I am 17 years old and in my junior year of school. up until this year ive been a great student. but now im never there... i cant even get out of bed in the mornings to go to school, i am usually puking or in the hospital getting a shot.

I have never experienced a pain like this, these headaches have been effecting me since October. I have always been prone to migranes, but my last trip to the ER i was diagnosed with cluster headaches.

I am scared for myself because I can't have a life, I have tried every medication possible and have been accused of drug seeking. I am not that kind of girl. I am a cheerleader and dancer, in almost every club in school and in NHS, I am not one of them people that just like to get high off drugs. I hate not being able to control my body, including my headaches.

I just want someone to help me. I can't keep living like this.. My head hurts and I am falling way behind in school and my teachers do not understand.

OK Taylor.........try and relax. First of all tell us about the headache. How long does it last? Do you get more than one a day? Do they come at any certain time? Are they one sided or does your nose stop up on the same side. What have you taken thus far?

We have had them for years. There are things out there that can help you live a normal life.

Welcome to the head bangers club. :)

Help is here Taylor. I'm Felicia but everyone usually just calls me Broken. I'm also 17 and have been supporting my dad since I was 7. I know what you're going through in a way. Don't be scared. I promise you that it will be ok. You will find a place with this life one way or another. I'm just going to get to the point. I'm here if you want to talk, cry, bitch, rant, etc. That's what I do here. I'm the cluster"kid" welcome wagon. I have email and IM if that's easier, don't be afraid to talk to me. I just want to help. Answer as many questions as you can and listen to the people here. They know what they're doing. Trust me. If there's any questions you have, don't be afraid to ask. We're here to help. Can't really say much more. Welcome home and we're always here.

Broken

Hi Taylor!

My name is Jeannie and I have had CH since I was ten.  I know that things seem really bad right now but  believe me, things will get better. You have been diagnosed and know what you are dealing with.   Tell us all you can about your HAs and we will do everything we can to help you.  As Jimi said, there are lots of things that can help you lead a normal life.   Every person here is living proof of that!

Maybe tell your mom about this site so we can help her help you.  Hang in there, honey.  We really do understand your pain and your worries.

Jeannie

hi sweetie:
first you have done the right thing by posting  we are here to help you,
broken is your age and can relate to you so please use that rescource.
read all you can on this , knowledge is power.  please find a (good) neurologist to help. please tell us about you headaches and medicine your one and have tried  this is very important before we can really help.   till then go get an energy drink and chug it when you get a hit and use an ice pack or heat pack whatever feels good to you,
we are her for you sweetie just hang on to us. :'(

Hi,

My son is 17 and has CH. We have him in online school so that the can work at his own pace and when he is able. I am not sure were you live but maybe there is something like that available in your area. It has been very helpful for my son.

Good luck :-*
Gena

Hi Taylor,
I am about your age (18 for one month) and I was also lately diagnosed with cluster headaches. Have you talked with your teachers and explained to them what does your illness mean? I think that it is a good way to solve few things out. Have you got some meds? Please and read about oxygen it really helps, or water x3 because it may also help. Actually, read some info on the message board - I found them really helpful.

And remember, don't give up! Everything will be just fine. Just as George told me when I had a breakdown. We are true fighters (I dare to add.. gladiators). There is no way that you will give up, I know it.

If you want to ask some questions or just to talk, contact with me through PM or MSN.

Hi there !
I'm 18 and suffer from that beast for 6 years already...
Like the others said, be happy that finally you've been diagnosed so now you know what you dealing with.Personally i was suffering for 5 and a half years before being diagnosed with CH and getting the right pills... for 5 and a half yeras i took all the pills that said "pain relief" and none of them helped...lol now thats a bitch huh ? ;D
I went through JR high and high school with CH, i literally fought myself to get up in the morning and go to school while having a headache.And from some stupid reason i never told the teachers that i suffer from CH...
remember !!! having a CH makes YOU a FIGHTER so be STRONG ! and fight it back by learning about it and what can kill it. Dont give it up because there are ways to live almost normal life !
we are a community and we are here to help each other ! :)

chopper922 wrote on Jul 22^nd, 2010 at 3:35am:

Hi there ! ! having a CH makes YOU a FIGHTER so be STRONG ! and fight it back by learning about it and what can kill it. Dont give it up because there are ways to live almost normal life ! we are a community and we are here to help each other ! :)

amen to that. its easier when you can interact with another clusterhead. i never had that growing up and it sucked. and those teenage years are tough even if you dont have ch right ;D

Hi ! I too started having clusters at 17. Have you printed off the letter to give people to help them understand?

Hey there. I know exactly what you're going through. I'm 15, and I'll be a junior this coming up school year. I also play softball, but when I play, the headaches just get worse. I get my ch on the left side behind my eye, my nose plugs up, and I lose vision in my right eye. The only help I've found for my chs is going to the er. I don't know what else to do for them. It's hard balancing my life when I don't know when a headache is just going to pop up out of the blue. I'm new, but if you ever need to talk, I'm here.

Hello!

I started getting my ch when I was in the 3rd grade. I remember in high school the nurses would know me by name because everyday I was in the nurses office suffering with a headache at the same time everyday. It got so bad that they told me to not come to school until after I get over my headache. It took 7 years for me to get properly diagnosed but once they did I was able to lead a perfectly normal high school life. What helped me to get diagnosed is that I had an attack at my Dr appt and he noticed the symptoms. It does eventually get better so hang in there!