I am 17 and my first cluster headache occured during october last year and I was unaware of what it actually was and I have only today found out what my pain is actually called. The pains I got were on the front right side of my head and occured about twice a day for 2 weeks and the pain was so unbearable it was like someone was drilling into my head for an hour. It eventually subsided but left me feeling week and tired and painkillers couldnt get rid of the pain.
I wasnt to sure what to do because it had never happened before but came out of nowhere, and after a week it eventually went. I still feel a dull ache occasionally in the same place but I hope to god it never comes back but seeing people say that they had their headaches come back after years kind of upsets me. Knowing that one day I will encounter this unbearable pain again.
My friends dont understand how painful it is and just laugh saying its only a headache.

I just hope I never get these headaches again but I understand the pain that some of you who have had the pain for years must feel.

Hello Chris!  I'm very sorry to hear about your pain and pray they do never happen again.  I do want to encourage you to read as much as you can on this site regardless.  Even though you are pain free at the moment, it is always a good idea to be well prepared in case they come again. 

Now that that's out of the way, I am very glad you found us!  Welcome!

:)melissa

Hi Chris,

  You said you just found out what these headaches were recently.  Did a Doctor diagnose you?  If so, did he give you a preventative medicine as well as an abortive?

If not, it would be in your best interests to find a docotr who is knowledable about this condition so you can get some relief.  I don't want to be a downer....but if this is cluster headaches then the chance that they will come back are pretty high and the best thing you can do is to become knowledable about it and start building your arsenal of fighting tools.  Pure oxygen as an abortive is our number reccomendation.  If I can get on it as soon as I feel the first little twinge...I can abort a headache in less than 10 mins.

  Linda

Hi Chris,

I agree with both Linda and Mel.  Being educated and prepared is your best bet.  As Linda said, if you do indeed have CH, it is likely that you will have to learn the best way to deal with them.

In a way, you are lucky.  Most people with CH go years with this condition, misdiagnosed and no idea how to deal with it.  You have found this wonderful site where there are many who will help you help your Dr. find the best way for you to live a PF life. 

Read all you can to be prepared if it comes back.  Better to have the knowledge and not need it than to need it and not have it.

PF wishes,

Jeannie

Welcome to the board Chris. Are you working with a headache specialist neuro yet? We have seen the best results from doing so. There are hundreds of headache types, some which mimic CH, and it’s important to eliminate those before arriving at a firm diagnosis. I’ve had CH for 34 years, they haven’t killed me yet! You need an organized approach to managing them so they don’t manage your life. I use a 3 pronged approach, many use a similar approach:

1: A good prevent med. A med I take daily, while on cycle, to reduce the number and intensity of my attacks. I use lithium, it blocks 60-70% of my attack. Verapamil is the most common first line prevent, topomax also has a loyal following. Some have to combine lithium and verapamil together to get relief.

2: A transitional med. Most prevents will take up to 2 weeks to become effective. I go on a prednisone taper, from 80 mg to zero over a two week period to give me a break while my prevent builds up. Prednisone will provide up to 100% relief for many CH’ers but is harsh on the system and should only be used for short periods of time.

3: An abortive therapy, the attack starts, now what? Oxygen should be your first line abortive. Breathing pure 02 will abort an attack for me in less then 10 minutes, that’s completely pain free. Read this link as it must be used correctly or it will not work

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Imitrex nasal spray and injectables are very effective abortives. I use the injectables, they’re expensive, and I rarely use them, mostly just when I get caught away from the oxygen. The pill form generally works too slow to be effective for CH’ers.

Go to the medications section of this board and read the post "123 pain free days and i think I know why." It’s a vitamin/mineral/fish oil supplement, all over the counter stuff, that’s providing a lot of relief for people who have tried it, it’s a long read, worth the time.

For now, get some energy drinks. Rock Star, Monster, any containing the combo of caffeine and taurine, chug it down as fast as you can when you feel an attack starting. Many can abort or at least really reduce an attack using these.

Finally, visit our sister board for “alternative” treatment methods outside of mainstream medicine. As you’ll see from all the success stories on this board, there is something to it.

clusterbusters.com


Read everything you can on this board, if you are a CH’er, knowledge is your best ally. We’ll help you all we can.

Joe