1. take the cluster quiz, see link to your left. 

2. identify your symptoms & triggers,

3. document your pain----times they occur, for how long, where you feel pain, etc

4. Read as much as you can from this site AND print helpful info to bring to doctor.  ideally you will go to a neurologist.

5.  Understand recommended Preventative meds & Abortive meds.

6.  RedBull or other energy drink containing 1,000 mg of Taurine with caffiene...Ice packs/bag of frozen vegetables...have your spouse read this info also so he understands what you are going through....melatonin to sleep....firm massage to temples and neck...etc., plenty of helpful tips on this site.

7.  Not in your best interest to smoke, drink alcohol nor take pain pills including over the counter meds such as tylenol, etc

We are here for you, you are not alone!

Hi Barbi,

There's lots to learn here, some of which will likely bring you some genuine relief, but for starters I'll echo the NO ALCOHOL of Las Vegas's post.

Don't learn the hard way about what a crushing hit drinking alcohol will induce for most of us when we're in the midst of a CH episode.

Sounds like CH, but you need to see a doctor for that diagnosis.  Three weeks is a short amount of time to jump to that conclusion in my opinion.  Try the tips people have shared.  Read.  Log your symptoms to take to the doc.  Good luck!

While you are waiting for your appt. digest this article and see if it gives you some insights. It may raise questions to enrich your discussion with the doc.
==========

 
Cluster headache.
From: Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or (Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases)
[Easy to read; one of the better overview articles I've seen. Suggest printing the full length article--link, line above--if you are serious about keeping a good medical library on the subject.]

Leroux E, Ducros A.

ABSTRACT: Cluster headache (CH) is a primary headache disease characterized by recurrent short-lasting attacks (15 to 180 minutes) of excruciating unilateral periorbital pain accompanied by ipsilateral autonomic signs (lacrimation, nasal congestion, ptosis, miosis, lid edema, redness of the eye). It affects young adults, predominantly males. Prevalence is estimated at 0.5-1.0/1,000. CH has a circannual and circadian periodicity, attacks being clustered (hence the name) in bouts that can occur during specific months of the year. ALCOHOL IS THE ONLY DIETARY TRIGGER OF CH, STRONG ODORS (MAINLY SOLVENTS AND CIGARETTE SMOKE) AND NAPPING MAY ALSO TRIGGER CH ATTACKS. During bouts, attacks may happen at precise hours, especially during the night. During the attacks, patients tend to be restless. CH may be episodic or chronic, depending on the presence of remission periods. CH IS ASSOCIATED WITH TRIGEMINOVASCULAR ACTIVATION AND NEUROENDOCRINE AND VEGETATIVE DISTURBANCES, HOWEVER, THE PRECISE CAUSATIVE MECHANISMS REMAIN UNKNOWN. Involvement of the hypothalamus (a structure regulating endocrine function and sleep-wake rhythms) has been confirmed, explaining, at least in part, the cyclic aspects of CH. The disease is familial in about 10% of cases. Genetic factors play a role in CH susceptibility, and a causative role has been suggested for the hypocretin receptor gene. Diagnosis is clinical. Differential diagnoses include other primary headache diseases such as migraine, paroxysmal hemicrania and SUNCT syndrome. At present, there is no curative treatment. There are efficient treatments to shorten the painful attacks (acute treatments) and to reduce the number of daily attacks (prophylactic treatments). Acute treatment is based on subcutaneous administration of sumatriptan and high-flow oxygen. Verapamil, lithium, methysergide, prednisone, greater occipital nerve blocks and topiramate may be used for prophylaxis. In refractory cases, deep-brain stimulation of the hypothalamus and greater occipital nerve stimulators have been tried in experimental settings.THE DISEASE COURSE OVER A LIFETIME IS UNPREDICTABLE. Some patients have only one period of attacks, while in others the disease evolves from episodic to chronic form.

PMID: 18651939 [PubMed]

Seems there are as many ways to tell a cycle is ending as there are CH'ers! Some get one last huge slammer, then it's done. Others, like me, they get less severe and farther apart until I realized I've gone a couple of weeks without getting slammed.

And yeah....a good supporter can make all the difference in the world.

Joe

That's awesome Chad...used Red Bull and oxygen 2 hours ago when you-know-who came calling!

Joe

31 years of this and oxygen STILL rocks my world. 10 minutes and I'm back in my happy place with no pain!

Joe

Barbi wrote on Feb 27^th, 2010 at 9:18pm:


That is funny, and he sounds like a keeper. 

The pain free time is great news. Would strongly suggest you NOT let your guard down. The pain free times are the best time to evaluate what did and didn't work, find a reliable neuro or a GP who can prescribe oxygen, trex or what ever else you need.

For several years I'd exclude the beast from my mind when I was off cycle. Then when the beast came back, I'd be flat footed, call my doc to find out he was gone, find myself back at ground zero trying to find a good doc, oxygen, everything else I needed!!

Joe

Hurrah on pain free time!!!

Barbi Welcome to the club to which membership is not voluntary!

Hope you find more PF times and  new CH friends!