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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Cluster Headache Specific >> Mild CHs only?
        
(Message started by: mollybo on Sep 8^th, 2007, 9:40pm)

Title: Mild CHs only?
Post by mollybo on Sep 8^th, 2007, 9:40pm

Is it possible to have all mild CHs? I have an excellent internest who diagnosed me with CHs last week and gave me a script for indomethacin (I assume to rule out hemicrania) and O2. I've read nearly the entire board and can check off symptoms:

*Headaches are one-sided. They can switch sides between headaches but are always unilateral during any particular headache.
*I am not responding to 50 mg indomethacin bid
*At the top of my current pain range, I get a drooping eye on the same side as the headache
*My nose gets stuffy on the same side as the headache
*Headaches wake me up at night
*O2 aborts the headache, as does Maxalt

HOWEVER:
*I've never gone above a Kip 6. The pain is just not in the same universe as what y'all are describing.
*My eye has never teared.

It makes me wonder if I really do have CHs. They aren't migranes - I've had migraines for about a year, and a couple of my migraines were worse than my CHs pain-wise (discounting the misery of nausea and light/sound sensitivity, which I do NOT have with CHs).

One more thing - I'm on 10mg oxycontin tid and Cymbalta 60 mg bid for some phantom back pain acquired after a really bad kidney infection. Through I know opiates don't work for most people, I guess it's possible that these meds are lowering my overall pain level?

I dunno, maybe I'm grasping at straws. It's not like I WANT CHs, after all!

Title: Re: Mild CHs only?
Post by Lotus on Sep 8^th, 2007, 10:37pm

Hello and welcome

Its possible that you are right on both counts: that you have CH with low levels of pain and that the meds have helped lowered the pain a couple of notches for you. This does happen to people.

There is a painless form of CH where the person gets all the symptoms except pain. Cycles can also be high or low . In low cycles the hits are less painful and less frequent.

I hope you dont have CH either but if you do then I pray that the cycle will be short for you and that the headaches stay mild.

All the best.

Annette

Title: Re: Mild CHs only?
Post by MJ on Sep 9^th, 2007, 12:30am

Molly

It is possible to have milder CH. (so they say)
How long does an attack last?

Eyes dont allways tear but the pain will be either located primarily in the temple or eye area, occasionally on other points along the trigeminal nerve. If that helps.

From what you describe its a good possibility of CH. and some of the meds you mention are used by others.

Hope you find its not CH though

Title: Re: Mild CHs only?
Post by mollybo on Sep 9^th, 2007, 8:40am

An attack lasts from half an hour to a couple of hours, I guess. I try not to let them last that long and will use Maxalt or O2 to abort.

Pain is usually around my eye, but rarely in the temple.

Title: Re: Mild CHs only?
Post by LeLimey on Sep 9^th, 2007, 9:41am

Ive heard several people say they were milder at first - or milder for years even but that they then ramped up.

The other thing to bear in mind is that what may be a 10 for one person maybe someone else's 7. People cope differently with pain and people all feel pain differently. The Kip Scale wa sonly ever intended as a guide to helping you assess your OWN pain.

How are you finding the O2? Is the Indo making any difference although I suppose in fairness with other pain meds in your system you can't truly tell.

Indo for Hemicrania Continua or Paroxsysmal Hemicrainia is a fast acting med. It should be stopping the vast majority of HA's from even occuring within a week to ten days. If they aren't stopped then the Indo won't work for you. Its well worth a trial as its a cheap med and its not a long process to find if it will be effective or not.

I'm no doctor but your symptoms do tally so I wouldn't necessarily doubt his diagnosis however I will ask if you have had an MRI?

Have you tried any other meds at all as well?

Hang in there, sounds like you have more than your fair share going on!

Helen

Title: Re: Mild CHs only?
Post by michael on Sep 9^th, 2007, 6:38pm

I've had a few `mild' cycles. What I would rate around kip 7. The mild ones always seem to be shorter also, up to around 2 hours.

I never know what I am going to get till a cycle starts, but then they will remain the same throughout a cycle.

Mike

Title: Re: Mild CHs only?
Post by mollybo on Sep 9^th, 2007, 8:34pm

The O2 works, but I'm always getting a mild headache an hour or so later. If I hit the oxygen again it usually goes away for awhile. I am unsure if O2 is useful against other headache types.

The Indo isn't helping, but I've only been on it for 7 days or so.

I've been worrying about how this will affect work. I can use Maxalt on bad days and it should get me through the workday. I've always tried to keep it to 2-3 days in a row only, but my hits are mostly in the late afternoon and evening. I work on the phones and will have to apply for flexible breaktimes if I need O2 at work. Plus, um, I'd rather not.

I have not had an MRI, and I haven't been on any prevents yet. I imagine that's the next step. My doc wants to see me in 3 months. I think earlier would be better, but she's out of network and I'm not sure how much insurance is covering the O2 yet. The supply place is pretty shocked at how much I'm going through.

Title: Re: Mild CHs only?
Post by GrandPotentate on Sep 9^th, 2007, 11:09pm

First question first. My cycles have varied. I've had some that included a few 9's and an occasional 10. And I had about 4 years with no cycle to speak of. My most recent cycle had 6's and 7's - something in the same neighborhood as a good leg cramp. I hope your hits keep down in this range and hope your cycle is short.

Keep after your doctor to make certain everything else is ruled out. I understand Indomethacin is pretty effective on migranes. It didn't do squat for my CH, but results vary.

O2 has been very good for me. Read up on this, and make sure you follow advice that has worked for us. You need to breathe only pure oxygen, you need it fast, but you don't need it long.

You found a good place for help. These guys have pulled me through some rough times.

Jon

Title: Re: Mild CHs only?
Post by fiftyamp on Sep 10^th, 2007, 2:10am

My CH's are usually mild(around KIP 5-7) and my cycles are pretty short(3-5 weeks). I do get the ocassional wallop, though.

Title: Re: Mild CHs only?
Post by lorac on Sep 12^th, 2007, 7:41am

Hi my ch cycles have always run for 3-4 months, and have always been a Kip 9 or 10......however! the whole month of august, I have had them at only a kip 3 or 4.

I keep waiting for the big ones to start, but after reading this, I am hopeful that maybe this is going to be just an easier cycle this year! That would be too great!
Hang in there! love the 02 :D :) :)

lorac