Hi there. My name is RaeAnn, and about 3 weeks ago, I think I had my first symptoms of ch. I've been noticing some really painful throbbing headaches and I've been having problems with my left eye for a while (at least since spring this year). I have seasonal allergies (which tend to affect me year round except when there's snow) so I thought maybe I was having headaches related to my allergies.

When I first noticed these strange symptoms I woke up one morning with a terrible, throbbing headache and I couldn't open my eyes, they were so extremely sensitive to the light. For the rest of the day (from about 10am - 5pm) I had a lot of pain in my left eye, and a sharp pain on the left side of my head near my temple.

Then, last Friday I had the most horrible pain surrounding my left eye and a sharp, stabbing, throbbing pain in the area of my left temple and the front of my head. I kept wanting to smack myself on the head, like it would make the pain go away. It didn't. This headache lasted about 2 hours.

Now, three days later, I'm feeling it again - I woke up this morning and had a throbbing headache on the left side and my left eye was watering, burning, sensitive to light, and painful in the eye socket. All three times I have experienced this I have had a stuffy and then runny nose on the left side. My vision in my left eye is totally blurred, and although most of the head pain has subsided, I still feel the pain in my eye socket and my eyelid is droopy like I can't keep my eye open. I also am having pain in my neck and my left ear as well. I've had the ear pain for over 4 months.

Now, I'm not sure that what I'm experiencing is a cluster headache - but all the symptoms seem to add up to it. This has come on pretty suddenly, and I don't know how it begins - if it's more mild at first for some people or if it comes on full - strength right away?

Anyways, it's really nice to be here to talk to people who have experienced this. Whether I'm actually a sufferer or not - I'm not sure, but I'm going to the doctor asap to find out.

Thanks for reading  

Hi RaeAnn!  Get thee to a Neurologist!!!

There are hundreds of headache types out there.  We're not Doctors and we can't give you that diagnosis.  Don't be fooled into treating yours like CH if it isn't CH you have.  Some of the treatments for CH can be harmful or fatal if applied to the wrong headache type.

We can however give you a virtual shoulder to lean on in the interim.

Like Chad said, I hope you don't have CH.  But if you do you are in the right place 

-Dennis-

LOCATING HEADACHE SPECIALIST

1. Search the OUCH site (button on left) for a list of recommended M.D.s.

2. 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.

3.  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.

4. Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or ; On-line screen to find a physician.

5. Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or Look for "Physician Finder" search box.  Call 1-800-643-5552; 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.