After over 2 cluster free years I'm back in a cluster cycle.  DAMN, DAMN, DAMN.  I'm heading out of town for five days Wed.  so no Oxygen for a week or so it looks like.  I'm going to try to see my doc and see about getting a scrip for steroids which sometimes abort a cluster cycle for me if taken early.   Second late night headache in a week.  Was in denial about the first one since it wasn't as severe as my clusters have been in the past, but of course I get more 'regular' headaches during a cluster cycle as well so that's what the first one was. 

I've got a weird cluster sympton for you.  Anybody else have trouble 'finding words' when in a cluster cycle... not worried about it during the actual headache attacks, but  I do much writing for work, and for the last few weeks I've had trouble coming up with the terms I've needed or wanted on occasion.  I had this symptom once before and blamed it on the topomax I had been prescribed.....  Cluster is abating after only a half hour -- thank GOD! 

Thanks for being here everyone!
David

I've noticed that recently (come to think of it since the start of this cycle) I've been strugaling badly to find words on occasion, and even stammering or stuttering through sentances. I hadent atributed this to CH but now u mention it... My family have pointed out that I seem to have slowed down with regards my verbal capacity. I wonder how widespread this is?

B/w luke

This is one of my most vexing symptoms of CH - and how I know I am getting ready to have a rough night.  I generally notice this between and about an hour before attacks when I have shadows and am trying to function through them. 

As a person who writes and speaks in front of groups for a living, it is a very obvious and inconvenient symptom.  I will be in the middle of making a point or laying out a distinction and suddenly, I can't find the right words.  I will say words that may sound similar but have a completely different meaning or I just flounder and can't find the right word at all.  Sometimes, I totally lose my train of thought mid-point and have to backtrack. It is very upsetting and makes me feel like an idiot.  People are usually patient with it happening once or twice but when it happens five to ten times in the course of an hour, it is just time to go home.

When the cycle ends, it can take a few days to feel like I am back to normal but when I am, my command of the language returns as well.  This issue may have something to do with meds for some, but I noticed this symptom before I was diagnosed and was not on any prescription meds.

Kushka

I agree with Dennis- CH cause major sleep disruption for me since I get the nightly attacks while in cycle.  This causes major irritability for me as well as not being up to par in my mental capabilities in or out of cycle. 

But, when taking verapamil , I notice this symptom is even more pronounced.  During the period that I was in cycle last and I took verap, I was in 'survival ' mode.  About the only thing I could really do was just get thru the day...  Sometimes I wonder how I kept my job considering just how 'stupid' and 'blank' I was.

Kelly

Yes, must say I have noticed this also, even when I have had adequate sleep. I am normally a pretty quick wit and I do a fair amount of public speaking as a part of what we do around here. I would say that WITH adequate sleep, my presentations are about 70 % of normal in cycle, and without adequate sleep definitely not that high. Like other posters have suggested, I struggle for the right words, even if I've done a killer job on the presentation in question when I am out of cycle.

Sorry the beast is back for you too.

I don't know about "finding words", but everything SLOWS DOWN for me physically and mentally.  When I wasn't on Verapamil during episodes, I was never this bad.  My BP is low to begin with.

I've slept through the night for a few days, but it hasn't helped.  I'm still beat.  Depression, anxiety, stress, etc., must be big part of this too.  So I do get slow & stupid during episodes then back to normal when I'm off all the meds.

Just a quick question for anyone who has posted here so-far or has noticed this "loss of words thing". One of my flat-mates who is studying Neuro-Psychology pointed out that it would be interesting to see if this seemingly relatively unusual symptom is more prevalent in people who's CH's are left or right sided. I for one am a lefty but would be interested to hear from anyone else!

PFD

Luke

I usually drop about 10 IQ points during a cycle and get about 8 of them back.  So the older I get, the dumber I is.

Hi ppattya here,  first time on site.  I just got dx after years of mis dx and horrible unexplainable pain. but the "can't find the word' thing is not 'weird" to me.  I think its like a tip of the tounge type of thing. I know what I want to say but can't say It for a little while then it comes back to me.  and I have a hard time remembering where things are.  forget my husbands name where the store is where my wallet is and what was i doing    I say that my brains hurts and it just quit working if you find out more about this please email me at pattyroth13@yahoo.com

I'm sorry....I forgot the question......

Rina wrote on Nov 9^th, 2008 at 3:28pm:


Did you mean right 'headed'?

BTW if you look at the symptoms of some of the meds that many of us take ie Verapamil you will notice that there are side effects for some that relate to memory.