It's impossible to make a diagnosis on the basis of a couple of attacks but they are a sign that you would be best served by starting to seek a headache specialist. Avoid, if at all possible, a doc who does not have training and experience in what is a small but very complex area of medicine.
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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. Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or ; On-line screen to find a physician.

5. Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or 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. Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or 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.
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You can help by starting to learn some of the basics of Cluster. This will help guide your discussions with the doctor.
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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]
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Please don't start playing around with treatments until you have a good understanding of what you are working with.

You could benefit from exploring the buttons, left, starting with the OUCH site and the many internal links you will find.

Hi there

I finished my first ever cycle late December it started very random , getting hit one day and then nothing for a week and then getting hit a gain . alcohol only triggered it 1 in 5 times but I think it can depend on what you are drinking.

Over the course of about 5 months I started getting hit more regularly - up to 8 times a day although nothing higher than a K8.

To start of with I wondered if it was CH cos it didn't seem to follow the regular patterns you see described here altho every thing else was text book.

So I'm sorry you need to be here but you've come to the right place. the next few weeks will let you know for shore and all the wonderful people here will be here to help and answer , or try to answer , all your questions so don't be afraid to ask.

I might not be much help being a rookie to this my self but there's years of experience here to draw from.

all the best and I hope It's just a random one off for you.

Nigel

Hey justed to say thanks for the advise and site recs. My fiance has been tracking the headaches and pain levels since monday and i get a one at about 10:00 everyday which falls in with the one last week i was getting at lunch time. I was also getting worse ones on my way home 5 or 6 level a couple days it hit on the same street that is only a small part of my ride at about 3:30. Mondays bad one came around 5:00 just into my second glass of wine. most any headache i have had has neverlasted longer than 45 min or been higher than a 5 but monday i wanted to die. going to find a specialist. today had a short 5 one at 10:00 took two ergotamine caffeine tablets and when it was gone i had less preasure than before. so far no ride home pain since tue. I thought about a glass of wine to know for sure but i'm scared since i was drinking on monday. thanks again

rick

Feeling better for now, preasure has eased and was gone  all togather for a couple hours. As quick as i type preasure builds in my left eye, now reaching to my temple then kind of fades and builds. I'm looking at these ergotamine-caffeine tablets given to me by a physians assitant. Script says take two tablets at onset of headache and one every 30 minutes up to 6 in a 24 hour period/10 in 7 days. Took 3 yesterday two earlier at work two now but what about the rest of the week. Script also said 90 insurance company said 30 and what about the constant preasure except for two hours in 5 days, thats not sinus and my cat scan is good , tell me doc what do i do about that. It's not that I can't deal with it but I am starting to get very irratated. I just need a little peace. Thanks again i'm gonna look up a doctor.

rick