Little do I know about if I could possibly be a clusterhead, but nevertheless I'm not trying to belittle the diagnosis. I'm only seeking advice. If what I experience is anything like the real deal, I've yet to experience it enough to seek a diagnosis.

I have never been prone to having headaches before, before the episodes I only experienced tension during thunderstorms and so on. I don't know I'm mixing things up with migraine but I read that is more chronic, but my symptoms are very much like migraine.

It started off two years ago when I was 21. I started smoking (dumb as it is) and after some time I started having extreme headaches.
The scenario mostly go like this: I wake up in the middle of the night 3-5am with extreme pain ranging from my right eyeball and on my right side of the head. I try to squeeze my head into the pillow, but the pain keeps going worse. I usually end up leaving bed, drink water and walk around aimlessly squeezing my head and pushing it into the couch. I often try to sit at the computer, it being a comfort-zone as I'm a nerd but I can barely view the screen because my eyes are running (almost like a cold with at least one nostril blocked). It easily gets into me banging my head into the computer table instead of actually doing anything.
The pain feels like knives stabbing me in the eye and at the side of my head. Although I never experienced any real pain like breaking a limb I often feel helpless and tend to start crying a bit.

I only experienced this four times. I usually wake up from it, endure it for 15min to 2 hours or so, when the pain fades I usually fall asleep.
Later into the day it usually returns, where I can usually feel it building up a bit, however a little less extreme than if I wake up from it (dunno if this is because I'm already fully awake or if I know what it's all about).
I don't think it has ever happened three times the same day.
I never had it two days in a row, but it usually occurs the day after.

Judging from my experiences, I've had two episodes every year, so it's not really that common for me. I haven't experienced it since May 2010.

I've tried the usual painkillers like paracetamol which either works or not. I can never tell because I haven't treated a headache before. It lasts 15 minutes to a few hours if I take it or not anyway.

I suffer from tremors as well, which is a neurological disease that I've had since a age of 6 or so. It is most easily explained as; the same tremors you get the day after when you've had a good night at the pub - I have permanently. and it increases by nervousity greatly.

The reason I mention this is the same reason I'm writing.
I was prescribed Inderal, which I later found out was used against extreme migraine.
I further investigated today and found out it is also used against cluster headaches, which is why I incidentally found out what it's all about.

I haven't thought of trying taking Inderal in these cases, has anyone been prescribed this?

From what I can tell, my experience is similar to migraine but more similar to cluster headaches. That's what I can tell from reading about it.

I may be a wuss who's never had a headache before, or I have some kind of migraine, or I'm right about the cluster headaches. I honestly don't know. I was just hoping you could give me hints if there are any similarities.

Best regards,
Frank

First off, I'm no doctor. But what you described is very similar to how my Cluster Headache Cycles started in my late teens. Particularly how you describe the pain, the inability to remain still, the runny eye and runny nose......curious have you ever noticed if the eyelid "droops" on the same side as the attack? In the early days I would never have attacks 2 days in a row. That didn't begin until my mid 20's as I recall. (I'm 50 now)

Obviously with any kind of a brain related issue, an accurate diagnosis is critical to an effective treatment regimen. Your best bet is a Headache Specialist Neurologist. Doctors get about 4 hours total training in ALL headache types. A brief overview at best. Neurologists don't get much more then that. Our experience on the board has been a Headache Specialist Neurologist is really your best bet.

As to inderal, not really a useful CH med although many neurologists seem to want to prescribe it.

For now, when you feel an attack coming on, try chugging down an energy drink. Rock Star, Monster, any containing the combo of caffiene and taurine. Chugged at the onset many can abort or reduce an attack. Consider adding a Calcium Citrate with Vitamin D, and a magnesium supplement to your diet. Many migrainers and CH'ers seem to have a deficiency of magnesium, the calicum is because magnesium leeches calcium outta your system so it's important to replace it.

If it turns out you have CH, and my 25 cents says you do, please stick around this site. You will not find a more comprehensive collection of info on CH anywhere. And read the oxygen info tab on the left. If it is CH oxygen will be your new best friend. Good luck on your diagnostic journey!

And don't sweat the smoking so much. A majority of CH'ers seem to smoke. Quitting doesn't have any effect on their CH. I never smoked and still got CH! ;)

Joe

Welcome rscl.

When mine first started they were every other day too. Over the next couple of years they came and lasted around 4 weeks. I had 1 every day or other day. The finally came every years and lasted from 4 weeks to 2 months. I would get hit 3-4 times a day.

Please get a diagnosis and if it is clusters, breathing 02 from a tank with a non-rebreather mask and a regulator set at 10-15 LPM will knock most with 10-15 minutes.

