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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Cluster Headache Specific >> Can you close your eyes?
        
(Message started by: georgej on Jan 25^th, 2007, 1:04am)

Title: Can you close your eyes?
Post by georgej on Jan 25^th, 2007, 1:04am

Something that was briefly mentioned in another thread, that I've not seen mentioned here. Never really thought about it before, but....

Do you close your eyes during a hit? I can't--or at least, I can't keep them closed. Not a big deal, of course, but if it's a common denominator in CH, it might be worthwhile to know. Anything we can learn about this stuff is helpful, I think.

Could be it's just me, though.

Best wishes,

George

Title: Re: Can you close your eyes?
Post by MJ on Jan 25^th, 2007, 1:12am

I can.

I often find myself with my hand over my eye holding it shut.

Title: Re: Can you close your eyes?
Post by Pellsey on Jan 25^th, 2007, 1:23am

I can open my eyes then I can't open my eyes, I can breathe then I can't breathe. I cry then I scream, I whimper then I get into a rage. I hit walls, I hit myself. I sit, I stand, I lie. I rock and I roll.

Man, during an attack I can do just about anything exept stop the damn thing.

Title: Re: Can you close your eyes?
Post by Pinkfloyd on Jan 25^th, 2007, 1:27am

on 01/25/07 at 01:04:19, georgej wrote:

Do you close your eyes during a hit? I can't--or at least, I can't keep them closed. George

When I used to get attacks, my cluster eye wouldn't open for the duration even if I had to cover it like MJ.
The other one would have to stay open or I'd bang into walls and trip over furniture....or my dog.

The question of whether or not people can close them to sort of "relax"......I think we'd be more prone to keep at least one of them WIDE open in "I can't F*cking believe this pain," sort of amazement.

Bobw

Title: Re: Can you close your eyes?
Post by Pinkfloyd on Jan 25^th, 2007, 1:29am

on 01/25/07 at 01:23:58, Pellsey wrote:

As was said in another thread....

This about says it all.

I feel for ya Pells

Bobw

Title: Re: Can you close your eyes?
Post by Pellsey on Jan 25^th, 2007, 1:45am

on 01/25/07 at 01:29:00, Pinkfloyd wrote:

I feel for ya Pells

Bobw

Shine on, you crazy diamond :)

Title: Re: Can you close your eyes?
Post by froggy on Jan 25^th, 2007, 2:16am

I just asked Tony (the husband), he said he is able to keep them shut. :o

Title: Re: Can you close your eyes?
Post by artonio7 on Jan 25^th, 2007, 2:24am

My left eye (attack side) usually slams shut and tears. I generally have to keep my hand pressed tightly against it. While, rocking and rubbing my head in a circular or figure eight motion. I'm not much of a pacer as much as a rock and writher.

Gawd it sounds like a dance.

with warm regards,
Tony

Title: Re: Can you close your eyes?
Post by froggy on Jan 25^th, 2007, 2:32am

Must be related to the "droopy" eye lid (that I've read about) when a CH is happening. Tony doesn't get that either. He does get the rest of the gifts that come with these things though.

You probably have read the "cluster traits" on the left hand column, that talks about it a little.

Title: Re: Can you close your eyes?
Post by BB on Jan 25^th, 2007, 3:26am

Hi George

I notice that during a cluster attack, Daniel always has his palm pushing on the left eye so its always closed. Whether the other eye is closed or open depends on whether he is walking around or sitting down. Mostly its closed too though ..

After the hit has gone, his left eye would be swollen shut for a at least an hour or so.

Annette

Title: Re: Can you close your eyes?
Post by pattik on Jan 25^th, 2007, 8:42am

I'll concur with MJ on this one. Although it's been a while since my last bad hit, in the past I've had eyes opened or shut (ususally hand pressed to eye). Since I've normally been restless, it prudent to be able to see where I'm going.

Patk

Title: Re: Can you close your eyes?
Post by nosnowmen on Jan 25^th, 2007, 11:51am

My wife calls it Popey eye. My ch side, left, is shut and the other wide open. I like to pace in a pitch black room. I still keep my right eye wide open in the dark. I guess my right eye trying to focus in the pitch black is another distraction method.

Title: Re: Can you close your eyes?
Post by drivin_blind on Jan 25^th, 2007, 1:18pm

Usually one eye closed, teeth gritting. I've had to convince myself by looking at a door jamb to make sure I'm not crossing my eyes. This usually happens when I'm trying to sleep. (yeah, fat chance) Sometimes when people ask me what my headaches feel like, crossing your eyes as hard as you can and holding them is part of the description. Does that make sense to anybody else?

Title: Re: Can you close your eyes?
Post by JeffB on Jan 25^th, 2007, 4:12pm

For me, my eye on the hurting side is slammed shut. I do press with my palm while doing the dance on the floor. When the attack is over my hurting eye lid is swollen and I will still have the ice pack/cloth covering half my face and forhead. It's strange that you can't close your eyes.

Title: Re: Can you close your eyes?
Post by mcf69 on Jan 25^th, 2007, 4:20pm

Usually I have my hand over my eye, pressing on it to try to get some releif, so I never noticed. I'll have to pay attention during next one, if that's possible.

