I *thought* this horrific nightmare was over with, but it seems to be starting up again.  :(

About a year ago, after moving to Florida, I started having what seems typical of "cluster" headaches.   I would get them every day...they never really went away for several months.   Sharp, stabbing pain behind my left eye followed by dizziness and facial numbness.   My left eye swells and tears up and one side of my nose runs.   There have been times when I thought my brain would explode.  I'm terrified of an aneurysm as my step-mom died of one when she was just a few years older than I am now (39).

After having an MRI, a neurologist diagnosed me with "complicated migraines" and prescribed Imitrax & Topomax, neither of which I can tolerate and have stopped using.

I moved back up north at the end of the summer and the headaches stopped shortly afterwards.  I thought they must have been triggered by the heat & humidity.  But yesterday, I got an attack....out of nowhere.   The pain is mostly gone now, but half of my face is still numb, so I know it's not over.

I'm scared and looking for as much info as possible.  Thanks. :)

Hello snowbear

It sounds to me like you need a trip back to another neuro.

Topomax I can understand you having trouble with as it was a horrifying ordeal for me too (although it DOES work for some)

What was the problem with imitrex? I'm asking as it's one of a group of meds called triptans and some conditions and reactions could preclude you from using any triptan however sometimes you just have to "play" with them to find one that helps you. Imitrex injections can play havoc with me but I'm fine with other triptans for instance.

Can you elaborate on your symptoms more? When in pain are you restless and agitated or do you need to lie down or be still? How long does an attack last?

At this point it's kind of hard to help, other than to offer support and encouragement as some of the meds used for CH are not effective for migraine. Equally, some of our "home remedies" don't work so we really need to know what you're dealing with.

Hang in there - we'll try and help you find your answers! By the way, where are you now?

Helen

Imitrex upsets my stomach very badly, but it DOES help with the headache pain.  I will take it if I absolutely have to, but will try 800mg of ibuprofen first. 

Topomax puts me to sleep for a very long time and during the times that I was awake, I was so "out of it", I couldn't function.  I need pain relief, not a lobotomy.  lol

Yesterday's attack came out of nowhere.  I was perfectly fine one minute and the next, I wanted to gouge my eye out.   It came on *that* fast.   It lasted about 1/2 hour, went away for a bit and came back for another 1/2 hour, but I still have the dizziness, pressure and numbness even now.  It feels like it can come back any minute. 

I can't sleep the headaches off, not without meds to induce sleep anyways. And as soon as they wear off, the headache might still be there.   All I can do is to be still, close my eyes and hold my head until the pulsing calms down.   

I don't have any "auras" with these headaches and have never had migraines before.   The neurologist that I saw called them "complicated" migraines b/c of the stroke-like symptoms that accompany them.  I have not had a stroke, that was confirmed by the MRI. 

I should have added that the headache pain doesn't really feel like a typical headache in that the pain is localized to one spot, no bigger than a pencil eraser, just behind my eye.   It's ALWAYS in the same location, every time. 

Wanting to be still and not move isn't usually indicative of CH. That is definitely a more migraineous feature, especially given that your headache is still there when you wake if you do go to sleep. CH typically isn't so long lasting.

Make no mistake, migraine is crippling and wrecks lives too. It's a serious condition and should in no way be under estimated. The good news is some of the other triptans with longer lasting effects are MUCH more effective for migraineurs than clusterheads - so you do have light ahead!

Amitryptaline is often used for migraine to help prevent them and I would definitely recommend you talking to your doctor about frovatriptan as it has a half life of 26 hours. You can take two pills in a 24 hour period if needed so it should see you through any attacks. Maxalt melt and Zomig are also very effective.

I'm sorry you're hurting, whatever the cause and I hope you can get to a doc and get some effective meds soon. Let us know how you get on okay?!

Helen