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        New Message Board Archives >> 2006-2007 Getting to Know Ya Posts >> Help ! I have diagnosed myself as having Clusters!
        
(Message started by: Rainbow on Dec 8^th, 2006, 2:41pm)

Title: Help ! I have diagnosed myself as having Clusters!
Post by Rainbow on Dec 8^th, 2006, 2:41pm

Hello

I am Karen from Northampton UK, and think I may be suffering from clusters! I have been counting the weeks and its now been 5 today since I got the headache, EVERY SINGLE DAY. It comes and goes,(usually comes around 10-11am) and is not too excrusiating but its deffo there in the background, its on my right side of head, on the temple/cheek/back of ear, neck slightly, sometimes on top, sometimes head is tender to the touch also in spots.. I have a watery right eye most days and that nostril is definately not as clear as it should be and hasnt been from the start of this pain.

It is really starting to get me down now, and I have been to the Doctors twice now during the last 3 wks, and they just look at me like a dimwit! So I have made yet another apointment for a weeks time.

A parecetamol gets rid of the pain pretty quickly, but I dont want to keep relying on these on a day to day basis. Ive read about people being addicting to painkillers ! yikes!!!! For example, I gave in and had two tabs at 1pm today, havent had anymore, but the pain is hovering (the lager I am drinking probably doesnt help matters!).

Do these sound like Cluster headaches? If it is, what triggers them? Do massages get rid of them (tension in muscles around neck??) Heat Pads help? Can the doc give me something to stop them??????? I am starting to think I will have it everyday for the rest of my life, and its depressing me.

Any advice greatly appreciated. SOMEONE PLEASE STOP ME FEELING SORRY FOR MYSELF!!!!

Karen

Title: Re: Help ! I have diagnosed myself as having Clust
Post by davyp on Dec 8^th, 2006, 2:50pm

Hi karen,

If paracetomol is stoping them then it probably isnt CH as over the counter meds dont really work for CH.
Take the cluster test in the links to the left and then if you can post how you got on and a few more details about the symptoms you get we may be able to point you in the right direction.

Dape

Title: Re: Help ! I have diagnosed myself as having Clust
Post by vietvet2tours on Dec 8^th, 2006, 4:45pm

on 12/08/06 at 14:50:12, davyp wrote:

What he said.You got lucky.You ain't a clusterhead.

Title: Re: Help ! I have diagnosed myself as having Clust
Post by Jonny on Dec 8^th, 2006, 5:35pm

on 12/08/06 at 14:41:26, Rainbow wrote:

Do these sound like Cluster headaches?

Not to me.....and I have 30 years chronic experience.

Title: Re: Help ! I have diagnosed myself as having Clust
Post by chopmyheadoff on Dec 9^th, 2006, 6:33am

Hi karen, think youve hit it lucky here, your first sentance kind of gives it away "its not too excruciating"

sound like the complete opposite of a cluster attack to me
and as my learnerd friends have said, a paracetamol wouldnt even touch the sides of one of these suckers. a whole box probly wouldnt (dont try it tho :) )

hope you find out whats up.
but it aint clusters

chop

Title: Re: Help ! I have diagnosed myself as having Clust
Post by AussieBrian on Dec 10^th, 2006, 12:05am

Just for the record I've had a lot of success using paracetamol for low grade hits, the trick being to wash them down with strong, hot coffee. We've another product here that's paracetamol with a bit of added codiene and, again with coffee, I've knocked some bigger ones down at least a peg or two.

Oddly, paracetamol isn't available in America which I think is a shame.

Title: Re: Help ! I have diagnosed myself as having Clust
Post by chewy on Dec 10^th, 2006, 7:29am

Common brand names for the drug include Herron in Australia, Tylenol in Brazil, Canada, South Korea and the U.S.,

Title: Re: Help ! I have diagnosed myself as having Clust
Post by chopmyheadoff on Dec 10^th, 2006, 4:09pm

on 12/10/06 at 07:29:02, chewy wrote:

Common brand names for the drug include Herron in Australia, Tylenol in Brazil, Canada, South Korea and the U.S.,

yeah, the yankees call it acetaminophen for some reason.
strange lot that they are ;)

Title: Re: Help ! I have diagnosed myself as having Clust
Post by AussieBrian on Dec 10^th, 2006, 8:34pm

on 12/10/06 at 07:29:02, chewy wrote:

and the U.S.,

Thanks for that, Chewy. As a mild analgesic it's an excellent all-round med without the tummy upsets common with aspirin. Glad it's available to our American friends as well.

Title: Re: Help ! I have diagnosed myself as having Clust
Post by GeorgiaPeach on Dec 12^th, 2006, 10:57am

"its not too excruciating"

Oh you lucky girl. As a CH sufferer for 15 years, not too excruciating has NEVER left my mouth. They are the most painful things in this world. Plus, if tylenol works for you, then highly doubt you are CH. But do your research, keep a headache journal (find if there is one thing in common with the start of your headaches...food, allergies, other medications) and see if you can find a pattern.

sorry not to be of more help. PF wishes!