Hiya,
sorry back with more questons! 
still waiting to see a nuro so unsure still of what am having,but thought of another couple of symptoms wondered if sounded famillir to anyone?
does anyone find that during the worst pain pressing against your eye head or wich ever part can sometimes seem releiving,but the inbetween hours i find that side (my right) so saw like ive been hit in the face loads of times i cant lie on that side or rest my hand there as feels to tender,also sometimes tingly like pins and needles? And also the other thing have noticed the pain in my head/eye area sometimes worsens if i bend down like to pick something up,sort of pulses ?is how i can think of describing? lol
thanks xLucyx

IF it ever becomes very bad go straight to a good A&E ; esp if the hospital concerned has a neurology department attached rather than one with a visiting neurologist clinic.

Make sure you have a list of all the symptoms and ask them to check for cluster headache as your suspicous it may be.
You can also ring NHS direct for advice on what you should do next
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Cluster headache is supposed to be classed as an emergency an a good reason for going to A&E.

Thanks Katie, and yeah ave used nhs direct before,there pretty good, no hought about using them before for this,if get anoter bad one tonight ,have noticed becoming a pattern,usually when setling down to watch big brother (ha,sad i know!) may call them then,i suppose if can get seen by ER rather than my crap doctors,may speed up my waiting time?
thanks again 

hi Pascal,
ok thanks , havent got there yet , but could probablly imagine doin so! 

Hi Jeannie,
Thanks,god still does seem weired hearing others describing exactly what feeling,as when have tried explaining symptoms before as probablly all have no-one understanding,always just brushed it off as a flu with headache,was going to ask another q to
about runny eye and nose bit,as found it doesnt happen each time,was my first symptom about a week ago with the head pain when i was out,even strangers asking if was ok as eye swelled so much and thought was crying my eyes out lol,nly had that symptom a couple of times since accompanying the pain,but after reading loads more today i see that just everyones seems different slightly wih this thing and seems vary all the time.
Thanks for your ms
xLucyx

Hi and thanks chad,
fingers crosse for you to , hope its then end of episode for you!
am definatly more convinced,never known a migraine or such to cause a runny eye and all other symptoms,Thanks all for the great advice!

oh and did you see the game last night? ("o)yahoo! another win! ha

hay! another day,another question..hehe
read something interested me earlier,is it possible that cold or hot heat blown in the face can start an attack,read in a paragraph from a doctor Lee or someone? (sorry) Just cause the last month have been using a hairdryer on my face to dry my fake tan lol before applying make up each day,so thought could may have been a trigger?

In cycle hot or cold on my face sets off my already po'ed trimalgic nerve.

Have you had any joy in getting a referral to a neurologist?

That is one to talk to them about as some folk can be unlucky and have more than just CH.

If you can get a referral for suspect cluster headaches IN cycle you should have an urgent referral to a consultant neurologist.
Make sure it is clear you are in cycle NOW so the hospital knows to give you priority under the BASH guidelines.

IF you can locate a named neurologist you want to see rather than leave the GP to refer to a neurologist [its not much fun seeing someone whose field is epilepsy when you have a headache disorder!]
Check the local hospitals for who has a neurology clinic on site.
Check who is in the neurology department
Narrow down if the clinic offers a headache clinic or can offer a neurologist with an interest in headache disorders.

Remember under new legislation you can ask for a referral to the consultant of your choice at the hospital of your choice.

I was seen in three weeks but the dozy GP did not emphasise the CH as ,much as he did uncontrolled chronic migraine

Let me know how you get on; hope you do get taken seriously, CH takes the colour out of life.

Your doctor lied when she said she know's about CH.
Inderal is a beta blocker. They use beta and calcium channel blockers to stimulate neuro-transmission resulting in relief for some CH'ers. It didn't work when they tried it on me some 18 years ago.
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all the best
the bb

I'm sorry you wasted your time on this dolt Lucy.  Clearly she hasn't a clue.

Looks like Katie knows the UK system.  Follow her advice...

Good luck hon.  There is an answer out there for you.

In the mean time, keep ranting here.  You are in good company.

-Dennis-

Immeadiate effect? Even in migraine preventative treatment the use of that is cumulative [have to take them for a while for the effect to build up]
In other words by the time its built up enough to be effective if your episodic you may well have left this cluster cycle anyhow.
[BASH pdf can be found here Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or ]

Keep fighting your corner, your the one who is living with these symptoms. Had a thought, if you have a camera could your partner take a photo of your eye when it droops and waters?  'Horners' does not alway oblige in the 5 minute UK GP appointment slots and it is one of the big pointers that you do need to see a neurologist.

Have to admit even I have gone to A&E when the pain has eaten me alive - with my brood in tow. The pain can be so awful sleep is not a choice at the time; try and get some rest in between hits if you can.
This time I did not begin to catch up on weeks of lost sleep until the heads ceased and I could sleep.

My kids have survived on cold baked beans out of a tin with rich tea biscuits to dunk in the sauce whilst watching mindless amounts of kids TV when they were younger and I was bad. It was not ideal but at least they had food.
IF you have a pattern to the pain I suggest trying to make food ready to microwave or similar later, the freezer is your friend.
Ready prepped fruit, bread rolls, cubes of cheese or whatever protein they like in a sandwich box in the fridge make a good instant lunch that even a three year old can get for themselves if you know lunch ain't going to be great.
I even planned my days  around when I knew the pain would surface; mine likes to wake me up at 4am and smack me 4 to six times a day for fun when its back. I know I am a choclate fireguard when it hurts  and will be delicate and achy in between but I can target one or two goals to try and complete each day.
Choose your essential battle for the day be it the washing up and basic food prep for later or keeping that promise to take them to playgroup for a bit and collapse once you get home having used crisps, bread and bribery for half hours rest. If you manage something great and if you do a little more fantastic.

Even three year olds will pick up something is not right with mum so try and explain that sometimes mummy's head hurts like someone has hit it with a hammer and it is NOT your kids fault but they can do X, Y and Z whilst is does hurt as that would help you.
I also taught mine how to call 999 'just in case' after a memorable falling down the stairs and having to be dragged off to A&E with concussion after one really bad headache just started.
I also bought a phone with programmable speed dial so my kids could call 'Dad', 'Granny' and 'Grandpa' without trying to remember the long phone number. I know I can be pretty ill and decided my kids knowing who to call for back up would be less scary than worrying over what to do when I am bad. [Hope that makes sense]

Welcome to the world of creative parenting CH style. and trying to explain to GPs who think its all stress because your trying to care for young kids.

Ha perhaps when i have time I may try and write something on parenting with head pain!

Hi Lucy,

I used to live down your way and a lot of my family are still there.

I suspect you have had lots of advice about what to use.

Has anyone mentioned hot or cold compresses on your face during a hit.

As per usual with CH nothing is totally predictable except the level of pain. So if the hot compress works it will be likely the cold one won't and vice versa.

I put 3 tea towels in the oven at about 100c then when they are warm I apply and keep rotating them. They always give me a sense of relief. Still have to pace though.

O2 is probably the best at getting you below the intense pain levels and for a lot of people it aborts the attacks. For me it keeps it at bay. Red Bull is another that sometimes works or sometimes very strong coffee in sips over a long period of time.

In Clusters unfortunately every action seems to have a pay off somewhere else so finding the safe route is a constant quest for many people. As you know when you are in intense pain you will reach for any medication or treatment to stop it.

I haven't read all the posts so I don't know if you have mentioned your partner and how (he) supports you and his understanding of what is going on.

The right support can be invaluable.

Take care. Being inquisitive and trying to understand all the complexities of clusters is the way forward.

ET.