hello everyone.im sure you can figure out why i found this site lol.im a n00b at knowing much about these,but looking around on this site is very intriuqing.

i have quite the list of medical problems:

severe asthma since birth.advair,singulair,albuterol.if i dont take advair i can go through 200 metered inhalations per 3-4 weeks...not to mention my nebulizer treatments.

early onset of arthritis in nearly every joint.need hip surgery at the very least.more to come,but ive just lost my job and have no ins now.

insomnia.i sleep 2-4 hrs at a time usually,and its hard to go back to sleep after a few hours even.its ruined many a day,and im not the type that functions well on little sleep,but somehow have learned to deal with it....kindof.sometimes ill catch a break and get a few days of 8-12 hr sleep.i notice at first glance that alot of people on here are also insomniacs.taking 10s of diazepam,but im fairly immune.sometimes ill nail 2.

depression.havent done anything about it but cope,as im not  sure to the severity,how much is just in my head,ect...never spoken to a DR about it.im kindof a "plow through the pain(physical or emotional)and bottle it up until i break down every now and again.

sinuses.i have MAJOR sinus problems and my allergies are just as bad,so instant double whammy.they crack and pop like the earths crust plates.

MS?lots of back and neck pains and "shocks"in my late teens,but not so much anymore.more just pain.had MRI and lumbar puncture.results were inconclusive(of course).

RA.not sure yet but my RA test came back almost 2x the high end.again,not sure yet.

CHs.im just getting over(i think)my 2nd notible bout with this.the first one was about 6 days,4-5 being extreme,next couple were less intense and frequent,but the "shadows" as you call them linger on at almost all times durring an episode.it never fully goes away.this last one was only really bad for 2-3 days,but im still(2nd day out of attack mode)having shadows and its always when i wake up,and last for a couple hours.i did have a dr give me %4 lidocaine liquid to snort up my nose.sometimes i think it may have helped a little,but who knows if its just fluxuating in intensity durring the attack.the first big one i took immetrex and it subsided for a short while(still bad though)but it came back much worse after a short time.

not sure on how to rate these on your scale,as it seems as if mine are miniscule to some of these members CHs,but i know they are maddening.

i also notice a few differences in mine as to others.one is people CANT SIT STILL.i curl up in a ball and just die for an hour or 3.im scared to move,and light DOES affect me.sound dosent "hurt"but its annoying...like blow through the roof annoying.

im not sure,but i think ive had a couple handfulls of smaller scale ones before,and as bad as my allergies and sinuses are,i write them off as a sinus headache.not sure if having a "short lived"cluster,but just a thought.

there is probly much more im leaving out,but thought id throw out some other problems i have....might be connections...who knows.

thanks for reading all this crap.you guys seem like a very supportive bunch,and when it happens,you definately need it,as the intensity cannot be comprehened to those who have no idea.

And you are self diagnosed..just guessin.

         Potter

Given the complexity of your medical history and absence of $ and insurance, first question: have you explored with you local medical centers, options for low/no cost care? The largest hospitals/centers will have social workers who work with such issues.

Adding to the complexity of do you have Cluster is that there are several disordes which mimic Cluster but which are not headche disorders. Some of them are serious enough that a diagnostic work-up is called for--if it can be arranged. See,
Link to: cluster-LIKE headache.

Section, "Medications, Treatments, Therapies --> "Important Topics" --> "Cluster-LIKE headache"
====
A solid dianostic work-up seems essential if you are to find treatments which take consideration of all your disorders to preclude treatments which are in conflict.

Explore this link for an approach which will aid both your headaches and depression (which, untreated, will work to intensify the burden of all your problems):

Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or
(At the end of this article is a reference to a book, FEELING GOOD. A very solid approach which has become a major form of therapy/counseling; solid underlying research. Quite readable.)

Because of the total complexity of your picture, I'd encourage you to avoid self-diagnosis/self-treatment, unless it becomes absolutely clear that you can't locate affordable professional care.

For help with sleep, melatonin is OTC and cheap. For sleep: 1/2-3/4mg before bedtime.

Explore your local medical sources and get back.

I've no answers other than to say that you've got some excellent advice from the previous posters.

I hope it isn't CH, but if it is then you've found one amazing place to learn so much about how to deal with it here.

Re: Hello fellow Clusterheads.My story.
Reply #1 - May 28th, 2012 at 3:01pm     BTW,i also have some eye things going on.since my teens,i occasionally for a few seconds see little white oblond glowing pulsating lights going in all different directions.this only happens  occasionally.

Most people don't see this but it's only dead cells being shed from your eyes. Yes I do see it too, but not often.

Most Doctors and Neurologists know little about CH. Educate yourself because most of us know more than our Doc's.

Don