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Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Getting to Know Ya >> New Member http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1272585733 Message started by GabeGrimley on Apr 29th, 2010 at 8:02pm |
Title: New Member Post by GabeGrimley on Apr 29th, 2010 at 8:02pm
Hey everybody,
my name is Gabe, and I found this website while searching for some answers for my consistent headaches. I am 17 and just about to graduate high school. I play sports year-round (football, basketball, and baseball) and will continue to play baseball at college. I had my first cluster headache this last fall, after the football season was finished. At first, they weren't severe - simply pesky headaches that came for about an hour and then left. About a week after they started, they got bad. Both at night and around noon every day. I know I have no need to describe the pain. I am mostly here to see if anyone has any tips or tricks that can fend of a quick attack... Thanks. |
Title: Re: New Member Post by coach_bill on Apr 29th, 2010 at 8:55pm
REDBULL... but you need to see a doc and talk about oxygen for clusters...
Coach Bill |
Title: Re: New Member Post by Guiseppi on Apr 29th, 2010 at 9:42pm
So much you need to do!!!Especially before leaving to go off to college....says a daddy who has already sent 2 kids off to college. ;)
Get to a doc, and go through all of the annoying testing to verify CH. It's annoying but necassary to rule out the ugly stuff. Any sudden onset of head pain deserves a trip to the experts! But for now.....stay away from the over the counter stuff, ibuprofen, tylenol, aspirin, etc....over use will result in rebound attacks, and it's not good on your innards. Energy drinks, any containing healthy amounts of caffeine and taurine......chugged at the first sign of an attack...and I mean chugged!....will abort or lessen an attack for many. Add a daily supplement of magnesium, calcium and vitamin D to your diet. Lessens the overall effect of CH for many. Hang in there. Joe |
Title: Re: New Member Post by wimsey1 on Apr 30th, 2010 at 7:59am
Ditto everything--any energy drink with a combo of Caffeine and Taurine (I personally like Monster), and I would add the nightly use of Melatonin (up to 18mg but probably starting at 6-9mg) seems to work for many, myself included.
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Title: Re: New Member Post by anthony g on Apr 30th, 2010 at 9:08am
Need to see a "headache specialist" for sure! agree with all!!
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Title: Re: New Member Post by bejeeber on Apr 30th, 2010 at 12:47pm
Hey Gabe,
You're doing the right thing coming here - it's critical to get really aggressive about this and learn as much as possible. Just realize that even a headache specialist may not have all the answers for you. For instance good luck finding one who will prescribe the most effective O2 - hi flow, non rebreather - without you asking for it (or alternatively arranging on your own to go high flow). You'll probably want to be fully prepared in case an episode strikes when you're in college next year. Abortives like imitrex inhaler, zyprexa, can be used right while you're sitting in class and could save ya, IMO. You'll want to have something like that on hand BEFORE any episode starts up. And listen party boy :D, NO ALCOHOL while in the midst of an episode!!! Alcohol will trigger a slammer of a hit like no other for most of us, don't find this out the really really hard way. Reading thru about 10 or so of the other Getting To Know Ya Topics here is a good way to get indoctrinated quickly, because you'll start seeing common threads in the replies from the vets who have found out how to beat this thing down. |
Title: Re: New Member Post by seaworthy on Apr 30th, 2010 at 12:54pm
How far from home is the campus ?
You might want to cosider seeking out a specialist in the geographical are of the school. |
Title: Re: New Member Post by GabeGrimley on Apr 30th, 2010 at 3:21pm
OK, so if I go to a doctor, and he/she gives me a "allergy" medication, should I follow the treatment, or go elsewhere to get the diagnosis? As of right now, I can feel a headache coming on, with the whole drooping of the eyelid (more like a twitch for me), pressure at the back of forehead, inner ear, roof of mouth, eye watering, stuffed nose, sharp pain at back of neck/head, where breathing in through the stuffy nostril gives me a very sharp pain behind my eye/forehead/temple. My triggers, I'm sure, include fluorescent lights - and that is a problem for me being in school.
I definitely avoid alcohol, but I also avoid most caffeinated drinks due to negative effects athletically. Definitely avoid illegal drugs. I do not have a neurologist nearby - my hometown is tiny (1000 pop) and the college I am going to will have a slightly better chance at one, but it is about 3 hours away, so I will not be able to just 'run right over' to the doctor. :-/ So I dunno.. Thanks for all the tips everyone! |
Title: Re: New Member Post by shaggyparasol on Apr 30th, 2010 at 7:50pm
I understand Gabe. I too have stayed away from caffeine for some of my life. But welcome to Clusterville. I make my recommendations based on a several circumstances:
Allergy medication didn't work, neither did anything else. Severe pain, mostly debilitating. I would rather take some caffeine and then play baseball, than sit on the bench writhing in pain. I would rather find a way to manage the pain than go on disability etc. And I would rather do an illicit drug that 1/2 the high school kids in the country are doing than load up on expensive pharmaceuticals and all of their side effects. That's just me though and I am not trying to tell you or anyone else what to do. The reason I say all of this to you is that you are young and brand new to the cluster world. They may not be clusters or they may and they could get worse too. It is so hard to tell the first few years. Only you know what is right for you, just put these thoughts in your back pocket in case you need them in the future. When I look back on my clusterhead life, I would do some things different. And my suggestions to you are what I would have done differently. I am wishing you many pain free days and great collegiate success! We are always here if you need us. Oh and if you are describing cluster headaches to your doctor and they give you allergy medicine, see another doctor, headache specialist if you can. :)(smiley guy says good luck!) --Shaggy |
Title: Re: New Member Post by GabeGrimley on May 4th, 2010 at 10:03pm
Well, 3 straight days without a real headache, but 4 straight nights with one :\. They have been less intense, but for longer times, so about 3 hours per headache. Gonna start the caffeine treatments if I feel one coming on..
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