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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Getting to Know Ya >> College Clusters?
        
(Message started by: coreyo87 on Apr 9^th, 2008, 12:12am)

Title: College Clusters?
Post by coreyo87 on Apr 9^th, 2008, 12:12am

Hi Everyone,

My name's Corey, I'm a 21 year old Junior in college, and I think I have been getting cluster headaches. I've been to the ER 2 times in the past four weeks because i've been in such pain. They basically did nothing for me.
Reading this board has been pretty helpful knowing there are people going through something similar to me. A few weeks ago I started getting the most horrible pain in my temple, behind my eye and near my tooth (all on the right side) In the beginning I thought it was a brain tumor or something so we rushed to the ER so I could get treated/ get a catscan.. the catscan came back negative and they said "Oh, you just have a headache." So I got home and did research and came across the cluster headaches. I'm going on my week 4 of these headaches and they've been soooo Intense, I cant even explain. Dancing doesn't help make it go away, the best thing has been to walk outside in the cold (which subsequently resulted in a sore throat lol :( ) I mean, its just horrible. I'm not sure if I have Clusters but my Doctor on campus said it's very possible, but first she wants to see if taking Vicodin gets rid of the headache along with some steroid (which I DONT want to use) because I read all about it giving rapid weight gain. She expects it to be gone by Friday.. If it's not I'm going to get an MRI.
I just can't believe this is happening to me at 21 years old, and at the worst time, Finals Week. Lately it's been happening during class, I had to actually get up and leave class today guys.. (sorry Im not trying to make a sob story) Today the vicodin actually worked in getting rid of the headache.. I pray that I don't have the chronic clusters and it's only episodic :( I can't imagine having to go through this so often but its nice to see i have people i can relate to.

Title: Re: College Clusters?
Post by Ray on Apr 9^th, 2008, 12:19am

Corey:

Please try to get to see a headache specialist neurologist. You may, or may not have cluster headaches. Did you take the cluster quiz on the left hand side of the screen?

If the headache specialist confirms the cluster diagnosis, you should try HIGH FLOW oxygen with a NON REBREATHER mask, as this is helpful to most of us and has no side effects.

Read all that you can here and ask questions.

Good luck to you,

Ray

Title: Re: College Clusters?
Post by coreyo87 on Apr 9^th, 2008, 12:42am

Hi Ray, thanks for you response.. I took the quiz and the only thing that I really lack is the eye tearing. I'm planning on seeing a neurologist in the summer, so until then i'm just going to cope. I'll bring up the oxygen idea to my doctor when I see her on Friday, thank you!

Title: Re: College Clusters?
Post by Bob_Johnson on Apr 9^th, 2008, 8:25am

Corey, re. Pred: A list of side effects is a statement of POSSIBILITIES. It is not a PREDICTION of what will occur. Wisdom calls for knowing both the risk and the benefit.

Pred is used for a short time to abort a cluster cycle. Weight gain, etc. is by by-product of using for long periods for other conditions. For us, it's usually magic in action!

Second, print and share with the doc. This statement of current therapies will serve as a discussion guide for both of you.

http://www.plainboard.com/ch/chtherapy.pdf

Here is a link to read and print and take to your doctor. It describes preventive, transitional, abortive and surgical treatments for CH. Written by one of the better headache docs in the U.S. (2002)

Title: Re: College Clusters?
Post by Superdave on Apr 9^th, 2008, 9:48am

Hi Corey,
Sorry to hear your hurting, welcome to clusterheadaches.com. I'm sure you'll find some anwers here even if you don't have ch.

Try chugging a redbull at the first sign of an attack, it can help to abort a headache for many of the cluster sufferers here.

Superdave 8)

Title: Re: College Clusters?
Post by Paul98 on Apr 9^th, 2008, 2:41pm

Hi Corey-

Sorry you had to come looking for us but glad you found us!

As the folks said above, get to a neurologist and plan a stratagy for dealing with this. The Prednisone has been a godsend to many of us. If I had the choice of the H/A's or some reversable weight gain it is a no brainer! The pred is used for a short time (2-3 weeks with the dosage starting out high and tapering down to very small) You might ask about verapamil in conjunction with the pred. For many folks a cycle will last ~6-8 weeks. During this time you need to avoid alcohol as it is almost a universal trigger. Oxygen has been wonderful for many folks.

Hang in there!

-P.

Title: Re: College Clusters?
Post by Guiseppi on Apr 9^th, 2008, 3:18pm

Ouch, you're my youngest daughters age :-/ sorry to hear you're getting slammed. Sure sounds like you might be battling ch. Especially the part about the cold air helping.

When a headache starts, try chugging a red bull, rock star, any energy drink containing the combination of caffeine and taurine. Many can abort or at least reduce the pain level of an attack this way. Many put the open can in the fridge so it loses its fizz and is easier to chug.

You do need to get to a neuro...probably tough on a college campus with a typical college health plan........there are great medications available you can take as a preventative medication to reduce your hits, and then as an abortive medication when you do get hit.

Hang in there :-/

Guiseppi

Title: Re: College Clusters?
Post by avmoore on Apr 9^th, 2008, 3:26pm

Hey Corey,

I hate to hear that these things are hitting you at Finals.

Just curious about the CT scan. While you are waiting to see a Neurologist. See if you Dr can see if scan provides detail of your sinuses. You may want to see an Ear, Nose, Throat Specialist (ENT).

