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        New Message Board Archives >> 2006-2007 Getting to Know Ya Posts >> Cluster or Migraine ??
        
(Message started by: red_parrot on Jan 2^nd, 2007, 9:04pm)

Title: Cluster or Migraine ??
Post by red_parrot on Jan 2^nd, 2007, 9:04pm

Hi There,
I've been given this web site by a friend and thought i'd post to see if there is any one that give me some advice,
my symptoms are :-

Wake up to some pain, then increases to an unbelivible pain.

Left nostrial is blocked.

Left eye is red and weepy

Pain on left side around the eye, goes from the skull and down in the neck

The bag under the left eye drops

I take Asprin and codine, this seems to ease it, i try to sleep it off.

When it's gone i feel like hell >:(

But relived :)

What would you say it is ? Migrain or Cluster ?

Title: Re: Cluster or Migraine ??
Post by davyp on Jan 3^rd, 2007, 7:30am

Hi Red,

The first thing i will suggest is that you take the cluster quiz in the links to the left and let us know how you get on.

Now for a few questions, how long do the attacks tend to last?
Do you get any kind of aura with the attacks?
You say you try to sleep it off does that mean you can keep still while you are suffering an attack?
Have you seen your GP and if so what did they say?

We are not professionals so cant say for certain 1 way or another but we can try to point you in the right direction.

As i said take the quiz and let us know how you get on and then try to give us as much info about the attacks as you can as it will give us more of an idea.

Here's hoping that it isn't CH.

Dape

Title: Re: Cluster or Migraine ??
Post by red_parrot on Jan 3^rd, 2007, 9:33am

Hi Dape

Thanks for taking the time to reply.

Here's the answers ..

They first started in July..on that occasion, i guess it lasted from 6am, till about 10 am...i was very restless, went down stairs and sat outside, it felt that was what i needed.
I was at my girlfriends and could only find Aspirin to use, tried to go back to bed, but couldn't hack it. I finaly lay on the couch down stairs with the window open. Sleep was not possible, but used breathing to meditate it through.
I thought it was sinious problems, and when i looked in the mirror the bag under my eye had dropped..When i saw that i then thought i'd suffered a minor stroke.

I don't get any Aura

Yes, it's possible for me to lie down..the doctor first gave me Zomig, they helped, and i was dropping them smarties, till i read up on them and they shouldn't be used with Sertraline, i'm on 100mg, daily dose.
He then gave me Co-Codamol 30/500, which knocked me out, and lots of halucinations but didn't even touch the pain !!

So now i'm taking Aspirin at the slightest twinge , i've been waking up early most mornings, ( the last 2 weeks) with pain and i take Aspirin. In the past week, i've had 2 full blown attacks, the last one i just used Aspirin, and spent the day in total quiteness, the pain was intense, when it lifted, i felt like *hit...

The answer to the question is..yes i can lie down !!

I've taken the quiz...i scored 5/8 on the first
and 6/8 on the second

Thanks for reading this..Hope to hear from you soon :)

Roger

Title: Re: Cluster or Migraine ??
Post by davyp on Jan 3^rd, 2007, 10:59am

Hi Roger,

I think the best thing i can recommend is for you to get your GP to refer you to a neurologist who specialises in headaches as while some of the symptoms fit there are quite a few other headaches that have similar symptoms.

You could also phone the OUCH(uk) helpline which is a 24 hour answer phone staffed by CH sufferers. It will be easier for you to explain to a real person. Just leave your details and someone will get back to you asap.
The number is 01646 651 979

Dape

Title: Re: Cluster or Migraine ??
Post by roy21302 on Jan 3^rd, 2007, 11:50am

Roger,
I have replied to the message that you sent me, see your E mails and IM hope its of help to you.
I also agree with what Dave has said above.
Cheers Roy :)

Title: Re: Cluster or Migraine ??
Post by pubgirl on Jan 3^rd, 2007, 6:37pm

Roger

It would be pretty hard for anyone here to diagnose, particularly as migraine and Ch symptoms can be very similar in some people, and many here (including me) get both. The OUCH Helpline can help you clarify a few things and help you with your GP and treatments.

The good news is that the best abortives work for both CH and migraine in most people: 02 and triptans by injection or nasally (Zomig and Imigran)

Your best bet is to get your GP to refer you to a neuro who specialises in headaches asap so you can get an informed diagnosis and treatment.

