Headaches..................

[Pony]

The past 4-5 years I have occasionally suffered from periods of EXTREME headaches. I can't really describe them in any other way. They are always on one side of my head.....always my right side. It is a searing pain directly behind my eye that carries with it an immense amount of pressure. My face will actually get warm, and have red splotches.

After a couple of nights with some really bad ones, and almost going to the ER because I was afraid.....I finally started seeing an nuerologist. After a few visits I was diagnosed with Cluster Headaches

Has anyone had any experience with these?? I know that they are pretty rare, although I have an aunt who suffers from them. The scary thing is she has lost jobs (really good ones) because of this and has attemped suicide (these headaches are also nicknamed "suicide headaches". The article does a pretty good job of explaining these....

I am trying to find ways to dull the pain as much as I can. They don't respond to medicine well...in fact the medicine I take is more to control my blood pressure when getting these and to keep my blood vessels from breaking.

So far the best remedy I have is to get a bag of ice strapped to my head and sit in a dark room.

I get these 2-3 times a day for a few weeks at a time. I may not get them again for 6 months, longer, or sooner.....I never know. I am constantly in fear that I will be in the middle of a "cluster" when something important is going on (like my wedding or something like that....luckily I didn't)

I am in a cluster right now, and am worried because I am going to Las Vegas in a week and a half for a full week. I really don't want that trip ruined by this lol

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Headaches..................

I used to get them all the time. What I used to do is get in a hot shower as hot as I could stand it and let it run over my head as long as I could take it. I would then try to find a cool place in my house like a couch to lie down with my head elevated. The migraine drug Maxalt also worked well for me.

Mine used to only occur at night but I had the occasional ones during the day where I would basically have to pull off the road until they got a little better. With me I could tell one was coming on becuase I would get the same symptoms you got along with an increase in congestion on one side of my face.

I haven't had one in a long time and I attribute that to exercising regularly. My doctor friend attributes the exercise to making my vascular system more elastic. A lot is not known obviously.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Headaches..................

Wife, I mean ex-wife, had all kinds of headache issues associated with another medical issue.

Spent 27 days at Mayo.

Her blood pressure would also spike extremely high for hours. Like 165/110
(Her normal BP was 110/70)
The most effective thing they did for her was to give her Propanolol.
It is a BP med, but was given to her to prevent the headaches.
Also works to, hypertension, anxiety, etc.

Its a tough thing to do, but you need to try similar drugs, till you find the one that works best.

But it is hard to convince yourself to switch what you are on, if it is currently working.

Good luck.

 

[NW Redneck]

Re: Headaches..................

I get severe migranes that are similar to what you describe, had them since I was about 13. Even major painkillers don't work on them. They might knock me out for a while, but when I wake up the headache is still there. The only thing that works for me is Imitrex (sumatriptan succinate). It will completely eliminate the headache within 30-45 min about 95% of the time. When they don't work it's ice packs, a dark room and silence while contemplating decapitation. I wouldn't wish them on anyone. I have found that taking Feverfew has lessened the frequency of the attacks.

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: Headaches..................

All I can say is I feel your pain and wish I could send you in the right direction for a fix. the one thing I can say is the more you stress about them coming on, the more you can induce them. Practice calm breathing when you don't have them to keep your anxiety down. I just came home from work last week for a migrain that yes makes you want to just die to feel better.

I wish you luck my friend and keep getting checked by the doctor and tested on different meds until you find what works. My sister use to get them more like you where they lasted for many days. After years of testing and seeing specialist and different doctors, they found she was allergic the MSG which is in most foods produced. since she has watched what she eats, the headaches have been few and far between.

I think the medical industry has a very long way to go on this stuff. I have found the only over the counter aspirin/ibuprofen that works for me is the equate brand from walgreens. don't know why but I can take 5 other brands and nothing, I take the equate and it kicks butt. Sometimes nothing helps though. I can sometimes stretch aggressively in the neck area back and forth and that helps get rid of them sometimes. Dehydration is a biggie to, I found that power aid helps also from getting them. keep electrolites in your body.

This is no joke either, stay off the computer for like a month and see how you feel. Your eyes being overworked can cause alot of issues.

Hope you feel better and get to make your trip,good luck.

 

[CaptainKickback]

Re: Headaches..................

First, a disclaimer. I am not a doctor and am not giving medical advice.

I suffered from migraine headaches that came in clusters (they didn't use the term cluster headaches then) as you describe. Every day, or several times a day for a week to a month. Pain on right side only. Behind eye, temple and back of head. Light and noise were like knives in my head, making it worse. Each string (cluster) would end only with a super bad one that wouldn't go away, causing nausea and in bed for a day and a half. Started at age 14. Mine would always be preceded by light flashes (could not see straight ahead, only peripherally), but no pain. When the light show ended, the pain started.

