I am new to cluster headaches, and have the tell-tell red, swollen, droopy eye. How long does this last? I have found a lot of research on pain relief for the headaches, but am having trouble figuring out how long I have to look like a zombie. I'm a teacher, and am concerned I may actually start scaring my students based on my appearance  ;) I understand that the eye can stay this way even after the attack, which seems to be true for me. Is there anything I can help to relieve it? Ice? Heat? Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Hi and welcome

Ever since I started killing of CHs with oxygen my eye hardly has time to get droopy like it used to when I used to have the 45-90 minute CH rides with the beast.

I'm confused by your mention of pain relief for headaches. Treating CHs with pain relief, normally narcotics, is not an effective way to deal with CH. What works a lot better is an abortive, normally oxygen or imitrex which can kill off a CH in a few minutes.

Are you working with a headache specialist for your CHs?

Have you got a good preventive, like verapamil, lithium or topamax to cut down how many CHs you get?

Tell us more about how you are currently treating your CHs and we can give some feedback.

Also where are you in the world? Sometimes the advice can be location specific.

Keep reading and keep asking questions...

This is what Mike is asking you to do:

Please tell us where you live. Follow the next line to a message which explains why knowing your location and your medical history will help us to help you.

Cluster Headache Help and Support › Getting to Know Ya › Newbies, Help us...help you

You can add your location by editing your profile. CP Member --> profile
BUT, Please!, don't post your messages at this location. They won't get the attention you want: use the appropriate sections which follow.

I'm with Mike, the best way to avoid Mr. "Droopy Eye" is to avoid the full on attack. Read this link on using oxygen, it's about the safest, fastest, most effective means for me to abort attacks. My aborts average 6-8 minutes, doesn't give the "red eye" a chance to develop:

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Do let us know the part of the world you're from as much of the info we have here tends to be country specific. Glad you found us, hope we can help you out.

Joe