Let us know how you get on

Wendy

Title: Re: Cluster or Migraine ??
Post by swimchica623 on Jan 5^th, 2007, 4:47pm

Same thing as above...we can't diagnose here but it might be helpful for you to know that sometimes people can suffer from vascular headaches, when you can get like a mixture of tension, migraine, and cluster headaches. Sounds like you could have combinations of the last two because they are longer than clusters usually are and you can lie down okay. I'd recommend getting a goooood neuro to figure you out!
Hope you can get some relief soon!
Lisa

Title: Re: Cluster or Migraine ??
Post by Salvelinus on Jan 6^th, 2007, 11:11pm

I agree with the neuro referral. Just be sure it is someone who specializes in headaches. I've wasted time, money, and confidence in neuros who gave me nerve blocks and referrals for relaxation training. When I found a good one, though, everything changed. He even printed off a page from this site, which was how I found this place.

About the CH and migraine combos, I get those, but rarely. My migraines feel like the clusters, but are much milder and longer lasting (up to a day or two) and I can rest when I have them. It's like the intense pain from the CH dies down but doesn't go away completely.

Anyway, I highly recommend the headache specialist. If that isn't financially possible, do some research on this site and find out what others do to deal with the pain. Aspirin won't get you far. I swallowed handfuls of Aleve without much relief before I learned some of the surprising tricks people here use.

Good luck, and stay strong. . . .

Title: Re: Cluster or Migraine ??
Post by swimchica623 on Jan 7^th, 2007, 11:58am

That's a good description of the combo ones...just curious, do you ever get nauseus or any other migraine symptoms from them too? I was getting some combo ones over the summer but just pure clusters this winter.
(apologies for piggy backing onto this post..hope this info helps anyway)
Lisa

Title: Re: Cluster or Migraine ??
Post by Salvelinus on Jan 7^th, 2007, 2:48pm

The combos were the only times I've ever vomited with a headache. I can count on one hand the times that has happened during the 20 years I've had CH's, though. Thank God. Vomiting during a Kip 10, when I didn't even know for sure which way was up, or whether I was still holding the trash can, was a very, very bad experience.

Title: Re: Cluster or Migraine ??
Post by pubgirl on Jan 7^th, 2007, 5:10pm

on 01/07/07 at 11:58:05, swimchica623 wrote:

I think the stats are that 5% of CH sufferers get nausea and photophobia with their attacks, reminiscent of migraine attacks.

W

Title: Re: Cluster or Migraine ??
Post by swimchica623 on Jan 7^th, 2007, 5:14pm

yeah, ive never had it with a flat-out cluster, but I have with the combo type, at the end of them. just adds to the fun of it all. ;;D

Title: Re: Cluster or Migraine ??
Post by miker6565 on Jan 11^th, 2007, 5:15pm

I know i was having the same problem migraine or CH ,,once or twice when they first came on this time i got sick but they were 9+,, the clincher for me was when i looked in the mirror and it looked like i been punched in the eye with no bruise and i cant lay down either i ususally pace around trying to find the right posistion to hold my head,,short of beating my head on the wall( wich makes it hurt worse), and that its been ten years and many dr's,, zomig made my legs swell bad and didnt help imatrex didnt work either and made my chest hurt,(alergic to pain pills),wasnt till i found this site that i concluded they are definately cluster,, it all depends on the dr you get ....good luck,,I wouldnt wish these on no one...This site is awesome!

Title: Re: Cluster or Migraine ??
Post by Nancy on Jan 27^th, 2007, 9:51am

I have been getting clusters for 30 years, and I get violently sick every time, this is why I can't take any pills to stop it. I get sick at least 3 time with each attack. I am back and forth from the bathroom to the bedroom or where ever. I can sit still! I get so hot because my heart races so bad and I know my blood pressure is through the roof. My nose starts running, but just one side of my nose. Its always on the left, the same side as my cluster. My eye also starts tearing and gets red and swollen. I am very very restless, have to move can sit for very long. Even when the cluster is so bad I can't walk, so I curl. I am just thankful I am not a chronic sufferer! I hope you find out soon what you have!! There are meds that can help!! GOOD LUCK

Nancy