My boyfriend has been having the Attacks for about two weeks now and is extremely depressed. He tries to keep up appearances and still goes to work every day, but, is so depressed.  The pain he's had is terrible as you all know, is depression part of Cluster Headaches?  He is currently taking Maxalt and Dexamethosone.  This breaks my heart to see him in so much pain both emotionally and physically.

Hi boxseller....Welcome to the boards.

Yes....CH sufferers are often depressed.  It kinda goes with the territory for many.  They are so worn out.....physically and mentally.

He's still trying to work and that is a good thing.  Try to help him lead as normal a life as possible between hits.  Encourage him as much as you can.....this will be over and you'll get back to your lives.  Make sure he knows it's not his fault and you don't blame him....don't let him blame himself or feel guilty about it either.

Hang in there, Sweetie......it does get better.

Good luck and let us know if and when we can help.

Jackie

Sleep deprivation in general will cause depression.  Now toss in some extreme pain.  It is hard when you are in a cycle to carry on a normal life.  I personally don't have one when I'm in cycle.  Because I absolutely can't function without sleep.  I'm not depressed, I'm just plain evil.  But it is depressing to even think that you can't even lie down for 2 hours and get some sleep, because you are scared of the pain that is coming.  Think about it, most people take sleep for granted - we don't.  But he will get through this.  Just watch over him and make sure he has what he needs.

Thank you, I'll just try to be there whenever he needs me and let him fight the "Demon" in his own way.

I think that a certain situational depression isn't uncommon. When we hurt, it's depressing.

If he's REALLY depressed, you may want to tell his dr. Personality changes are often a side effect of dexamethasone.

Thanks for being a good supporter.  :)

Yes. It sometimes varies from cycle to cycle. There are times when it is all I can do to keep it all together anyway... throw an illtimed CH cycle on top of it and it becomes a bit overwhelming. So, yes, depression is common, and it can be different from cycle to cycle.

Scott

What they all said with one addition. Monitor him and encourage him to seek professional help if he really spirals down. These damned things hurt, they wear us out, deprive us of sleep and make us feel like freaks. Heck, we'd be abnormal if that didn't depress us. ;) As someone close to him you'll recognize first if he really needs help. We men can be stubborn asses about this stuff so you may have to nudge him a bit. Thank you for being a supporter. I don't know how I'd have made it without my wife. 28 years of putting up with these and she still hangs with me. You guys are saints.

Guiseppi

Hey boxseller,

When I first started this and had just been diagnosed, I was suffering just the same (what Sanna calls 'clusterblues'). I felt worse for feeling depressed and hated not having a normal life. Being off work was also hard because I felt like people didn't believe me and I did start to think I was making it all up. Then I found here and started to read as much as I could. When I realised:

a) I wasn't on my own with this
b) Lots of people were having the same experience with health professionals etc
c) I had somewhere to vent frustrations where folks understood

I didn't suffer the blues nearly as bad. Don't get me wrong, I still get irritated and sometimes I don't want to get out of bed in the morning because I haven't been in it all night. But those times are not-so-often any more.

Sounds like you're a fantastic supporter. Perhaps you can coax your OH to do some reading here too. Posting can be daunting and he may not want to, but there is SO much info here. He can take what he wants and hopefully will feel a little better in himself.

Em
x

Please make him come here and read.  I know depression within a cycle comes straight from not sleeping.  People that don't sleep go crazy ya know!  

Boxseller,

He is a very lucky man to have you come here looking for some answers and to support him.

When he isn't being hit...it might be a good idea to sit with him and talk about what he needs from you.  If he's only 2 weeks into this it's time to have a plan,  as we put it .  Having a plan takes the guesswork out of what to do in any situation, what meds he needs to stock up on for the fight, call and ask the Dr. if these are the correct meds for him and could there be another abortive like 02 that he can try, etc.

Above all talk to him about his depression.  Ask him if he thinks it's the lack of sleep or exactly what is he feeling..Let him know you care and are going to be his right arm and see him through this.

Linda

I have often wondered if people that are depressed are more likely to get CH or is it that CHer's  get depressed?  Is it possible that whatever is messed up in our brains that causes CH would also cause depression.  I don't know much about it all but I do know that both have something to do with seretonin.  What do you all think?

Jeannie

Jeannie wrote on May 29^th, 2008 at 3:40pm:

I have often wondered if people that are depressed are more likely to get CH or is it that CHer's  get depressed?  Is it possible that whatever is messed up in our brains that causes CH would also cause depression.  I don't know much about it all but I do know that both have something to do with seretonin.  What do you all think? Jeannie

That makes sense.  I think.  But...now I'm confused.  I think I'll just go home.   :-?

