Posted by Jackie on August 02, 1998 at 19:08:02:
In Reply to: Re: Let's all answer this one . ( tad long ) posted by Karin on July 12, 1998 at 16:16:59:
Karin:
I had to laugh when I read your post (the part about
Cluster being diagnosed as a male problem, etc).
I'm new to this group, and am also one of those
weird female types who get clusters. Because
doctors didn't seem to realize that women, too,
can get clusters, I was misdiagnosed as having
migraine for years. I had classic cluster symptoms,
too (severe headaches coming in bunches, waking
me up in the middle of the night).
This business about what causes clusters is very
tricky. I remember one doctor asking me if I'd
had any stress in my life that might have caused
the attack I was seeing him for. I couldn't think
of anything. Then I happened to mention that I'd
broken up with my boyfriend 6 months before the
attack. "Aha!" the doctor said. I was about 18
at the time (my clusters started around the age
of 14). I'm now 51, and I can say that I've never
noticed a causal relationship between clusters and
stress--except that the clusters CAUSE stress.
Also, I've never had a head injury, have never
smoked, and rarely drink. I do, however, have a
mother who had migraines.
I get my episodes every 2 years, for 1 month. I just
started an episode 1 week ago, and had a terrible
night last night.
For your info, some stuff that's worked for me: oxygen
(7 liters for 15 minutes), prednisone, any form
of caffeine (like Excedrin or coffee--or even
chocolate).
I hope you get relief. Boy, do I hate this, big
time!
Jackie