I'm hoping with all the knowledge on this board that y'all can tell me if what I'm experiencing might be CH's.

About 3 years ago, once every couple of months I would wake up from a sound sleep with excruciating pain on the left side of my throat and face. The pain was/is always on the left. It starts right above my collar bone, goes up next to my wind pipe, and then behind my left eye. When this happens, I wake up "in motion", trying to get to a sitting position on the side of the bed. I automatically clamp the side of the mattress with my hands, and begin to rock back and forth. Each time, the excruciating pain only lasts a few minutes (maybe 5-10) and then I'm able to eventually get back to sleep. I basically ignored them because they seemed so few and far between, and only at night. I thought maybe I was just sleeping in a wrong position or something.

In the last few months, they've gotten worse, and more frequent. The pain was still in the same place, was just happening more often, and each episode lasting a little longer. Just this past week, I've had two during the day. Also, the pain is never completely gone now,,,it's just varying degrees. Also, the left side of the roof of my mouth is sore, and just tonight the left side of the tip of my tongue has gone somewhat numb.

A little generic info about me,,,I live in Oklahoma, am a 49 y/o female, generally in good health. I smoke but do not drink, and caffeine is my daily vice. I do not have insurance, so this thing is scaring me to death on several levels. Years ago, I was having some strange headaches, (nothing like these though) and my doctor prescribed Imitrex. When I tried to fill the prescription, it was so expensive there was NO WAY I could afford it. I think it was something like $20 a pill! Has the cost of it gone down any? The reason I ask,,,,if I end up going to the ER, and the doctor prescribes it, I'd like to know if I should refuse it and ask for something else I can afford.

Thank you for any input/advice/feedback,,,,I will appreciate it all!!

hi adidasgirl8,
                  sorry for your pain.
   while many symptoms can mimmick cluster headaches, unfortunately the best course of action is to go to a headache specialist and get a proper diagnosis. I know that's not the answer you want to hear, but its extremely important to do so.
there are people on here that can help you with names of specialists that are close to where you live.
I was wrongly diagnosed for over 2 years and while it might cost a bit to initially see a headache specialist for a proper diagnosis, it would have saved me a hell of a lot time and money if I had of from the start.
im sure someone will post and give you some contacts.
good luck
colin

We cannot diagnose! It's unethical of us to try; it's not wise for you to accept such efforts which may be offered to you.

Headache is a far more complex area of medicine than our advertising leads us to believe (the old, take aspirin for fast relief,etc.)

Take a look at:
Link to: cluster-LIKE headache:

IN: "Medications, Treatments, Therapies --> "Important Topics" --> "Cluster-LIKE headache"
=====
If at all possible:

LOCATING HEADACHE SPECIALIST

1. 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.

2.  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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

Adidasgirl, we don't know what you have, we're not doctors. While some of your symptoms sound like CHs there is no way we can know for sure. You're in a bind because you need to see a headache specialist but don't have the money. Maybe someone can help with this? At any rate, if you search this site you'll find a bunch of OTC approaches which pretty much anyone can take. Pay particular attention to the Vitamin D3 regimen. Use the time you have now to become more informed about CHs. You'll need that knowledge when seeing a doc. Good luck, and God bless. lance

I never heard of the pain starting by the collar bone mine always starts behind the left eye and eventually when it gets really painful my neck will sometimes ache.  Never did the pain start at the collar bone and work up.  Anyways I'm not a doctor so I don't know.  Hopefully you don't have cluster headaches and its something you can get taken care of rather easily. Good luck.