Title: Re: Can you close your eyes?
Post by thomas on Jan 25^th, 2007, 4:45pm

My eye shuts of it's own accord.

Title: Re: Can you close your eyes?
Post by B14CK5H33P on Jan 25^th, 2007, 7:43pm

My hit eye practically closes, and when open during an attack it is just a slit. Forehead and brows will be raised high, but the eyelid almost feels like it is being pulled down with a meat hook.

NEVER apply pressure to the eye or temple!! You already have enough pressure going on there to choke an elephant.

I go lower and press either into my neck or jawline to try and cut down bloodflow, and will sometimes press against the cheek bone and pull downward to try and cut down the blood flow. Just be careful and don't press too hard.

Peace,
Carl D

"When you close your eyes, do you feel the beast getting closer?"

Title: Re: Can you close your eyes?
Post by georgej on Jan 25^th, 2007, 8:03pm

on 01/25/07 at 19:43:58, B14CK5H33P wrote:

NEVER apply pressure to the eye or temple!! You already have enough pressure going on there to choke an elephant.

I'm with you on that, Carl. I try not to press or rub anything around there anymore. I used to scrubble at it until the skin was raw, and try to shove my eyeball through the back of my head. Never did me any good. Still, when a really nasty one comes along, I can't help grinding away at it.

Thanks everyone. Sounds like it's just me on the eye-closing thing...even though the left eye's generally down to a slit and blurry, I feel like I have to keep my eyes open. Somehow it makes things worse to have them closed.

Best,

George

Title: Re: Can you close your eyes?
Post by thebbz on Jan 25^th, 2007, 9:05pm

Pretty much the same here, palm, or ice pack and palm on the effected side.
;;DHoppin stompin snottin flingin, left eye shut, and the right eye blinkin. ;;D
How's that curious george?
jb

Title: Re: Can you close your eyes?
Post by Skyhawk5 on Jan 25^th, 2007, 9:14pm

Don't feel so alone George. For me closing my eyes all the way makes the pain worse for some reason. I keep them open just a very small slit.

Skyhawk

Title: Re: Can you close your eyes?
Post by SophiaK on Jan 26^th, 2007, 4:00pm

With some HA's it hurts my eye to blink, like just regular opening and closing my eye, I also don't like to close my eyes when in pain, it does seem to make it worse, could be the distraction of what's going on around me. I do work on distraction as long as I can walk without stumbling.

Title: Re: Can you close your eyes?
Post by swimchica623 on Jan 26^th, 2007, 9:07pm

My left (cluster) eye will swell shut and especially with the worst ones stay swollen for up to half an hour afterwards. My right eye is usually open but I guess I close it every now and then, never really paid attention to it...it can open and close unlike my left eye which I have no control over what it does. I also usually am pressing into it, or hitting it...usually the only time my hand isn't isn't on it is if I'm banging my head against something else.
Lisa

Title: Re: Can you close your eyes?
Post by BMoneeTheMoneeMan on Jan 29^th, 2007, 10:00am

on 01/25/07 at 19:43:58, B14CK5H33P wrote:

NEVER apply pressure to the eye or temple!! You already have enough pressure going on there to choke an elephant.

Really? I apply a lot of pressure to the eyebrow and lower forehead area. Rubbing it with lots of pressure too. Its because of this, and also cause i splash cool water on my eye that i keep it closed. The other eye pops open from time to time just to see how much water i am getting all over the counter.

Also, I take my glasses off when i get hit. I cant see a damn thing anyway, so i figure I'll just keep my eyes closed.

Title: Re: Can you close your eyes?
Post by Pfunk on Jan 31^st, 2007, 1:40am

Seems to me that the eye on the side whichis getting hit always flutters while it tears. I have recently tried to star some relaxtion techniques during hits and we all know how hard that is. I've just heard that the more you can relax, the lees intense pain you will experience. Like i said though, I'm "trying relaxation. Thus far I can take it for about 35-40 seconds before I'm up banging my head or hitting something or throwing(You know the drill.)
This brings me to another question that I had. My hits had normally come on the left side but it seems now each one is different; I never know whether it willbe the right or the left. Is this normal? I'm hopimg that it means I may be coming close to the end of this particular cycle as mine usually get pretty harsh and erratic right before the end. Much luv and PFDANS!

Pfunk 8)

Title: Re: Can you close your eyes?
Post by sandie99 on Feb 1^st, 2007, 5:50am

I have a habit to press ice cube or something else cold (well, my hands are ice cold at times...) against the eye on the hit side (99.9% certainly left) sometimes, so the eye is shut.

Sanna

Title: Re: Can you close your eyes?
Post by Turts on Feb 6^th, 2007, 12:08am

my cluster eye usually swells up so that i cant see out that eye.
the other, i usually cant keep open, however I am able to open it with what seems alot of effort and concentration, even if it is only to a slit. (you know, when you can see, but you also see your eyelashes).

its almost feels like i have dust in my eye, (without the pain), as when I do open it it blinks wildly.

this is one thing my supporter(s) have been good at. they hear when i have calmed down in the shower and the help me get back to the bed where i collapse with exhaustion wrapped in a towel and in front of a fan, ALWAYS in front of a fan whether its winter or summer.

Turts

maybe one day I will supply a foto of that towel ;)