Hello Everyone,

I'm 37 and living in Northern California. I've suffered with CH for about 10 years now, I was diagnosed about 6 years ago and by some grand miracle I had been CH free for almost 4 years until my cycle started up again last week.

I'm in a new relationship (we've been together almost 3 years) so I've had to explain all of a sudden what CH were and why I was getting these horrible headaches because I had never spoken of them since I was off cycle. I prefer to bury my head in the sand and pretend they don't exist when I'm not suffering through a cycle.

I've noticed a huge difference this time around that I thought I would share. In the past I had been working a regular 9-5 job so my headaches arrived during the night like most other people. This time around I work the graveyard shift. I work 5 nights a week 10:30PM - 7:00AM and I'm off 2 nights a week at which point I adjust my sleeping schedule so me and the lady can sleep together at night since she works the day shift. I'm not sure if it's because my sleep cycle is currently so disrupted (it doesn't phase me at all to change my sleep patterns around, meaning i'm not tired or groggy all day) but my cycles do not come at regular intervals this time around. I still get at least 2 a day but they come at random times. I don't recall if it took a few days for my cycles to fall into a routine schedule in the past. I just wanted to point this out because it seems it may be of interest.

Any other sufferers in the Northern California area? Feel free to say hello. I'm glad to have found this site so long ago, sorry it took me so long to say hello to all my brethren.

Matt

While the diagnostic materials refer to cycles, in actual experience the importance is iffy. Some have rigid patterns, others with much variation--but if this is important isn't clear.

Of greater import is that you are being treated by a doc with knowledge/skill/experience. Remarkable how little training/experience the general run of docs have (including neurologists).
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LOCATING HEADACHE SPECIALIST

1. 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.

2.  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.

3. Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or ; On-line screen to find a physician.

4. 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.

5. 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.