cluster headaches

[lambchop2]

Cluster headaches - does anyone know anthing about these? A friend's husband has them and is in a bad way, just bee put on steroids and oxygen for them. Is there anything to be done?

I have had them at certain times in the past - I was prescribed really strong painkillers, and was told they were related to migraines. sorry not much help I know - but a bump at least

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My brother gets them but hasn't had any for nearly a year now. He doesn't talk about it much and just says they can't do anything for them. However, he says alcohol generally makes them worse EXCEPT for white wine, so the last time they started up he'd drink a glass of ww each night and says it helped. To be honest, he's not absolutely sure it wasn't coincidence at work, but it's not a horrible thing to try, is it? Good luck, they can be terrible, I've read some awful things about them and I do hope your friend's husband finds something that helps him.

OH has suffered from them for about 20 years, but not continuously (fortunately!). Every 18-24 months, he'll have a bout. Up to 6 headaches a day, lasting for about half an hour once he's taken a tablet, usually for about a month. He can't talk, his eyes water, and sometimes he cries with the pain (which is the bit I find particularly distressing), which is very embarassing for him if he's at work or in meetings. Most our friends know he gets them so they leave him alone, then take the piss when he's back with us! He was taking Immigran (I think) because he was told they were migraines. It was only during the last bout that the doctor diagnosed cluster headaches - she didn't believe him to begin with, until he got one in her surgery, couldn't move or speak, and started to weep. The trick seems to be to take a tablet as soon as the pressure starts. It doesn't stop the headache but reduces the time it lasts, apparently. The problem for OH is that he gets them whilst he is asleep and is woken by the pain, but which time it is too late. Last time round, he became too frightened to sleep in case it happened again, and was a right old mess for a fortnight. I feel really sorry for both your friend and her OH - very distressing for both of them. I wish I knew of some miracle cure, but unfortunately not. OH's doctor has also mentioned getting an oxygen cylinder, although he hasn't done anything useful about that yet (might find it difficult to lug it around on his bike to work!). This website is quite interesting, though - and it's always reassuring to read other people's stories: www.clusterheadaches.com

thanks so much for that Game girlie. Will print this off and give it to her, it'll probably help to know she's not on her own.

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my bil gets them, he was referred to a specialist who prescribed some pills that could stop them. the pills cost tons of money so the dr didn't want to give them! there was a thread earlier this year - i'll look for it!

this thread

I just read yesterday on bbc.com/health about a woman who had pioneering surgery to put an electrode in her brain which completely cured her. The headaches had been so bad that she was suicidal. I expect the article is still there - have a look.

this

normalness - have forwarded it to friend, Will also mention the running thing from the other thread thanks all