Mine went away when I was about 35. I had a string that lasted 4 months. I always tried to get rid of the headaches (took Cafergot, but they have newer drugs now). At some point in this string, I resigned myself to getting the big one, but that resignation always caused me to relax and the headache would go away. Near the end of this string, I got involved with selling Shaklee vitamins, so I began taking all kinds of vitamins (have to take them to sell them). After a week, the headaches eased up. After two weeks, they were gone and have never come back. No final big one, just gone. So, I attribute my headaches to some vitamin deficiency or at least one or more of the vitamins gave my body what it needed to take care of them. Since I was taking so many vitamins (20 some tablets a day in all), I had no clue as to which one helped.

There are many, many people that suffer with this type of headache. I've never heard anything about them being life threatening or even debilitating (other than while you have a headache), so don't be afraid. Hope this can be of help to you.

 

[tomdinwv]

Re: Headaches..................

I too, occasionally suffer migraine headaches. Thankfully, they have gotten farther and fewer between. I would get the bright light "blob" in front of my left eye and the muscles in my neck would tighten up. My neck feels like it needs stretched out at the onset of these headaches. I learned not to try to stretch my neck as it only make the headache come on quicker and increases the severity for me. The pain from these headaches is awful. It feels like my left eye is going to pop out of my head from the pressure. The worst headaches will bring on nausea. For the longest time, the only relief I could get was to vomit and to go lay down in a dark, cool room for 3 to 4 hours.

My doctor sent me for a CAT scan of my head and they could see no problems. I have tried 2 or 3 prescription meds and they really didn't help. Some over the counter meds helped some, but nothing would totally stop the pain. Fortunately, as I have gotten a little older, the frequency and severity of the headaches have decreased. In the past, when I would get a headache, I would suffer for 2 to 4 days. Now as soon as I feel the onset of these headaches, I take some medication (OTC) and go lay down. I can usually get past one in and hour or two now.

Pony, (and everyone else who suffers these headaches) I hope you find something that works for you. It sounds like your condition is worse than what I suffer and I wouldn't wish mine on anyone. Good luck, I hope you find something that brings you some relief.

 

[Philip_G]

Re: Headaches..................

I didn't get cluster headaches often (luckily) but I got migraines. The only thing I'd warn you of is to watch your analgesic intake, it gets really easy to get into a cycle of rebound headaches because you're anxious to head the headache off at the pass before it gets bad, and pop an excederin or whatever, then the next day your body wants that drug again and next thing you know you're taking 2 or 3 doses a day and having headaches.
Try a cool bath or shower, your body will try to warm you up and send blood to the skin maybe lessening the headache.
Might consider a sleep study, apnea can cause headaches but I'm not entirely sure it's linked to cluster headaches.
I tried elavil and topamax daily, imitrex for the headaches, none of it really worked for me other than a cool, quiet, dark room and a few hours of misery until I could sleep it off but they've largely subsided now, go figure.

I used to get cycles too, wouldn't have anything for months then a month or two of constant headaches, last one I had was last time I was in vegas actually. Cigarette smoke is a big trigger for them with me.

 

[CaptainKickback]

Re: Headaches..................

I didn't get cluster headaches often (luckily) but I got migraines. The only thing I'd warn you of is to watch your analgesic intake, it gets really easy to get into a cycle of rebound headaches because you're anxious to head the headache off at the pass before it gets bad, and pop an excederin or whatever, then the next day your body wants that drug again and next thing you know you're taking 2 or 3 doses a day and having headaches.
Try a cool bath or shower, your body will try to warm you up and send blood to the skin maybe lessening the headache.
Might consider a sleep study, apnea can cause headaches but I'm not entirely sure it's linked to cluster headaches.
I tried elavil and topamax daily, imitrex for the headaches, none of it really worked for me other than a cool, quiet, dark room and a few hours of misery until I could sleep it off but they've largely subsided now, go figure.

I used to get cycles too, wouldn't have anything for months then a month or two of constant headaches, last one I had was last time I was in vegas actually. Cigarette smoke is a big trigger for them with me.

Yep, go figure. For me, drawing on a cigarette (was a smoker the) actually helped a small bit. The Dr said my headaches were caused by blood vessels opening up, allowing too much blood flow, and the resulting pressure caused the pain. Nicotine apparantly works to close the blood vessels a bit

Even now, sometime spray paint causes a feeling of pressure kinda like the headaches (no pain though).

 

[Pony]

Re: Headaches..................

