I just found this site and also just found out this is what I am suffering from. I guess I am a little scared to think I may have to live this way from now on not knowing when these things will hit, but I was looking for a place to get information and possibly some relief so hello everyone and Happy New Year.

We will be glad to share our experience with you--the first, most important point being--get with a good headache doctor!

Both our collective experience and medical research shows that most neurologists have littled effective knowledge/skill in treating headache and the picture is worse with other specialities. There are so many dozen of medical condtions which can present as headaches, that the first, critical, step is setting a good diagnosis.

I would strongly encourage you to avoid the trap of trying to treat the pain without knowing the cause. It can draw you away from threating the causal issue--with all sorts of implications of neglecting the real issue.

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.

Terri wrote on Jan 1^st, 2010 at 10:23am:


Yeah well who wouldn't be! But don't be too much more than a little scared because ya play your cards right, do your research, and with just a lil' luck you'll get control over this CH beast (assuming thats what you have).

You came to the right place. 

The anticipation and "dread" of when the next CH will hit compounds an already trying situation.

Educating yourself and finding what is nessessary for your individual relief will help dispell the added anxiety.

Dread and anticipation are much like guilt, as someone once told me was "unpaid work" 

All the best on your new and important quest.

Iddy