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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Cluster Headache Specific >> Anyone else..?
        
(Message started by: kyitb on Aug 18^th, 2007, 10:13am)

Title: Anyone else..?
Post by kyitb on Aug 18^th, 2007, 10:13am

Anyone else get a pulsing vein (or artery) by their temple? It's visible when I have an attack. I can also see it now and other times when I go to long w/o sleep.

Title: Re: Anyone else..?
Post by UN solved on Aug 18^th, 2007, 10:16am

oh, maybe you should have a doctor take a look at that!

No, I've never had that happen b4

Goodluck

UNsolved

Title: Re: Anyone else..?
Post by kyitb on Aug 18^th, 2007, 10:26am

I've had it for the last 4 years. Ever since my attacks started. I've told my doctor about it, he's never seen it though... Either way he didn't seem concerned ...

Title: Re: Anyone else..?
Post by DennisM1045 on Aug 18^th, 2007, 10:49am

I know when I get an attack my bp is through the roof. This leads to a redening of my forehead. The vein in my temple doesn't pulsate though. It could be bp related.

-Dennis-

Title: Re: Anyone else..?
Post by kyitb on Aug 18^th, 2007, 11:04am

Ok maybe it's the sleep depro but now i'm going a little crazy. Should I be concerned about this? How would I search this on the internet. What's the wording?

Title: Re: Anyone else..?
Post by George_J on Aug 18^th, 2007, 11:06am

I can't say I've noticed a "pulsating" artery on the surface, but the veins on my cluster side on the forehead and temple are prominent and noticeable during an attack. My face is flushed. My eye droops and leaks, and my nose runs. I sweat. My blood pressure skyrockets.

I suspect that something similar happens to all of us. The visibly pulsating artery is probably just an individual peculiarity, and I doubt that it's anything to worry about--but I'm not a doctor. Certainly, talk to your doctor if it's something that concerns you.

There aren't many advantages to having CH, but one advantage is that (unlike other headache types) if someone actually sees an attack, it's hard for them to claim that we're faking it. Clusters are obvious, visible, and scary-looking.

Best wishes,

George

Title: Re: Anyone else..?
Post by Ray on Aug 18^th, 2007, 1:16pm

kyitb:

When I have a CH, my right temple's arteries pulse visably and are quite sore to the touch. Nearly 20 years ago, a neuro tried to abort a CH attack by pressing on it, which hurt so much I nearly batted his hand away. I would think that this is NOT unusual as part of the mechanism of these headaches involves dialation of the cranial arteries many times normal size.

Wishing you PF days and nights,

Ray

Title: Re: Anyone else..?
Post by kyitb on Aug 18^th, 2007, 1:24pm

Thanks for the info. I press on it really hard when I have one to distract me from the pain of my headache. Everyones different I guess. Thanks for sure I was going a little crazy stressing about it.

Title: Re: Anyone else..?
Post by michael on Aug 18^th, 2007, 1:45pm

I dont get it during a CH attack but a do get a pulsing in my forehead that I can feel with my hand although I cannot see when I am shadowing.

Title: Re: Anyone else..?
Post by kyitb on Aug 18^th, 2007, 3:16pm

Feel better that i'm not the only one. I was worried their for a bit. This is the first time that it hasn't gone away in days though. Think my body is just so messed up from not sleeping. Hopefully once I sleep I will feel like a new man ...

Title: Re: Anyone else..?
Post by LeLimey on Aug 18^th, 2007, 3:45pm

Kyitb (What DOES that mean BTW?!) I get a vein under my eye thats been prominent since I started getting hit, just another "joy" of being a clusterhead huh?!

Don't ever stop asking questions though 'cos not only do you get answers for you but also for anyone else who doesn't feel confident to ask. If it puts your mind at rest then thats great and at least you'll get a concensus on whether it is worth mentioning to your doctor or not.

Have you tried melatonin at all? Forgive me if I'm covering old ground but I haven't been around too much for the last couple of weeks. Its been very effective for helping people to get some sleep as have some of the longer lasting triptans such as Frovatriptan. Its crap for aborting a hit as it can take up to 2 hours to kick in but if you take it a couple of hours before a hit is due (if you have regular hits) it will block it and it CAN block attacks for up to 26 hours so could be a good choice to get a nights sleep.

