Hi gang, I've had my struggles with migraines in the past. And the other night I had a cluster headache. I think I may have had them before, but this was by far the worst. In the past I may have just thought they were a bad migraine. I'm convinced yesterday was a cluster.

I was having trouble with allergies, which just became a problem for me within the last year. I took some generic allergy medicine, and was relaxing in bed watching tv, I started to feel tingling in my arms and head, and just thought it was the allergy meds, so I went to sleep. About 2 or 3 hours later I was awoke with a nasty headache. It was a throbbing, stabbing pain behind my left eye, and went all the way through to the base of my skull on the left side. Then it seemed to cycle through 3 or so different headaches, with different symtoms. The other headaches would be feverish, with throbbing temple pain. Tingles in my head, and goose bumps all over. The 3 headaches would rotate constaintly, and after about 10 hours, they started to decline with a few minutes of relief between attacks. Until finally stopping. Imitrex, Ibuprophin, and Excedrine Migraine did nothing. It felt like my heart rate, breathing, and everything was effected and changed with the different cycles.
I had a mild headache today (the day after) with some neck pain. And I also feel feverish. But Excedrin Migraine helped with that.
What I'm worried about, is that from everything I've read, this is not a one time thing. That I can expect another visit from this demon. What I would like to know is, does my symtoms sound like a cluster? If so, should I begin to arm myself with an O2 tank? Or anything else? I used to use imitrex injections when I got migraines in the past, I'm out of that, and just took my last imitrex pill yesterday which was a waste, because it did nothing. I haven't really had troubles with migraines for a few years, so I was hoping my battle with migraines was over. I hope I'm not in a new battle with clusters.
Thanks in advance for any help.

Hi,

I'm sorry you're hurting.  Cluster headaches average 45 minutes in length, are never longer than 4 hours, and you never get just one of them.  To get a diagnosis you must have had at least 5 in a short period of time, typically 5 days or less.  There are other similar headache disorders that have longer lengths and are cyclical in intensity like what you describe.  That is good news because those conditions are typically easier to treat.

Whenever there is a rapid and extreme change in symptoms like that you should visit a doctor.  Lots of other conditions, some life threatening, can seem like cluster headaches such as vascular problems, tumors, infections, and inflammatory/autoimmune disease.  It's very important that you have those ruled out.

Please get an appointment with your doctor and insist on a CAT scan and MRI with and without contrast ASAP.

Katy

Thanks Katy,
I hope it's not cluster headaches. That would be great.
Any other opinions?
If not, I'll start researching again what it may have been. All I know is, that it was the worst pain I've ever felt.
I'm 36 BTW, I forgot to mention that, if it matters.
Thanks again!

Not typical for CH although beginning CH can be a bit variable.  Sounds a bit like a neurological migraine to me.
Time (and your doc) will tell...

But, in any case, I completely agree with Katherine - you would definitely be best served by getting to your doc as soon as you can...

Yet a third vote for the doc! Any radical change in head symptoms....means a trip to the doc! The web is a great place for research, but it's hard to beat modern medicine for their diagnostic tools and knowledge.  ;)

Probably a little early to grab the 02 but I'd sure consider getting the trex shots re-filled. Whether it's CH or migrain, trex will ususally send it packing.

Good luck n getting a rapid diagnosis...head pain bites. :'(

Joe

thanks for the answers.

I'll make an appointment with my doc right away.

This was not typical of a headache I get.

I'm still a bit drained today. My neck hurts and is cracking a lot.

Durring the attack yesterday, I couldn't rest or sleep. And when I stood up I would feel dizzy and faint. Several times I felt like puking but didn't. I also felt feverish. Usually with the migraines I get, I'll try to sleep it off, or turn off the lights and things.

Thanks again everyone! I hope it's a pain free day for you all!

More then welcome, prayers you get this figured out quick.

Joe