Hello to all. I've been getting these 3 - 4 times a year at about 3 - 6 weeks at a time for the past few years but got one a year for the past 10 years. You know the deal. I'm 40 now and have thought these to be sinus headaches up to this point.
I have a high tolerance for pain but the mention of these will send me running for cover like nothing else will. I almost felt like crying reading the testimonials on the newbie page, it felt like I wrote them, or my wife did. For once I can agree with a doctors diagnosis because I can tell you all have endured the same as I. I've been asking the doctors to find the problem instead of treating the symptoms to which they didn't. Finally I ventured further to a specialist to have him correctly diagnose me. Which brings me here.
 I must run to pick up the kids now but just wanted to pop in and introduce myself and express my gratitude that this site exists.
I look forward to reading and hearing from you all.
  OH GOOD....... SMILIES. ;D

Welcome Home.

Just like a family, you're stuck with us now!  

I'm a supporter, not a sufferer.  Your wife might find this place as helpful as I have.  Either way, I'm sure you'll both find the information available here amazing.

Sorry you had to find us, but welcome aboard.

Laurie

Thought I'd add since I had the time and it can only be helpful in this forum.
My first CH was in 91 when I was helping a friend backhoe water lines to houses that had lost their wells. This was the most brutal pain I had ever felt and it surely had me lying in the front seat of a dirty truck for relief. It seemed every day for a few weeks it would start light in the morning but at about the same time daily it would crank up to the red line at around 11am. I went to a doctor who treated me for a sinus infection and after about 8 days of antibiotics it seemed to wither away. From that day on I've been naming these headaches as sinus's when there was no yellowing, or greening to my mucus. How was I to know? They seemed to come once a year and last about 2 weeks per. Lately(past 6 years) they've been coming much more frequently and lasting around 6 weeks, sometimes more. I had noticed on past headaches (remember I just learned last week what I'm suffering from) that the antibiotics weren't working as the headaches would last weeks after the script expired. I started trying to fix myself since the doctors didn't seem to want to help. I noticed that dehydration would spawn them so I have been an avid water drinker since. I duct tape hair off my couches or anywhere else the cat may lay since there was a time that I thought the cat was giving them to me. I would stray from drinking coffee/pepsi's or any other diaretic that would take away from my hydration. Or at least make sure I drank sufficient water to make up for them when I do drink them. I invested in the best respirator system I could find for my work with wood since the saw dust seemed to be the culprit. Even had my boss buy a dust gorilla for the shop. I can't tell you how many possible problems I've been fighting just to keep it from happening again, but I'm not willing to stop yet. I'm against doing drugs unless there is no other option since I think they take away from my body doing the job, but I do excedrin migraines when need be. usually forcing my head forehead first into a couch arm with pressure helps to reduce things to a duller roar that I can cope with much better.
This has really been an effect on my quality of life, and my families quality of life and I'm so relieved to now know what the problem is. Though I'm sure that relief will go away once the next attack hits I will always be relieved to know theres a forum that understands.
I went upstairs in the middle of typing this to eat dinner and explained to my wife my new finding (CH.com) and all the things I'd read, and I got the ol "oh" which tells me she doesn't really understand what a day to day struggle this is even when it's not occuring.
Thanks all.

Garys_Girl wrote on Dec 22^nd, 2008 at 6:05pm:

Just like a family, you're stuck with us now!   I'm a supporter, not a sufferer.  Your wife might find this place as helpful as I have.  Either way, I'm sure you'll both find the information available here amazing. Sorry you had to find us, but welcome aboard. Laurie

And just like a family I'm sure life is easier with than without.

Thanks

I'll second what Jimi said.  Welcome home.

Yeah, there's a whole community of us cracked-brain types here.  Have a look around, and get to know everyone.  (We're all over the map--geographically, politically, and temperamentally--nothing much in common but a strange sort of head.)  

Again, welcome.  I look forward to seeing your future posts.

Best wishes,

George  

Snapper21 wrote on Dec 22^nd, 2008 at 6:18pm:

And just like a family I'm sure life is easier with than without. Thanks

Even for us supporters.  :)   [smiley=hug.gif]

Laurie

Not to reply to every reply, but the "cracked head" thing sorta got me chuckling.
I thought I was the only one at a time because in 1986 I ran into the side of a reliant K car with my honda interceptor (motorcycle). I went into it head first from about 55 mph. Face shield that covers your mouth hit first forcing the upper part of the helmet to come down and crush everything around my eye sockets. Now I have one eye that looks right, no tear duct canal in it, one pupil that responds to light, and one retina that works right. Really fun to play that one out when the cops shine a flashlight in your eyes. (I tell em I only got half stoned). I always thought that was the reason for these and I was the only one since noone understood the level of pain. Or at least I'd never seen anyone experiencing that much pain.
Ok,,,,, I won't reply to everything. I'm like a kid that finally found a candy store.

Snapper21 wrote on Dec 22^nd, 2008 at 6:25pm:

Ok,,,,, I won't reply to everything. I'm like a kid that finally found a candy store.

Not to worry.  We know exactly how you feel.   :)

Best,

George

Welcome to Clusterville.

O2 O2 O2. Get a script for it and keep it handy. Look in the Medications section for the proper use. (15-25 liters per minute with a non-rebreather mask!) It works on about 70% of us and we swear by it.

Red Bull (or another energy drink with at least 1000mg of taurine in it) works in a pinch.

Melatonin at night before bed helps keep the night hits away.

These are just a few of my favorite things.... ;)

Tell your wife to come on down to the General Store and pull up a chair and we'll catch her up on things. Glad you found us, but sorry ya have to be here.

Hugs BD

Welcome home and don't worry about over replying!! Another strong vote for oxygen here. 30 years of dueling with ther beast and 02 is still my most effecitve abortive.

Joe

I'm a hard head when it comes to taking medication but the O2 is surely going to be my fix of choice. Before I knew what it was that was giving me the headaches I spent about 15 minutes in an xray room that was dust and climate controlled and walked out feeling better than I'd felt in a long time. That wasn't in one of the peaks of the assault but it cleared my head for about 3 to 4 hours. I have since been dropping suggestions in the box for a room built for headache relief. My other alternative is to keep dropping the dirt bike and continue with regular visits for xrays.