I'm sorry if this is no good to you but it might help someone! Hang in there, you're among friends

Helen

Title: Re: Anyone else..?
Post by kyitb on Aug 18^th, 2007, 3:50pm

I polished off a bottle of melatonin in this past month with no effect. I'll have to look into that flavored triptan thing ;) I've never heard of that before. Thank you for your input and concern. It's appreciated immensely. Thanks to everyone that's here to help.

I was at a very low place when I first came here. My attitude and over all outlook on dealing with the beast has improved thanks to "clusterville." Now I just need to sleep.

Is insomnia common amongst us?

Title: Re: Anyone else..?
Post by kyitb on Aug 18^th, 2007, 3:55pm

Oh yeah kyitb means as follows:

k - is the 1st letter in my 1st name
yit - my middle name is wyatt (clever huh?)
b - is the 1st letter of my last name

Title: Re: Anyone else..?
Post by LeLimey on Aug 18^th, 2007, 3:58pm

Good job your name isn't Steve HIawatha Trotter huh?! :o (just teasing!)

Title: Re: Anyone else..?
Post by LeLimey on Aug 18^th, 2007, 4:01pm

on 08/18/07 at 15:50:49, kyitb wrote:

Is insomnia common amongst us?

I think you'll find its (Insomnia) the biggest problem we have as a group. It affects your ability to function as much ifnot more than the actual hits and it impacts on home life, social life, the lot.. its bloody evil. Ask for some samples of the Frovatriptan (brand name is Migard) its worth a try and there is nothing like a decent nights sleep for improving your attitude :)

Title: Re: Anyone else..?
Post by kyitb on Aug 18^th, 2007, 4:17pm

Not that i'm trying to get involved in a contest or anything but, how long have you gone w/o any sleep? My body is so tired but, my mind won't let me rest. Originally I thought I was on day 3. Earlier today I found out I haven't slept since Sunday. I know this now because that's what day my friend got back in town. I talked to him again today and I mentioned it had been like 3 days since i've been able to sleep the last time I talked to him and he told me "no, I got in on Sunday." Maks me a llittle more concerned. I'm not hallucinating but, shades are blurred.

Title: Re: Anyone else..?
Post by LeLimey on Aug 18^th, 2007, 4:36pm

Iwthout any sleep at all? 2-3 days tops and I was incoherent. I have managed catnaps and still been worse than useless for anything but I DID find sleeping sat up and propped with cushions on the sofa let me get a couple of hours which helped. You get to the point where you are too dazed to even know how to abort the hit. Have you ever tried DHE or a pred taper? Are you on any prevents? I know you'll probably be repeating old stuff but if I can help I will

Title: Re: Anyone else..?
Post by southwalessunshine on Aug 18^th, 2007, 4:40pm

I have a vein that becomes very prominent under my eye. During an attack i feel like a vein in my temple is pulsating but you can't see it and I have to press hard on the temple or actually into my eye socket.

Title: Re: Anyone else..?
Post by kyitb on Aug 18^th, 2007, 4:48pm

As of right now I am on no meds. I have Redbull though. I no longer have insurance because I lost my job. I'm chronic, btw. Yes no sleep since then. For the past few weeks I had been "passing out." Waking up not even remembering going to bed i'd be on my floor or on my recliner but, it was sleep. I'm pretty sure they never lasted more than 3 or 4 hours most of the time waking up with the beast. I'm way beyond the fear of going to sleep, i want to sleep my brain just won't let me.

Title: Re: Anyone else..?
Post by billyjoe on Aug 19^th, 2007, 12:02am

You know Verapamil is very cheap. Perhaps you could go to a clinic and get a doc to prescribe some for you. Here is some info to take with you:
http://www.plainboard.com/ch/chtherapy.pdf

This may be enough info for a GP to prescribe it for you. Oxygen is also very cheap. Good luck.

Title: Re: Anyone else..?
Post by kyitb on Aug 19^th, 2007, 1:22am

I was on verapamil for awhile with no results. Yet to try oxygen.

Title: Re: Anyone else..?
Post by kingsiren on Aug 20^th, 2007, 1:34am

When Im having an attack a vein/artery in my right temple throbs and spasms. It seems that if Im having a 8-10 i can ram the attack down a little bit by massaging it very hard, almost like digging my finger into it. Maybe it just distracts the real pain by giving my brain a little less pain to cope with at the same time, who knows.

Title: Re: Anyone else..?
Post by kyitb on Aug 20^th, 2007, 1:54am

Exactly! Ya know from reading the Kip scale i'm convinced that I never have ones less than a 7. I get shadows sure but i don't even consider those painful. Just thought i'd throw that out there.