Her blood pressure would also spike extremely high for hours. Like 165/110
(Her normal BP was 110/70)
The most effective thing they did for her was to give her Propanolol.
It is a BP med, but was given to her to prevent the headaches.
Also works to, hypertension, anxiety, etc.

That is one of the drugs I have been perscribed. I take it once I get one, and then I take it every day for a week after the last headache. It is amazing to me how much the blood pressure spikes during these headaches.

The other medicine I take is Midrin.

 

[Pony]

Re: Headaches..................

. After years of testing and seeing specialist and different doctors, they found she was allergic the MSG which is in most foods produced. since she has watched what she eats, the headaches have been few and far between.

For a long time I was recording things that I would eat/do for months to see if I could find the trigger. Alcohol made no difference. I am on the computer all the time at work, but that doesn't seem to effect me. No combination of foods seemed to make much of a difference.

The trigger for me seems to be the weather. My nuerologist also thought this is probably the case. My clusters most often occur in Spring and Fall when there are more drastic shifts in barometric pressure. He seems to think that my hypothalmus sends mixed signals to my brain when this happens (sometimes).

 

[Philip_G]

Re: Headaches..................

I guess I should mention one of the reasons my headaches are gone is my BP is controlled. I'm on a calcium channel blocker known to help and a diuretic

I always thought mine were weather related too, same as you spring and fall.

 

[tomdinwv]

Re: Headaches..................

I think Midrin was one of the meds I took several years ago. It seemed to help some. I remember I was told to take one at the onset of a headache and another 30 or 40 minutes later if the headache kept getting worse. That was my doctors orders to me. Please don't think I'm recommending you do the same. Follow your doctors orders. (I just don't want people thinking I'm trying to give you advice on dosing, that's your doctor's job.) I've heard that some folks encounter something, like a smell, that triggers headaches. I never could narrow anything down as far as a specific trigger. The one thing I took over the counter that seemed to help the most was plain old aspirin. Acetometophin and ibuprofin do not seem to work as well as aspirin for me. That was on migraines and I didn't have the cluster headaches like you describe. Mine would be two, sometimes three a week and then I might go a week or two without problems and then it would start again.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Headaches..................

The other medicine I take is Midrin.

That was one I used to take. I thought that one was removed from the market. I guess they brought it back. The other one I used to take was Cafergot but i think that one got pulled too. Maxalt and Imitrex always worked the best for me. If I felt one coming on, I could knock it down before it had a chance to get bad.

 

[Pony]

Re: Headaches..................

That was one I used to take. I thought that one was removed from the market. I guess they brought it back. The other one I used to take was Cafergot but i think that one got pulled too. Maxalt and Imitrex always worked the best for me. If I felt one coming on, I could knock it down before it had a chance to get bad.

It has been hard to find the Midrin. There is a small pharmacy that had it last time I needed a refill. I had to drive an hour an a half to get it though.

 

[Pony]

Re: Headaches..................

I guess I should mention one of the reasons my headaches are gone is my BP is controlled. I'm on a calcium channel blocker known to help and a diuretic

I always thought mine were weather related too, same as you spring and fall.

One thing I run into taking the BP meds is that currently I don't have high blood pressure, and I have to be careful not to over do it while I am taking it because my BP is lower.

 

[Pony]

Re: Headaches..................

I am not suggesting, promoting or advocating but... I've a close friend that's 50ish that suffered from them for years until his Dr. suggested (unofficially) that pot has been used as an effective treatment for thousands of years.

Philip Denney, MD
"Cannabis is one of the best medicines for migraines. It's so effective - it works rapidly, and it has limited toxicity, although lung damage from smoking is a concern."

I've read about a dozen articles that support that. Many suggesting it to be the best possible remedy....

 

[sublauxation]

Re: Headaches..................

Couldn't hurt to give chiropractic a chance.

 

[mercrewser]

Re: Headaches..................

I am a cluster head, been this way since my early 20s. I am 35 now. I used to get them every winter after Christmas for about 30 days without fail. Then they would come in spring, and finally my most recent bout was August 2010. The summer bout was only a week in duration. Wine is my trigger, even after I feel the bout might be over, wine can trigger a headache a week or two later. Early on coffee would kill the headache like magic, bringing on an incredible feeling of euphoria. I hear oxygen therapy works, so does getting heartbeat up and staying moving. I never did anything to try and remedy, because nothing is really proven to work, and by the time things could possibly start working the bout is over. There are online forums to deal with it. I feel your pain, worse feeling ever. The 'ole icepick behind your right eye feeling. Am i right?

 

[Pony]

Re: Headaches..................

Yes....icepick behind the eye is a good way to describe it.........had no idea there are online forums for this.