Hi all,

The characteristics of my headaches seem to change pretty much every cycle. Sometimes subtly, sometimes far from it but the major theme seems to be:
Left side appalling - 8 or more 10s a day for a 2 month peak of a roughly 3 month cycle.
Right side relatively 'mild' - 1-3 a night for a couple of months, nothing more than the occasional 8, tired but pain free during the day. Sometimes, gasp, 8 hours of glorious, blissful sleep.

My annual bouts have all been right side for the last 3 years.

It all started again a few weeks ago, right side again and, if anything, milder than it has been previously.

Until last night.

Once more rudely awoken after an hour or so of sleep for a manageable 6. This is all to be expected thinks I when, after about 30 minutes, I begin to realise it's migrating over to the left. 5 minutes later I can't feel any pain on the right but I'm howling at the moon in a way I haven't been for years 'cause my left side is ferociously painful. I'd forgotten just how bad it can be. Sadly, now it's reminded me, I think it still has more to offer. For want of a better word. I had two more during the night, one right and one left, the leftie being significantly more painful than the right.

It's like I have two beasts who usually like to take turns but the master has decided to come show the apprentice where it's going wrong.

I've been completely fine during the day up until today when work was on and off shadows of varying degree but no full on hits. Sure feels ominous.

Not really looking for any advice (although please feel free!), just wondering if anyone else has experienced anything like this.

I also want to say, although I rarely post here, this site is a constant source of therapy for me. Just reading others' tales. Whether they be of woe or not. You've all kept me going through many a dark night.

Cheers

Steve

Hi Joe,

Thanks, no I haven't. Looks like it's fairly straight forward to get it here in the UK. Too late for tonight sadly, I'll see what I can find tomorrow.

Could really use something now. Definitely taken a turn for the worse since last post. Had a monster at work, neck's been really bad since it tailed off, struggling to hold my head up. Dreading the weekend. Couldn't get a doctors appointment 'til Monday and ran out of O2. I'll have more tomorrow. Finding myself getting really down at the prospect of the next few months and it hasn't really got going yet. Work at least seem pretty understanding. First cycle in this job.

It's creeping up my neck now. 5 minutes to hell. At least I won't care when England lose to Sweden again.

Take it easy.

Steve

Many is the time I've gone 12-18 months without a break, but have never considered myself chronic because they've been distincly different cycles just hitting back to back.  The worst was my first ever leftie cycle which started a week before the rightie finished.

Never even realised straightaway what was going on and went and got a tooth pulled instead. (I'd had twenty years practise and still got caught, the sneaky devil.)

Ah, what a wonderful life we lead, so it's full steam ahead and damn the torpedoes!

G'day from the colonies,

B.

AussieBrian wrote on Jun 15^th, 2012 at 9:13pm:

Strewth. I'm aware that many go much longer but I really don't know how/if I'd cope.
Know what you mean about the teeth, been to the dentist many times over the years before I finally found out what the beast is. Never got any pulled though, last time that happened was courtesy of a cricket ball. Like being tickled in comparison.

Linda & Tussilago, thanks, it's not really about the side switching, it's been doing that since long before I knew what it was - they started when I was 19, diagnosed at 36, 41 now. The new thing here is that it really feels like two distinct cycles coinciding. Brian's post would certainly suggest I'm not alone in that.

My main problem now is that I don't bother with meds other than O2 when I'm in a right sided cycle. It really is mild enough to be, I think, not as bad as the side effects. This has left me without meds now it's switched to the left when I really need 'em. There's a huge difference between right and left for me - although I'm quite sure both are CH. No longer care about the massive weight gain/constipation/dizzy spells now. Drug me. Just gonna have to tough it out 'til Monday and then jump into a bucket of pred/verapamil cocktail. In future I'll just stock up on prescription at the first signs of anything on any side.

Managed a whole 50 minutes sleep before the first hit of the night. Not the worst of hits but not sure I'm going to go back for more. Definitely going to get some melatonin when the chemist opens - I think I can get that without prescription. Hopefully that'll do the trick for me. I'd cope so much better if I coud only sleep.

Cheers

Steve

AussieBrian wrote on Jun 16^th, 2012 at 12:20am:

Whenever it is the next one comes, it'll be manna. I fear it'll be a while. Sadly I doubt it'll be while I'm watching England thrash the Aussies at Lord's in a fortnight! That's if I feel safe going anyway.

Does anyone know if I can get melatonin without prescription in the UK? Boots thought you could but didn't have any. Superdrug said it was prescription only.

Seeing the doc on Monday so I'll get some then but I want to get some today if possible. Last night was horrible, really want to try it.

Cheers

Steve