Hi Sarah. Sorry to hear about your headaches. My suggestion to you is see a neurologist or get a referral to one if your insurance requires it. A GP often isn't trained enough to make a diagnosis like cluster headache (IMO). Though it is surprising that your GP suggested cluster headache, as many of us take yeas to find a doctor educated enough to diagnose us properly. Regardless of what type of severe headache you are experiencing, you need to be properly treated for them, rather than left to fend for yourself.

Some of your symptoms aren't typical of cluster headache, such as the absence of severe ice-pick like pain between your eye and the bridge of your nose, and the lack of tearing or nasal congestion/running. The weakness in your arm is not typical of cluster headache from my understanding.

I'm not a doctor, and CH and other unusual headaches need to be diagnosed by a neurologist, but have you heard of something called hemiplegic migraine? This can be a severe, one sided headache but ALWAYS presents with one-sided temporary paralysis or weakness. Do you experience aura? Do you experience tearing? Are your headaches cyclical? Some more information might help us better understand what you are going through.

If you have the option, find a headache specialist. Too many neurologists lack the experience/training in an area of medicine which is far more complex than most people appreciate.
========
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. 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.

6. Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or NEW certification program for "Headache Medicine" by the United Council for Neurologic Subspecialties, an independent, non-profit, professional medical organization.
        Since this is a new program, the initial listing is limited and so it should be checked each time you have an interest in locating a headache doctor.

Thanks guys for all your help
I will try and see someone about it soon.

For now, many of you have said about energy drinks, what kind? like red bull?
At the moment its sunday and so all the shops round here are closed ( i live in a villiage in England) all i have is dr pepper? will something like that help?
Also is it the sugar in red bull that helps or the caffine?

Thank you,

Sarah

You need something like Red Bull.  I'm not sure of the branding in England, but I prefer 5hr Energy.  It's a two and a half ounce bottle so it's easy to get down very quickly, and doesn't taste as badly as do the other carbonated ones.  I also find it easier on the stomach.

The key to it is the caffeine/Taurene combination.  You only get about the same caffeine as a strong cup of coffee, but the taurene kind of supercharges it somehow.  I don't understand how it works, and frankly don't really care.  All I know is that it will kill a lower level hit and knock a high level hit down to a manageable level.

Jerry

Welcome to the board...you've been given some great advice...the best piece being the one advising a specialist! The brains a complex area and so many headache types to try  and diagnose! The sooner you can get a decent diagnsosis the sooner you can start a good regimen to battle it. Praying you get some relief soon.

Joe