Suffered these pains in my head last week until it got that severe that I ended up at A&E, They diagnosed it as CH, but seen GP and he's given me more sumatriptan and Antibiotics for the sinuses not sure on why with the sinuses??.  Is there anyone there who can explain to me what your like after these attacks??  I've not had one for 4-5 days now but suffering with stiff neck all day and occasionally feel drowsy??.  Can anyone explain if this is usual or is this part of the waiting game for the attacks??, I'm back to the GP in 10 days.  Hope someone might be able to give more ideas etc as at the moment my GP thinks its just my sinuses due to CH should affect both sides????

Hi Al,  Welcome!

Can you tell us a little about your pain?  Is it on both sides?

Hi, Thanks for the replies, wasn't expecting them so quickly!!

Replying to Jeannie :-  The pains I had last week was in the right hand side of my face affecting the temple, eye and the very painful headache,  Since this has happened only took sumatriptan once which was Sunday!!  And I'm taking Amoxicillin everyday which the doc told me to for the sinuses?? Seems strange due to the headaches??.  The thing that's bothering me at the mo is the stiff neck and the drowsiness?

Hi Al,
I have always had the stiff neck and stiff shoulder before an attack, and during an attack I can also feel an actual bump around the occipital area.  I had an occipital nerve block April 9, and so far it has kept my headaches down from 3-6 a day to 2-3 a day, and I've even had some days off!  Yay - vacation!  But the absolute best thing to use is OXYGEN!!!!! It works for me within 5 minutes.  No other pain meds have been able to touch it.  I was also sent to an ENT about the sinuses before I was diagnosed but that was not even a problem.  It just seems like it because your nose gets a little runny (that's because you're crying - duh).  Ask your doctor about an oxygen RX (check for the specifics at left) before anthing else.  As far as the drowsiness, I always start yawning immediately after an attack.

If it helps, mild stiffness in the neck and shoulders is one of the side effects I have when taking sumatriptan. It's noticeable, though not strong enough to cause me any problems.