Hi,

I'm a bit ashamed to post here as, unlike virtually anyone on this board, I'm sure I don't  have CH...yet. Actually, I've first read about CH back in March while browsing randomly on the net. At that time I couldn't help but feel for you guys and wonder how can someone go through so much pain on a daily basis... So I'm hoping not to offend anyone here having to cope with the real beast.

What brought me here is that i've been having worrying signs in the past two months and a half or so, when I started noticing mild regular pain behind my right eyeball. Not so much pain, but a very dull ache sensation, it was always pulsatile and would last about a minute and would come back each day several times around the evening. It didn't really scare me at first, but it made be read more and more about CH nevertheless. It was just a mild headache after all, but it would occur about 90 % of the time on my right side, only very rarely it seemed to "move" back and forth both sides. Nothing to worry about really, nor anything characteristic of CH, but it woud keep becoming longer and more regular every day. I also noticed that I would also occasionally feel the same kind of pain in my limbs, so that's when I started to worry that might not be "just" a regular headache".

It might have stopped thinking about it just stayed the way it was, but since about the beginning of June, I've been gradually experiencing other symptoms: I started to feel pressure in my right temple, it's almost like it's been building up every, now I feel like it's going to explode.  I've also started having chronic nasal congestion/stuffy nose, which would always affect one of my nostrils, but never both at the same time. I always have to breath through one nostril or the other. My GP thought I had sinusitis, but I had a scan which came back perfectly normal, and the antibiotics had no effect. Then came about three weeks ago the itchy eye and the tingling. My right eye now feels itchy about 90% of the time, to a point where it's hard not to blink every second or so. Also, I started to have tingling sensations around my eye and my nose, always on my right side, even though I would sometimes feel some "pins and needles" on my left side that mirror the right side sensation.  Now whenever I walk for more than a minute I can almost feel as if the skin on my head is sparkling all over my right side...  It also happens a lot on my arms and legs, where I can almost feel it's raining even when I'm indoors.

So, as ridiculous as it may seem, I'm wondering if any one of you had ever felt premonitory symptoms similar to those I just described before a cycle? I'm especially worried about the stuffy nose and tingling, which mostly occurs around my right eye and nose, but otherwise seems to follow the trigeminal nerve path perfectly. I haven't seen a neurologist yet, and my GP can't explain it.

I know this may be a silly post, but I'm thinking about it all the time and I can't really get it off my head.
My sympathies to all of those who have to deal daily with these horrible, horrible headaches. I hope I won't ever join the club.

I'm a 26yo male, by the way, and I haven't had any headache record.

No worries about being a bother.  Unfortunately, if I had any warnings before the first cycle I do not remember them at all.  But - I had never heard of a CH, I am a fairly heavy drinker, and have developed a bit of allergies that effect me during golfing season - so I would never have connected any symptoms or signs anyway.

Now that I have had numerous cycles - I do see the signs when an attack is coming most of the time.  This may sound rude - but I hope your just paranoid.

Best of luck

At this stage your anxiety is your worst problem. Trying to predict the future is a sure track for increasing upset.

Cluster often develops in over months, even years, with symptoms which vary type, degree, location. This would be the time to locate a headache specialist so that he can begin to follow you over time to see how the symptom picture developes. The worst thing to do is to try and diagnose and treat yourself.

If you have the option, find a specialist. Many docs have little or no training/experience with complex headache disorders and too many folks wander around for long periods before they get solid evaluations/treatment.
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LOCATING HEADACHE SPECIALIST

1. Search the OUCH site (button on left) for a list of recommended M.D.s.


2. Yellow Pages phone book: look for "Headache Clinics" in the M.D. section and look under "neurologist" where some docs will list speciality areas of practice.

3.  Call your hospital/medical center. They often have an office to assist in finding a physician. You may have to ask for the social worker/patient advocate.

4. START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE; On-line screen to find a physician.

5. START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE Look for "Physician Finder" search box. They will send a list of M.D.s for your state.I suggest using this source for several reasons: first, we have read several messages from people who, even seeing neurologists, are unhappy with the quality of care and ATTITUDES they have encountered; second, the clinical director of the Jefferson (Philadelphia) Headache Clinic said, in late 1999, that upwards of 40%+ of U.S. doctors have poor training in treating headache and/or hold attitudes about headache ("hysterical female disorder") which block them from sympathetic and effective work with the patient; third, it's necessary to find a doctor who has experience, skill, and a set of attitudes which give hope of success. This is the best method I know of to find such a physician.

6. START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE NEW certification program for "Headache Medicine" by the United Council for Neurologic Subspecialties, an independent, non-profit, professional medical organization.
        Since this is a new program, the initial listing is limited and so it should be checked each time you have an interest in locating a headache doctor.

Certainly do not apologize! Your care and concern for us is touching. Thank you. As to your question: no, the first attack came swiftly and hard. They were single attacks for quite some time before they began to string together into a cluster. It took me a long time to get around to seeing a doc. Take Bob's advice and do so sooner. It could be so many things. Let us know how you make out. God bless. lance