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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Cluster Headache Specific >> memories, dreams, diagnostics..oh my
        
(Message started by: Mac_Muz on Feb 22^nd, 2007, 10:25am)

Title: memories, dreams, diagnostics..oh my
Post by Mac_Muz on Feb 22^nd, 2007, 10:25am

I got a hit again last night, and for the first time realized I haven't had these heads since Spring 04, but had them begining at age 19! I am 55 now.

I dream vividly during the time period of the attacks in color, and almost never recall any dreams when I am not in phase.

I guess with dreams old memories wake up too.

SO the question is for people who have had these 30+ years, is how and or when did you come by any diagnostics way back then?

More blather:

The Ch woke me before it hit, by just a few seconds at 1:30am. Pretty soon I found myself in the fetal position but vertical hands and knees down, and pressing the right eye socket/nose bridge area hard, when the dream came. I was awake sort of..

I was right back at Boston University at a Saturday night vidio club show, where others made short clips of anything they wished to show they had made. I was munching a Mounds bar and sheared a tooth on the almond. That really happened, and that tooth had a root canal at BU dental school.

That whole deal gave me what I thought was a valid excuse for a CH.

Then I realized these had occured in a timely fashion ever since...

Also for 2 weeks now I have been asking if anyone here has been using solvents and cleaners in the house. The answer is no, but I thruout the day swear I smell something like shoe polish, and or that dental office smell. In my real world my nose is no more than a ornament more or less centered on my face, and can't smell much.

Another very small thing I noticed is my mouth had a bad taste, and I used some type of blue mouth wash last nigh. It almost seeemed like the pain was lessened from the smell of that..... ok so I might be nuts.

So I am curious as to how long you had Ch's before you discovered what the pain really was, and how ? Mac

Title: Re: memories, dreams, diagnostics..oh my
Post by marlinsfan on Feb 22^nd, 2007, 1:14pm

Hi Mac,

I think i've figured it out! CH is caused by going to BU! That's where I went school....

Serously, now, I've had these since 1982, at least that's the first recollection I have of them. Although you ask for people who've had them for 30 years, I'll tell you that my recollection of my first hit is very clear to me, always has been, even though I was only 13 or 14 at the time (I'm now approaching 39). I only got properly diagnosed in 2005, by the younger neurologist who took over the practice after my 90+ year old neuro retired or passed away.

PF wishes.

Title: Re: memories, dreams, diagnostics..oh my
Post by Guiseppi on Feb 22^nd, 2007, 3:08pm

I'm about a year away from my 30th anniverasary near as I can recall. It took less then 5 years to get diagnosed. First they gave me glasses, then they treated me for tension head aches then I got a GP whose brother in law had CH! They have changed substantially both in level of pain, frequency and duration of cycles!!!

Guiseppi

Title: Re: memories, dreams, diagnostics..oh my
Post by Barry_T_Coles on Feb 22^nd, 2007, 5:04pm

on 02/22/07 at 10:25:06, Mac_Muz wrote:

Also for 2 weeks now I have been asking if anyone here has been using solvents and cleaners in the house. The answer is no, but I thruout the day swear I smell something like shoe polish, and or that dental office smell. In my real world my nose is no more than a ornament more or less centered on my face, and can't smell much.

This just jolted some memories I first got CH late 1999; had the 10 to 12 week dance with the demon & it disappeared for 5 years when it came back I went chronic & have been ever since.
I recall that first time around I had that distinct awareness of something sanitary around me & now when I’m near shadowing heavy I get the same felling, I’m like you my hooter is only there to keep my eyes apart & support for my glasses.

Unless I went to BU in another life & was a lot smarter than I am now, CH isn’t caused by going to BU. ;;D

Strange how you notice these things but dismiss them until someone else mentions it.

Cheers
Barry

Title: Re: memories, dreams, diagnostics..oh my
Post by Mac_Muz on Feb 22^nd, 2007, 8:16pm

Thanks guys, and I wasn't just looking for 30 year post grads either. I am workin on a book about my experience riding from coast to coast to coast, or there and back......... In the book I tell pre- possible readers something like Thinking isn't my specialty...... LOL

Typin ain't either, but I ride ok......

What I was tryin to get to is How the heck did you come by the info, in a way that had meaning?

When I finally gave up and saw a doctor, which I hate as bad as a dog, I thought I had a sinuse infucshun from hell. Well, at least I was partly right, this crap and bull most certainly is from hell......

Being 55 isn't much fun so I ain't about countin back years to see how many it has been...... Don't tell me either!

I have a plan which seems to be workin' I am 14 mentally these days, and my body is perhaps a bit behind, but I have the faith it will catch up. I call this the Peter Pan syndrome. hey that ain't bad for a non-thinker, I might put that in my book!

Oh just incase this happens to bring anything 'back?'

It seems to me that each little bit we loose, like eyesite, hearing, and maybe even these blasted CH's we get to be more creative, than we might have been if these events no matter how nasty didn't occur....... Whatcha think?

Ok enough huh? I will crawl off in my corner and play with my shadow........ (little dual meaning there too,,,,, see what I mean?)

Title: Re: memories, dreams, diagnostics..oh my
Post by georgej on Feb 22^nd, 2007, 10:20pm

on 02/22/07 at 10:25:06, Mac_Muz wrote:

SO the question is for people who have had these 30+ years, is how and or when did you come by any diagnostics way back then?

<snip>

So I am curious as to how long you had Ch's before you discovered what the pain really was, and how ? Mac

Got lucky.

I started with CH when I was 13. I was diagnosed initially by a very perceptive family doctor when I was 16. I'm 53 now.

Between the ages of 13 and 16, there were the usual dental and migraine speculations.

Probably the oddest treatment I encountered was initiated by an optometrist, who decided the headaches were related to eyestrain. He put me on a regimen of "eye exercises". Basically, this consisted of placing the end of my nose against a stick to which a crossbar was attached with two slightly different pictures affixed. The goal was to cross my eyes until the pictures merged and focused, creating a 3 dimensional image. As I progressed in this treatment, I was to place the pictures farther and farther apart, until I could merge the pictures when they were eight or ten inches away from each other. (It feels weird to do this, by the way. )

After six months or so, I got really good at it. To this day, I can watch a 3D movie without the special glasses if I want to. Didn't help the headaches, though.

Best,

George

Title: Re: memories, dreams, diagnostics..oh my
Post by BlueMeanie on Feb 23^rd, 2007, 10:47pm

I have always found it rather strange that when, in cycle, dreams become more vivid and I remember. When not in cycle, more often than not, I don't remember dreams. I've always figured it must be the brain somehow warning you a CH is gonna happen so you stay on your toes while sleeping.