Posted by pinksharkmark (196.27.27.55) on December 09, 2000 at 03:17:21:
In Reply to: Which came first? posted by Sue:^) on December 08, 2000 at 23:34:20:
... of the same syndrome.
It is easy to forget that cluster headaches are a syndrome. A syndrome, by definition, is a group of related symptoms. In the case of CH, it is the monstrous pain that receives the most attention. But the accompanying symptoms exist nonetheless.
Anyone who has spent even a moderate amount of time digging through the archives here can't help but notice the correlation between abnormal mental states and the beginning of CH cycles. In my own case, these emotional changes are the surest warning that I am entering a new cycle. They manifest themselves well in advance of the first shadows.
Serotonin has been implicated in a wide variety of mental problems. The wild fluctuations in our serotonin levels that cause us pain can cause depression and other neuroses. This is one reason why medications originally developed to combat other neurological problems (lithium, topomax, et al) will sometimes work in eliminating the pain of CH.
pinky