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        New Message Board Archives >> Jan-Mar 2003 >> YAN (Yet Another Newbie)
        
(Message started by: thudpucker on Feb 19^th, 2003, 5:24pm)

Title: YAN (Yet Another Newbie)
Post by thudpucker on Feb 19^th, 2003, 5:24pm

Mostly, thank all of you for being here.

I had my first cluster headache about a week before Christmas last year, at age 60. After I got my teeth and sinuses checked out, I described my headaches to my doctor in detail, and he said, "Sounds like cluster headaches. Check the web." And I landed here.

After reading a number of the posts here, I consider myself relatively well off. In general, I have 1-3 headaches a night, with episodes lasting about 40 minutes, kip 6-7.

What brought me back here today, and finally got me to register for the board, were shadows. What I have discovered, after a couple of months' experience with ch, is that they have sizes, shapes, and colors. They aren't all the same, and it was seeming almost as if I could predict when I was going to have a headache (I do get some nights off). Sure enough, you call them shadows.

It's also seeming that I sometimes drag some kind of residual pain into the day (like today). It's not a headache exactly; it feels like the affected area (left temple and eye) "remembers" the pain it experienced during the night. Maybe someone could comment on that?

My usual sleep time is about 3 a.m. until 9 a.m. Although my pain level is comparatively low, being up for 40 minutes or more at 5 and 7, starting the day with a headache at 9, and then lugging the residual pain along for a good part of the day is a stone drag.

--Dick

Title: Re: YAN (Yet Another Newbie)
Post by domm on Feb 19^th, 2003, 5:45pm

thudpucker - welcome to clusterville. Hell of a time to start getting hit (60). Mine started at 44. My cyles start low (Kip 6-7) then ramp up to the real headbangers during peak. I hope this is not true for you.
To answer your question, yes, shadows come in many flavors. The remembrance of pain is, in my opinion, the ugly flavor, like dung flavored ice cream. (bad aftertaste).
What meds are working (or not working) for you? Any success in abortives or have you started any preventatives?
Welcome and PFDANs to you
domm

Title: Re: YAN (Yet Another Newbie)
Post by oringkid on Feb 19^th, 2003, 6:06pm

Starting at 60 seems almost a blessing ( I know it sucks for you though!!) I started at around 12... I am now almost 42. I am episodic though and that is a blessing compared to being chronic.

My cycles come (these days, used to be more frequent) about every other year and last from 2 to 4 months starting with attacks maybe once a week then quickly ramping up to peak of cycle when I can get from 3 to 8 attacks per day then slowly ramping back down.

My longest remission was after my first attack. I think I went for about 5 years without one then they really set in. I got them twice a year (spring and fall) and usually at the same time of day each day. Then went to one cycle per year and now usually one cycle every 2 years.

Tell us how yours have presented.

There is more info here than most physicians have on this debilitating disease now.

Sherry

Title: Re: YAN (Yet Another Newbie)
Post by suzy617 on Feb 19^th, 2003, 6:08pm

on 02/19/03 at 17:24:18, thudpucker wrote:

It's also seeming that I sometimes drag some kind of residual pain into the day (like today). It's not a headache exactly; it feels like the affected area (left temple and eye) "remembers" the pain it experienced during the night. Maybe someone could comment on that?

This is what I consider "shadows".

Sorry the beast had to find you after 60 years, Damn...But you've come to the right place, tons of info here. You'll learn more at this site then from any Dr.

So welcome and stick around......

suzy

Title: Re: YAN (Yet Another Newbie)
Post by cbolony on Feb 19^th, 2003, 6:13pm

thudpucker i get a lot of shadows at the end of my cycle.
I get my ch on my left side they run for about 6-8weeks
some times longer.eye ,top of head left side of face
sore.Even my head hurts if i touch my hair.I use imitrex
injectons for my ch and oxygen for the low kips.Hang in there thudpucker life gets better.And by the way going to be 50 next week and had them for six years

Title: Re: YAN (Yet Another Newbie)
Post by thudpucker on Feb 19^th, 2003, 6:52pm

on 02/19/03 at 18:06:52, oringkid wrote:

Tell us how yours have presented.

It feels like someone is trying to drive a nail into my left temple while at the same time pulling my left eye from its socket. Comes on very fast. Pain is between left temple and corner of eye socket; left nostril plugged; don't think I've had any tearing. During an episode, the pain may ease off for a couple of minutes--then bam! the hammer comes down again. Most of the time, at the end of an episode, the pain simply fades quite quickly, though I have had that sensation of the pain seeming to drain away. (I had a viral respiratory infection when the ch started, so, with the draining away of the pain, I thought at first it was plugged sinuses.)

I haven't sought abortives or preventatives yet--still mostly waiting to see what happens next. If the pain gets worse or if it looks like I'm going to be chronic, then I may look for ameliorative measures.

--Dick

Title: Re: YAN (Yet Another Newbie)
Post by cootie on Feb 19^th, 2003, 11:39pm

Hi thudpucker......gawd I hope I spelled that rite.....you'll get alot of good info on here.........Pam-thud-honker

Title: Re: YAN (Yet Another Newbie)
Post by Mr.Happy on Feb 20^th, 2003, 4:58am

Howdy Dick, and welcome to the stadium. Seems like you've already got a season ticket......

Definitely interesting that you didn't get hit until you were 60. It's a proven medical fact (See: Old Wives Tales) that Clusters go away when you get older. Since you started at 60, that means you'll probably live to be 147. Might be prudent to review your pension options...........

Quote:

I haven't sought abortives or preventatives yet--still mostly waiting to see what happens next.

Er........three guesses what's going to happen next. Maybe you're THE lucky person, and this will only happen once in your life. Other than that, this thing is persistant, if nothing else. No use sticking your head in the sand (WAIT......maybe that IS a valid treatment! Somebody do a study, quick.)
Not that you need to start ingesting mass quantities of drugs, or turning your extremities black and blue from injections....but it might be helpful to seek a few of the more benign methods of treatment.......unless you like pacing around yelling "Ow, ow, ow" while the sun comes up.
At the very least, try the O2 for some relief. Fast, cheap, no side effects, and goes well with a nice paté. The grandkids will get a real kick out of the mask, too!
Best of luck.........

h-AARP-ing away,
RJ

Title: Re: YAN (Yet Another Newbie)
Post by Kirk on Feb 20^th, 2003, 7:35am

Starting at age 60 sucks to put it lightly. Please give O2 a try, going through one more of these suckers is a waste of life's energy.
Welcome to the pit.

Title: Re: YAN (Yet Another Newbie)
Post by thudpucker on Feb 20^th, 2003, 1:28pm

Thank all of you for your kind words and support.

I have been trying the water treatment. (Truth is, I think I'm still in some kind of denial about it; you know, like, "Hey, God, you got the wrong guy here. Let's get this straightened out, shall we?" Maybe I'm so hardheaded that it will take more pain to convince me.)

For whatever reasons, I had a pain-free night last night; slept like a brick from 2:30-9:00. What a blessing.

Maybe it was all the good vibes from Clusterville.

--Dick