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        New Message Board Archives >> 2004-2005 Getting to Know Ya Posts >> I think I found where I belong!!
        
(Message started by: chockey on Aug 1^st, 2005, 10:41pm)

Title: I think I found where I belong!!
Post by chockey on Aug 1^st, 2005, 10:41pm

For the last few weeks I have been plagued by these "new" pains in my head. I was trying normal pain killers, then I tried Sinus medicine but nothing seemed to lessen the pain. My fiance suffers from migraines so she thought I was having migraines. I went to the doctor and got Imitrex but even that didn't seem to do much good. I was having these headaches once a night and they would last about an hour, but they were excruciating. I began to worry over the last few days that there is something seriously wrong with me. I went back to my doctor and he gave me a calcium channel blocker to try and prevent them. I began to take the pills but they were still occuring so I stopped. Today, I decided to post a question on WebMD about these headaches and the R.N. told me they sounded like "cluster headaches." I did a little research and after reading the symptoms, I know that this is what I suffer from. I did a little more research and found this website and I'm glad I did. It's nice to know that I'm not the only one out there suffering from these pains.
I feel lucky because some people seem to be hit by these 1-8 times a day and I've been fortunate enough to only have 1 a night (knocking on wood)!
I do have some questions: (1) Is there any permanent damage caused by these headaches? (2) Are there any serious causes for these headaches, like a tumor or something? and most importantly (3) How do I make them go away!?
I'mn so glad I've found a home...thank you!!!

Chris in Utica, NY

Title: Re: I think I found where I belong!!
Post by mcf69 on Aug 1^st, 2005, 11:14pm

Hi Chris,
Sorry you had to find us, Cluster Headaches are something that I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. You said the Doctor gave you Imitrex, what kind was it?, pills, nasal spray or injections? If you're taking the pill form it probably isn't going to work fast enough to abort an attack before it is over, nasal spray is faster, and injections are even faster, and is the #1 choice for use in Clusters. Clacium channel blockers like verapamil are often prescribed to prevent Clusters, and some have had good luck with them, so keep trying. To try to answer your questions, 1. There is no evidence I've seen or heard of that Cluster Headaches cause permanant damage, except maybe from banging your head on the wall during an attack. 2. If they are Clusters, they are caused by your hypothalmus being out of whack (for a lack of better terms and a shorter explanation) Your doctor is the only one who can rule out other causes for the headaches you're having. 3. It all depends, do you want to make them go away when they're happeneing, or try to make them go away for good? Treatment falls into 2 categories, abortives and preventatives. Abortives are for when you are in the midst of an attack, like Imitrex and oxygen, preventatives seek to stop the attacks from happening in the first place, like calcium channel blockers and lithium. You can find alot of info on the boards concerning all these, the best advice I can give is to look around and gather some info, there is lots of it here. In the mean time keep trying the Imitrex and CCBs and ask your doctor about oxygen, check out this link for more info: http://www.maplefallswebdesign.com/misc/oxygen/oxygen.htm
Like I said, look around the board, you'll find tons of info, and most of all, people who understand what you're going through, someone is always around, so if you need anything or have any questions, give a
shout. Best of luck.
Ben

Title: Re: I think I found where I belong!!
Post by nani on Aug 1^st, 2005, 11:34pm

Hi Chris. Glad you found us, but sorry you had to. I think the first thing you should do is make an appointment with your dr. In the meantime, keep a headache diary. Record the time of day, duration, intensity of any headaches. Ben gave you really good advice. Look at the oxygen link. Look here for CH medications and print both links to take to your dr appointment.
http://www.brightok.net/~mnjday/chtherapy.pdf

Learn all you can in the meantime. Information is your best weapon. Keep us posted, OK?
pain free wishes, nani

Title: Re: I think I found where I belong!!
Post by unsolved1 on Aug 2^nd, 2005, 7:24pm

Hey Chris! Looks like you've already gotten some good advice. Now it's your turn to read, read, read!

[smiley=wave.gif]

PF Wishes
UNsolved

Title: Re: I think I found where I belong!!
Post by burnt-toast on Aug 2^nd, 2005, 7:37pm

Even if it sounds like CH get some scans done to rule out potential physical causes. Get to a neuro. and provide detailed information regarding your attacks and be prepared with information from the site or other sources and mark where your symptoms match up to this disease. Become a headache record keeper for reference during visits with the neuro.

1) CH reportedly casues no permanent damage even though it feels like its causing major damage. Sleep deprivation and the disorders it can cause is another story that is not highlighted enough.

2) No there are no serious causes and these should be ruled out during testing/diagnosis. It appears we have enlarged Hypothalamus' but no one is sure why or how this may cause CH

3) CH is typically a life long affliction. Episodic sufferers go through cycles of active CHs and periods where symptoms dissapear some are chronic and CHs are always active.

Read and learn
Good luck on your journey

Tom