Hi, Im Ben, I'm 20 and I'm from the U.K.
About a week and a half ago, I suddenly started getting unbearable ridiculously painful pain from my left side of my head mainly around my temple and eye. It came just like that, to the point i was crying, not any usual headache for me! It was waking me up in the night, which was weird because im such a heavy sleeper. I was taking paracetamol and ibrophrophen none of which helped. My other half phoned the out of hours doctors as i was in agony and going insane, and had a paramedic sent to me, who may i say was not helpful ATALL. He prescribed me Solpadol 30/500mg which hasnt really helped either. I've read alot of info tonight on this website to see if there are any similarity's. Now im not a drinker so i cant say wether that may bring on these manic episodes. Yesterday I was in SO SO much pain, in desperation to make the pain go away i took 6 paracetamol, low and behold it didnt work, i felt worse, but that was silly of me to take that many. Any info or help would be much appreaciated. Like i say this all started about a week and a half ago for the first time in my life so please forgive me if i sound a little silly.

Ouch...being in that kinda pain sucks. You are at the beginning of your diagnostic journey, a scary place to be.

Take the cluster quiz on the left, record your answers. Start keeping a detailed headache diary, when they start, how high they build, how fast they build, how long they stay at peak pain, how fast the pain goes away. Try and identify triggers, foods, smells etc.

Find a doctor who specializes in headaches. You need a neuro work up just to exclude any of the rare scary stuff. Sudden pain in the head is not something you want to self diagnose. Too much going on up there! ;)

Let us know what the doc says, if it turns out to be Cluster Headaches, stick around! You won't find a more comprehensive collection of information anywhere! Hang in there, head pain sucks. :-/

Joe

Cheers, really appreaciate your advice. Sitting at the computer at the minute clutching me head in my hands as woken up AGAIN with my head feeling like its being dragged through hell. Left side again, temple and eye and left nostral :'( It scares me, being new to this, my brothers up with me trying to get me to go to hospital but i told him its no good lol. Its been about 30 minutes now since it started. its nice havin somwere to come and talk about it :)

A couple of things to try until you can get to a doc for a complete work up:

Energy drinks, Monster, Rock Star, any containing the combination of caffeine and taurine. Many have found they can abort an attack or at least reduce the intensity by chugging one of those, as fast as you can, when you feel an attack coming on. Some keep open cans in the fridge while they're on cycle so it loses its fizz and you can chug it quicker.

Try ice packs at the base of your neck, on the side your head hurts, some can bring the pain down that way.

While you are in cycle......getting the headaches.....avoid alcohol. It's an almost universal trigger for most of us while on cycle.

Hang in there.

Joe

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Caffeine 02,02,02
all the best and welcome
Hi Joe.
the bb

Missed you round here Bzzzzzzzz! ;)

Cheers for the advice guys ;) really havent had a good day with the old head lol Had an attack whilst walking arround shopping which was most unconfertable. i went there to buy some energy drink funnily enough. feelinh a bit better now :)

Welcome Ben  :)

Hi Ben, you have been given great advice.

Check out the OUCH web site. There is a UK chapter.
It will help in your efforts.

All the Best. :)

Hi Ben,
I find that ice water helps!  lots of it through a straw onto the roof of my mouth as cold as I can handle!  Doesn't always abort, but sometimes dulls the pain and shortens the headache some!  good luck! 
Alissa

You have a fine support group at:  START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE
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(This is a bit of a mess; combines two messages, but the web sites are the central point....)

Sources to explore:

Message: "Dyno", Tenby, Wales, UK, Aug 9, '09:
[Bob-excludes Wales per Dyno]
looking at their website it looks like a better alternative  START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE

Why not ask to see the top man in the country - Dr. Manjit Matharu at UCL. Under Patient Choice - look at the link below - you have the right to choose who you see.

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and this - copied from the OUCH(UK) website

Quote:

You can ask your GP to refer you to one of our hospitals for treatment
Central to the government’s healthcare policy is that patients should be given the opportunity to be more involved in making decisions about their healthcare. If you and your GP agree that you need to be referred to see a specialist, then you have a choice of at least four local hospitals or clinics. Since May 2006, that choice has been extended. You can now also choose to go to any Foundation Trust in the country, including UCLH. Whether you’re from Cornwall or Camden, as a patient you now have the right to choose UCLH. You can ask your GP to refer you to one of our hospitals for treatment.

[Source: UCL website]
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City of London Migraine Clinic [and other types]  START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE

Read this site!  Listen to Bob!  Good luck!