Hi everyone...

About three years ago I spent about two months suffering from something completely new to me. Every night at almost exactly 2:30am, I woke up with a stabbing pain beneath my right eye. The way I described it to my girlfriend at the time was that it felt like someone was performing surgery on my eye socket, baring into it with a drill and simultaneously smashing a hammer into my forehead.

Over the course of the two months, they got worse. At first it was 2:30 am, then it was 2:30, 5:00, 7:00, and sometimes even at work. I went to the doctor, naturally, but she was a little dismissive and suggested that it was stress related, or migraines. She prescribed me a low dose of antidepressants, and said they sometimes help.

To my surprise, they did go away, though now that I've done more research, I don't think it was the pills. They just went away, and I was incredibly relieved.

Jump to now. I haven't thought about them in years, and about a week ago it starts again. 2:30am, 5:00am, and so on. Worse than I remember. I wake up crying, biting onto anything I can find, curling into a ball and rocking or shaking. Last night I almost called 911, because I thought I was dying. But as fast as they come on, they disappear. They last about thirty to forty-five minutes, three to five times a night, on my right side.

I've barely slept in five days, and I don't know how long it's going to continue. My anxiety is off the charts. I'm now afraid to go to bed.

I just met a girl recently, and I'm afraid to spend the night with her, because I don't want her to see this. I'm afraid that doctors will scoff at me. I haven't been diagnosed with Clusters, and I recognize that something else could be going on, but everything I've researched has suggested that this is what I'm experiencing.

I don't really know what I'm looking for here...I guess just the comfort of telling this to someone who might understand. I appreciate your time! And yes, despite my concerns, I am making a doctor's appointment, and I hope to get in asap.

Thank you, I really appreciate the help. Good or bad, I'm on an HMO (Kaiser). But I've called and described my situation, and have made an appointment with a new physician (not the primary care physician I usually see, and saw last time), who may be able to help. My appointment is at 9:20 am tomorrow, so wish me luck.

If I don't make any progress, I will most definitely start looking for external clinics that can help. I will spare nothing for a even a little relief.

Again, thank you so much for the support. I will hopefully have a positive update after my appointment tomorrow. I have been reading up on this site about everyone's experiences and treatments, and it's making me really optimistic.

Hi Reedy, wishing you all the best with your MD's visit.

Please follow Linda's advice and arm yourself with as much knowlege as you can. "Specialists" tend to be the most arrogant of MD's. I spent my childhood amongst them. If you are lucky you will find one with an open mind, but if you don't ,educate one!

All the best