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Message started by Zoe Dimples on Mar 23rd, 2015 at 8:56pm

Title: Do I suffer from cluster headaches please help
Post by Zoe Dimples on Mar 23rd, 2015 at 8:56pm
Hi, completely new to this, since I was about 5 I have suffered from excruciating headaches( I am now 24) they mainly come without any warning.. They strike at one side of my head mainly being my left side with severe pain attacking behind my eye the left side of my head goes hot!! They last for approximately 2-3 minutes longest I have suffered is about 10 minutes. I have an after pain that subsides completely after about 5 minutes.. When they strike I completely have to stop and generally end up punching my head to try and get it to go away I cant talk and can't open my eye on the side that the pain is on!! People look at me look Im crazy!! Once it's gone I go completely back to normal I generally get them randomly sometimes twice a day for a few weeks then won't get them again for a couple of months! I have never been diagnosed before!! But I have read up on cluster headaches and I believe this relates to my headaches the most!! Is any body able to confirm this for me!! Many thanks Zoe xxx

Title: Re: Do I suffer from cluster headaches please help
Post by AussieBrian on Mar 23rd, 2015 at 10:49pm
G'day Zoe. Top left of your screen is a button for the Cluster Quiz. Give it a try and let us know how you get on.

Title: Re: Do I suffer from cluster headaches please help
Post by Hoppy on Mar 23rd, 2015 at 11:56pm
It sounds like to me you are suffering from TACs (SUNCT)
headaches, and you need to check in with a Headache
Specialist to confirm this.

Hoppy.

Title: Re: Do I suffer from cluster headaches please help
Post by Bob Johnson on Mar 24th, 2015 at 8:43am
We can't make a diagnosis nor should you trust anyone who would do so on the web.


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 Login or RegisterEND 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 Login or RegisterEND 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 Login or RegisterEND 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.
=====================================================================
WHY A HEADACHE SPECIALIST IS RECOMMENDED


Headache. 2012 Jan;52(1):99-113.
Cluster headache in the United States of America: demographics, clinical characteristics, triggers, suicidality, and personal burden.
Rozen TD, Fishman RS.

THERE REMAINS A SIGNIFICANT DIAGNOSTIC DELAY FOR CLUSTER HEADACHE PATIENTS ON AVERAGE 5+ YEARS WITH ONLY 21% RECEIVING A CORRECT DIAGNOSIS AT TIME OF INITIAL PRESENTATION.


Title: Re: Do I suffer from cluster headaches please help
Post by maz on Mar 24th, 2015 at 5:59pm
Hi Zoe
The duration of your headaches seems rather short to be CH, which normally last from between 30 minutes to several hours. However , we are all different, so you never know. But as Hoppy said it sounds more like SUNCT.

Follow Bobs advice on finding a good headache specialist to give you the correct diagnosis. All the different headache types (there are a few) respond to different meds, so it will be difficult to treat untill you know what you have.
Let us know how you get on
Maz.

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