hello my name is kizito my friends call me Kay for shortand this is my first post.just this morning i was diagnosed with CH.i remember about 10 yrs ago when i was about 17 i had a series of very bad headaches,told mum about it and she said it was a migraine,the pain was so intense that i ended up seeing the doctor,i guess i was in a hurry to get some pills to cure me that i answered "yes" to most of his questions one of which was "if i saw flashes of light before my attack?" the truth was i didnt have those flashes,although i still wanted to be alone in a dark room during the attack...anyway 10 yrs has passed since then and i'm a grown man now. just last tuesday i woke from my sleep with a splitting headache and i thought i was going to die...lucky for me i had some painkillers at home which i took immediately,after about 2hrs later the pain was gone and i went back to sleep..next day same time again the headache came back and my mind flashed back to 10yrs ago and i was like "its this migraine again". during the day i popped down to the pharmacy,got some migraine pills and went home thinking i had everything under control.the next time this headache came back i was actually looking forward to it so i could "kill" it with my new pills but to my utter dismay the pills had little effect. all this while i still thought it was migraine so i decided to go on youtube to check it out.i noticed that people who suffered migraine saw an "aura" before their attack,i know that wasnt my case but i was still convinced it was migraine(because according to wikipedia migraine meant half skull and my headaches happened only on one side). the straw the that broke the camel's back was last night when i awoken by our dear friend once again, i did everything:i poured water on my head(still there), i put ice over my eye(no way),i layed down on my back(nothing),i laid on my side(nothing) and by now i had taken about 4 or 5 tablets of ibuprofen extra.after a couple of hours the pain subsided but i had made up my mind i was going to see the doctor(i was beginning to think i had some kind of tumor in my brain). so this morning i rang up my GP made and an appointment to see him. when i saw him i described everything to him and after consulting his computer and he told me that all the symptoms pointed to a type of headache called...Cluster headache and that he was going to refer me to a neurologist, i'm yet to see the neurologist but i have since decided to learn a bit more about this CH.i have seen videos on youtube and other info on the internet.to be honest i'm quite glad i'm not the only one and there's actually loads of us...i hope i didnt bore you all with my story,i'm looking forward to interacting with you guys to learn more about "the beast', i know he will come again tonight and i'm scared to fall asleep but my body is already so tired.see you all soon 

Hey Kay,

Joe just gave you a great condensed intro there - worth reading a few times and memorizing.

Many of us have found very significant relief thru the info and advice found here, so dig in. 

Thanks a lot guys...its good to talk to ppl who know what i'm going thru...last night was hell once again.as i'm writing this now,i'm approaching the final stages of the attack which started around 4a.m this morning.
Giuseppe, my doc gave me some Co-codamol(paracetamol + codeine) tablets,some naprosyn(which is supposed to help with the stiffness in the neck and joints) and some nasonex which is a nasal spray to help relieve the blockage in the nose.
I'm tempted to go with the redbull but my doc said i should try and stay away from caffeine.i'll see if i can get some sleeping pills. i cant wait to see the neuro. The only good thing that has so far come out of this(i know it sounds silly) is that i have since stopped smoking cos it seemed to trigger my attacks. i really appreciate all the feedback guys. one love

Double dittos everything above...and underscore get O2 right away. Or as right away as you can. Do read the link at the left, ask questions if you are unclear, and insist on the right equipment for the proper flow rates. Good luck and God bless. lance

thanks Joe and everyone else for all the advice...i've just gone and bought 24 cans of redbull.for some reason the waiting list to see the neuro is so long here in Cardiff, Wales, UK. i'm thinking of popping back to see the doc again to get him to prescribe some o2. once again thanks

Hi Kay

Hopefully, by now, you'll have seen that Neuro and got some appropriate medication. Because sure as hell, your GP doesn't seem to have much of a clue. Those painkillers might just help with the shadow headaches, but they won't touch the CH's. And all the knowledgeable advice you get will confirm that contrary to your doctors advice, caffeine is a big help.
If you aint seen the Neuro, I hope you've done your diary and got all the information you can, off this and other sites. I spent many years un diagnosed, once the Neuro at pinderfields got on board, my life got a lot better. It was only a recent episode, the worst I've ever had, that found me here on this site. The advice I got was superb. I got re-refered to a Neuro and by taking with me information drawn from this site, I was able to get some sense. I was prescribed O2. I've had one minor episode since and I can now confirm to all that I'm in full agreement, the O2, is the Dogs B#**#$^s and I don't use phrases like that loosely.
You may have to push a little Kay, I did, but it worked because the Neuro had knowledge of the treatment and wasn't totally against the option.
Just Remember Kay, its you're body, so you will find out what works best for you. It's also your NHS so make them help you, no matter how negative they come across.

All the very best and may you be PF

Andrew