Clusterheadaches.com Message Board


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

        New Message Board Archives >> 2006-2007 Getting to Know Ya Posts >> unsure...
        
(Message started by: kelsi111 on Oct 24^th, 2006, 3:03pm)

Title: unsure...
Post by kelsi111 on Oct 24^th, 2006, 3:03pm

Hi! I’m Lauren and I’m 24. I've had headaches since I was 18. The episodes last about 4 to 9 months and then go away for 6 months to a year. The headaches seem to last about a half hour to an hour, but usually right around 40-ish minutes

The main thing that is different from cluster headache suffers is that I never have headaches at night. They are always around 10am, 1 pm and 3 pm. I will sometimes get one around 7pm, but not very often. At least that’s the schedule for the past 4 months. I’m not sure exactly about previous sets of headaches, but they have always been 2-5 and during the day. Before the first morning headache I get a really stiff neck on my right side. This stiff neck lasts until after my last headache, but the pain isn't constant... sometimes it dies down or goes away completely. Headache medicine sometimes helps the neck pain, but never the actual headache which occurs behind my right eye. Sometimes (very infrequently) this eye has light sensitivity during an attack, but not always. Using the KipScale they are usually a 5 to 8 (average 7) with very occasional onset around 9-10 that lasts for a few seconds and dies down to a 7. This is very infrequent and usually involves me grabbing my head and releasing a few choice profanities and maybe a few tears before it hits a more manageable level a few seconds later.

Sometimes I leave work if I am having a very severe headache, but, by the time I get home and settled it’s gone. I guess I’ve never gone to the doctor because I have other friends with migraines and random headaches and it takes them months and months to get help and my episodes only last 4 to 9 months. Sure it hurts like hell, but it goes away eventually and I feel like it’ll be gone before I know what to do with it. I typically hope they are gone for good when they leave, but come 6 months to a year later and there they are.

I don’t know. I think I’m going to start a headache journal to document. I just wanted to know if daytime clusters were at all common? I also don’t get a droopy eyelid and always have a stuffy nose so that’s kinda hard.

What do you guys think? I know I need to see a doctor to know anything for sure, but I was just wondering.

Thanks in advance!

Title: Re: unsure...
Post by Richr8 on Oct 24^th, 2006, 4:03pm

Kelsi,

Hi and welcome,

I wouldn't say that your symptoms are classis, but we all vary in different ways. If you take the cluster quiz on the right and come up positive, then the next step is to get yourself a good neuro no matter how long it takes to get in. Read all of the inormation you can here:

http://www.brightok.net/~mnjday/chtherapy.pdf

before going and be sure to share what you have learned with your doc. Chance are if they aren't willing to hear what you have to say and learned through research, they aren't going to be very good and it's time to keep looking.

Also, tell us a little about how you are treating your HA'a. As you know over the counter HA remedies do nothing and narcotics are equally useless. If you haven't tried Oxygen therapy yet, be sure to read up on that as well and get a prescription as soon as you can. Many of us here get great relief from Oxygen and it has few if any possible side effects.

Title: Re: unsure...
Post by Sandy_C on Oct 24^th, 2006, 5:01pm

Hi Lauren, and welcome to these boards. I'm glad you found us, but sorry you have to be here.

Daytime hits are quite normal (if anything about CH can be considered "normal"). I've been at this for seven years now, and it wasn't until my last cycle that I ever got a nighttime hit - and then, I only had two or three during the entire 16 week cycle.

It would be wise to go ahead and go the doctor, and by all means, print out and take the link that Rich posted. It is also very smart to keep a headache journal. Record every single pain you get, along with what you ate, drank, were doing...how long it lasted....intensity of the pain....what meds you took. This information can be invaluable to a doc. It is important to get a correct diagnosis because getting on the proper medications can be of tremendous help, while being prescribed improper meds can be no help at all, at best, and dangerous, at worst.

Please read up on everything here and please ask questions - the only stupid questions are those you did not ask.

Someone is always here and we all want to help you as well as each other.

Keep us posted on how you are doing, and please, make that doctor's appointment.

