I don't know exactly where or how to begin. I have been told for years I have migraine headaches, which after visiting this site as a guest for a couple months off and on... I think I have cluster demons.

Imitrex pills don't work. Injections work, but I still get the pain throughout my day and night in the fall. I have a few things that I believe may be triggers, but they are just best guesses.

Anyway, HI thanks for having me.

Hi Rene

What we can not do here is to give you a diagnosis. This is something that you need to work with a neurologist, preferably a headache specialist, as there are many types of headaches and it is often non-trivial to determine which one or possibly which ones you are getting.

Have you tried the CH quiz - START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE ?

It can be a good guide, but again it is not a diagnosis too.

Where in the world are you? There may be people here who can help suggest where to find a headache specialist.

The "...pain throughout my day and night in the fall..." does not sound like typical CHs which have a rapid onset (a few minutes or less), duration of 15-180 minutes and the pain then quickly vanishes. However you may be describing shadows, which are like low level CHs that never quite get going, but can last for hours.

What do you think your triggers are?

Welcome to the board Rene. I applaud anyone who is willing to "take the bull by the horns" and try and figure out what's wrong with themselves!

That being said, it just can't take the place of a qualified headache specialist neurologist. I don't know if you're male or female.....I say that because sadly if you are a girl, they call EVERYTHING  a migrain, makes it a little tougher for the women to finally get a correct diagnosis if it is CH! What part of the world are you in? Much of the advice we can offer about obtaining treatments, diagnosis, visiting specialists, tends to be specific to the area of the world you're in.

If you're not already doing so, keep as detailed a headache diary as you can. When they start, how fast they build, how high they build, how long they stay at peak, how fast they go away, any associated symptoms, triggers, meds that do and don't work, the more detailed the better. Then get a referral to a headache specialist neurologist. There are hundreds of headache types, your general practitioner and even the garden variety neuro just doesn't have the education to diagnosis and treat them.

Wishing you luck and speed on a diagnosis.

Joe

Quote:

Imitrex pills don't work.

I tried that ....hmmmp  :(

Greetings Rene,

I need to echo Joe's and Mike's wise words.

You indicate that you think you know some triggers but they are just your best guess. -- "What you can measure you can manage" - Keep a diary, log, journal, or whatever you want to call it, the triggers will start to appear and will no longer be guesses. There is much valuable information on this website, but the information that you will gather in a journal is priceless and noone can do it but you.

Follow and take the 'cluster quiz' link on the left, as Mike said it is not diagnostic but may give you a better idea if what you are suffering from are Cluster Headaches.

Please keep us posted as to your progress.

Blessings to us all,

d

As always Thank You, Thank You, Thank You for all those that have suffered before us.

mandy gake wrote on Jan 2^nd, 2012 at 8:04pm:

Quote: Imitrex pills don't work. I tried that ....hmmmp  :(

Greetings mandy gake,

I noticed that this your first post and seem unhappy with Imitrex Pills.

I would encourage you to tell us a little about yourself in the 'Getting to Know You' section on the board.

Providing some details as to geographic location, diagnosis and by whom, what types of medicines you may be using will assist the many brilliant others on this site that have helped me to help you.

Blessings to us all,

d

As always Thank You, Thank You, Thank You for those that have come before us.