Streak of light

     Hi All, a little about myself before I get into the streak of light story. I am 56, have had CH’s since I was a teenager (right side), cycles last 5 to 6 months, remissions last 1 year to most resent 6 years, I am in a cycle now that started in Sept 2010. My cycles start with short Kip 4 and 5 hits and go up to longer Kip 9 and 10’s lasting 2 to 3 hours for about a week. Then they go back to short Kip5’s for about 2 weeks and then remission. I had the peek of my cycle 2 weeks ago and now I have been pain free for the last 4 days. I am taking Elavil 15MG as a prevent, O2-15LPM and if need be Zomig Rapimelt 2.5MG as an abort. This was working great up until the peek of the attacks 2 weeks ago and during that week nothing seemed to work. I use 2 oxygen concentrators hooked up together and both set at 7.5LPM. The last Kip 10 attack lasted 3 hours and I had to call 911 because it was the most painful attack I have ever had in my life and the O2, Red Bull and Zomig 2.5MG where not working. The paramedic put me on cylinder O2 at 15LPM and the attack ended. He said to me that I should open a window because the O2 concentrators need fresh air to work properly. I did this and I was able to abort the remainder of the attacks during that peek period.

     Now for the streak of light story. During this cycle I noticed a small steak of white light in the outer corner of my right eye lasting only a second. It starts as a thin streak shooting up and to the left from my right temple and ending in a downward crescent moon shape above my right eye. I see this a few times a day with my eyes open or closed between attacks. This has stopped now for the last 4 days and I have not had an attack in the last 4 days. Could this mean the cycle is over? Does anyone else experience this streak of light?

Bud

That's a new one on me. My cycles fade in and then fade out. Some get the big 4th of July grand finale of K-10's and then their cycle ends. I've never had the light thingy during a cycle.

As to peak cycle. 02 stopped working for me during a high part of last years cycle...and I use a demand valve so flow was NOT an issue. At Batch's suggestion I went on the PH diet, the idea being altering your arterial PH makes you less succeptible to attacks. In les then a day the cycle intensity receded and 02 was kicking butt again.

Calcium Citrate with Vitamin D, Zinc, Magnesium, washed down with fresh sqeezed lemon ade, up to 4 X daily. (I never went above 3X a day and it worked for me.)

Not a cure all but another arrow to keep in your quiver! ;) Hoping beasty is done with you this go round.

Joe

Rare but not unheard of.....

Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2010 Dec 15.

Cluster Headache with Aura.
Rozen TD.

Geisinger Specialty Clinic, MC 37-31, 1000 East Mountain Drive, Wilkes-Barre, PA, 18711, USA, tdrozmigraine@yahoo.com.

Abstract
Aura was not recognized as a clinical symptom of cluster headache until fairly recently, but studies now have indicated that upwards of 20% of patients with cluster headache may have aura, the same percentage of migraine sufferers who have aura. This paper looks at the epidemiology of cluster headache with aura, suggests possible roles of cortical spreading depression in cluster headache pathogenesis, and looks at the clinical/diagnostic implications of aura in cluster headache sufferers.

PMID: 21161447 [PubMed]
===================

Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2005 Aug;9(4):264-7. 

 
Aura with Non-migraine Headache.

Krymchantowski AV.

Outpatient Headache Unit, Instituto de Neurologia Deolindo Couto, Headache Center of Rio, Rua Siqueira, Campos 43/1002, Copacabana Rio de Janeiro, 22031.070 Brazil. abouchkrym@globo.com.

The typical aura associated with migraine is characterized by visual or sensory and speech symptoms, with a mix of positive and negative features and complete reversibility within 1 hour. However, auras are not an exclusive migraine-dependent phenomenon. There have been descriptions of aura occurring in association with cluster headache, hemicrania continua, and even with chronic paroxysmal hemicrania. In addition, the occurrence of aura without headache or followed by a headache resembling the criteria of tension-type headache is encountered in clinical practice. This paper reviews the literature about auras in non-migraine headaches and the features involving this uncommon presentation. The possibility of a specific genetic origin for the auras, not related to the primary headache type, also is raised.

PMID: 16004842 [PubMed]
=========

Cephalalgia. 2002 Nov;22(9):725-9.   

 
Atypical presentations of cluster headache.

