I've been MIA for a bit here. I had been HA free for almost 2 years to the day. I counting my blessings as I have a 2 year old son and did/do not want him to have to see me going through this. So far, the only attacks I've had occurred while he was asleep or not around.
Anyway, my cycle started back this time after I found out I had a bad ear infection. This didn't surprise me as they normally start after i get a sinus infection. Are there any correlation between the two and is it possible that the antibiotics could be making the attacks worse? Thanks a bunch for any info.

Much Luv-
Pfunk 8-)

Hey Pfunk

I have a definite association between an ear infection in my left ear (cluster side) and increased ch activity. The question I can't answer though is what causes what, is it the cluster activity that causes stress in my ear or is it the ear that exites the cluster. I haven't managed to quantify the effect of antibiotics though. All I know is that when my ear is blocked and sore the ch is worse, antibiotics help the ear and I get back to normal. Interestingly I am very prone to infections in the left ear (twice a year at least) - and Drs are at a loss to explain why - whereas my right ear is fine.

Well, I'm strange I guess. Right now, I tested positive for the Pig Flu and my sinus is infected (am on stuff for that as well as Tamiflu) BUT no CH. Go figure...

I have a "regular" headache (the doc said that goes with this mess) but it's not CH.  :-*

Yeah....cause and effect......always a tough one. I had constant ear aches as a child, stopped at about 10 years old, and don't believe I ever had a sinus infection. So no help here! :-/

Joe

My first cycle ever, I go to the doctor, get diagnosed with a sinus infection, and took antibiotics... the beast left after a few days. I'm not saying that antibiotics cure clusters, but in my case, they didn't cause them.

just went to my gp yesterday to get my right ear (cluster side)  checked cause it was sore and found out I had a ear infection.been in cycle for a couple of months now he put me on anti biotics for the ear infection just my input. :)

The H1N1 had me down for 10 days in early September. Episode started early November, accompanied with a major kidney infection. For the first 7 days of the antibiotic regimen for that, the ch's were fewer and of lower intensity.

Pfunk wrote on Feb 27^th, 2010 at 11:48am:

... any correlation between the two and is it possible that the antibiotics could be making the attacks worse? ...

I used to suffer sinusitis chronically, treated by countless courses of different antibiotics.  I didn't know about CHs; my episodic head pain was 'mis-diagnosed' as sinus pain and nerve damage-related, as I had had 3 sinus operations. Since then my sinusitis has become episodic and I have been diagnosed chronic (CH).  So, your guess is as good as mine.  For all I know, it was all the antibiotics that I took, or nerve damage resulting from surgery that caused my CH to flip (episodic/chronic).  So, as regards cause and effect, I doubt I will ever know, unless I could roll back and run my life again without taking any antibiotics, or having surgery.  As regards the semantics, for as long as I can any longer remember, I've constantly had PAIN somewhere in my head, of one sort or another.  Call it what you want, but for me it simply remains a 4-letter expletive, something that I just wish someone would delete.

I had 4 ear infections in the 2 years before my CH started....

I've always assumed they were related, but no idea how.