Welcome to the board! First thing, get in to see a neurologist who specializes in headaches, so you can get a proper diagnosis. This is very important.

Some things you can try in the meantime is when you have a headache coming on, try one of the energy drinks, like Rock Star, or Red Bull, these have caffeine and taurine in them, which do help in stopping, or reducing the intensity of a hit. Caffeine is a vasoconstrictor, and the taurine helps the caffeine work faster. The faster you drink it, the faster it works. Slamming coffee helps too.

Using ice packs on the affected side help too. Frozen peas make good ice packs, and can be refrozen and re-used. Some people prefer heat, for them it works better. Also, if you are in your car, turning the A/C on high, and sticking your face in front of a vent helps. There are lot's of different meds to try, if indeed you do have clusters, then you should get on a preventative, with an abortive for breakthrough hits. But, you need to see a doc for these, and I can't emphasize enough how important it is to see a neuro who specializes in headaches, specifically cluster headaches. It's ok to call and ask if the neuro does specialize in headaches, or your doc may know, and refer you.

Some folks take melatonin at night. It's an over the counter med (actually a hormone) that helps you sleep. The usual dose is between 3  to 9 mg at night. For some people, this really helps get them through the night.

There are lot's of links to read, over to the left, that have lot's of info. Oxygen, used with a non-rebreather mask at a flow rate of 15 LPM (liters per minute) works as a great abortive, and you can get a script from the doctor for it. If not, or your insurance won't pay for it, there are other way to get it.

Hang in there, and get to a neuro, so you can get a diagnosis. We are here to support and help you, so if you have any questions, please ask!

The suggestions I made above are all non-prescription, and you can buy these at the store. Lot's of people here use them with success.

Hang in there. We are not doctor here, but have lot's of experience with CH, and can help you with support, among other things.

Did I say welcome to the board? (I mean nuthouse!)

Hi Madison,

Great tips from the previous two posts. Definitely keep a headache journal, make good notes, and ask your GP to refer you to a neurologist.

Welcome to this board - it's a wonderful place to look for guidance, advice, and support. I am so sorry that you are suffering, as we all are, but know that you are always tougher than the headaches thrown your way.

Once you speak to your neuro you will definitely find a way to deal with the pain.

Best of luck and pain-free days and nights to you. All the best

"Rural". Changes your options unless you are a convenient drive to the "big city" to see a good headache doc. IF you can seek a specialist, see my message on finding a doc in the section right above this one.

If your local doc is your only option, this go to the OUCH site (left) and print out the table showing the various  types of headache and features. IF you doc is open to learning from you (and many of us have had to help our doc treat us by supplying medical material)--then give him this table and the following treatment info.
----
Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or

Here is a link to read and print and take to your doctor.  It describes preventive, transitional, abortive and surgical treatments for CH. Written by one of the better headache docs in the U.S.  (2002)
================
Michigan Headache & Neurological Institute for another list of treatments and other articles:

Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or
======
for you: MANAGEMENT OF HEADACHE AND HEADACHE MEDICATIONS, 2nd ed. Lawrence D. Robbins, M.D.; pub. by Springer. $50 at Amazon.Com.  It covers all types of headache and is primarily focused on medications. While the two chapters on CH total 42-pages, the actual relevant material is longer because of multiple references to material in chapters on migraine, reflecting the overlap in drugs used to treat. I'd suggest reading the chapters on migraine for three reasons: he makes references to CH & medications which are not in the index; there are "clinical pearls" about how to approach the treatment of headache; and, you gain better perspective on the nature of headache, in general, and the complexities of treatment (which need to be considered when we create expectations about what is possible). Finally, women will appreciate & benefit from his running information on hormones/menstrual cycles as they affect headache. Chapter on headache following head trauma, also. Obviously, I'm impressed with Robbins' work (even if the book needs the touch of a good editor!) (Somewhat longer review/content statement at 3/22/00, "Good book....")

HEADACHE HELP, Revised edition, 2000; Lawrence Robbins, M.D., Houghton Mifflin, $15. Written for a nonprofessional audience, it contains almost all the material in the preceding volume but it's much easier reading. Highly recommended.
========

Stay in touch!


 

Wow, I'm SO sorry to hear that your mom is not supporting you in figuring this out.

At some point hopefully she'll take you to a specialist to get it checked out, but until that time, try to stay positive, and read as much as you can on the topic. You will learn how to cope and people on this board will always be here to offer their support.