Make sure if you chug an energy drink *red bull etc* that is has taurine in it as well as the caffeine. 1000mg of taurine is what I hear is the best.

Again welcome, get a diagnosis and if so, come back and read all there is. We have been here for 10 years and have a wealth of information.

Thank you for the swift reply.

I never thought about checking my eyelids at the time, so I couldn't tell.

I doubt I will try finding a Headache Specialist right now. I mean, if it cannot be stopped, I might as well wait and see if it becomes worse, but I greatly appreciate your advice as well as your other advice!

I would never have thought that caffeine helped against headaches. I'll think about magnesium as well, I read about it - and I guess I don't get enough of it (my student diet is probably not too awesome).

As for smoking, I might have gotten paranoid as I read it is common that people with CH smokes. It might not have any relation, although it could be seen as a trigger from my part.
I mostly use snus anyway, like the majority of Swedes.

If I ever get another attack and my memory permits I will probably return :)

There is a list of buttons on the left side of your screen. Click the 'cluster quiz' button, take the quiz and please let us know the results. Also you can click the 'cluster traits' button to learn a little more.

A good diagnosis is essential because there are a number of other conditions, which are more serious, which appear as Cluster.

You may find this article worth reading and then using the information as a tool to discuss your situation with the doctor.
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Cluster headache.
From: START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE (Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases)
[Easy to read; one of the better overview articles I've seen. Suggest printing the full length article--link, line above--if you are serious about keeping a good medical library on the subject.]

Leroux E, Ducros A.

ABSTRACT: Cluster headache (CH) is a primary headache disease characterized by recurrent short-lasting attacks (15 to 180 minutes) of excruciating unilateral periorbital pain accompanied by ipsilateral autonomic signs (lacrimation, nasal congestion, ptosis, miosis, lid edema, redness of the eye). It affects young adults, predominantly males. Prevalence is estimated at 0.5-1.0/1,000. CH has a circannual and circadian periodicity, attacks being clustered (hence the name) in bouts that can occur during specific months of the year. ALCOHOL IS THE ONLY DIETARY TRIGGER OF CH, STRONG ODORS (MAINLY SOLVENTS AND CIGARETTE SMOKE) AND NAPPING MAY ALSO TRIGGER CH ATTACKS. During bouts, attacks may happen at precise hours, especially during the night. During the attacks, patients tend to be restless. CH may be episodic or chronic, depending on the presence of remission periods. CH IS ASSOCIATED WITH TRIGEMINOVASCULAR ACTIVATION AND NEUROENDOCRINE AND VEGETATIVE DISTURBANCES, HOWEVER, THE PRECISE CAUSATIVE MECHANISMS REMAIN UNKNOWN. Involvement of the hypothalamus (a structure regulating endocrine function and sleep-wake rhythms) has been confirmed, explaining, at least in part, the cyclic aspects of CH. The disease is familial in about 10% of cases. Genetic factors play a role in CH susceptibility, and a causative role has been suggested for the hypocretin receptor gene. Diagnosis is clinical. Differential diagnoses include other primary headache diseases such as migraine, paroxysmal hemicrania and SUNCT syndrome. At present, there is no curative treatment. There are efficient treatments to shorten the painful attacks (acute treatments) and to reduce the number of daily attacks (prophylactic treatments). Acute treatment is based on subcutaneous administration of sumatriptan and high-flow oxygen. Verapamil, lithium, methysergide, prednisone, greater occipital nerve blocks and topiramate may be used for prophylaxis. In refractory cases, deep-brain stimulation of the hypothalamus and greater occipital nerve stimulators have been tried in experimental settings.THE DISEASE COURSE OVER A LIFETIME IS UNPREDICTABLE. Some patients have only one period of attacks, while in others the disease evolves from episodic to chronic form.

PMID: 18651939 [PubMed]

Welcome RSCL !

As the others stated your description does sound like CH but please see a Dr. for a proper diagnosis.

Check out the Oxygen info. link to the left and talk to your Dr. about alternate treatments, since you are affected as you say about 2 times per year you may want to ask him about verapamil as a prevent or a prednisone taper.

Also Print out the Cluster traits page and the medical info page (links to the left) and bring them with you when you go see your doctor.  Start a Headache journal it sometimes helps if a doctor sees in black and white what you are going through.  Here's what you will need to note on it.

Day/Date:      
Time of Day of CH hit:   
On pain Scale 1-10 10 being highest what is your pain at?
Duration of Headache:
Symptoms that come with your Headache:
What, if anything you tried to get rid of HA:

You can make up your own HA Journal and if you get more than one in a day use 1 piece of paper/page per day, or you can use MS Excel for this.

May be CH,may not.
First and foremost,headache specialist.

Good luck,wishing you the best. :)