Sorry my post was confusing............... My brain is scrambled so my thoughts are as well............. [smiley=2vrolijk_08.gif]

I do think the steriods he's taking play a large part in the depression, he will start backing off the dosage soon.

He's pretty much shut himself off from everyone.

Thanks everyone!

Jeannie wrote on May 29^th, 2008 at 3:40pm:

I have often wondered if people that are depressed are more likely to get CH or is it that CHer's  get depressed?  Is it possible that whatever is messed up in our brains that causes CH would also cause depression.  I don't know much about it all but I do know that both have something to do with seretonin.  What do you all think? Jeannie

I was discussing this with a headache specialist at a conference once.  He said that CH is the only headache disorder that is not comorbid with a psych disorder, namely depression.  At first, I didn't understand because I know so many people with CH who have also suffered from depression.  But then I thought about it more - the truth is that for many with CH, depression seems to come as a result of the situation of having Cluster Headaches.  I can now see what he was saying - that CH doesn't have a comorbid depression.  It's not that CH'ers don't get depressed - because they do, but they have not found that depression and CH are linked in that those with depression are more likely to have CH.  (Now, this was a couple of years ago - for all I know, the information could be different now.)  People with depression are definitely more likely to suffer from migraine, and vice versa, and there is a very clear chemical connection between those 2 diseases.  However, with CH it often seems the depression is more situational for the majority of sufferers.

All that being said, Boxseller - your boyfriend is very lucky to have you.  It's definitely good to note that the steroids could be contributing to his mood, but it's also great if you can sit and talk with him about his feelings a bit - as Linda said.  Maybe together you can gauge whether his depression is at the point where he could benefit from treatment in some form.  It's absolutely nothing to be ashamed of.

Hang in there!

Hugz,
Carrie :)

Boxseller,
Steroids can affect his mood. I don't know what preventative he's on, but many of us have found that Topomax can really mess with your moods as well. Those combined with pain, feeling alone because no one really understands the pain you are in and sleep deprivation can be pretty overwhelming.

Thanks for being a great supporter. Try to get him to the board and get him to a Dr if needed.

~Kris

DEPRESSION IN CLUSTER HEADACHE

Is depression commonly experienced with CH? An often asked question and one which cannot be answered easily because the word--“depression”—has been so muddled that using it, without careful definition, is very misleading.

I’m blue, down, sad, in a funk, and so on. In daily speech, we describe these feelings as “depression.”

I’m in deep grief over the death of a loved one; or, my house has been destroyed along with all my priced possessions by a tornado. I’m “depressed”.

These are wide-ranging emotions but we use the same word to describe them. At what point do we move from a “normal” emotional state to “clinical depression” which might benefit from some professional assistance? As we usually use the word, “depression” does not give any help in making this judgment.

The issue is more complex even when we have a chronic pain disorder or chronic disease of some kind. People with such problems are not automatically depressed but they might be depressed! A play on the word: If I have chronic CH, I may experience a bad day but it doesn’t last for weeks OR the emotion might not pass.  This factor: duration of the emotion, is one of the key factors to separate normal (ND) from clinical depression (CD).

I’m having a series of CH attacks and that puts me “down” but when I’m not in pain I can enjoy my family or a supper with friends, etc. The ability to have a positive response which would be expected to pleasant activities: Another marker separating ND from CD.

I’m normally a health person for someone my age but, for reasons which don’t make sense to me or my physician, I’m always feeling fatigue, pains, gut distress, or any variety of physical complaints. This pattern is suggestive of CD. We might include insomnia which is not explained by a nighttime CH attack.

Space limitations on our site apply! Issue of depression can be explored at: START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE or any of a number of health sites.

Lizzie2 wrote on May 30^th, 2008 at 5:48pm:

Jeannie wrote on May 29th, 2008 at 3:40pm: I have often wondered if people that are depressed are more likely to get CH or is it that CHer's  get depressed?  Is it possible that whatever is messed up in our brains that causes CH would also cause depression.  I don't know much about it all but I do know that both have something to do with seretonin.  What do you all think? Jeannie  But then I thought about it more - the truth is that for many with CH, depression seems to come as a result of the situation of having Cluster Headaches.  I can now see what he was saying - that CH doesn't have a comorbid depression.  It's not that CH'ers don't get depressed - because they do, but they have not found that depression and CH are linked in that those with depression are more likely to have CH.   Hugz, Carrie :)

i agree with what carrie said. things really start to stack up when your getting frequently hit. worrying about losing your job or missing out on family functions takes it's toll after a while. sometimes its goes beyond depression and can get very destructive. maintaining your sanity is very difficult.
 
