Hello everybody.

For the past two or three decades I've had ongoing episodic sinus infections.
At least that's what I thought.

A few days ago, I left a clinic with a bag of sumatriptan and a tentative diagnosis of cluster headache, rather than the usual antibiotics to treat sinusitis.

I've scurried about online and the diagnosis seems apt.  I don't have noise and/or light sensitivity, but I can put check marks next to the other symptoms.

Historically, my frame of reference was limited to migraine and sinus headaches.  My wife has migraines and my headaches are a lot different, ergo: sinusitis


I'd like to thank everyone for the information here.  It's oddly relieving to have a name that fits my stuff.


One small quibble, I don't like Devil and Demon to describe pain.  They seem far too bleak and foreboding, even when identifying knife thrust in the eye pain levels.

I'm going to go with Tribble.

It seems apropos in that the trouble with Tribbles- there are far too many of 'em, and they're near impossible to banish or control.

Hi zardac and welcome,

Zardac wrote, A few days ago, I left a clinic with a bag of sumatriptan and a tentative diagnosis of cluster headache, rather than the usual antibiotics to treat sinusitis.

Did you see a Headache Specialist at this clinic?

Hoppy

Hi Zardac and welcome

I'll echo Hoppy's question about seeing a headache specialist. Correctly diagnosing complex headache types is not simple and it requires someone with extensive skills and experience as part of the diagnosis is ruling out all possible other causes, of which there are many.

Have you been given sumatriptan tablets or the nasal spray / injections? The tablets work well for migraine, but not for CH as they take 20 min or so to take effect, as opposed to just a few min for the other forms.

Have you been given a preventive to cut down how many CHs you get? Normally you are given a combination of a preventive plus abortive(s).

Hello,

Thanks for the responses Hoppy and Mike (I believe this is the first time I've ever typed "Hoppy")

I went to a clinic that was merely an urgency care clinic (Doc in the Box) since my assumption was bacterial sinus headache, easily treatable by antibiotics.

They gave me a referral to a neurologist.
I once worked in local mental health and I'm going to ask a couple of the doctors I knew back then for recommendations too.

If anyone in my area (Portland Oregon) knows a kick ass headache doctor, please apprise me.

I was given sumatriptan in tablet form.
I asked for a beta blocker as well... I took this particular beta blocker before (for about a year) for an unrelated purpose, and I don't remember headaches during that span of time- but I wasn't paying keen attention to headaches, so we'll see.

I realize I've got a ways to go before I have a definitive diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
If I had my druthers, I'd opt for "better the devil you know" and continue with the old familiar sinus routine.

You're looking for Verapamil....sweet spot around 480 mg/dy divided doses...some get by with less.... clusterheads can tolerate more...I used 1040 at one time...

Don't let 'em give you Inderal (propranolol)...that's better for migraine...

Best

Jon

Zardac - a fair number of us here started off thinking we had sinus infections.  In my own case I was very fortunate to have an ENT doc who knew of Cluster Headaches.  After a CAT scan revealed no sinus infection she immediately sent me off to a Neurologist/Headache Specialist who completed the official diagnosis in short order and put me on a solid treatment program.

The collective wisdom of this site is your greatest resource after finding a qualified Neurologist.  There is an incredible amount of experience here with things from Vitamin D3 all the way to CPAP treatment.  Ask questions, visit frequently, and take the wealth of advice that is offered here.  Good luck to you.  I hope and trust you will find answers and relief.