I'm a 31-year-old woman, and I have daily cycling headaches that last over a month and then go away for several months. It seems like I usually have them in the very early spring or fall, as seasons are changing. They usually involve burning, twisting pain behind my left eye, in my left temple, left cheekbone, and left upper gums. It feels like being punched in the face by something that was on fire. They last maybe 15 minutes, go away for maybe 45, and then come back, but it always feels like there's some sort of shadow pain there. I've woken up a couple of times with extra sharp pain, as well. It wasn't until recently that someone suggested cluster headaches to me.

The thing is, the pain seems to never get above a 6 or so on the Kip Scale. It's burning and distracting and makes me have tunnel vision, but I can usually keep working if I push myself. I have a pretty high threshold for discomfort, having survived cancer and military training. The pain can be distracting enough that I have trouble with verbal skills, but I just soldier on. An old friend, however, totally went off on me today when I told him that I had or probably had cluster headaches, based on the symptoms and information I had in front of me. He accused me of "lying" about my "fad diagnosis" because I wasn't completely debilitated by the headaches.

Is it possible to have CHs that hover around a 6 (maybe a 7 if it's a really bad day)? I mean, pain is subjective, and I'm miserable at times, but now I'm hearing that if I don't experience the fabled "suicide headache", that there's no way I could have CH.

G'day KC and welcome. Yep, you need a headache specialist but in the meantime google paroxysmal hemicrania and see if things fit.

Good news is that it's easily managed.

Importantly, let us know how you're getting on because headaches are no fun at all.

I've been given Indomethacin for pain before and it gave me tremors, so I'm a bit worried about that, but the symptoms do seem that they fit. I guess I won't know without access to healthcare.

So what happens when indomethacin is the indicated treatment for paroxysmal hemicrania?

I'd love to see a specialist, but I can't and also pay my rent. Gotta love the American healthcare system, huh?

Perhaps your regular doctor would consider giving you a short course of indomethicin to see if it helps.

Properly administered the risks are pretty low and it may solve a problem, or serve to rule out another possible cause of the problem you have.

Importantly, this must only be done in consultation with a medical professional, rather than just a passing mug like meself.

A lot of my CH have been more on the mild side recently, not the super bad ones i used to get (it could be because i know my triggers now and i also had 3 surgery, maybe they cut some nerves that affected me, i dont know). I know i have cluster headaches because its all round and under my left , only the left eye drups and waters and gets blood shot. My neuro told me that oxygen is only effective for cluster headaches, not other headaches. I went to the ER and got oxygen and within 2 min the pressure miraculously vanished and i was only sore there when i touched it. We are analog beings so its makes sense that we experience pain in a analog way, hopefully your condition will not get any worst. What have you tried so far to prevent/abort the headaches?

Also, I've noticed that breathing through a tee shirt or something actually helps a lot, whatever that means.

Can you qualify for Medicaid? Or ask your Dr if there is a free program you may qualify for. I know here in NC our local Drs have set up a program for those who don't qualify for Medicaid but still can't afford insurance. Co-pay is $10 and they will refer you to specialists who are part of the program. If your Dr doesn't know, check with Social Services. You really need to be properly diagnosed so you can go forward from there.

Hoping for pain free days!
Judy