Cluster Headache anyone?

[Quenelle]

S'ok, I'm not offering it, just wondering if anyone else here suffers. I don't know anyone in RL who does. I'm depressed because I'm just starting an episode and sharing a moan might cheer me up.

S'ok, I'm not offering it, just wondering if anyone else here suffers. I don't know anyone in RL who does. I'm depressed because I'm just starting an episode and sharing a moan might cheer me up.

Whoops

Yes, fellow suffer here :( - you have my sympathy & I can totally understand the whoops there, makes everything difficult

not much to help in the way of advice - well maybe, have you tried oxygen therapy??.....I read about it in a news article, though couldn't get it prescribed as its "not on their list of conditions applicable to' - you might have better luck with your own Drs - I tried it when I had an episode start up when my DD was in hospital & had to keep myself together for her sake - used her oxygen & it really does work - you can buy small canisters on the internet

Also have you had your Sinuses checked??, as that can be the culprit instead - I have both problems & my ENT specialist told me they can be confused with each other

Hi rockin

I mentioned oxygen to my GP and he said 'No, this is the only medication that will work.' I didn't push the point at the time.

I'm at a different practice now. In fact today was the first time I've even been there. The GP just checked in his little book about dosage etc and prescribed what I've been taking for years; verapamil and Imigran injections. I'm happy enough with them, once the verapamil has kicked in.

My last episode was when I was pregnant and I couldn't take anything, I ended up asking a neurologist to prescribe a nasal local anaesthetic spray that I'd read about. It didn't work and was hideously uncomfortable. I managed the episode just with breathing exercises I'd learnt at prenatal yoga.

Have not had my sinuses checked, would there be any other symptoms?

Also, as a matter of interest, do you have any problems with insomnia? I suffer from time to time and have had a couple of really bad nights this week, coinciding with this new episode. Just wonder if there's any connection...

Yes I do have insomnia problems too, but have a fibromyalgia diagnosis (not that I'm dropping to bit or anything... ) sleep problems are all part of FM, so I couldn't say if I've noticed any link with the cluster headaches, as I can have sleep problems anyway - if that makes sense

It would depend on what was/if anything was wrong with you're Sinuses, as to whether or not you'd have other symptoms & the nasal stuffiness etc can be part of the cluster headaches too - but the headache is very similar, so its certainly worth asking about seeing an ENT - other Sinus things could be dizziness, earache, headache worse on bending forward, puffy face/eyes/nose on a morning, cough on lying down etc etc

Also might be worth a go - I have a male friend, he was diagnosed with Cluster Headaches years ago, he's an IT specialist so with his work it was a nightmare & little or no help from his GP - on the advice of another friend - he saw an alternative therapist who told him to take a table spoon of cider vinegar in a glass of water 3 times a day - if you knew this Guy you would see the funny side of that, as he really wouldn't believe in it, I remember him moaning it was a rip off - he did try it though & it actually worked for him - he's not had 1 in years - so might be worth a go - sadly didn't work for me though :(

& yes the yogic breathing thing is a God send with pain, you might want to look into Clary Sage aromatherapy oil to use with that too - its got me through a few bad sessions

I'm not good with medications, tend to react badly to a lot of them, imigram included, so I've been referred to a pain management clinic hopefully for NHS acupuncture & MLD - which I have found helpful in the past - so also might be woth you asking about (I find my GP doesn't offer any thing unless I ask for it )

your sinuses ...doh

Have just been googling insomnia and cluster headache and found nothing specific. But change in circadian rhythms can cause either, or both.

This fella has a very comprehensive blog. And he says that seasonal change in light and temperature is a common cause. Which would explain why my episodes always occur in spring and autumn.

I hope the pain management clinic proves useful to you. I visited an osteopath before I was diagnosed for a while in my twenties (am 42 now) and he tried acupuncture but no success. I'll look at cider vinegar too.