Posted by Elizabeth (152.163.213.71) on June 28, 2000 at 11:54:32:
I signed the guestbook last night, but was hoping to establish contact with the members of the website more directly, so I thought I would post a message here. I have been a chronic tension headache sufferer for years, and have been really debilitated by them. I had a cerebral aneurysm repaired a year and a half ago (junction of the carotid and opthalmic arteries on my RIGHT side), and three or four months after the surgery I had the first of the worst headaches of my life. I've been looked at for everything, from bone spurs to migraines, but nothing has adequately explained my symptoms: waking at night knowing that in a few minutes the ice pick would start boring into my LEFT eye and jaw muscles, that I would writhe and sob, unable to keep still at all. My heartrate rises, I feel like I cannot make it through, and then 20-30 minutes later it just as quickly subsides, leaving me exhausted and scared. After the aneurysm and brain surgery, this was seriously worrying. I found this site because, though I have not had one of these headaches for about three months (this is the second three month 'free' period I've enjoyed), I was asking a med student friend about my symptoms and he asked if my nose ran during the pain, and I said, yes my left nostril ran and my left eyelid drooped. I haven't been to my doctor yet, and don't want to diagnose myself, but I was practically in tears reading the site last night. I cannot believe there is such a kind group of supportive people out there, who are bonded by this terrible pain. Thank you!