  my best defense against depression is getting on this site. i feel that if i can't sleep and i can't drive my truck, i can spend that time here and that way it's not wasted time. things may be stacking up but at least i an getting stronger and wiser by being here.

  i strongly recommend that your boyfriend gets registered and starts asking some questions. thanks for being here and thanks for caring for your boyfriend. ;)

What about the suggestiion the a hypothalemus disorder at the time of a cluster attack? Given this is a controling factor in the regulating of the person's body clock and release of seratonin, can anyone offer medical facts surrounding this link?

---

Chris Matthews wrote on Jul 25^th, 2008 at 8:44am:

What about the suggestiion the a hypothalemus disorder at the time of a cluster attack? Given this is a controling factor in the regulating of the person's body clock and release of seratonin, can anyone offer medical facts surrounding this link?

And the picture of the gay man in your post is for what?

Cheers, nice to receive a piss-taking remark following my first post on the site. I obviously didn't intent the photo of myself to be so large, more thumbnail size. I'm not a 'gay man' either (though irrelevant). And looking at your own photo I'd advise you keep your sarcastic comments to yourself. Arsehole.

Chris Matthews wrote on Jul 26^th, 2008 at 5:18am:

Cheers, nice to receive a piss-taking remark following my first post on the site. I obviously didn't intent the photo of myself to be so large, more thumbnail size. I'm not a 'gay man' either (though irrelevant). And looking at your own photo I'd advise you keep your sarcastic comments to yourself. Arsehole.

 I think you're both cuter than a new born White Faced Calf.

                        START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGESTART PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE
                           
                                        Potter

       

C'mon guys, is this really necessary???

Chill dude, im just bustin on ya.

And your right, cops always want to arrest me just for the way I look ....LOL  :D

Now that I busted your chops, welcome aboard!  ;)

wrote on Jul 25^th, 2008 at 7:56pm:

Chris Matthews wrote on Jul 25th, 2008 at 8:44am: What about the suggestiion the a hypothalemus disorder at the time of a cluster attack? Given this is a controling factor in the regulating of the person's body clock and release of seratonin, can anyone offer medical facts surrounding this link? And the picture of the gay man in your post is for what?

Oh my lord, Jonny, I just wet my pants while laughing my face off! That was such a random remark, can't stop laughing..... keep up that sense of humour!!!!

Greg, I am very sure Jonny did not mean any harm. It was just meant to be funny (and damn it was)...... seems like Jonny has a peculiar way of expressing himself, and I cheer for that.

Anyway, Greg, wanna wish you welcome to this eccentric little family from around the globe.
Painfree wishes from the Netherlands to the UK!

Pascal.

Dear Boxseller,
First, I want to say that your boyfriend is very lucky in having such a supporter on his side.

Any major illness, especially something like CH which is incurable, horribly painful and causes major disruptions in one's daily life can lead to depression.

If I may suggest, even though the CH and depression appear to be related, I would recommend that they be treated as two illnesses.  A visit to a psychiatrist can help with the depression by having the doctor prescribe  anti-depressant medication if necessary.  A visit to a good neurologist can help with the CH and it would be best, in my opinion, to allow the doctors to speak with each other so that they are both aware of how he is doing and can make adjustments in his treatments that compliment each other.

Your love and support are most important and they will help him so that he doesn't feel alone and misunderstood.

Best wishes to you and your friend.

Sandra

Thank you, he's doing much better now - he and his doctor have got the medications down to a science and if this CH is like the ones he's had in the past they should be ending in the next week or two (keeping our fingers crossed).  

The people here on this forum have been truly wonderful  especially Jackie and I can't express my appreciation enough.

Again thank you all!!!!!

Great news. As an episodic sufferer for nearly 20 years you do learn to manage them. I've found a mixture of Verapamil and O2 helps enourmously, and after 6 weeks it's back to normal, medication free, for another 14 months or so. I also do a lot of exercise during a cluster period as it increases oxygen in the blood, which helps enourmously as well.

Best of luck.
Chris  

I dont get depressed i get down i find that cluster heads keep from getting depressed by turning a little bit crazy and haveing a great big fun side the main thing is after the cycle is over get back to being a fun loving person and always smile make the PF time special and thats when its our time to make our supporters lives better you guys are the best and i thank you all for the great job you do for your CHers

PF Wishes to all

Brian