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        Supporter's Corner >> Supporter's Corner >> Can anyone offer some advice?
        
(Message started by: pumpkin on Feb 8^th, 2003, 6:37pm)

Title: Can anyone offer some advice?
Post by pumpkin on Feb 8^th, 2003, 6:37pm

Hi - this is my first time in any message board so I hope I'm doing this properly. I'm writing for my mother. She has been suffering from severe headaches for about 6 years and hasn't been able to get any help from her doctors. She has been to headache clinics, sleep clinics, had CAT Scan, and MRI. They never show a damn thing. She's tried many drugs - no help!

Her symptoms: Wakes at 3 a.m. every morning with what she describes as an "ice pick" being driven into her head. It is in the left centre of her head. It is the same spot every night. It deprives her of sleep and she gets very depressed. She can pinpoint the spot. She just tried a calcium channel blocker but it made the headache worse (she has also tried anti-depressants and migraine medications).

Her doctor is usless. He had never even heard of cluster headaches. She did suffer briefly from cluster headaches when she was younger. We were wondering if this sounds like chronic cluster headaches to anyone who suffers from them. If so, what advice would you give. These headaches are driving her nuts!!! Her quality of life is really suffering!

Please, any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you
Ellen

Title: Re: Can anyone offer some advice?
Post by Jarvis on Feb 8^th, 2003, 11:49pm

Hi pumpkin. I think if she was diagnosed with clusters when younger its fairly likely still the case. Print out the cluster quiz in the button to the left and go over it with her. Some fairly simple questions there. .. The fact that she has been through a lot of the testings rules out a whole lot of other scary possibilities... I am by no means a doctor. The fact that she is waken and the same times is also indicative of cluster headaches. There are a lot of good neurulogists listed on the ouch website who understand and one may be near you.... Generally the pain point is felt around the eye or temple area. Have her read over some of the info here with you. ... You will find in short time a lot of input here from others... In the meantime theres a lot of info to read here and on the ouch sight. . Hope you find your answers.

Title: Re: Can anyone offer some advice?
Post by firebrix on Feb 9^th, 2003, 2:43am

Greetings and Welcome pumpkin!
I think it's pretty cool that you want to help your mother.
I suggest that she sees a neurologist who has experience of Cluster headache.
Many doctors have never heard of CH. The trick is to find one who HAS!
I'd also suggest that both you and your mother do a bit of research of your own on this site, and that of OUCH, (links to which you'll find on the buttons on the left) and use the excellent search here to look for solutions.
Your mother really needs a diagnosis, so the better educated you both are, the more progress you can make when you see a neuro.
Oxygen therapy is effective for many CHers. You'll find info here and on OUCH for that too. Make sure its a non-rebreather mask (settle for nothing less) and use it as directed. This is a safe treatment. (No smoking round the tanks tho'!) firebrix

Title: Re: Can anyone offer some advice?
Post by Svenn on Feb 9^th, 2003, 5:08pm

Great advice firebrix
think enough has been said here until the visit at the neuro.
you can also test a icepack on the spot that hurt.It might get some rellief

Svenn