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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Cluster Headache Specific >> Sinus drainage?
        
(Message started by: Mermaidmama on Jan 28^th, 2008, 7:29pm)

Title: Sinus drainage?
Post by Mermaidmama on Jan 28^th, 2008, 7:29pm

Dh suffers from clusters and has been able to control them some what by leaning over, head between knees and the mucus drainage relieves headache. Does anyone know why this is happening? His headache specialist says this is not related or cause of his headaches but why is it? He has very large sinus cavaties at eye and nose and I think there is something here. Anyone have suggestions, etc. An old boss that suffered from migraines said he had sinus problems that triggered his migranes which got me thinking and yep, dh has similiar things going on when he gets his clusters. TIA

Title: Re: Sinus drainage?
Post by Patrick_A on Jan 28^th, 2008, 8:24pm

Long before I was diagnosed with CH's, I always thought I was having Sinus issues. I still get relief when I am able to get my sinuses clear though never totally. I always felt I could keep my shadows at bay as long as my sinuses were clear. I get in the shower with extremely hot water, and I snort this hot water up my nostril on the CH side. 70% of the time I could lessen it or even abort it occasionally.

P_A

Title: Re: Sinus drainage?
Post by DragonSlayer on Jan 30^th, 2008, 1:25am

on 01/28/08 at 19:29:28, Mermaidmama wrote:

At first I too was treated for Sinus condition. The sinus is a symptom and may not cause a CH. For me when my sinus begins to show relief I know I'm getting close to the end of that CH.
I would put a towel over my head and drape it over one of those vaporizers for moist heat, sometimes that would help loosen things up. Hot chinese mustard or a hot horseradish would also get things flowing. Don't blow forcefully when stuffed up or you could force it further back into your sinus.
Hope this helps. PFDAN wishes.

Title: Re: Sinus drainage?
Post by Ace_Sterling on Feb 3^rd, 2008, 5:14pm

I had sinusitis ever before getting CH. My sinusitis symptoms were seasonal and worsened after i had developed CH. However the sinus drainage that may occur during a CH attack is from the pathology of the CH and not the other way around.

Some medical authorities propose some sort of autonomic involvement that triggers the tearing and sinus drainage during CH attacks.

Title: Re: Sinus drainage?
Post by Beastfodder on Feb 4^th, 2008, 8:30am

Wouldn't go surgical - in the long gone days of being diagnosed with Sinus headaches had a couple of procedures done to clear the 'problem'. Seem to remember infected linings coming out and the one where the opening to the sinus from the nostril is shaved open to improve drainage.

They didn't do a damn thing to shift/help with CH.

Infected sinuses happen all the time, it's why the mucus is yellow/green, just that when it happens around the start of a cycle it looks and feels like the culprit. At best it's unproven, but in the meantime steam's the best and cheapest decongestant.

Title: Re: Sinus drainage?
Post by maryo on Feb 5^th, 2008, 9:07am

This is an interesting topic to me because I, too, experience what seems to be congested sinuses along with clusters and separate from clusters. If they are draining (post nasal drip) I'm fine. But if they're not, watch out! Do you guys with sinus issues also have allergies? Because I think allergies are often behind non-CH sinus issues. And you know lots of CH sufferers have environmental allergies, which I believe has a rate in the general population of about 20%.

I have had headaches lifelong. When I lived in the South I would get what I thought was a sinus headache just about every afternoon in the summer which I attributed to heat and humidity. (Maybe they were clusters?) I used a Dristan product then that had aspirin, caffeine and some kind of antihistamine. Worked wicked good. That's what I used when I first got nighttime clusters, and it worked.

Re: sinus care -- the best treatment from what I've experienced and heard is nasal irrigation with a saline solution. It sounds AWFUL but the results are so excellent you lose any reluctance to do it. This directly shrinks mucus membranes and allows sinuses to drain.

"They" (the medical world) has also recently announced that yellow or green mucus ("boogers") don't necessarily herald infection. Sometimes it's just old dryish mucus. They've also found that antibiotics don't work well on sinus infections, if at all.

But I digress. I recently went out of cycle (I think) except I wake up at 4 or 5 or 6 with what feels like a sinus headache. I keep nose spray close by (in the house, in the car), and often after use my sinuses will open up again. If the pain is one-sided I give the O2 a try (worked this a.m.)

Wondering what others are experiencing in this regard.