Hi i'm new here.
I was taken into hospital the other night, put on morphine and diagnosed with cluster headache.
I had one that lasted for just 15 minutes last week, but didn't realise till now that it was my first one.
The one i had the other night was very intense and lasted for well over 3 hours till i had the morphine.
My question is, will i have more on a regular basis or are they just a 'one off?'

That's very true and i feel stupid now lol

What i meant is, now ive had 2, will i have them more frequently?
Is it possible i won't have another one at all for years?

No one knows if you'll have another.

The Internalion Headache Society says one has to experience 5 attacks before CH can be diagnosed as such.

If they are clusters you are probably in for many more.

If you do have clusters, it is likely you will have many more.

Think positive

Make sure you get a definitive diagnosis since it might not be CH.

If it is then it is not the end of the world since most of us respond well to medication (I was headache free for 80% or so of my last cycle) and with a bit of luck you might have years pain free between cycles (I had 4).

Quote:

This is not classic CH.

Take the quiz at the left (cluster quiz).
<===

P.S. - This board is where I get all MY onformation.

Thanks Brew i'll take a look at the test.

The only tests they have done so far is blood tests, but i don't get the results back till next week.

Holly

holleva wrote on Jul 21^st, 2009 at 3:43pm:

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The very first cluster headache that I had was at about 17 or so years old. I forget the exact age, but at the time, I was working in construction, and I basically blamed it on the job thinking something to do with it caused it, whether it was something I was breathing or sound, whatever. At the time, I only had the one attack, and not another one for a couple of years.

Of course, a few years later, and while I was at an entirely different job, I got hit again. I still had not been to see a doctor about these things just yet. However, after a few days, I got hit yet again. It was at that time that I figured I'd better visit the doc. The first doctor, as many have experienced, blamed it on a nonexistent "sinus infection" and prescribed antibiotics. She then told me that it also sounded like it could possibly be cluster headaches based on the symptoms. Personally, I never heard of them at the time, and I started to think she was a quack.

Sure enough, a few days later, I got another of the dreaded things, and went back to the doctor. This was a community medical center, so I actually ended up with a different doctor who took one look at me and said, "cluster headache." He then introduced me to the imitrex injections. I got lucky in that the first med tried worked like a charm. He also started me on Verapimil at the time. I didn't have but maybe another attack or two that year, and 2 to 3 years went by before I had another attack.

To this day, my remissions tend to last several years. In my case, it was years after my very first cluster headache before I experienced the true "cluster" in terms of multiple attacks in a cycle.

Anyway, I just thought I'd share a little about my experience since it helps to illustrate that while some people start getting them "full-on" from the get go, mine didn't really get going until years after the first attack I had. Everyone is different. As many have already suggested, it would be wise to get a proper diagnosis first and foremost to rule out anything serious being the cause of the headaches. Then, if it turns out you won the "cluster lottery," ... welcome to your new home, it's nice to meet you.  

Well sorry to hear you're still in pain. If you're not already doing so, start keeping a headache calendar. When they start, how long they last, how fast they build, how high they build, how long they stay at peak, how fast they go away. Try and identify your triggers, common triggers include alcohol, marijuana, sleep disruptions, strong odors especially petroleum based, and stress. Stress is weird, it's a trigger for some when they're under stress, a trigger for others when they RELAX from stress and get the "let down" attack.

Do you have any effective treatments for your attacks? Does your doctor have you on any preventative medications?

Joe

holleva wrote on Aug 3^rd, 2009 at 10:38am:


The diary is going to be a big help in determining any pattern or possible triggers.  Any changes in eating or drinking habits, stressors, etc?

You said you were diagnosed at the hospital...meaning in the emergency department?  I'm surprised as CH is probably low on a list of differential diagnoses for an ER doc, and your presentation looks exactly like what one would expect to see during a migraine attack.  Any family history you know of?

Hi Holleva,

Your symptoms certainly sound cluster headache-like, but I wonder if it isn't another type of headache that you are suffering from.  The reason why I'm wondering this, is because of the fact that you mentioned that morphine stopped the headaches.  While morphine works for alleviating migraines (a former hairdresser at the place I get my hair done at, who suffers from severe migraines, uses morphine to deal with them - nothing else works), it usually has no effect on cluster headaches.

Oh damnit I was hoping it'd be a temporary issue that'd resolve itself. Looks like your brain has decided to take the long, hard road.

Diagnosis is everything. You need to find a neuro, who specializes in headaches. There are hundreds of headache types, and worse, many people suffer from more then one type, migraine and cluster for instance. Getting the correct diagnosis is critical in achieving an effective treatment plan.

For now, keep some energy drinks on hand, Monster, Rock Star, Jolt, any containing the combo of caffeine and taurine. many can abort or reduce a hit by chugging one of those at the first sign of an attack. Strong coffee helps in a pinch.

Do stick around here and keep reading. If it does turn out to be CH, this is the BEST source of info. Wishing you luck and some speed on the diagnostic journey.

joe