My cluster headaches do not start with pain in my eye, nor do i get a runny nose.
* It is one sided (on my right)
*it affects my right arm, makes it feel dead
* I get severe toothache on my right-side during an attack
*Sometimes i get ear ache during an attack
The pain is so bad i dont know what to do. I cry because of the pain. i jump around holiding it trying to put a bit of pressure on it but nothing works.  :'(
it normally starts during the night but my one this evening started at 10pm and i felt better at 12am.
Normally when i get an attack it will happen around the same time the next day.
I have been to see my gp and he told me that it was cluster headaches but didnt really give me any information on CH or things to help dull the pain.

My headache today started with a severe tooth ache and it came on with no warning what so ever.

Is this a true cluster headache attack? What can i do to try and dull the pain.
Im 19 and have been experiencing these attacks since may.

Thank you in advance  :)

Hi Sarah. Sorry to hear about your headaches. My suggestion to you is see a neurologist or get a referral to one if your insurance requires it. A GP often isn't trained enough to make a diagnosis like cluster headache (IMO). Though it is surprising that your GP suggested cluster headache, as many of us take yeas to find a doctor educated enough to diagnose us properly. Regardless of what type of severe headache you are experiencing, you need to be properly treated for them, rather than left to fend for yourself.

Some of your symptoms aren't typical of cluster headache, such as the absence of severe ice-pick like pain between your eye and the bridge of your nose, and the lack of tearing or nasal congestion/running. The weakness in your arm is not typical of cluster headache from my understanding.

I'm not a doctor, and CH and other unusual headaches need to be diagnosed by a neurologist, but have you heard of something called hemiplegic migraine? This can be a severe, one sided headache but ALWAYS presents with one-sided temporary paralysis or weakness. Do you experience aura? Do you experience tearing? Are your headaches cyclical? Some more information might help us better understand what you are going through.

Hi!  Welcome aboard.

In answer to your question I'm going to say it is a definite maybe.  I'm sorry, but CH cannot be diagnosed over the web.  First thing you need to do is find a Neurologist who specializes in headaches.  There are just to many kinds of HA's out there to try to guess.

Some of your symptoms sound like CH, but others do not.  That does not of itself rule out CH as some of us have differences in our symptoms.  The clock-like nature of your attacks are what are giving me a leaning toward CH.

As to relief, stay away from narcotics and opioids.  They will do nothing for the pain, and will add other problems to your current one.  Something you might try until you can get to a Dr who can properly diagnose you is to slam an energy drink containing caffeine and Taurene (1000 mg) as quickly as you can drink it as soon as you feel the beginning of the hit.  If you do have CH it will probably help.  It works for most of us, but not all. 

When you get to a good Dr and are properly diagnosed with CH don't leave without a prescription for oxygen.  Preferably at a flow rate of greater than 15 liters/min.  15 is the minimum you should accept, but if you can get more do so.  If not you can always buy a bigger regulator later.  At 25 lpm I can kill a hit within 5-8 minutes depending on how quickly I get to it.  See the oxygen info button to the left of your screen in yellow.

Please feel free to ask questions.  That is what we are here for. 

Jerry

If you have the option, find a headache specialist. Too many neurologists lack the experience/training in an area of medicine which is far more complex than most people appreciate.
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LOCATING HEADACHE SPECIALIST

1. Search the OUCH site (button on left) for a list of recommended M.D.s.

2. Yellow Pages phone book: look for "Headache Clinics" in the M.D. section and look under "neurologist" where some docs will list speciality areas of practice.

3.  Call your hospital/medical center. They often have an office to assist in finding a physician. You may have to ask for the social worker/patient advocate.

4. START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE; On-line screen to find a physician.

5. START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE Look for "Physician Finder" search box. They will send a list of M.D.s for your state.I suggest using this source for several reasons: first, we have read several messages from people who, even seeing neurologists, are unhappy with the quality of care and ATTITUDES they have encountered; second, the clinical director of the Jefferson (Philadelphia) Headache Clinic said, in late 1999, that upwards of 40%+ of U.S. doctors have poor training in treating headache and/or hold attitudes about headache ("hysterical female disorder") which block them from sympathetic and effective work with the patient; third, it's necessary to find a doctor who has experience, skill, and a set of attitudes which give hope of success. This is the best method I know of to find such a physician.

6. START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE NEW certification program for "Headache Medicine" by the United Council for Neurologic Subspecialties, an independent, non-profit, professional medical organization.
        Since this is a new program, the initial listing is limited and so it should be checked each time you have an interest in locating a headache doctor.

Welcome SarahJ! 

You have already been given some great advice please heed it and don't let these things beat you!

I would only add some other things that may help until you can get in to see a specialist or neurologist:

4-Way Nasal spray or Dristan 12 Hour Nasal Spray helps with the annoying congestion.

Taurine and Caffeine drinks (RedBull if you like it) to help prevent a hit when you feel one starting.

Melatonin or an Allergy pill at night before bed to help avoid night time hits.

The herb Kudzu has helped a few as a prevent.   

Deep breathing through the milder hits can help too.

Hot/Cold Compresses Depending on your preference can help as well.

Good Luck and let us know how it goes.

Thanks guys for all your help :)
I will try and see someone about it soon.

For now, many of you have said about energy drinks, what kind? like red bull?
At the moment its sunday and so all the shops round here are closed ( i live in a villiage in England) all i have is dr pepper? will something like that help?
Also is it the sugar in red bull that helps or the caffine?

Thank you,

Sarah

It's the caffeine and taurine that will help in red bull so energy drinks containing those two things will help.

Dr Pepper will only cure your thirst nothing else.

You need something like Red Bull.  I'm not sure of the branding in England, but I prefer 5hr Energy.  It's a two and a half ounce bottle so it's easy to get down very quickly, and doesn't taste as badly as do the other carbonated ones.  I also find it easier on the stomach.

The key to it is the caffeine/Taurene combination.  You only get about the same caffeine as a strong cup of coffee, but the taurene kind of supercharges it somehow.  I don't understand how it works, and frankly don't really care.  All I know is that it will kill a lower level hit and knock a high level hit down to a manageable level.

Jerry

How close are you to London? I used to see Dr Mike Hannah there - and he was very knowledgeable about CH and other headaches.

Or use the following link: START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE
to find a headache clinic near you...

Welcome to the board...you've been given some great advice...the best piece being the one advising a specialist! The brains a complex area and so many headache types to try  and diagnose! ;) The sooner you can get a decent diagnsosis the sooner you can start a good regimen to battle it. Praying you get some relief soon.

Joe

Hi Sarah

Welcome, I'm a newbie here too.You could always try the City of London Migraine clinic, START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE. They've got several CH specialists there. They're a charity so you'll have to shell out some reddies or if you're on benefits they come to some sort of arrangement. They'll write to your GP and tell him what to prescribe.  The good news is that it gets you over the "computer says no" bit with your GP that I suffered with getting the O2 & the sumatripan injections. They'll also get your GP to test you for a couple of other ailments that look like CH.

I hope that this helps.
Captain Chaos.