Posted by Jackie M. on February 23, 1999 at 13:48:09:
In Reply to: Help posted by Laurie on February 23, 1999 at 11:26:48:
Dear Laurie,
Your brother is lucky to have a caring and concerned sister as yourself. I have grave misgivings about a doctor who uses the "broad spectrum" diagnosis of "stress" for all head pain/headache. Is the doctor an E.N.T (ear, nose, throat) specialist or neurologist? Did he/she order any tests before coming to the generic "stress" diagnosis? If not, I would suggest that your brother see either of the above specialists. The tearing eye is one of the symptoms of cluster, but it is not a definitive symptom. I would first want to rule out other possible causes of the pain before considering cluster or migraine, and then go from there. Perhaps you would like to print out the excellent description of cluster that D.J. has provided for us here and give it to your brother. After all, he is the one who is suffering the pain and could determine better than anyone if this sounds like his pain. He could also take this information to a doctor. As for treatment or medication; there is quite a list of everything from Imitrex to high Oxygen inhalation. They all work differently for each patient. It's a matter of trial and error and trial again, but none are cures, they just offer the means to cope with or reduce the pain. I am currently trying 2 new drugs in conjuction with the Oxygen therapy. They are Sular (a calcium blocker) and Migranol (a DHE inhalent). This new trial comes after 25 years of former unsuccessful or unlasting medications. So, as you can see, finding an answer can be an open-ended quest. Your brother has one thing in his favor.....a caring sister. Pass along the information you learn here and encourage him not to become demoralized by doctors who are quick to dismiss the pain to stress. All my best to you and your brother.
Jackie M.