Hi my name is Jon, and I have just been experiencing cluster headaches now for about two months. It started out as an every other day kind of headache which I mistook for a toothache as I have a couple very troublesome teeth. As the weeks went by the headaches got worse and worse and although the pain in my jaw and upper teeth have remained constant, the main area of pain is most certainly behind my left eye socket/left temple. They seem to hit during the middle of the day somewhat mildly (in comparison) and usually between 9 and ten o'clock at night with a vengeance (which unfortunately is about nownand should hit soon). My question (or questions) to you guys is how you function in normal everyday life? I can get through them at work most of the time as I have a very high pain tolerance, and they are not terribly excruciating during the day normally, but as they get worse at night they are seriously effecting my family life. I have an 8 month old baby at home , and often lately they will already be coming on strong by the time I get home so I am really unable to spend time with my baby and girlfriend as I spend most of my time away from work pacing around the house/front yard chugging water. I suppose this is somewhat of a rant, but my family doesn't really understand what I am going through, and really have no one to relate with who understands the unbelievable pain I go through. I can always feel myself daily slipping into a deeper and deeper depression, and all I can do is hope and pray it does not become a chronic issue that plagues my life for years and years to come

Hi Jon, and welcome,
Your first line of attack is to seek out a headache specialist in your area to get a proper diagnosis! Their are lots of headache types that mimic CH's, and the majority of doctors and neuros out there aren't up to speed when it comes down to diagnosing CH disease.

Hoppy

Welcome Jon

Hoppy is 100% correct about getting the right diagnosis.

Both you and your girlfriend should read a lot of the stories on here. They might help you understand that you are not alone   
It doesn't matter what king of pain tolerance you have. I never took one pain pill after my first back surgery and cry like a baby when I get my bad headaches. Nobody can tolerate the bad ones.

Did you take the cluster quiz at the top left of this page? 

Wishing you the best

Ilndguy

It will help us to direct you to good sources of assistance if you will tell us where you live (city & state, if U.S. or country). At the Home page: Help button-->Edit & Profile --> Location. (This will add your location, just below your name, every time you post a message.
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You cannot safely assume that you have Cluster.
Take a look at:   Look under: Medications,  Treatments,  Therapies -› Important Topics ->Cluster-LIKE headache
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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.
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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.
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For most of us,Cluster Headaches, are a life long experience. A lucky few have them go away as we age. So once we are sure CH is what we have, learning how to fight and find something that helps, becomes a priority.

I've had CH for 28 years. Until I came to this site, I thought my Doctor knew what was best. What I learned here, helped me educate the Doctor and get better results.

The battle is our own and starts now.