro-active in helping yourself.
Regards
Helen

Title: Re: Am i a clusterhead?
Post by unsolved1 on Aug 12^th, 2005, 7:28pm

I would like to hear if the Indomethacin works for you. (fingers are crossed)

UNsolved

Title: Re: Am i a clusterhead?
Post by aradon on Aug 12^th, 2005, 7:45pm

Hi,

Thanks again to everyone for there replies, imma mention all my findings to my new doc and see what he recommends.

I told you earlier my "time" was this month, took a bad hit tonight, along with my keyboard, worst one since last year. Was about 3 hours into an attack, was contemplating putting my head in the freezer :D when i got a lights out, totally took me by surprise, one minute im chatting to my mates on messenger next i wake up to find my keyboard totally busted, head must have smashed it in or summat, grrr, new keyboard an all *sighs*

Id been expecting something big coz ive been getting losts of small hits and constant shadows, so at least its out of the way *prays*

Hope my new doc listens to me, the last one diagnosed migraine and put me on Ibuprofen, i could have throttled him lol.

Ill stay in touch and keep you updated.

Thanks again

Title: Re: Am i a clusterhead?
Post by gMike on Aug 12^th, 2005, 8:49pm

You need to push your doc to give you a trial of Indomethacin. It can't hurt you and if it kills your headaches you're way ahead. Take the Indo. with food and ask for something for your stomach!

I have Hemicrania Continua and the Indomethacin has killed my headaches totally.

If the Indo. doesn't work, you've ruled out a significant portion of the headache spectrum and can move on to try other medications. Good luck!!!

Mike

Title: Re: Am i a clusterhead?
Post by Ree on Aug 13^th, 2005, 12:35am

on 08/12/05 at 19:28:59, unsolved1 wrote:

I would like to hear if the Indomethacin works for you. (fingers are crossed)

UNsolved

I was going to tell you the same thing.... but unsolved beat me to it.... My little girl suffers with these seasonally.... Good luck.... ree