Posted by Paul Anderson (157.254.234.34) on November 16, 1999 at 16:10:33:
I've been having cluster headaches for seven or eight years (I'm a 46-year-old male), and I thought I had it bad. But after finding this website and reading some of the accounts other sufferers have related I have to admit that I seem to be among the luckier ones. I've certainly had monster headaches. I've awakened like clockwork in the middle of the night (usually 1:30-2 a.m.), thrashed about on the bed, moaned and groaned, and generally wished someone would take a sledge hammer to my right temple. But I've never had the day-in, day-out -- not to mention multiple times per day -- level-10 intensity I've read about here.
So if there's such a thing as a lucky cluster sufferer, you can count me in that category.
For the record, I've taken most of the meds discussed in other places in this site. None has worked as a preventive for any length of time. Imitrex nasal spray and a couple of Midrin capsules usually do the job once the pain starts. Nine times out of 10 I'm pain free within an hour.
Other than the headaches themselves, the thing I hate most is not being able to drink a nice cold beer or enjoy a glass of wine. Both have proven to be triggers for me. But as long as I've remained alcohol-free, I've been able to keep most of the headaches at bay.
So to all you fellow sufferers out there, I have a taste of what you're going through. And as bad as it's been for me, I simply can't imagine that it's worse -- sometimes much worse -- for others.
Hang in there.