Hello everyone.

For past 6 years  ( i am 22 years old) i have been getting these headaches. They start behind my eye and it feels like it wants to pop out. It gets real watery and i get blurred vison out of that eye. I also get lot of drainage down my throat as well. The pain is on top of my head as well and goes down the back of my neck, where i can barely hold my head up. I just sit there and squeeze my head as hard as i can, which doesn't relieve the pain but kinda does. lol. I feel real hot and start to seat profusely then freeze. I don't throw up or anything. I get them anywhere from 1-4 times a day for about 30-45 min and around the same times.10 am, 2pm, 5pm, 11-12pm. (last for about 6-8 weeks then goes away for a while) It makes going to class and studying very difficult for me since i am incapacitated during these headaches.

I have been to the doctors and they tell me its probably allergies and tell me to take sinus medication. I tell them the medication doesn't work and they just write me a prescription for a different one so i just stopped going back and i am trying to find out on my own what it is. The pain from these headaches are the worst thing i have ever felt and i play college football. Most people just think its a regular heahache but it is so much worse.

So I guess what I want to know does these sound like what others are suffering from and is it a cluster headache? Also if it is anything i can do to make it stop or lessen the pain at all?


Thanks

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.
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You will find some useful material on the OUCH site (left buttons).

Does your university/college have a health center?  If you are in a big ten school, chances are you might have access to medical college personnel as a start?  The advice given above is excellent and you are in good hands.

Good luck on your journey to diagnosis and treatment.