Posted by Steve Dalton (194.217.15.173) on September 25, 2001 at 12:01:13:
A few weeks ago, I woke up in the night with the most intense feeling of pressure in my head. I wasn't coherent and couldn't focus on anything. The only thing going through my mind was that I had to cut open my forehead in order to release the pain. As nothing like this had ever happened before, it is no understatement to say that I was scared out of my mind. Upon waking the next day, I went to work absolutely drained, though put this down to lack of sleep. Then the following night it happened again.
After visiting the doctors and an eye surgery, the doctor confirmed that I did not have a blood clot or brain tumour, but had suffered a cluster vascular headache. I had never heard of this before, and after reading some of the comments on this website, I am not entirely convinced that this is what it was.
One of the worst things however was that I couldn't sleep for days after the two attacks. I was so scared of going to sleep, as I didn't want to wake up with THAT feeling. It took me about four-five days to actually experience a good nights sleep. I ended up taking over a week off work through depression, probably because of the lack of sleep.
The attack has only happened on two occassions. What I cannot believe, is that the doctor who diagnosed the cluster headache sent me away with an over-the-counter subscription of codeine tablets. I have to go back every four weeks (approx) for a check up.
Can anyone who suffers from these attacks offer me any information. If it helps, I am 30 years old, male and smoke (the last two I believe are common to cluster sufferers)
Much appreciation in advance.
Steve