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        New Message Board Archives >> 2006-2007 Getting to Know Ya Posts >> Am I getting cluster headaches?
        
(Message started by: freat on Sep 18^th, 2006, 10:19am)

Title: Am I getting cluster headaches?
Post by freat on Sep 18^th, 2006, 10:19am

Hello everyone. I'm new here. It sounds like I have cluster headaches. [smiley=huh.gif] I'll try to describe what I've realized.

-they can be months in-between (it's been at least 6 months)
-I wake up with the headache in the morning
-Throughout the day it may come and go.
-They tend to go away by 10-12PM, so sometimes I stay up late afterwards because I finally feel good.
-Can go on for several days (I'm on day 4 right now)
-Coffee + nicotine temporarily helps (I quit smoking a year ago, but took it back up this weekend cause I knew it would help when the headaches are at their worst)
-Drinking helps (which is also something I have not been doing much of lately. Maybe a 2-5 beers per week is my average).
-Only over-the-counter thing that seems to help (albeit temporarily) is the heachache powder stuff (2 packs under toungue) probably just because it works faster.

Thanks in advance. I'm new here but this looks to be a great resource.

Title: Re: Am I getting cluster headaches?
Post by georgej on Sep 18^th, 2006, 10:46am

on 09/18/06 at 10:19:38, freat wrote:

It doesn't really sound like cluster headache, particularly when you say that drinking helps (normally it's a trigger for CH). Also unlikely that headache powder would help--usually most pain medications are ineffective. You also say they can go on for several days--usually cluster attacks are far shorter than that.

Check with your doctor--it sounds more like migraine, or perhaps sinus headaches to me--but I'm not a doctor.

Best wishes on finding an answer to your problem,

George

Title: Re: Am I getting cluster headaches?
Post by GeorgiaPeach on Sep 18^th, 2006, 1:55pm

So far I agree with George but here are some q's

~do you get light or touch sensitivity during a headache? - migrane sympton
~Does your eye tear or your nose get stuffy? - CH symptom

with CH's, drinking definitly doesn't help. it is usually a trigger or does nothing (but usually a trigger) CH's laugh at OTC meds and just keep on trucking. Also, typical suffers don't have CH's cease at a certain time at night, they usually will stike again 2-3 hours after falling asleep.

I hope you find out what your problem is so you can begin to solve it. But doesn't sound like CH's...count yourself lucky!

Title: Re: Am I getting cluster headaches?
Post by Callico_Kid on Sep 18^th, 2006, 4:02pm

I think you are one of the lucky ones, and I certainly hope so.

Take the cluster quiz on the left of your screen and see a Dr. promptly. It sounds like migraine I had as a kid usually brought on by change of seasons. Really hope it isn't CH.

Jerry

Title: Re: Am I getting cluster headaches?
Post by freat on Sep 18^th, 2006, 4:20pm

Thanks for taking the time to look at my symptoms.

Quote:

~do you get light or touch sensitivity during a headache? - migrane sympton

Yes

Quote:

~Does your eye tear or your nose get stuffy? - CH symptom

No.

Sounds like I may have migraines after all. For some reason I thought migraines were only 1/2 the head but for me it's the whole thing. It could be a seasonal thing as someone mentioned... Had to go home from work today. Giving people blank stares as they talked to me was not very effective...

Thanks again.

Title: Re: Am I getting cluster headaches?
Post by GeorgiaPeach on Sep 18^th, 2006, 4:26pm

Hey

Try the cluster quiz on the left. It can help you figure out what's going on. But see a doctor cause we can only tell you from our OWN experiences what you might have, but for each person, the beast presents himself differnetly. But I do hope you don't have CH's!