Hey everyone, I feel real bad for posting here because I haven’t been diagnosed with CH and I don’t think I’m having them… I feel wrong for doing this but it’s something I need to do.

I suffer from anxiety that fluctuates between mild and severe and I’m a bit of a hypochondriac, I learnt about cluster headaches late last year and since then every time I get a headache from time to time I get very anxious because I think it’s a cluster headache coming on (typical hypochondriac thinking the worst). At about 10:30pm I felt the bridge of my nose tighten up and I started to feel pains in and around my eye and on the side of my head near my temple that have lasted until now (4am), they come and go, however, they are very mild… only cause little discomfort, it also feels like my checks are slightly numb and my check bones are a little sore but my nose isn’t runny and my eyes are unaffected (not watery ect...). I’m afraid to go to sleep because I think this might be a cluster headache coming on.

I’m also worried because I think this might be early symptoms of becoming a CH sufferer, e.g. my anxiety started off as very mild but got more severe as time went by. Is this the same for CH?

I'm 22, have no family history of CH, don't smoke or drink but I have been suffering somewhat from a circadian rhythm disorder for a couple of years... from what I've researched a persons biological clock is related to CH somehow!

I’m contemplating going down to the ER, anyway I’m really sorry to carry on like this, I think you CH suffers are very brave… I have a lot of respect for you and if there is a place where I can make a donation to help CH suffers or donate to find a cure for the condition I will most certainly donate (honestly). From what I've researched this a truly horrible condition and IMO more should be done to raise awareness about CH and to find a cure. I pray to god they find a cure for CH in the very near future!

Thank you very much for answering, I’ve been up all night worrying excessively.

The ER is just about the last place to go either for Cluster or anxiety disorders! (period....<bg>)

Going to refer you to a little essay which reflects a form of counseling which is very effective for anxiety. In reading it you will get an idea of how it operates and, at the end, is a link to a major organization which has excellent litertature, if you wish to explore this tool.

If you call your local mental health association, they will be able to refer you to a counselor with this background.

If there is any doubt about having some type of headache disorder, would be worth a check-up first.
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Thank you for the link Mr. Johnson, I guess a lot of people on here have had experiences with anxiety. I have been seeing a psychologist for several months now and we've been doing cognitive behavioral therapy together and ever since I've started it has brought my anxiety down to mild levels, however, from time to time I do get a short bursts of severity like now but I think I'm handling it alright because if this was this time last year I would have been down at the ER by midnight. But my psychologist won't like the fact that I've been up all night researching a severe condition that I think I have again!

I've been reading through the posts of suffers and they've really inspired me, I’m not even half the person you guys are - I'm total wimp compared to you guys!

NO! The wimps are the macho men who refuse to get help when the need is clear.

Welocme to the board Vae, Bob's spot on with his advice. I'm glad you're already seeking treatment for your anxiety, left to run amok it can rule your life.

As to your headache, a Headache Specialist Neurologist is your best bet. If you go to the ER they'll give you vicodain or fiorinal and send you home. If you go to a GP since you're a woman, he'll diagnose migrains and send you home with Midrin!

If you have the option, get to a specialist, get the full work up done, eliminate all the scary stuff and move forward! ;) Praying you get some resolution soon.

Joe

Thanks Bob and Joe for your understanding comments, I will book an appointment with my GP tomorrow for Monday and see what she says about my symptoms... it's probably nothing and just my hypochondria playing tricks.

So do you think if I went to sleep now I would wake up in a few hours with a CH? It's 5am where I am now and I'm pretty tired.

By the way I would really like to donate if I can to an organisation, does this forum take donations? (I know some forums do). 



 

Hi VaeVictis.

I also do not have CH, and I also have Anxiety Disorder, so to an extent, I know how you feel. My anxiety was much worse about 11 years ago than it is now, and the reason is, well, I've created a sort of rule, or motto for myself.

