Posted by Mona (152.163.206.196) on February 05, 2002 at 16:10:36:
I have been reading posts here with tears pouring down my face because there is finally someone who understands the pain! I try to explain to my husband and kids and they try to understand but unless you have experienced it there is no way to know. I have had Migraines for years but 2 years 2 months ago I started getting Chronic Cluster headaches. It started with an intense pain in the right side of my face and head and the Dr's initially treated me for a Sinus Infection when that didn't work they said it was A-Typical Facial Neuralgia. The longest I have gone in over 2 years without pain is 4 days. It starts in my face and moves to my eye and to the right temple, sometimes it moves into the back of my ear and down my neck. I have been on Inderol, Endomethicine, Topamax, Depkote, Imitrex Injections, Imitrex Pills, Imitrex Nasal Spray, Zomig, Elavil, Prozac, Zoloft, Pamelor, Hydrocordone, Darvocet, Vicadin, Morphine, Percocet and countless alternative meds. When an attack starts I start burning up and sweating, my nose runs and my eye tears up, then the pain hits and I feel like I can't get away from where I am fast enough. I can't talk and I can't stand anyone talking to me. I grab an Ice pack, hold it to my face and rock violently praying that the pain subsides. It can last anywhere from 30 mins to over an hour. The life I used to have is a memory. I have seen many Dr's that believe that I should learn to live with the pain and refuse to prescribe anything to relieve it. Thank you for a place where others have felt my pain and understand.
Mona