So I've been getting CH for about 3 weeks now, all on my left side, and my latest one was on the right..... Is this normal?! This is my first one on the right hand side...

Not a common situation but I don't recall that the medical literatreature says it's a concern.

3-weeks: did you or a doc make the Dx? (There are a multitude of disorders which mimic Cluster so a good Dx is important.)

Hi George
Normally CH stays one sided, but switching sides is definately not unheard of.

I've read before of the  [smiley=evil.gif] switching sides, but normally you are either a lefty or a righty.

Hoppy

Hi guys, thanks for the replies.

Diagnosed properly by a neurologist Bob, no doubt on this one at the mo! However I haven't seen him since the side switch, so haven't told him about this yet.

I did a little research and saw that it wasn't unheard of too, so feel a little better. It wasn't as intense on the right and my shadows have been on the left today, so maybe just a anomaly.

Cheers
George

I get most of the pain on the right, but I get some on the other side at the same time. It doesn't happen with every HA, but frequently...

My husband had pain only on the right side for four years. Then two years in remission. Now it seems to be back...but on the left side now. It's still ramping up - not full blown yet.

I always hated the switch. Worst was finishing a leftie cycle one day and starting a rightie the next. It can also be confused a lot by getting to enjoy more than just the one headache syndrome.

Best advice, as always, is to discuss it with chosen doctor if you're worried about it.

Let us know how you get on with it,

Brian down under.

Most people have their CH just on one side, but some have it switch either between cycles or even between CHs. When my CHs first started I had a few left sided ones before they settled down and took up residence on the right side.

Some people have had a nerve block done on one side which seemed to result in CH changing sides.

Similarly most people have them either around the eye or the temple, but again changes between are possible.

Nobody seems to know why these changes happen and it is considered to be just something that can happen with CH without any deeper implication. However as Brian suggested, if it concerns you then do discuss it with your doctor.

Thanks guys. Both my neurologist and myself are certain that I am in my first ever cluster cycle. For the first 3 weeks it was daily attack behind left eye with usual cluster symptoms.

My last two 'attacks'  however have been more like strong-ish shadows and have been on both sides of my head.

Last night I had my usual eye watering and nose blocking on the left side, and then came shortly after a strong 'ache' across head and on right side....

Could this be a sign my cycle could be ending?! Looking for any positives as this latest development has left me a little confused!!!

Or could it be the fact I've been take zolmitriptan nasal spray daily throughout my cycle that my clusters have stopped only to be replaced by rebounds?!

I have my oxygen coming tomorrow so will start to leave the Triptans alone and focus on oxygen to see if any improvement. I'm also being prescribed verapamil...

Thanks all
George

Hi George

Hard to know if it is your cycle ending or not until it ends. That then may become the normal end of cycle routine for you, but as with many things CH related, things can change.

For the zolmitriptan theory, it is possible, but hard to tell the difference between a "rebound" CH and a "normal" CH, so I'd not worry too much about it.

For me (40 years of CH) switching sides can mean starting or stopping a cycle.  Mine are 90% left, a right side is a big concern because it's unusual.    Left sides are the worst.    I am 17 days into my most recent cycle, off for almost 2 years.    Doing 60 mg Pred a day for about a week, started taper today.  Hope to be "out" in another 10 days.    I don't know how I survived this while I was working everyday.   

Kip

Hello George. For the shadow headaches have you tried an energy drink like Red Bull, Monster or 5 Hour. For me, an 5 Hour Energy would kill it in about 5 to 7 minutes.

Hey Bob

I've tried Red Bull, not shaking the shadows unfortunately.

My cycle is slowing since I've started my verapamil , I haven't had a full blown attack for days now, I get shadows around the same time every day and have been hitting the o2 to shake these.

Is a 5 hour drink any different caffeine/taurine wise  to red bull?

I've never compared the two label by label. I have always used 5 Hour Energy (actually the Costco store brand. Same stuff but cheaper by the case) the 5 hour is just under 2 oz. you can take it in one swallow. Have some water to wash it down, it tastes like skunk piss. The Monter or Red Bull are sized larger and I can't gulp the whole can at once.

I am a righty, but several times a year I get a shadow on my left side. 
It had no implications for anything...
I always thought of it as my right eye getting bored.  ;)

My CHs (episodic, spring and fall for about 6 weeks, chronic once for 14 months) are constantly switching sides. They typically take place on my right side and those are somewhat manageable. The ones on the left are 99% Kip 10s. When my CHs get really nasty, they will switch sides during a headache, which has happened a few times over the past week. This typically indicates I'm nearing the end of my cycle. In my experience those are the worst as once the CH has switched sides, it ramps back up (if I'm unable to abort). Not cool.

Mine have switched sides many times, once even during a headache, that was a doozy.

My attacks are generally left side--every so often I get a "hopper" which can be really hard hitters.  Today I had a hopper and it switched back and it truly was a doozy!