Do not consume yourself with worry about what might happen in the future, because, chances are, what might happen, won't happen, and then, you've just wasted a bunch of time worrying. :P

I don't mean that to sound condescending at all. That motto has helped me cope with and chase off my anxiety countless times. I know it's not easy, especially when you let yourself slip into anxious thoughts, to talk yourself out of it. So it's best to remember that when you are not dealing with anxiety, to re enforce that thought process in your mind while it is calm.

So basically, have you ever had a CH? No. Are you having one now? No. The likely-hood of developing CH is very very very low. So why worry about something that's never happened to you, and most likely never will? The answer is, there's no need to.

You just need to tell yourself that every morning, when you wake up. Remind yourself. I do not need to worry about things that are not happening to me.

Good luck, and happy peaceful thoughts! I know that anxiety is like a 'beast' in it's own way, so I'm rooting for ya! You CAN smash that thing!  :D

Btw I am not a professional. Dunno why, but people like to disclaim like that for some reason after giving out some food for thought like that. Anyways, now I'm rambling. I'll shush now. XD

- Jair C.

Welcome!
I am having a big problem with your 'handle' here....
It translates from Latin to 'Vanquished','conquered man','loser','game over'....

We here are a conglomeration of experience,knowledge and advice and,suffering which is Second to none, outside of the Medical profession.....
Reading between the lines of your post reveals your true problem which is that you suffer from anxiety,big time and, you are looking for a 'finger' to point at it.....
IMO, you need to address your real issue, which is anxiety/hyperchondria....

Your'e not a loser..only the Fighters get here!

Respect

Gary

^ I wholeheartedly agree with what Batty just said.

Also, I want to clarify again that I do not mean for my original post to come across as demeaning nor do I want it to sound like I'm brushing off anxiety disorder as "no big deal".

I just wanted to share how I've dealt with it in hopes that it may help you too. :)

Bob Johnson wrote on Mar 18^th, 2011 at 3:18pm:

NO! The wimps are the macho men who refuse to get help when the need is clear.

That's a great line!!!  I know many macho wimps.

Hi VaeVictis,

Sorry to hear of your battles with anxiety - certainly that's something familiar to many around here.


VaeVictis wrote on Mar 18^th, 2011 at 2:32pm:

H they are very mild… only cause little discomfort..... I’m also worried because I think this might be early symptoms of becoming a CH sufferer, e.g. my anxiety started off as very mild but got more severe as time went by. Is this the same for CH?

No, CH doesn't typically start off mild - it typically whacks you upside the head with a crusher the very first time! So I'm betting YOU ARE IN THE CLEAR. No CH for you. :) Good thing, huh? You got enough to deal with, and I bet you'll deal with it effectively - glad to see that you're on the case and taking action to recover.  :)

Hi VaeVictis

I echo bejeeber's word's and  believe me.. it would be a good thing not to have CH, I would be one happy lady if I didn't have it.

Seriously though you are experiencing 2 debilitating conditions (anxiety and hypochondria) but couple them together and you have a never ending self perpetuating cycle...
I'm sure your fully aware of how anxiety manifests itself as physical symptoms which in turn are interpreted as sinister and life threatening which in turn increases anxiety which in turn makes the symptoms feel more sinister and life threatening.
The trick is to control the anxiety rather than the anxiety control you......so easy to type but difficult to do!

You must be doing trigger work, breaking the thought cycle and coping strategies within the CBT and the good thing is you have noted improvement in your anxiety levels. This will have an positive effect, as by getting one condition under control the other wont seem as bad.
How many months have you been see the psychologist?? CBT is a long therapy but has good results.

The Internet is a great thing... it brought you here! to a place full of knowledge, but also can be dangerous....
Im sure your psychologist will have warned you about the impact researching and self diagnosing has on your anxiety!

Take care and here's hoping you don't have CH.

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Hey everyone thank you for your replies, they’ve been very helpful and have made me feel much better. This a great community and I think it would be quite something to know you guys and gals in person.

Thank you Bob, I will most certainly make a donation to this wonderful site.

