Hi, Am I in denial or are my PCP and neurologist right? I've been diagnosed by both with cluster headaches; however, I have never reached the prolonged (key word) pain levels I've read about, so I have my doubts. For this reason I turn to this forum for help with my diagnosis, just looking for some opinions : ). My  symptoms started 4/6/2011 the day after I had hernia surgery which required general anesthesia. I think there's a link, Docs don't. Anyway, my symptoms all occur directly behind the left eye, always. I have had shadows (pressure, pulses of moderate pain, minor and moderate headaches, burning sensation) every day since the 4/6, but my worse symptoms occur in 2-3 day cycles, once or twice a month. During these times, I have episodes of severe pain behind the left eye. it feels as though a little demon has a very sharp nail on the back of my left eye and whacks it hard with a hammer. The pain level is severe but it's fast and lasts less than 2 seconds then gone and may repeat like that up to 20 times, more or less during an episode. The main thing is i never have constant severe pain, just the quick spikes with minor to moderate constant pain. Yesterday the little demon was very active taking his shots all afternoon and evening and imitrex did not work. Sometime I think the anticipation of a strike is worse than the strike, until the strike hits that is. Do I sound like a cluster sufferer or should I focus on finding the person with my voodoo doll that obviously hates me? BTW I meet with a Dana Farber headache specialist the end of next month. Till then, please let me know what you think.

When a new headache condition is developing it's quite common for symptoms to change in locaion, degree of pain, duration, etc. This may go on for months, even to a couple of yeas, before settling down to a stable pattern.

Obviously, this make a firm Dx difficult. That you are seeing a specialist is ideal.

It would not be ethical or useful for us to make any judgments.

If you end up with a firm Dx of Cluster, please get back and our collective experience will be here to help you.

Thanks Bob. That's kind of what I was afraid of hearing but needed to know regardless. That my symptoms could change and I could be more of a "classic" sufferer. Then again maybe not right? Not going to lose sleep over it yet...well...you know what I mean. Thanks for your comments. i will return if I am Dx. If not, take care and thanks again!

Welcome to the board Mike. In my late teens, if I felt an attack coming on, I could abort it just by falling asleep! I never had ake up attacks back then. So yeah, in the early stages it can morph all over the place before it settles into a "classic" routine. Wishing you speed on your diagnostic journey.

Joe

Thanks Joe!