Clusterheadaches.com Message Board


    
      
        Clusterheadaches.com Message Board
        (http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi)
      

        New Message Board Archives >> Jan-Mar 2004 >> Any ideas?
        
(Message started by: RAFBOY on Feb 9^th, 2004, 9:37am)

Title: Any ideas?
Post by RAFBOY on Feb 9^th, 2004, 9:37am

As a new user, forgive me if this is a common topic.
My husband has been suffering with a constant headache across the front of his head for 5 weeks now. He has been for eye tests, blood tests for everything from low sugar to brain tumor and they all came back clear. He is not having problems sleeping, the headache is not there for about ten minutes when he gets up then starts again. The doctor has diagnosed him with cluster migraine, He has had four types of tablet the latest being a combination of Imigran and Tramadol, these seem to ease it however he complains his head is constantly 'niggley'. Does this sound familiar to anyone? After reading a few messages, his headache does not sound as pressurised or spasmodic as other site users. Any advice is gratefully recieved.H.

Title: Re: Any ideas?
Post by thomas on Feb 9^th, 2004, 10:05am

on 02/09/04 at 09:37:43, RAFBOY wrote:

The doctor has diagnosed him with cluster migraine,

[smiley=huh.gif] Never heard that one before.....

Title: Re: Any ideas?
Post by ave on Feb 9^th, 2004, 11:06am

I have, though, it used to be a wrong description of cluster headaches.

What rafboy describes does not seem to be like clusterheadaches at all (nor like migraines). A frontal pain does not suggest cluster, but maybe his other symptoms do.

Rafboy, let your husband do the clusterquiz (button on the left).

And otherwise you may have better luck (and information) at a normal migraine site.

Title: Re: Any ideas?
Post by Margi on Feb 9^th, 2004, 11:49am

sounds like sinus headache to me. If he's a smoker, that can really dry out the sinuses. If you're in an area of lower humidity, that can also be a trigger. You might want to try him on some sinus meds and see if that makes a difference for him. He could also try steaming his face (towel over head, hang over a sink of steaming hot water), that can remoisturize the sinuses.

If a doctor is diagnosing that as "cluster migraine", I'd sure suggest finding a new doctor. ::)

Title: Re: Any ideas?
Post by taraann on Feb 9^th, 2004, 12:41pm

on 02/09/04 at 10:05:13, thomas wrote:

[smiley=huh.gif] Never heard that one before.....

I was origionally diagnosed with "cluster migraines" caused a LOT of confusion with me!

Title: Re: Any ideas?
Post by pubgirl on Feb 9^th, 2004, 1:26pm

It's the prehistoric name for CH in the UK.
Suggests the doctor may not be in the first flush of youth ;;D

Wendy

and the symptoms you describe do not at first look suggest CH. Cluster quiz and new doctor sound like the best advice!

Title: Re: Any ideas?
Post by cathy on Feb 9^th, 2004, 5:05pm

Hi Rafboy...I have to agree it doesn't sound like clusters to me, I would go for a second opinion, and maybe stop taking all the meds, could be he's getting re-bound headaches....either way I hope you get a diagnosis....

PF vibes to you.

Cathy

Title: Re: Any ideas?
Post by Opus on Feb 9^th, 2004, 7:02pm

Cluster/Migraine syndrome is a horrible combination of clusters and migraines and can give such symptoms as clusters that last as long as migraine and clusters that have nausea and light sensitivity. I had a horrible cycle where i had these symptoms, no fortunately they have split so I have regular clusters, and regular migraines. A has that has the pounding pain of migraines and the runny nose, droopy eye of clusters is called migraine/cluster syndrome. Confused yet? Here is information for doctors.

The cluster-migraine syndrome is diagnosed when elements of migraine headache occur simultaneously in patients suffering with cluster headache. Solomon and Kappa[111] instituted arbitrary diagnostic criteria to establish the diagnosis of this uncommon syndrome. According to their criteria, the diagnosis of cluster-migraine syndrome was given to patients who had symptoms of one headache predominantly (either migraine or cluster), but in whom four or five features of the other headache also were present. Patients who experienced cluster headache with nausea, vomiting, photophobia, or phonophobia would receive this diagnosis, as would patients with migraine who experienced ipsilateral autonomic features. The criteria employed by Solomon and Kappa[111] were not precise; the required number of associated symptoms was picked arbitrarily. Other clinicians have reported patients with two distinct headache disorders. Graham[34] described patients who suffered from recurrent bouts of migraine headaches that recurred daily for days or weeks at a time, then entered a period of pain-free remissions. It is important to recognize the cluster-migraine syndrome because of the unique treatment strategies that need to be implemented. Patients suffering from this syndrome have been reported to respond to inhalation of 100% oxygen as an abortive strategy for acute attacks and lithium carbonate as prevention. This combination would not be expected to be helpful in patients suffering from typical migraine. Alternatively, beta-blockers occasionally may help in this syndrome, whereas these agents would not be useful in the treatment of cluster headaches.

Anyway, If the pain starts right after waking and is not pounding or right behind the eye then it may be sinus. I suffer from sinus ha's right now and the best treatment for me is to breathing steam through the nose and exhaling from the mouth , I use a personal steamer, and laying on a hot water bottle at night.

Opus/Paul