Posted by Cujo (209.214.200.103) on August 27, 1999 at 07:33:39:
Let me start with my family history.
My great grandfather had what was considered at the time as major head aches.He died in 1954.
My grandmother definitly had migraines. She would have bouts of migraines , maybe 4 or 5 a year that would last 3 or 4 days. She would become nauseous.
My father was diagnosed as having cluster headaches, his would always come when he was relaxed and stay with him for 3 or 4 hours. His cycles lasted from 4 to 6 months and would randomly come back in 6 months to 2 years. They stopped at the age of 46 years old. He is pain free and has been now for 23 years.
My headaches started when i was 16 years old, took me almost 5 years to be able to talk to my Dad about them.
I suffered for about 15 years b4 i finally went to a doctor, mainly because i watched my Dad also suffer and he went to all kinds of Drs. I just figured there was no cure.
My headaches come on the same sorta cycle as my dads. i will get 1 a week , and then gradually move up to 7 a week , always lasting on avg of 4 to 6 hours. When my headache starts, i usually have about 10 minutes warning, my right side sinus will start feeling clogged and i'll get a pressure sensation on my right eye. At this point in time , i am in the midst of a level 4 (Kip rated)within 10 minutes i have ramped up to a level 8, within 5 more minutes i am at level 10. This will last for as long as 12 hours , and can be as short as 2 hours, but on avg they last 4 to 6 hours. The pain is unbearable, feels like someone stuck a red hot poker in my right eye. I generally try to ice it down , sometimes i'll take a really hot bath, and submerse my head below the water. Sometimes all i can do is lay in bed and massage the area that hurts ( my right temple area)I have cried many times over this. I do not even know why i do it...kinda like some of the messages ive read....i tend to ask God...."Why me Lord"
I have found several remedies in the last few years that have helped me sometimes. I will start exercising as soon as i feel the 1st wave of pain coming on. It has about a 15% success rate, (every little bit helps :) )I have found that sex will help , success rate 25%.
Imitrex is most definitly a wonder drug for me, but i just cannot stand the side effects after 4 or 5 days in a row. The rebound headaches are always level 10's.
So i tend to use it sparingly. I have tried prednisone , verapamil,inderal, ergotamine and various other sundries....none seemed to help.
My self diagnosis says i have cluster headaches, What is ur opinion?
Best regards , Cujo