I just wanted to know if its normal to have what I like to call residual headaches after the cluster headache.  It feels much like the beginning symptoms of a cluster onset but its constant, or just a bad headache that lasts and lasts almost until the next cluster.  This happens sometimes to me which when it does, takes my entire day away.

Does anyone else experience this, and if so, what are some options to ward off the residual bastards?

Adam

Rarely, but I do get them from time to time.

Sounds perverted, but I look forward to them. It means the really bad shit is behind me (until the next time, that is).

Yeah, I get these too. Sometimes last for days. I've yet to figure out what gets rid of these. Of you do, let me know!

Marie

Yep.  

Feels like you've been bruised on the inside?  I've heard others call it "headache hangover" or "afterburn".  Not pleasant, but do-able.  I suspect it might lay a non-clusterhead out flat, however.

Caffeine helps some, or an OTC antihistamine with a couple of aspirin.

Best,

George

Yeah, count me in too.  I call it afterburn.  Sometimes a little time with Oxygen can help.  Keep the coffee flowing too.  It still beats a real attack.

Hang tough brother...

-Dennis-

Aleve (Naproxyn sodium) an over the counter med sometimes helps me a lot with the nagging ongoing headaches. Taken occasionally.

If this is a new and continuing issue have it checked out. Its fairly common though for some of us.

Me too, the "bruised" feeling is exaclty like mine.  Also for several days if I sneeze I get one spike of pain right where the cluster hits.  

The shadow knows. This is what I call the shadow. The demon parked and ready for action.
thebb ;)

Yes, I get them. I didn't get them when I still used the steroids but after tapering off them I've had a residual headache (or shadow, as some here call them) most of the time I'm awake. The evenings are a bit easier. And usually they ease off somewhat right after an attack. It kind of feels like someone has been cutting the right side of my head with a very sharp knife over and over again, right where the trigeminal nerve is.

- Rosa

For me energy drinks and/or coffee work pretty good.

Yep that's what I call the Shadows... Usually about a 3 or 4, but enough to let you know it's hanging around.

We were talking about that at convention. Seems we all have a "sensitive" spot (and of course they were all different spots) that are tender to the touch most of the time after a hit.

Hugs BD

I must be nuts.  I love these residuals or shadows because I can function during them and I NEVER take anything for them.  I figure eventually my  abortives will stop working (as trex already has) so I dont want to waste the efficacy on a shadow.  (I dont care is that is logical, it makes sense to me).

The reason I love them is because they aren't a bad headache.

Does this only make sense to me?

FramCire wrote on Jul 14^th, 2008 at 6:12pm:

I must be nuts.  I love these residuals or shadows because I can function during them and I NEVER take anything for them.  I figure eventually my  abortives will stop working (as trex already has) so I dont want to waste the efficacy on a shadow.  (I dont care is that is logical, it makes sense to me). The reason I love them is because they aren't a bad headache. Does this only make sense to me?

See reply #1 above.

Makes sense to me FramCire, gimme a fight I know I can win everytime.

I do welcome them (the residuals) instead of the CHs, but there just annoying more than anything.  And for everyday tasks, they are a joke.  Thanks for the replies and information guys.  This forum is the best!

I didn't know that clusters could possibly become immune to medications over time.  Is this true?  If so, that would make sense that Midrin use to work, then it didn't.  Then it was Axert, it stopped, then Imitrex, the same, and so on and so forth.  If the demon can evolve, than that is a whole new aspect that is in desperate need of research.

Adam    

Adam D wrote on Jul 17^th, 2008 at 8:43am:

I do welcome them (the residuals) instead of the CHs, but there just annoying more than anything.  And for everyday tasks, they are a joke.  Thanks for the replies and information guys.  This forum is the best! I didn't know that clusters could possibly become immune to medications over time.  Is this true?  If so, that would make sense that Midrin use to work, then it didn't.  Then it was Axert, it stopped, then Imitrex, the same, and so on and so forth.  If the demon can evolve, than that is a whole new aspect that is in desperate need of research. Adam

Hey Adam!  That knife cuts both way too.  What doesn't work this cycle may work again next cycle.  So never rule anything out that use to work just because it doens't work right now.

-Dennis-