Hi All,

First things first, Hi, I'm Helen and I live in the north of England. I'm 32 and have two lovely children, and have recently separated from my husband. I am a full time radiography student.

I have been diagnosed with cluster headaches by my GP last week. It is the 2nd cluster I have had and both have followed the same pattern BUT haveing done a bit of research I'm not sure my pattern is the same as the classic and I was hoping to run it all past you if thats OK?

I have severe headache over my left eye. If I press on the spot it is even more agonising. I get a watering eye at the crescendo of the headache, but not at any other time.

The pain starts at abot 10.30 am and can last until 5pm, but most info I've read suggests that its starts in the night and only lasts up to 3 hours?

During my clusters the first day is not too bad, the next day worse, the following day worse, and the 4th day I would chew my arm off to make it stop. After that the pain continues daily for about another week, and is bad but bareable.

I used to suffer classic migraine before I had children, but haven't had one since, but these clusters have started. Is this a trait that anyone recognises.

The night before the  cluster I am having at the moment commenced I had a period of amnesia. Is this something that could be related?

Mt doctor has given me sumatriptan injections, but as i couldnt get them when the pain was agonising i havent used them. Are they any good?

Sorry for the list, I'm quite sure there will be more later.......

Thanks, Helen x

We're not doctors here, Helen, but a general diagnosis would be that you need to see a neurologist and preferably one who specialises in various types of headache. There's just many to choose from, and some remarkably similar to others, that the average GP would be hard-pressed to get it right every time.

There's also other little tests that should be done to rule out the possibility that you're actually suffering something more serious.

Please keep asking us questions and we'll help you every inch of the way. It's what we're here for.

Suggest you make contact with your local support organization: good outfit.

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During the early period of a newly developing cluster headache there is often marked variations from the classic pattern. In any case, I agree that seeking a specialist is useful because of the multiple, complex sources of headache.

Imitrex injection is the med of choice for Cluster because of its rapid action.

Welcome aboard, my dear...I am so sorry for your suffering!  But this is the best support group in the world.  ;)

Classic CH?  There IS no classic CH!!  Read, read, read this board and learn all you can; one thing you'll find is that no two CHers are exactly alike, AND your pattern can change from day to day or cycle to cycle.

I'm not sure what you meant by suggestions that "it starts in the night and only lasts up to 3 hours".  That sounds like one headache a day...Clusterheads can have from one or two hits/day up to...gee, I've heard some folks get as many as a dozen hits (attacks) per day.  

And although it's less common, some folks don't always get woken up in the night from the hits.  AND, to add to the fun, you CAN have other kinds of headaches at the same time; I get a continuous throbbing migraine on top of the CH hits, so at first I was describing the pain as lasting all day long.

I believe it mostly comes on in your 30's (I think that's right. But the research changes often, especially for women.)  And that's another thing- I've had a couple of specialists inform me that more and more research is pointing to the idea that women may present CH differently than men, just like heart disease, etc.

Basically, you need to see a CH specialist, and do a lot of research so you can be a good advocate for your care, and make sure to rule out any other conditions- CH won't kill you, but some things that LOOK like CH CAN.  ;)

Thanks Guys,

I'm going to get another appointement with my GP when I'm not knawing my arm of so I can try to discuss my options a bit more sensibly.

Just as an aside, anyone know if it can be stress triggered?

H x