Posted by Dale on December 16, 1998 at 21:23:34:
In Reply to: They're BACK! posted by Jim on December 14, 1998 at 19:02:17:
I did alot of smoking and drinking years ago, then I started with the clusters. About 1 year later I quit smoking and drinking. After 5 years of neither smoke nor drink, I still suffered from the clusters. In short, I don't think life style is a major factor in CH.
The only prescription med I have taken is Midrin and that was a couple of years ago.
At first I thought I suffered from TMJ because of an auto accident that broke my jaw in 3 places, mainly on the left side which is my headache side. But I was later diagnosed with CH.
The symptoms are unmistakable: Extreme pain starting in the temple area. Hits mainly while asleep. Can't lay down and "sleep it off". I'm forced to walk continuously till it's gone which is anywhere from 30 minutes to 2-3 hours. Then having to deal with going back to sleep knowing it's going to come back.
And yes... like someone else said in a post, the pain is so severe that I too feel suicidal at times.
So it's quite obvious that each of us are not alone in their pain and I would not wish this on ANYONE except maybe Iraqs Pres.