Posted by David Chalfant (208.30.14.31) on July 08, 1999 at 13:11:00:
In Reply to: I must be confused....I'm offended!!??!! posted by Shellie on July 08, 1999 at 10:29:41:
Hi Shellie. I remember reading that a CH is like compressing a migrain and the constant pain into a two hour period of unbearable pain. May be so. From what I have learned and from my own personal experience, CHs turn me into a madman; I bang my head on the wall, scream,cry beg God for mercy,etc. Most CHers consider the pain to be far more intense but I have never had migrain headaches;thus, I cannot make comparsions. I have a friend with migrains, but he does not bang his head, think about suicide, or flip out when one strikes. I suppose this is purely a matter of opinion but I think I understand what you are saying. I don't know your history or freqency of CHs and possible migrains but I interpret that you rather have a few hours of CH pain than a migrain which last a hell of a lot longer. But many of the members have chronic CHs that can last all day and at the very worst, 365 days a year with intermittent periods of freedom from pain. Others are episodic and can last 2 weeks to 3or4 months and may be longer with 4 to 6 and possibly more headaches a day. From what I have read, some people have migrains and cluster HA and consider CHs much more painful. I suppose it depends on a person's tolerence of pain,life style,etc. I don't think you are confused but it may confuse others that hold to the opinion that CHs are the worst pain a human can experience.
I don't think the responce you received was meant to offend you, but I found your posting it to be interesting. One thing that comes to mind is a cluster variant called Chronic Parxysmal Hemicrainia (CPH) I don't remember the symptoms other than the can last all day long and increase in intensity about 15 times during episodes. I could be wrong and if I am, someone please inform me. Stick with us. This site will never be totally unoffensive
Hang in there and remember YOU are a friend and we have ocassional spats, but we manage to stick togeather.
Peace, David Chalfant