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        New Message Board Archives >> 2006-2007 Getting to Know Ya Posts >> Hiya, meet aGit
        
(Message started by: aGit on Jul 17^th, 2006, 7:33pm)

Title: Hiya, meet aGit
Post by aGit on Jul 17^th, 2006, 7:33pm

Hello there, im new to these forums(duh! :) ) I am a 22 year old IT student from Tampere, Finland. My name is Ivar Andersson.

I'm not yet sure if i have CH or not, but the headaches i've had do match the symptoms of CH, the paseing and walking around, not being able to stand still, the headache being able to wake me from sleep, the headaches being accurate like a stopwatch (every 2 weeks fri-sat night 3am hell breaks loose)

I've been to see a doctor 4 times now. first they just swept it off as a normal headache and took a blood samples and ran a few tests, 2nd time was about the results of the tests, they were all ok. 3rd time was day before yesterday (this time private sector) and the possibility of migrain and/or tenstion pain was brought up and i got some heavyduty painkillers described to me.4th time, today (well yesterday as it is past midnight now) i went to see a doctor again as none of the pills I got described to me had ANY effect on the headache. This time the doctor brought up the possibilit of horton's syndrome and Clusterheadaches...he adviced me to make a neurologist apointment asap and described me with some seriously hardcore morphin induced pills...

so here i am, waiting for the neurologist apointmeant, finding out about the CH, familiarizing myself with whatever is to come... The worst attack i've had was this sunday - monday. The damn thing lasted well over 20hours, never before have i had one that has lasted longer than 4hours...But this one was something else... the first 2h was as it allways has been, walking around, slowly, praying for it to pass by faster then normal, going outside to breathe some cool air, back to inside, drinking alot of water and so forth...then the attack ceased for awhile only to continue again after 15 or so minutes, and that is what the remaining 18h were...it was like a wave effect ups and downs every 5 to 60minutes. it was unreal.

Does these symptoms sound familiar to you guys? should i be preparing for a painful rest of my life?

and btw, is hortons syndrome the same as clusterheadache, or two entirely different conditions?

cheers

-aGit

Title: Re: Hiya, meet aGit
Post by thomas on Jul 17^th, 2006, 7:46pm

on 07/17/06 at 19:33:26, aGit wrote:

Does these symptoms sound familiar to you guys? should i be preparing for a painful rest of my life?

and btw, is hortons sydrome the same as clusterheadache, or two entirely different conditions?

cheers

-aGit

Ok, first let me welcome you. Secondly, your symtoms sound very much like CH. Your 20 hour ordeal, sounds like a bad day with a lot of hard hits. Not 20 continuous hours of agony, unless during the non-peak times, you were feeling the affects of a cluster hangover, which is when your head, eye, neck, teeth, sometimes even your hair hurt after an attack.

I've often wondered about Horton's and CH as well, they seem to be very similar from what I've seen, mind you I haven't seen much except for one support page, for this guy, made by his wife. It really looked like the guy had CH to me. Hope you can find somethings that can help you. The rest of your life may be painful, but then again, you may get some relief, you've come to the right place either way.

Title: Re: Hiya, meet aGit
Post by Kris_in_SJ on Jul 17^th, 2006, 8:26pm

Welcome aGit,

Sorry you're suffering so much right now.

First - Horner's Syndrome means a drooping of the eye on one side. It is often a SYMPTOM of clusters. It can also be caused by other things, and is usually related to irritation of the trigeminal nerve.

Cluster headaches are a separate kind of disease/syndrome. One of the SYMPTOMS of clusters is Horner's. (I'm not yelling at you, just letting you know that Horner's Syndrome is not a disease by itself.)

Seeing a neurologist is the best thing to do, but you should be prepared when you go. Be sure to take the cluster quiz to the left and read the medical information there. That way you'll be knowledgeable when you talk to the doctor. You should also keep a headache diary. In it, note the day, time of day, intensity, how long the headache lasts, what you do to try and relieve it. As you've already found out, pain pills do little to relieve the pain of clusters. Hopefully, your neuro will prescribe preventative meds and Oxygen.

Best of luck and keep us informed!

Kris

Title: Re: Hiya, meet aGit
Post by thomas on Jul 17^th, 2006, 8:30pm

on 07/17/06 at 20:26:11, Kris_in_SJ wrote:

First - Horner's Syndrome means a drooping of the eye on one side. It is often a SYMPTOM of clusters. It can also be caused by other things, and is usually related to irritation of the trigeminal nerve.

Kris

He didn't say Horner's, he said Horton's, there is a difference, try googleing it once, you may be surprised.

http://www.focalpress.com/companions/0240804155/headache/head1.htm

Here's the one site I've seen about Horton's. A lot of "medical" people confuse the two as well, so don't feel too bad. Horner's is the droopy eyelid, Horton's is the PAIN.

Title: http://www.brightok.net/~mnjdayRe: Hiya, meet aGit
Post by Richr8 on Jul 17^th, 2006, 8:57pm

Welcome. I am very glad that you found us. You're with family now. Be sure to read all of the information you can at this link

http://www.brightok.net/~mnjday/chtherapy.pdf

before going to the Neuro. It really helps to be as smart, or smarter, than the Doc. Also, if you haven't tried Oxygne therapy, please, please, please read the link on the left panel re: Oxygen. It is an absolute miracle for many of us with few side effects.

Title: Re: Hiya, meet aGit
Post by E-Double on Jul 17^th, 2006, 9:27pm

Horton's = Cluster = Histamine = Cluster = OUCH