Posted by Gareth.J. (62.252.64.5) on September 17, 2001 at 05:37:37:
Hi all.
I am new to this site, though I have been having clusters for about 2 years.
It is the worst pain ever! I have had an MRI and a few sessions with the neurologist as the medication I have been prescribed in the past either didn't help or only lasted a short while before becoming ineffective. He was apparently worried cos the pain is always above my left eye and never my right. MRI came up clear though thankfully.
I will get a list of the drugs I have taken and post it here for your information when I am at home.
I am though, a persevering type person and have tried a few ways for getting myself through the beastly headaches.
The best way I find of getting through the actual attacks can include a few things.
This would definitely include a bag of ice or frozen peas on head (tie these [painlessly] on to your head somehow to reduce stress of holding the bag). I usually place a hat over the cold item to hold it to my head, so I can relax whilst feeling the cold effects on my boiling hot (headachy) head.
Next - reduce the lighting in the room - doesn't need to be migraine dark - just nothing shining in your eye. Then administer some form of sexual release. This may sound odd to you - but you have to remember that I've tried everything and this just happened to work. This may only work for me or even only for men - but at least it stops the woman in my life feeling so helpless, as they can relieve your pain also. This has been my salvation - and I'm not kidding. If the pain doesn't go away - I do it again. 2/3 times is about the best before I collapse asleep and know nothing more of my pain till I wake up and start over.
This may just work for me, so please don't flame me if this doesn't help you. But lets face it - if I can relieve myself or be relieved by someone else and this stops my headache from hurting and I become too tired to remain awake and collapse asleep then as far as I am concerned - I have fixed that particular headache.
I have just been started on Verapamil. Here's hoping they reduce the need for my experimental headache relief.
I wish you all luck and I am glad to have found somewhere to voice my own investigations.
Please mail / answer me - I would be only too glad to hear from you.
Gareth. J.