Anyone else on the DU a Cluster Headache sufferer?

[Zynx]

If you don't know what one is, here's a couple links http://familydoctor.org/035.xml http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000786.htm

I've personally struggled with these bastards for the last five years and I'm still looking for ways of obtaining relief. Sometimes caffeine seems to reduce the pain temporarily, but the only real solution I have found is to lie down and rest until it is over. Anyone else have experience with these?

[The Great Escape]

1. Have You Ever Tried a Preventative Medication...

like Corgard ( a beta blocker) or Depakote (anti-convulsive). My brother uses Corgard and keeps Imitrex injections for the occasions that he still has headaches.

[Zynx]

3. Problem is my doctor seems to think it is a sinus issue when I know it is

not. He thinks simply because it is a rare condition that I don't have it. However, every single thing I have read and studied on cluster headaches matches up perfectly with the 30-45 minute bursts of agony that I suffer so frequently. This is why I dislike doctors. They, for instance, did not realize my father had gall stones and thought that his digestive problems were just his diet. However, the infection from the gall stones ripping his bile duct nearly killed him. In any event, because of my doctor's stubbornness, I have been unable to get a prescription medication that would provide relief.

[The Great Escape]

5. The Neurologist My Brother Was Treated By Told Him...

that there is no such thing as a "sinus headache." That's not meant to diminish sinus problems as I suffer from those occasionally myself. His doctor actually had him keep a "headache diary," when he first began his treatment. Says that this really helps determine a plan for treating a patient.

[Zynx]

8. For a while I kept a diary of this in terms of duration and level of pain.

I should probably do that again.

[anarch]

2. maybe?

I only recently heard of this as a name for these headaches. They suck pretty hard no matter what you call them, though. A lot of people swear by the Imitrex, but I haven't tried it. At least, for me, they only hit during the change of seasons (but twice a day for a month or so during that time :( )

I've found that a really hot shower, with the stream aimed directly at the side of my head that hurts, gives a bit of relief...but whatever works for you is probably the thing to keep doing.

[Zynx]

4. Sounds very much like me.

I just hit another period of them a couple weeks ago after about a month or two of virtually no cluster headaches. I usually get them in April, May, late September, October, and first part of November. All cycles tend to last the same length. Problem for me is that I am usually in public, in class or at work, when they strike(usually at 9:00 am every day of a cycle and then sometimes at around 2:00 pm) and I find that it is difficult to get some form of relief when that happens.

[lcbart]

6. Wow !

I'm amazed that the times you mentioned are exactly the same for me.

I've had them for over fifteen years now, tried every migraine drug there is, bio-feedback, self hypnosis, nothing has worked.

The worst part of mine are that for about 45 minutes before the pain starts I see four of everything. Real PIA when you're driving.

[Zynx]

7. I'm glad I never had one while driving.

I think that's because when I am nervous(like I am while driving) I don't tend to get them. It must be some sort of chemical thing I don't understand or it is because I am usually never driving at a time when I would normally get one.

I have a question for you. Does it seem that your heart beat is different during an attack? Mine seems to change a little bit sometimes during an attack. It doesn't become arythmic or anything like that, but it feels shallower.

[lcbart]

9. Don't know

Most of the time my heads pounding so hard I'm buried under twenty blankets, trying not to breathe too hard.

[Zynx]

10. I hear ya. When I'm home that's what I do.

I think it might just be a side effect of my panic that sets in when the pain starts.

Usually when I'm home, I crawl into bed and suffer there with my eyes closed tight until the pain goes away. One time, the pain was so severe I ended up just kind of collapsing on the floor and was truly physically debilitated. I just kind of crunched up into a ball.