Well, I don't actually live in London, but I do live nearby.

I'm 26 and from Texas. I've immigrated to England. I've been having these headaches off and on (mostly off until last month) since I was 13/14. I recently went to the doctor for them because of how much more frequent they've been. He gave me a diagnosis of probable cluster headache. He put it as probable because they don't seem to be as severe as they should be for that diagnosis but otherwise fit it to a T.

I hadn't had another headache since the 3rd until today. I'd hoped they'd finally gone away, so when I got another one, I wanted to cry. So I joined because I figured y'all would know how I feel.

The doctor gave me a prescription for 3x a day naproxen. He thinks it should help, since my headaches are relatively mild. I guess I'll see. Normal medicine's never worked before, but it could just be because they don't last very long. During the appointment, I wasn't very keen to try any of the other medical options on offer. I think I'm too optimistic for my own good. I suspect my responses would have been different if the appointment had been during an attack.

Does anyone else here have mild(er) headaches? Or did anyone start off having more mild ones that got worse?

Hi, Bob! It's nice to meet you! I actually didn't go to my local GP for just that reason. I went to the National Migraine Centre in London, because I saw it mentioned on here as a decent place. I have to say that I do love the English health system. I'm very glad it exists and is free at point of use.

I think he offered the naproxen solution partly because mine are relatively mild at this point and because I turned down everything else for now.

I found the energy drink suggestion on here, too, and I'm quite amazed how well it works. I'm not sure needing to drink an energy drink almost every night around 8PM is the best thing, but so far it's working for me. Probably because I don't have a job at the moment and so don't need to wake up early!

If they get any worse or the energy drinks stop working, though, I'd definitely be asking to try the other options he offered.

Hi there   

Our NHS has it's faults but I thank God for it. It's paid for through national insurance contributions taken directly from your pay, but even if you are not working you are still covered. Children, over 60's and the unemployed pay nothing and others pay a nominal amount for meds. I think the charge is currently around £7.

I have read many threads on this site from Americans who are in absolute despair because they have no insurance and no job/money. I personally could not have afforded to pay for CH meds as they are so expensive and I know I would have done something drastic by now without it. As I said, the NHS has it's faults but I wouldn't want to have the American system and be without help just because I have no money.

A proper diagnosis is vital because there are many conditions which mimic CH and they all respond to different meds, but if CH is definite then ask your doctor for sumatriptan injections. Easy to use and will abort a CH in 5 minutes. It comes in tablet form, and nasal spray too but these will take longer to work. As for the energy drinks, they are not conducive to sleep but what do you have to lose. It's better to be up all night and pain free than up all night in agony.

In answer to you question, yes, some attacks can be mild, but beware, they can change. I have just finished a cycle that has been all k5 or 6 (check out the kip scale tab on the left of your screen), but I have known times (pre diagnosis and meds) when suicide seemed like my only choice. Sumatriptan is my best friend and has surely saved my life.

Finally, go to the "medication, treatment and therapies" board and look for a thread titled "123 days pain free". It's a very long read but well worth the effort, and may have all the answers you need. Over 80% of people have found it effective and I believe it's the reason my last cycle was only k6 and not a screaming k10. I have a ways to go yet but am expecting to become entirely pain free.

Hope I've helped a bit. Take care and keep us posted.
Maz.