Rozen TD.

Department of Neurology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA. RozenT@ccf.org

Recently, cluster headache has been shown to occur with aura, suggesting that as more cluster patients are seen by headache specialists new forms of this well-defined primary headache syndrome will be identified. This study presents three atypical presentations of cluster headache: persistent or unremitting cluster, periodic cluster, and reflex or event-related cluster. Case reports are presented with an explanation as to why these headaches should be considered cluster headache.

Publication Types:
Case Reports

PMID: 12421158 [PubMed]
============================

Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2001 Feb;5(1):67-70.   

 
Migrainous features in cluster headache.

Peatfield R.

Charing Cross Hospital, Fulham Palace Road, London W6 8RF, UK. rpeatfield@ic.ac.uk

Migraine and cluster headache have been considered entirely separate clinical syndromes, both in routine clinical practice and in the 1988 International Headache Society classification. Neurologists seeing large numbers of patients soon realize, however, that there is a considerable overlap between the two conditions. Some patients have attacks with the cardinal features of cluster headache, but also have a few symptoms (especially a visual aura) usually attributed to migraine. In addition, it is not uncommon for a patient with a lifetime's history of migraine to experience a typical bout of cluster headache, although the reverse is less common. This article reviews the published series of such patients.

Publication Types:
Review

PMID: 11252140 [PubMed]

Keep an eye on it.  If it continues or increases in frequency, it may be a sign of some condition unrelated to CH.  Flashes or streaks of light in the vision sometimes signal a "vitreous detachment" in the retina.

Not trying to be alarming, but a simple eye exam could rule this out.

Best,

George

     I wear glasses and I am due for an eye exam, so I will check that out George. I think Bob nailed it and I may be in that 20% of patients with CH’s that have aura. If so this may be an indicator that the cycle is over. Aura is gone, the hits are gone, may be time to stop meds, return O2 equipment and go out and have a few beer, a pizza with double cheese and pig out on that box of chocolates I got for Christmas (all of which I have not had in 5 months).....NOT. Going to wait a couple of weeks to see. Are there any other people out there that get the aura and if so, can we assume that if the aura is gone and the hits have stopped that the cycle is over? I hope so but I’m going to proceed with caution.

     Before this cycle and since I started getting CH”s 40 year ago I and my Doctor new very little about CH’s. I am truly thankful for all the advice I have gotten from the good people on this site.

Bud

I have this also.  Although not during a cluster I do have vision disturbance.  I was told they were optical migraines and since it's not unheard of to have two types of headaches at the same time this is what I always took this to be.  I notice that I have these prior to a cluster starting.  This is the first time that I have had clusters and migraines (secondary headache) at the same time.  May be due to weather.

Sami

Ocular migraine is not really a headache at all. It is a visual disturbance that is characterized by an irregular "ring" of pulsating light. It starts toward the center of the visual field and progressively grows bigger, toward the outer reaches of the visual field, until it disappears some 20-30 minutes after onset. It can be seen with eyes open or closed.

No pain involved, but it can be quite disruptive as it messes up your vision while it's going on.

Brew wrote on Feb 3^rd, 2011 at 1:15pm:

Ocular migraine is not really a headache at all. It is a visual disturbance that is characterized by an irregular "ring" of pulsating light. It starts toward the center of the visual field and progressively grows bigger, toward the outer reaches of the visual field, until it disappears some 20-30 minutes after onset. It can be seen with eyes open or closed. No pain involved, but it can be quite disruptive as it messes up your vision while it's going on.

Here's the weird thing about it.  I never had them prior to having my first son.  I got them when I developed Preeclampsia which is usually due to very high blood pressure.  I had the protein in my urine with only a BP of 130/90  Normal for me is 90/60 My vision is like lighting bolts and zig zag lines in my vision or looking through a broken mirror.  Your right no pain at all but it's scary as hell when it first happens because you can see.  I've only had about 8 in the 20 yrs.

Sami

I get 'em about twice a year. No connection to any CH cycle, though.

I always described them to my opthamologist as looking like a shimmering worm that was oriented head to tail in somewhat of a circle in the center of my vision. Then over the next 20-30 minutes, it would expand until it was no longer in my field of vision.

They kinda suck if they happen when you're driving.