All the best, Madison.

Wow, I'm so amazed at how wonderfully supportive you all are.  Thank you so much. 

My mother is into natural healing and alternative medicines.  I had yet another chat with her about seeing a doctor today and she suggested breathing techniques and yoga.  Of course I would try anything to get rid of this pain but I need something to take if I do get a headache. 

I don't really think it matters what exactly this type of pain is called (cluster, sinus, migraine) it only matters to me that it literally drives me to insanity when I get a headache. 

I feel like a lunatic, racing around my room crying and I wish my mom would believe me that this is not some attention ploy.  I need help.  As night rolls around again, I'm scared to sleep.  If I wake up with another headache...I don't know what I'll do. 

Sorry for the whine.  Perhaps it would be more pleasant with some cheese. 

Hi Madison,
I think we have a lot in common. I grew up in a rural part of San Diego. Yes, it's a big city, but it's also a big county and I lived miles from anything. Until I got a car at 17 I couldn't go anywhere on my own. You mentioned crying in the car on your way to school, so I'm wondering if you are dependent on you parents for transportation??
My parents rarely took me seriously or thought I was being over dramatic. I broke my arm in two places playing soccer and my father told me "take a shower, you'll feel better" My mother finally took me to the Dr 2 days latter because I was still in pain - that's when I found out it was broken in two places.
You really need to get a proper diagnosis from a neurologist. Are there any in your area? Can you make the appointment on your own, without your parents?

~Kris

Hey there. I'm Felicia and I'm 16. Some times its easier to talk to a person your own age. I don't know much about the meds and things like that but if you want to rant, bitch, cry, etc. to anyone, I'm your girl. My dad has had CH since I was about 7 and my step mom has it too. Personally I have migrains occasionally so I know a little bit (but not much) about what you're going through with the school issue. Hang tough, keep your chin up, smile at death itself, fight like hell, and refuse to go down anything but hitting hard and swinging like crazy. Vibes headed your way my friend. Byes!!! <3

Broken

Hi again Madison,

just another thought to help you. My doctor wasn't much help but I persisted and got to a specialist neuro - I was lucky  - the specialist had a friend, also a doctor, who suffered from CH. You should have seen the letter he wrote to my doctor!

He threw the book at him!! Basically told him that he should prescribe the full works and that the patient appeared to know more about the condition than his doctor!!

By that time  - my third cycle - I had discovered Melatonin - and have never needed to see the doctor!! But I bet he acts differently when the next clusterhead walks in!!

Best of luck

regards,

Melvyn

Madison,here's an open letter to Mom..........
Dear Mom,
There are lots of arguments for whole medicine, and healing, but, when soo many people who deal with the same affliction, and there are YEARS and years of time and trials behind them, the words they use here should be taken at full face value.
...some here have found great success with RC seeds, as well as other altenative medicines,
BUT....
the first line is a Neurologist's Diagnosis
Please Mom, read what Madison prints out for you. His pain is real and he needs an advocate.....CHs are reputed to be the worst pain known to man.do you want Madison to waste time in abject
pain, doing his own trial and error?

Please, let's get Madison on the road to controlled CH. Look into 02.read all the bullets on the right, and ASK questions.........
we're here to help, any way we can, but get an appt for Madison to see a Neuro.......soon..........

Welcome to Clusterville. Welcome to the family.

Wishing you PFRS(pain-free, real soon)

Cathi

Thank you all so much!

I had another talk with my mom about seeing a dr and well, she didn't give in to that but she did have our GP call in some imitrex for me.

Also, back when I first started getting these headaches I did see a dr. to rule out and type of tumor or other type of problem.  I  luckily, don't have any dire health concerns. 

I would love to talk to a specialist but I don't think circumstances will allow it at the moment.  I don't have my license yet (soon, hopefully ) and I do rely on my fulltime working parents for transportation.  I realized I hadn't mentioned my dad in all this.  He is here. He works long hours and has about an hour drive so practical day to day things are up to mom and I as I'm an only. 

Thanks to all of you I'm still new here but now feeling hopeful.

Madison,

I hope that I'm not overstepping my boundaries, but I believe that one of the above folks would be happy to speak to your mother over the phone about cluster headaches.  Not as a doctor, but maybe as an advocate for you in obtaining some help that you desperiately need. What do you think?  If you can arrange that with your mother, give a P.M. (personal message) to one these folks.  I know they would gladly speak with her.

John