Try a NeilMed Sinus Rinse (regular kit) while on the Vicodin to help relieve intensity of pain. This will help you cope until you see neuro. Rinse 3X /day. (use solution with distilled water only.... this will eliminate burn) Available @ local drugstore

Check out www.neilmed.com

Good Luck with Finals!
Andi

Title: Re: College Clusters?
Post by Ray on Apr 9^th, 2008, 6:26pm

on 04/09/08 at 15:26:05, avmoore wrote:

Corey:

I don't mean to be offensive to Andi, but this is not a known treatment for cluster headaches. I have no experience with this product, nor would I think it would do you any good.

If you DO have ENT issues, then, by all means, follow medical advice about treatments.

Wishing you well,

Ray

Title: Re: College Clusters?
Post by debOUCH on Apr 9^th, 2008, 9:48pm

on 04/09/08 at 15:26:05, avmoore wrote:

ok andi............times up!!!

Title: Re: College Clusters?
Post by CostaRicaKris on Apr 9^th, 2008, 10:53pm

on 04/09/08 at 15:18:18, Guiseppi wrote:

When a headache starts, try chugging a red bull, rock star, any energy drink containing the combination of caffeine and taurine. Many can abort or at least reduce the pain level of an attack this way. Many put the open can in the fridge so it loses its fizz and is easier to chug.

Forget the fridge. I actually drink Rockstar at room temp. - Much easier to chug ;;D

Sorry you're in pain, but welcome to the board

~Kris

Title: Re: College Clusters?
Post by brewcrew on Apr 9^th, 2008, 11:41pm

on 04/09/08 at 22:53:49, CostaRicaKris wrote:

Forget the fridge. I actually drink Rockstar at room temp. - Much easier to chug ;;D

Actually, this is a matter of personal preference, and not at all germaine to the effectiveness of the treatment.

Personally, I can chug 'em more effectively when they're ice cold.

It doesn't matter whether they're cold or not - just get it in you quick.

Title: Re: College Clusters?
Post by CostaRicaKris on Apr 10^th, 2008, 12:30am

Whatever works ;)

Title: Re: College Clusters?
Post by Redd on Apr 10^th, 2008, 12:31am

I keep a 4 pack of Aldi's store brand red thunder in my desk drawer at work at all times.

Room temp? Cold? doesn't matter to me.

Title: Re: College Clusters?
Post by Batch on Apr 10^th, 2008, 7:59am

Corey,

Sorry you're having a rough time. College finals and fussy professors are trouble enough without getting whacked by a cluster headache in class. Getting medical help from a doctor with experience in treating acute cluster headaches is important. Press your primary care doc for a prescription for oxygen. Bob has already given some sound advice on the kinds of therapies that will serve as discussion points as well.

Print out the Medic Alert "ER Card" from the following link, and take it to your doctor. If you get a prescription for oxygen, have the doc fill out the appropriate sections of the ER card. If nothing else, it will help get you some oxygen if you need to go to the ER again.

http://www.ouch-us.org/downloads/ercard5807.pdf

If your doc refuses to give you a prescription for oxygen, press for a neurology consult. Take the ER card to the neurologist too. Episodic or Chronic, you'll need to get on a regiment of treatment so you can gain the upper hand on this disorder; Otherwise, you're just along for a painful ride. There are plenty of neurologists in your area and the Jefferson Headache Center in Philadelphia has some of the top cluster headache specialists in the country.

A good oxygen prescription should read like the following:

"Oxygen therapy at 12 to 15 liters/minute with a non-rebreather mask AS NEEDED for cluster headache attacks."

Take care and I hope the finals are free of cluster headache attacks.

V/R, Batch

Title: Re: College Clusters?
Post by BMoneeTheMoneeMan on Apr 10^th, 2008, 10:32am

Sorry u r getting hit, Corey.

Like others mentioned, you might want to research Oxygen at high flow rates.
Some of us like ice or frozen vegetables to put on your head/eye/temple area. Seems to help quite a bit for me.
Lots of us also like caffeine. I drink coffee and pepsi, others drink energy drinks such as red-bull. I like it cold. It might just be a myth I formulated in my own mind, but i think the cold beverage helps rather than room temp.

If your sinuses ain't broke, don't go fixing them. I bet it would suck to get a sinus infection on top of the headaches you are suffering from.

And if you can, you might want to get your scan done earlier rather than later.

PF wishes
B$

Title: Re: College Clusters?
Post by coreyo87 on Apr 12^th, 2008, 10:49am

Hi guys,
thanks for the support once again. I'm in the middle of another painful headache. :-[ I was headache free for three days but now this one I think was triggered by my friends smoking last night and the really hot temp in my dorm room. Ugh! I've been trying the red bull and have been on vicodin and (prednisone?) they seemed to have been working fine until this morning. I am going to print out some of the stuff you guys said about oxygen to give to my doctor, and hopefully go to a neurologist soon after that.

Thanks so much for the support!!

Corey

Title: Re: College Clusters?
Post by kevmd on Apr 12^th, 2008, 10:13pm

just noticed your at penn state. My wife went there, I went to Kutztown. Wife says the doctors up their are idiots. Someone mentioned Jefferson Headache center. If thats something you want to do, do it quick. I made an appt a couple weeks ago and July 22 is the quickest they can take me.

Title: Re: College Clusters?
Post by swimchica623 on May 1^st, 2008, 11:31am

Check your PMs. :)
lisa