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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Getting to Know Ya >> Newcomer asking for advice
        
(Message started by: Dino87 on Feb 11^th, 2008, 6:51am)

Title: Newcomer asking for advice
Post by Dino87 on Feb 11^th, 2008, 6:51am

Hello my Name is Kostas,
Last year i had been getting these headaches 2 or 3 times a day for a couple of hours and thought nothing of it because i was going through a stressfull time. However recently i have been getting the same headaches and it is near enough exactly a year after my previous ones. If i remember correctly they last for about 2 months. Now i was a little bit concerned and researched the internet to identify if i maybe have a brain tumour. The symptoms for a brain tumour though did not identify the symptoms which i am having which is a pain in one side of my brain and tears from one eye with a lot of redness in this particular eye. I searched the internet today if this identifies with any theories of any specific headaches and read all about clusters and saw that this is what i might have. I am asking for your advice because i am terrified of doctors whether i am in the right place. As i mentioned the headaches recently are twice a day, a half hour after I wake up and in the evening and the pain is unbareable. Please can you maybe advise me to any medication or any suggestions on how to improve or control the headache.

Thank you for your responses in advance.

Kostas

Title: Re: Newcomer asking for advice
Post by Bob_Johnson on Feb 11^th, 2008, 7:58am

Look on the left side of this page and hit the "OUCH" button. Then search for a link to the UK chapter and establish yourself with that group.

They can help you with your health system; suggest treatments, etc.

Primarily--until you can get some control on your fear of doctors you will be undercutting your well being. A good diagnosis is essential before you starting playing around with treatments. IF you have cluster, then the best medications will need a prescription, in any case. You need the doc.

Title: Re: Newcomer asking for advice
Post by Guiseppi on Feb 11^th, 2008, 10:34am

What Bob said! There are some awesome treatments available for CH, if it turns out that's what you have, but most of them do require both a prescription, and a doctor to monitor your progress on them. Also, start keeping a headache diary, when they start, how long they last, how fast they build etc., with headache diagnosis, the answer is in the details.

For now, try keeping some energy drinks on hand, Monster, Rock Star, any that contain the combination of caffeine and taurine. Try drinking one down, as fast as you can, at the onset of a headache. Many can reduce/halt a head ache that way.

Good luck to you!

Guiseppi

Title: Re: Newcomer asking for advice
Post by Kris_in_SJ on Feb 11^th, 2008, 7:45pm

Ditto to the above Dino. You MUST see a doctor for a proper diagnosis (though they sound like clusters to me). Treatments are available that will make your life during a cycle much more bearable.

Keep the headache diary to take with you to the doctor. Note the time of day the HA starts and how long it lasts. Note the intensity of the pain - use the kip scale in the article to the left. Make a note of what you try to ease the pain and whether or not it helps.

Your diary will help getting a diagnosis, even if you're not in a cycle. I'm sorry you're having so much pain. Read all you can here - it's the best start to what you're dealing with.

Hugs,

Kris

Title: Re: Newcomer asking for advice
Post by hotprestwich on Feb 12^th, 2008, 11:22am

sounds familiar to me i too thought i had a brain tumer,
but your symtoms sounds like clusters,
lots of advise here, read read and read some more,
wot works for me is lots of Coffee and try getting some 02, hot showers work for some or even try exersizing
some get relief by taking the beast for a bike ride,
just dont bother with over the counter pain killers, like paracetamol, they dont do shit

Title: Re: Newcomer asking for advice
Post by coach_bill on Mar 1^st, 2008, 9:25pm

yep, sounds just like clusters, thats how most of them start for me, at night then progress to daytime attacks as well. melatonin has worked for me at night to slow down the nite hits. read everything you can. and if your doc does come up with cluster headaches, remember to be prepared, when my cycle ended i tried real hard to forget the 2 months from hell, and i did for about 2 years, just long enough for all the meds i had to expire so when they came back, i was unprepared and back to square one. as your begining to find out they come back no matter what, so no matter how hard it is try to stick to a schedule with sleeping and get some 02 as soon as you can. also it is time where you need to be your own best friend, meaning you need to devote 100% effort on you!! if you can focas as much time to yourself as you can the anwsers will come quickier hang in there. coach bill

Title: Re: Newcomer asking for advice
Post by kevmd on Mar 2^nd, 2008, 8:20am

same here as what everyone else is saying. See a neuro, get some meds and good luck. The half hour after you wake up is very common for me as well.

Title: Re: Newcomer asking for advice
Post by RichardN on Mar 2^nd, 2008, 3:01pm

Ditto to all the above!

And make sure you start your ha journal today.

Take the "cluster quiz" (link on left) and let us know how you do.

Do you consume alcohol? If so, STOP! . . . alcohol in any form is a major trigger for most of us when in cycle. For me, alcohol, exhaust fumes, some chemical odors are triggers.

We do hope it's not clusters, but if it is . . . you've just found your new home on the internet.

Be Safe, PFDANs

Richard