Hi guys, my names Jack and I'm a 19 year old student. Had some horrific headaches over the past week, Originally thought it was sinus but now I'm pretty sure its clusters.

The pains always above and around my left eye (eyebrow), and it starts to water and ache. I've had 3 upto actual headaches upto now since last week (when the pain started) I've constantly had a throbing/niggling pain over my left eye and around above my nose even though its not severe, is this normal for clusters?

I've been taking Nurofen to help me with niggling pain over the past 2 days,however doctor has given me Zapain (which contains 500mg paraceamol & 30mg Codine.) The first time i took some was this evening and it seemed to work in about 20minutes or so. Now its gone I can just feel the niggling/dragging pain above my eye STILL, it just wont go even with these strong tablets... why??

Also on saturday I sneezed twice and then within a couple of minutes my eye was just stabbing and then again this evening I felt the best I have all week for an hour then a sneeze... bam agony. The doctor said this could be hormone levels etc and is common in young boys. I'm really worried this will impact on my studies as I'm second year at uni and really want a good career.. feel lonely because nobody seems to understand!

Also I've been sleeping fairly well and my head seems okay in the morning generally... is this normal?
Any additional information that might help me get by would be helpful.

Thanks 

Hi Tim, firstly thanks very much for your reply. I really appreicate the time you've taken to talk to me. I'm very sorry for the pain all you guys seem to go through, it seems horrific... and even if mine arent cluster headaches in the end.. I will never forget this website, my girlfriend is becoming a doctor and she now knows much about this, and I will ensure she does everything she can to help anybody in the UK with this condition.

My pain is like a really really severe constant throbbing, deep pain directly on/around my eyebrow and moves around to the centre above my nose sometimes. However like I said the dullness/dragging pain is constantly there on my left eyebrow even now when I've taken those strong painkillers.

I have had trouble with my sinuses in the past and recently.. however my doctor said its cluster headaches.. but what does she know I guess? From what people have described on here my pain doesnt seem like its in my brain and hot iron being put through my eye. But its the worst pain I've ever suffered in my head.

Is there any typical symptoms that new cluster headache sufferers experiance? what were yours like? I mean for all I know they may start at night... when I wake up in the morning I just seem to have achey pain behind my eyes.

Maybe I should go to the Doc and request a scan of my Sinuses? I've not had any fever or runny nose etc.

I've had red, watery eye and get hot when the pain comes.. I do know that is a symptom of cluster headaches maybe thats why the doctor has linked them together?

Thanks very much again,

Jack

Please tell us where you live. Follow the next line to a message which explains why knowing your location and your medical history will help us to help you.

                       CLUSTER HEADACHE HELP AND SUPPORT › GETTING TO KNOW YA › NEWBIES, HELP US...HELP YOU
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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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Three sites which are worth your attention: medical literature, films, plus the expected information
about CH.

Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or
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Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or Search under "cluster headache"
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Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or
  Full of articles, blogs, book: written by one of the best headache docs in the Chicago area.
  Worth exploring. The latest book is in e-book edition, $10; comprehensive and worth buying for
  a careful read.
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Print the PDF file, below. Use as a tool to discuss treatment options with your doc (and to educate him!)

See my message, in this section, from your countryman--David35lx.

Everything I have written there applies to you.

Hi Tim, thanks for the reply.

I've not noticed this warm sensation feeling, I just get this almost deep pressure feeling above my left eye and slightly towards the centre of my head. It feels like someones pressing really really hard on my head, then it begins to throb and throb. The only signs so far that (i think) which doesnt mean much, is that I've sneezed and then within a few minutes the pains come on bad.

I completely agree with the doctor thing, I don't understand why they can't just do their jobs properly. Especially when people are in so much pain and distress. As for the pain today... continuing to nag and nag above my left eye.

Cheers buddy.

Thanks very much Lance I appreicate everyones opinions. I'm going to get myself booked into the doctors again for next week. Going to ride out the pain for the weekend as I know I'll proberly just get fobbed off if I go back too soon.

The only way I can relate the dull pain I have constantly is from what I've read as 'shadows'.... if shadows are possible to be around for a long period of time with some severe headaches over a period of time.. maybe its that. Will see what doc has to say... cant wait (sarcasum)...

Cheers,

Jack