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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Cluster Headache Specific >> Changed my neurology appt.
        
(Message started by: mom2allyson0526 on Sep 27^th, 2007, 3:58pm)

Title: Changed my neurology appt.
Post by mom2allyson0526 on Sep 27^th, 2007, 3:58pm

Last night I had a really tough time thanks to a migraine. I had vertigo so bad I had to hold onto anything I could reach to make it to the kitchen to get the Valium, was still dizzy this morning, and then got slammed by a migraine. I decided enough was enough and went out to the web site for the American Headache Society (http://www.achenet.org/) and found a doctor here in Knoxville that has training actually in headaches. I told the girl who answered what symptoms I'm having and she was pretty quick to set up the appointment. I now have an appointment for October 2 instead of November 20. She told me to have my medical records and MRI results faxed to them ASAP.

I hope this doctor can do something to help me. If it's not migraines, it's cluster headaches or sinus headaches. I'm so sick of being in pain all the time or having vertigo that makes feel like throwing my guts up. :'(

Title: Re: Changed my neurology appt.
Post by Linda_Howell on Sep 27^th, 2007, 4:35pm

So I am getting that you have not been diagnosed with Clusters then?

A good Dr. can easily distinguish between a Migraine or sinus infection and a cluster HA.

I'd just like to ask you something...Can you lie down with these headaches? Valium won't do anything for a Cluster HA. Vertigo may also be something entirely different, like an inner ear infection. I sincerely hope that this Dr. will give you a correect diagnosis. Good Luck

Title: Re: Changed my neurology appt.
Post by mom2allyson0526 on Sep 27^th, 2007, 4:56pm

on 09/27/07 at 16:35:38, Linda_Howell wrote:

I've been diagnosed with both. When I was 19 and again when I was 27 I was diagnosed with cluster headaches. I know when I have one of those because my eye swells and waters and it feels like someone crammed a brick up the left side of my nose. When I get those I can't lay down both because the pain is that bad and because laying down seems to make it hurt more. For a long time I had this drug cocktail I would mix up for myself that consisted of three Excedrin migraines, two Alka-Seltzer colds, and an ibuprofen. Don't ask how I kept from killing myself because I don't know. Nothing helps those SOBs now just like nothing helps the damn migraines. I know when I have a migraine because I can't stand light and have horrible vertigo. It seems like I cycle through cluster headaches and then have them followed up by migraines. The last time I cycled through the cluster headaches was right before the vertigo showed up as part of the migraines. It scared the hell out of me because I thought I had a brain tumor, MS, or had suffered a stroke.

I was prescribed the Valium when I developed the vertigo because the drs. thought I had Meniere's disease. They sent me to a Ear, Nose, and Throat specialist who told me the vertigo is from migraines and that I need to get to a neurologist since I have a previous diagnosis of cluster headaches. Up until now I read posts here I didn't know they can go hand in hand and you experience both on the same day.

Title: Re: Changed my neurology appt.
Post by BarbaraD on Sep 27^th, 2007, 6:25pm

I have both CH and migraines. Right now the barometer is going crazy in Texas. Seasonal changes are killing me. I've had a migraine for the last few days (with vertigo). sometimes the migraines will trigger the CH and then we really have fun -- can't lay down - can't stay up -- lots of fun at the old farm house.

My migraines are arthritic migraines so the weather plays a big part in them (I can predict rain better than the weatherman any day of the week). So far naproxin works pretty well on the migraines - keeps them down to manageable. For the CH, I hit the Red Bull and O2 at the first sign (usually eye swelling or starting to tear) and if that don't do it -- cafergot).

It's not the most pleasant of things to have wrong with you, but life gave us lemons - we just have to deal with the lemonade.

But if you're looking for someone who understands - ya got it here. Right now I'm gonna go take a big dose of naproxin cause it's thundering outside and my head tells me we're gonna have rain before nightfall.

Wishing you PF days ahead...

Hugs BD