Sandy

Title: Re: unsure...
Post by Giovanni on Oct 24^th, 2006, 6:07pm

From your description sounds like CH to me, but see a doctor for a definite diagnosis. Most doctors are not knowledgeable with cluster headaches, so you'll need one that specializes in Headaches. Take your head ache diary with you and read as much as you can before the appointment.

Best of luck to you,

John

Title: Re: unsure...
Post by Edski_1 on Oct 24^th, 2006, 8:51pm

I've had cycles that have not been too bad at night. This cycle, 2 months old, saw my first daytime hit at work today.

As for remissions, mine vary widely, sometimes a year an a half, sometimes 8 years. Or maybe because I was misdiagnosed for a long time I never paid proper attention to the timing of my HA's.

You can't figure this beast. Sounds like you have one that's not as regular as some in terms of periodicy - exactly like mine, only different! :)

See your doctor, find a good neuro if you can. There are better treatments than riding it out. Good luck!

Title: Re: unsure...
Post by pattik on Oct 24^th, 2006, 9:03pm

Hi Lauren,
I'm glad to hear you are going to keep a headache journal, because it will help you to compare cycles from one to the next, and it will help your doctors to diagnose properly. At your age, I was having classic migraines. Although my CH didn't show up until my early 30's, they were a clearly different kind of headache. After over 25 years only having daytime headaches, I experienced my first cycle with the infamous strings of nighttime hits. So don't let the time of day you get your headaches rule out CH. If you see patterns emerging, that is a real indicator. Still, you need to get properly diagnosed as soon as possible. PF wishes to you.

pattik

Title: Re: unsure...
Post by tarheel03 on Oct 24^th, 2006, 9:15pm

Hello Lauren,

You are the second gal in the past few days to sign in as a newbie 24-year old female (I am one too)! Sorry you had to find us here, but as everyone has said we are glad you did. I have been getting CHs since early on in high school, and this is really the first episode I've had where most of my hits have come at night. Usually they would hit me during classes (in high school and college) and for the past few years I would get them in the morning, at work and in the evening. If you are diagnosed with CH, I would also consider Oxygen, as some of the others have mentioned. This has proven effective for me and many here, and it is safer than most of the options out there. For me, they stop the headaches within ten minutes at the most if I use it from onset. One other thing that I have found that helps me (not everyone - for some it is a trigger, so be careful) is exercise. Running, biking, anything like that seems to have kept my daytime hits at bay this episode....although it's possible the beast is just playing tricks on me =)

Good luck fighting! PF wishes,
Meg

Title: Re: unsure...
Post by hisham_t on Oct 24^th, 2006, 10:29pm

Hi Lauren and welcome aboard,

It's bad that you found us because that means you are a headache sufferer and it's good for you to find us so we can share with you and help you with our experiences and makes you feel that you are not alone with that beast.
You don't have to suffer from a night attacks to be diagnosed as CH, it can come only in day times , but you are still young and may be in the future episodes it changes its pattern.
You definitly should do the cluster quiz because the dropping eye lid with the red tearing eye is one of the main signs of CH. I am sure a good neurologist specialised in pain and headaches is the best choice for you. It will be a good help for the final diagnosis and both abortive and preventive medications .
From my experience oxygen if not taken in the first 5 min. of the attack , is useless but you still have to try it .

I wish you PF soon and take care

Title: Re: unsure...
Post by chopmyheadoff on Oct 25^th, 2006, 5:16am

Hi Kelsi, welcome to the nuthouse !!

First, get along to your doctor and DEMAND a referral to a neurologist.
This is not migrane we are dealing with here and usually if the neurologist sees "cluster headache" on the referral form they get you in quick.
(thats if they are any good)

you really do need a propper diagnosis. I but up with these bad boys for 7 long years and when i finally got a propper diagnosis and some meds that actually worked i cried with joy for a day solid !!!

there is help out there (in here) !!

read read read - all the links on the side - arm yourself and get back to the docs with guns blazing.
you dont have to suffer like this !!

all the best and keep us posted [smiley=hug.gif]