Posted by sally on January 23, 1999 at 23:13:04:
I am 44 yrs old and got my first "migraine" headache in my early 30s. "Regular" migraines are a piece of cake compared to "Cluster" headaches. I suffered from my first CH shortly after I turned 40. The pain was so severe I ended up in the emergency room. The doctor there was fantastic! He asked about my symptoms, looked and me and said you are having a CH. AT the time I had never heard of them. He took care of me that night and said to call a neurologist the first thing the next morning. At first I got clusters every day for about a month, then I would go for a few weeks without them, then get more.
It was like a vicious cycle. I was taking Esgic Plus and/or Stadol because they were so severe. Stadol is fantastic, but it is highly addictive. I went for months and months without them and now I'm getting them again! The last few I've had I am "suffering" through because my neurologist is not on my new insurance plan. I need to get on the ball and find a new one. He had told me that more middle-aged men suffer from CHs, but that some women also suffer. He also said that it is inconclusive, but that it seems these type of headaches run in families. This is the first time I have read anything on this site and I don't know if it has been brought up, but caffeine helps. I also find that when I eat better and take 1000 units of vitamin E a day it helps. When ever I slack off on my vitamin E, it seems I am more prone to them. I would really LOVE to find some OTCs that work, or even some home remedies. I do not want to reply on possibly "addictive" medications for the rest of my life. Anyone with any good "old fashioned" rememedies????
sally
PS I'm glad I found you, no one except a "fellow" sufferer can understand this kind of pain.