Posted by gary g on May 31, 1999 at 12:36:33:
Hi Clusterheads !
Here's another 1-10 scale. Excerpted from a long article I wrote years ago for distribution through the AOL migraine discussion group - which was the only touchstone for CH before Dj came up with THISfantastic site.
HOPEFULLY the message is twofold:
1. these things exceed the pain that the vast majority of the population can even imagine, and just understanding and accepting that is one of the biggest services friends, family & doctors can provide.
2. as bad as they are, they DO pass, and life CAN be wonderful after, and between, the attacks - - for you chronics, my heart goes out to you and I KNOW what it's like - was chronic for nearly two years a long time ago - and it finally broke so there IS hope, try to think of chronic as just a very long episode
if even one person can get a caregiver/helper to understand through these words, then I'm just delighted
in remission now - but 28 years experience tell me this is just another chapter - for those of you in a cluster - hang in there !!! there WILL be a wonderful day for you soon, and it might be tomorrow !!!!!!
I hope so ! gary
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My personal HA attack rating system:
(1) (Early Warning Alert) aura/ slight sore feeling around eye & in templar area; blurry vision in affected eye; nostril perhaps becomes a bit congested; strangely - there is a small patch in the roof of my mouth, on the attack side that tends to protrude & feel sore as an attack is developing and it is ABSOLUTELY accurate as an indicator.
( 2) the actual attack pain starts -pressure & hot pain at temple, behind eye, jaw joint, ear, can still function in most activity, ice towel a big help, hot shower will often stop/stall the attack quite well; pain like a sinus infection
(3) eye gets blurry, sharp pain; larger area fully involved; can still sit, but getting anxious; ice towel helps, maybe hot shower - won't stop it but can still relieve somewhat, responds somewhat to pressure point compression; tearing of affected eye
(4) leaving common headache territory ! can't stand shower, heat or bright light; can't sit still; all other activity or thought is impossible; icetowel helps a little, outside stimuli become painful & excessively aggravating -it's like a SEVERE bare toe stubbing, but over 1/4 of head involved & constant, pressure points help a little for brief relief
(5) add burning sensation to 4; nostril on attack side very congested; need to walk/pace; driven to avoid bright light & heat; really hurts now; still able to maintain basic mental control but anxiety attack is beginning to build; can't hold ice towel in place more than a minute or so at a time;
(6) can't do anything but pace; pronounced anxiety symptoms; involved teeth feel like they're cracking; eye area is on fire; can't use arterial pressure point compression anymore - hurts too much to touch; unable to pay any attention to anything else for even a few seconds; feeling feverish; perhaps sweating heavily; hard deep gasping breath; larger involved area - has spread down neck, across scalp; now a crushed feeling - no letup at all
(7) Did you ever fully slam your thumb in the car door ? - except it's 1/3 of your whole damn head!! persists for a very long time; entering "Oh My God Help Me Territory", has been going on forever, no sign of ending, requires all effort to count backwards mentally, even for a few numbers; don't talk - it will come out as screaming; can't sit down but too exhausted to keep standing; maybe begin to stumble, drop to knees, etc
(8) Losing all mental composure, seems pain can't possibly get worse, almost impossible to avoid falling & flopping, headpounding,etc., now a "race" to see if you can survive it, try all mental diversion tricks, can only focus on them for seconds at a time, short waves of nausea from pain (resist vomiting at all costs - the temptation is to try to: it's a natural release instinct. DON"T - I've done it twice, the bad effect of the heaving is unbelievable -instead, throw head back, mouth gaping, big breaths...);
(9) This is the worst, longest one you've EVER had (so far). God hates you, because only She could cook this routine up, it's too nasty for the meagre talents of the devil. It's 1 through 9 combined, and then worse.
(10) This one NEVER happens -a very important concept- there is ALWAYS the tiniest bit more you could stand, and that's what makes an occasional 9 possible to get through.
THEN IT'S OVER !!!!!! They always do end - you may feel weak & drift into sleep, perhaps even faint after the worst attacks, or you may feel bruised & fatigued, BUT THEY DO COME TO A FINITE END - - CHERISH THAT KNOWLEDGE.
If you ever get more than a oouple attacks at level 8 or 9, get to your MD ASAP & ask about hospitalization. Don't wait too long & then try to deal with strangers. (See my ER story !)