Well tonight was a little interesting, I fell asleep this morning at around 6am and woke up at 12pm… I woke up two times during my sleep but not due to any headache pain, I guess out of fear. I didn’t feel any headache pain until 4pm when the symptoms I described in my first post started appearing, again they were very mild. However, at around 7pm they become a little bit more discomforting (still far from severe though) but this got me a bit anxious, I took 2 Nurofen Plus tablets (recommended dosage) and waited 30 minutes but they didn’t seem to make any difference, now my anxiety was on the verge of becoming severe, about 15 – 20 minutes later I noticed my left eye became a little watery and a couple of minutes later my left nostril started to become a little runny, I thought maybe this was due to sitting in the air conditioning and in front of the computer all day long but my hypochondria kicked in and I convinced myself that a CH was on the way, so I got in the car and drove down to the hospital, however, instead of going into the ER I parked in the car park and waited to see if my symptoms became severe (by the way my runny nose and watery eye were long gone by the time I got to the hospital which is a 15 minute drive from my place). I waited 45 minutes in the car park and realized If i was going o have a CH I would have had one by now, so I went home. Waiting in the car park brought my anxiety levels back down to mild which is good.

Tonight I’ve also been having some mild pain in the back of right head, just above my right ear and right part of my neck, it feels like tension pain. And the pain in the front of my head seems to be around the temple, not actually behind it. I also feel a little nausea in my stomach and a mild throw up feeling at the bottom of my throat.


I’m not sure what is causing all this mild headache pain but it's causing me grief, I haven’t been sleeping good lately which could be a factor and maybe my anxiety is also contributing to it  but arrgghh I just want a doctor to give me an answer, but GP's can be pretty useless at times, I might have to see a Neurologist instead.

Did any of you go through this before your CH started?

Anyway my anxiety is mild now which is good.

The early stages, when Cluster is developing, are often defined by unclear symptoms, vague and wandering pain/sites of the pain, etc.--anything other than the textbook descripton! Not unusual for it to take months, even a couple of years, before a stable picture emerges.

It's at the point where patience is important.

I would not expect a GP to be good at sorting out a headache diagnosis at this stage. Even most neurologists have surprisingly poor education in headache.

A headache specialist is best, if one is available to you. But I'd also "fess up" with your therapist about the anxiety issue. This is the raw material of your therapy and hiding is not useful to either of you.
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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.

Thanks bob, I live in Australia and in a somewhat small and remote town (Townsville) and I don't think we have a headache specialist here, but I know we have neurologists. I'll book an appointment with the neurologist and ask him/her about a headache specialist if he/she aren't helpful.

But bob do you think I'm just getting carried with all this? It's probably nothing yeah?

Don't worry I'll be telling my psychologist and neurologist about my anxiety.

 

Rather than making an appt to ask about a specialist, consider some of the approaches outlined in the how to find piece. Hospitals, medical associations, the phone book (in the U.S.) have such lists. Social work staff at the hospital are often the best source of information (and, if you hit the right one) may steer you to the best of the lot...

I'll look into it Bob, thanks once again!

Is is it possible I might be suffering from eye strain? I spend a lot of time sitting in front of a computer screen (I study IT and use the computer for entertainment) and when I'm away from the computer I'm usually in front of a TV screen, also the lights in my room are fairly bright and I have them on all the time.

VaeVictis wrote on Mar 19^th, 2011 at 1:49pm:

Is is it possible I might be suffering from eye strain?

To answer this question you need to see an optician. There is no way that something like this can be diagnosed with an internet post, even by a qualified optician.

Hey there, I just wanted to say hi and that I know what you are going through. I was diagnosed with Generalised Anxiety Disorder about 6 years ago. I found CBT very helpful - and also anti-anxiety meds, which I am still on. Hopefully if you can find the right help for that, some of the other issues will resolve themselves too.

All the best.

Oi, Vae, I'm just up the road from you and first chance I'll be down to take you to the pub. Have you fixed in no time flat.