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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Cluster Headache Specific >> Headache diary
        
(Message started by: Dave_C on Oct 27^th, 2007, 10:20am)

Title: Headache diary
Post by Dave_C on Oct 27^th, 2007, 10:20am

I have started a headache diary this morning. I include the time it starts and the time it finishes. The date of course and also if was intense or not kind of a pain scale of 1-10. Is there anything else I should include, to better inform the doctors. I will ask for a neuro referral from my family dr. when I see him on the 12th of Nov.

Title: Re: Headache diary
Post by black on Oct 27^th, 2007, 10:31am

hi dave
i keep a log myself and i suggest to write down also ur basic preventative meds and their changes.moreover rescue meds during crisis nd the exct time u took it so u can have a picture if it helps u.i think that would be god cause u mind forgetdetais in the future.just my opinion
pf wishes

Title: Re: Headache diary
Post by Kevin_M on Oct 27^th, 2007, 12:23pm

I kept one before an appointment with a neuro, which was a for about a month that included:

Date
Time (start/finish)
Intensity (Kip scale)
Preceding symptoms (feeling of knowing it's arrival and all symptoms during)
Medication (can include how long into the hit it was taken)
Relief (from Kip ? to relief, time it stopped getting worse, and time to full relief or best relief attained)

Title: Re: Headache diary
Post by Jobette on Oct 27^th, 2007, 2:53pm

Keep in mind anything that may be different or things that may have triggered it, if any. As time goes on your diary may become a book, because this is not only for the doctor, but it is also for you, to help you better battle the beast, because after a while it may become harder to remember what happened or what you did about it. [smiley=huh.gif]

Title: Re: Headache diary
Post by southwalessunshine on Oct 29^th, 2007, 2:20pm

Last time I saw my neuro i took a bar graph along with me. I used 0 as PF days and the pain days were marked using the kip scale of the highest headache i had that day. My neuro said it was useful as he could see at a glance if there was apattern etc. Diaries have to be read carefully to get all the info, but this is an at a glance thing.

Title: Re: Headache diary
Post by sldrswyfe on Nov 1^st, 2007, 7:40pm

Patterns are the way you figure something out...

The graph is a great idea.

Title: Re: Headache diary
Post by Ree on Nov 4^th, 2007, 12:03am

We tried this for Dave and then they got to vicious to keep track of... I always get mad at myself for not sticking to it... Kudos for you if you can keep a good graph... if you are eposodic it should give you a great idea of how your cycle works... with Dave it starts then they are far apart... they get closer and closer and then more and more then they start to spread out in the same fashion... problem is that the peak part when they get closer and closer and more and more is hard to track. He has had huge cycles and small cycles...

I know for a fact that the smaller cycles he has used less med and more O2... He might argue because he loves his imatrex I think imatrex causes rebound. (thanks jonny for backing up that for me) Since he has tried a dif abortive he has had a little relief... His new doc says to change abortive after 3 days...

Ree

Title: Re: Headache diary
Post by RichardN on Nov 4^th, 2007, 2:18am

Make sure (since you're using the Kip scale), you take a copy of the Kip scale with you . . . it might give the doc a little more insight into the degree of pain involved . . . especially if he's not CH savvy.

Also copy the 02 links and take with you for a script if you don't already have one.

Be Safe, PFDANs

Richard