i have just discovered this site...and have finally discovered after 7 years what my problems are.
all the symptoms described are those that i suffer exactly.i have tried without success to explain to docs,family etc what pain i am in but i am sure no one actually believed me.

numerous tablets,x rays,scans,appointments

i will be making an appointment tomorrow armed with plenty of printouts to back my theory

can anyone give any suggestions of how to deal with a major attack until i get any further medication

oh i feel so much better already just putting a name to what i possibly am suffering with

Read! ;)

You need to locate a headache specialist neurologist. It's your best shot at an accurate diagnosis and an effective treatment regimen. For now, go pick up a four pack of energy drinks, rock star monster etc. any containing the combo of caffiene and taurine. Slam one down att he first sign of an attack. It'll abort ar at least reduce the intensity of an attack for many.

If you're not already keeping a headache diary do so. When they start, how high the pain builds, how fast it builds, the type of pain, location, any secondary symptoms, the more details the better. So much of an accurate diagnosis is in the little details.

Wishing you luck with the neuro.

Joe

Hello, before i was diagnosed, I would take a hot cup of coffee and lay it on the nape of my neck on the effected side. Others here have had relief from cold packs. The hot shower in the face was amazing as it removed all pain(for mere seconds) and i would repeat putting my face in the spray. I found if I could loosen the sinus on my effected side I could tolerate the headache alot better. I still look forward to (Ice Picking) as for me it means Im coming down.I also can apply finger pressure to the temple, the corner of the eye and the nape of the neck and relieve the pain for seconds at a time.   I pray you find a great doctor and I hope some of this will help!

Somethng cold such as barefoot on a concrete floor worked now and then for me. It's a vascular thing.

Good luck and know that you're among a lot of people that "get it" when you try to explain this horror.

Charlie.

I used to massage my head for hours.  The pain was always on one side as CHs tend to be.

I would also take a towel and tightly twist it around my head.  It would distribute the pain more evenly.

The ice pack evolved to straight ice. Just a couple of cubes from the neck back to the temples….

Try to open the freezer and breath the cold air slow and deep.

I guess we all have our little tricks….

I hope you find yours until you get the meds.