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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Cluster Headache Specific >> Cluster attacks
        
(Message started by: Arrozal on Aug 21^st, 2006, 12:10am)

Title: Cluster attacks
Post by Arrozal on Aug 21^st, 2006, 12:10am

Hi guys,

My path to this site has been really long, it started almost a year ago as I was flying into an airport.

I began to notice a pricking above and around my left eye. I thought it was strange but it got more intense and started to hurt, then my eye began to close over and was flooded with water. I was freaking out, wondering what the hell was going on.

By the time we landed, it subsided like pressure was draining from that area. It was quite a scary feeling because I didn't know if my eye or face had suffered internal trauma. I figured it was something to do with the plane, as one other guy got something similar to me.

Anyway, about six months and two plane trips later I felt the same feeling, pressure building up and the prickling again. My left nostril completely blocked up and my face began to feel really hot on one side. The pain was more intense, and I had to grip the armrests tight to avoid beating the seatrest in front of me. In desparation I held my nose and forced all the pressure out. It seemed to alleviate the pain a little bit so I just kept doing that, hoping it would work.

I've been wanting to go and see a doctor about this but haven't had the time. I'm not sure how useful he would be about diagnosing it either. So I looked on the net, typing my symptoms. I stumbled across a wikipedia article on Cluster Headaches, which led me to this site.

I began to freak out as I read the familiar systems, but also the pain it causes and the regularity of the attacks. When I read the descriptions ( on this site's main page) about people's experiences I was awed and horrified.

I know my condition is a little out of the norm, for one thing it only occurs when descending in an aircraft and it seems to be a lot less painful than the types of attacks you guys face.

But I'm really worried what this means, is it possible I could start getting cluster headaches in the future?

Title: Re: Cluster attacks
Post by aka. Jobette on Aug 21^st, 2006, 12:24am

First and formost, DO NOT CLAIM ANYTHING! [smiley=huh.gif] No one wants to be a clusterhead and this is not an airplane ride thing. Anytime you are experiencing this kind of pain you need to seek medical attention, but I think you need to look closer because these bad boys don't want for a airplane ride to show there ugly face. You may have been just having a sinus attack from the pressure of the plane ride. I AM NOT trying to belittle your pain, I am just saying that clusterheadaches are deeper than this.
The pain that we are talking about IS NOT a prick, and I am trying to find the word to use to tell you what it is but...BITCH is the word, but I didn't want to say that word. Please don't stop looking because I don't, and I am sure that everyone here will agree, that they don't want you to be one of us. We are not bad people by far, but we do have issues. :-[
Please give some more descriptions of the "headache", because there is help here. Good Luck! ;)

Title: Re: Cluster attacks
Post by georgej on Aug 21^st, 2006, 12:35am

I don't think it's cluster headache. It doesn't sound like it.

Get your sinuses checked--and your ears. If it's on one side, you may have a blocked or severely constricted eustachion tube. This can be very painful. Small children, who have smaller eustachion tubes, often scream when a plane descends and the pressure in their ears equalizes.

I'm not a doctor.

Just my two cents.

Best wishes,

George

Title: Re: Cluster attacks
Post by Jobette on Aug 21^st, 2006, 12:48am

If this were a CH you and probably everyone on the plane would have known :o, You would have scares the H--l out of everybody andwith security as it is, you would have been treated as a crazy person or worse. You don't have to think about if it is a CH, but for your sake I pray that it is not.

Title: Re: Cluster attacks
Post by Arrozal on Aug 21^st, 2006, 1:32am

Thanks for your replies guys, I'm hoping it's not as well. I couldn't think of a worse problem and my heart goes out to any sufferers of this terrible affliction.

I think I will get my sinuses checked out and go to a doctor anyway, it's somewhat reassuring to know it doesn't sound like a cluster attack.

It was a little unsettling before because the CH descriptions were the only things that matched what I got on the plane,

* Drooping left eye, watering filling up with water

* Sharp prickling pain around said eye

* Hot dry feeling on my face

* Left nostril blocking up completely

But they're only brought on by pressure change so far, which hopefully means it's unrelated. Still no fun though. =\

To be clear, the prickling around my eye wasn't like pins and needles, it was like someone was jabbing at my sinuses with a needle. But I don't think that's anywhere as intense as a clusterheadache.

I'll look into it further and let you guys know. Fingers crossed I can find out more.

Title: Re: Cluster attacks
Post by Bond007 on Aug 21^st, 2006, 8:57am

I wish you the best of luck and I do hope that your doc does have an explanation OTHER THAN CH for you affliction. CH attacks indiscriminately.

Title: Re: Cluster attacks
Post by Margi on Aug 21^st, 2006, 10:24am

on 08/21/06 at 00:10:55, Arrozal wrote:

for one thing it only occurs when descending in an aircraft

But I'm really worried what this means, is it possible I could start getting cluster headaches in the future?

I'd tend to think not. This exact same thing happens to my daughter, she goes through exactly what you describe when landing. The pain reduces her to tears every time. For her, it's an inner ear problem that she had as a child.

If you're not getting the symptoms when you're on the ground, I wouldn't think that fits the cluster headache description. I would urge you, though, to take the time to talk to a doctor about this. There are meds you can take before flights (decongestants) that will alleviate this problem for you.

Title: Re: Cluster attacks
Post by SchwarzenSchafe on Aug 22^nd, 2006, 2:32am

I've had an attack on a plane before. THe pain was bad, but I also remember being self conscious. It seemed like everyeone was staring at me wondering when the alien was going to burst out of my chest.

Doesn't sound like a cluster headache.