Hi everyone,

I'm new to the site and just by looking around and reading of your experiences has made me instantly feel better   Im a 34yr old female and have been suffering with the beast since i was about 17.  I am rather lucky tho as I only have it 'bad' periodically.  Around every 2 years for up to 4 months.  This site is awesome, I was starting to think I was going mad, as when i explained the pain to people they thought I was exaggerating....lol.... I was diagnosed with Cluster Headaches 2 years ago by my old doctor who no longer practices, and by the time she diagnosed them they had gone so no treatment was started.  So when they returned this time, it was a catfight with my new doc and going through all the million n one tests AGAIN! to get some help. This cycle has lasted 3 months so far and i'm hoping the worst is over as the last 2 days the pain has only reached a 6 at worst so I'm no longer trying to smash my head to a pulp on the bedroom wall and looking like a junkie with a droopy eye.  I will be taking a lot of the information i've read about on here to my doctor as all she is prescribing me is pain killers (that dont really kill any pain!)  By the sounds of it Imitrix is good so i am hoping it is available in Australia. 

They are so isolating, I hate feeling like a prisoner to the beast, I have no life during this time and live in dread for the next one, praying it wont be as bad as the last....So thanks to everyone who posts on here and gives advice.  It made me feel heaps better knowing there are others out there as only people who suffer with these things can understand the pure hell of it

Cheers 

Not the time to be passive! Seeking any doc with knowledge of Cluster, a headache specialist--if possible, is the best step you can take for you long term benefit. No advantage in simply plowing the same stoney field!

The PDF file, below, will give you the most recent outline of meds used for Cluster, along with evaluation of effectiveness of each. Any doc you see should be working from this list and so will give you some idea of how knowledgeable the doc is. If you must stay with your present doc, then give him a copy. (Many of us have had to educate our docs so that they can treat us effectively. An interesting paradox!)

Glad brian piped in....but on a cautionary note, DO NOT SEND THE MAN BEER  as it's like putting milk out for a kitten, you'll never get rid of him!

Another strong vote for oxygen here, check out this link on how it's used. I went from 90-120 minute attacks to quick 6-8 minute aborts just by huffing oxygen. Cheap, no side effects, fast, not much to dislike:

Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or

Welcome home, so glad you found us.

Joe

hi again everyone, thank u so much for replying and welcoming me

I will be taking all the info you guys have sent me to my doctor.  I'm so surprised myself to see that these things are more involved and complicated than I originally thought.  Every other time I've just put up with the pain and soldiered on and I see now that it doesnt have to be that way if you get the right doc to take you seriously and do their job properly.

I live in Cairns, Qld and have finally been referred to a neurologist, but I'm waiting for my appointment to be made and sent out in the mail.  I dont know how long that will take as it's going through the public health system at the hospital... But it's better than having no positive direction at all so im super excited   

And Sorry Brian, unfortunately I dont drink alcohol...lol...

Sounds like you have perfect timing ovait with Brian being in town. You'll have chance to learn more from Brian than you'll do in 10 neuro visits combined.

AussieBrian wrote on Apr 19^th, 2012 at 3:42am:


Hi Brian, thanks that would be good. Coffee sounds great. I cant wait to meet you, a fellow clusterhead     I've been reading all the info that people have been sending me, and tell ya the truth i'm blown away by it all. Its a lot more complicated than i originally thought.

And Guiseppi's porkies sounds interesting..lol...   

I'll give ya a call today sometime

Guiseppi wrote on Apr 19^th, 2012 at 9:16am:


I think he's calling you names, Joe...on the other hand, I wish I could talk like that! 

Blessings. lance

Ahh, Joe's post now makes sense as Brian's made perfect sense to me in the first place.

A HUGE HUGE HUGE thank you to AussieBrian, who i was lucky enough to meet and have a drink with yesterday I drank coke while he put away the pots like a true Aussie And also to Barry_T_Coles, who I spoke to on the phone  

I cant thank the both of you enough for your kind words of wisdom, support and advice.  I feel now, that if I cant beat the beast, I'm definitely now ready to rumble with him, I'm not gonna allow him to destroy my sanity anymore...lol..

Barry told me many great things about the people on CH.com who he refers to as his family, and there is obviously a deep respect for everybody world wide who has to battle with this beast.  And it's through websites like this that people are able to connect so a big thank you to the administrators of this site

So thanks once again everyone for your help, advice and the loads and loads of reading material that I am still getting through, I kinda feel like i got my life back, (if that makes any sense) and I recommend to everyone, that if the opportunity arises to meet up with a fellow CHead, do so.