Hello there names Tim or thbaker41 I have not officialy been told its cluster headaces yet but have had a want to kill myself headace now for 30 days straght not constant but get a break every few hrs been to my family doc 4 times this month and every time I tell him the pain is behind my left eye and on a pain scale its pushing a 100. I have dengenrative disk de in my neck so he kept wanting to focus on that until yesterday when I told him I was thinking of just killing myself if I cant get relief from the pain. So he tells me that well gee where your telling me it hurts may not be your neck gee ya think doc so he set me up to see a nero next week. sorry if this post is kinda everywhere but I am kinda doing the new tearm I learned doing the dance but in the phase to where it is slacking up for the moment. I do have a ? for anyone as I said this has lasted 30 days now is this typical for clusters to do? I had a brain mri done yesterday no tumers so thats why there thinking its clusters

It's very premature to assume you have Cluster. Without a good diagnostic work-up your flying blind for there are a number of disorders which appear to be Cluster but which are, in fact, not headache disorders.

Second issue is whether the neuro knows anything about headache. It's amazing how little education/experience most neuros have in this complex area of medicine. See this doc and see what comes of it, i.e., does he seem to know about how to Dx you.

If you have any doubts, seek a headache specialist.
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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.
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Ok time here is 8am went to the doc yesterday and when I left he wasnt sure wanted to talk to a nero first so this morning I got the call want to start aggresive treatments for clusters .

What is the treatment plan? Med, dose, frequency....

they are giveing me ten mg twice a day of Rizatriptan Benzdate, twenty five mg of Sumatriptan twice a day go in for my first o2 trement today dont know anything about how much how long it takes. two weeks ago I went in and they gave me a drug cocktail threw a iv said it would for sure get rid of it cant remember what it was that was in it had three drugs in it though I know that and I thought it worked left there this was at the Graves Gilbert Clinic in Bowlinggreen ky and well I felt alive for the first time in like three weeks well that lasted for maybe two hrs and then just a dull throb again same place and well the attack that came then was bad. The nuro I see gave me the sample of Rizatriptan yesterday and it helped some so thats when he called my doc and told him how we are going to deal with this I really hope the o2 brings some relief and I have never been a big water drinker it's always sweet tea and I smoke so I want to stop that and I guess take in alot more water and are there foods I can add or subtract from my diet that you could recomend

Your outline in reply #4 is so unorthodox and lacking in the names of the specif meds used that it's impossible to go beyond saying, "I'm confused!"

How aout giving up a report in a week or two about the results of this treatment you outlined. What would really be helpful is if you would get names of the meds being used. Don't be shy about asking directly; write the name down. You have an absolute right to this information.

I think tha only then can we get some idea of whether this Clinic understands Cluster.

found out the drugs they gave me Depcon, Benadrel and reglan dont know the dosage though

Don't know why you are "going in for O2 treatments". You should read the oxygen info link carefully and understand how CH sufferers need to use it. It is an on demand thing...
They also don't seem to be using the standard front-line medications for CH... but maybe they have something else in mind. Keep us posted.