There is something worse than gout!

[RodKirby]

Years ago I suffered a bout of gout - thought I had found the pinnacle of male pain - but I was wrong.

About every 2 years I get what is called "Cluster headaches" - no known cause or "cure". Trust me, LOML and I have tried "everything". Doctor just says "nothing I can do - it will pass"

Continues for about 7 days, hits me between 6-8pm, lasts for about 45 minutes. Blinding pain in the left temple Onset and cessation is very fast - no warning. I just try and find somewhere I can groan without upsetting LOML.

Anyone else been thru this?

[cgallery]

I assume you've researched this online. I thought the wikipedia article was interesting:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cluster_headaches

[Brian G]

I have no experience with either gout or cluster headaches.

If either are anywhere near the indescribable agony of kidney stones then I can identify with you.

[DUD]

Rod
I have never been diagnosed with cluster headaches, but I know what headaches are. I get them so bad, that I go into my bedroom as dark as I can make it, and either take codeine or percoset. In about 3 hours I am able to talk. Bill

[RodKirby]

I assume you've researched this online. I thought the wikipedia article was interesting:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cluster_headaches

Yes I have and I agree, this article is one of the best.

[JSUPreston]

Rod, if only I were as fortunate as you. I have been diagnosed with both Migraines and Cluster Headaches, so I definately feel your pain. However, I don't get a two year break. They tend to come on somewhat suddenly without any regular frequency. I usually can sense when one is coming on and can start getting medicine in the system. I think being able to get some medicine in before it becomes full blown is really the key.

Now, for the even worse part. My wife also has been diagnosed with both. My 7 yr old son has been diagnosed with, I guess pediatric migraines, and now the 4 yr old also complains of headaches.

My sympathies are with you. Besides Excedrin Migraine, a frigid, quiet dark room with a wash cloth over my forehead seems to work the best for me. Hopefully, you've found something that works for you. If not, read around and experiment. Good luck.

[RodKirby]

Rod, if only I were as fortunate as you. I have been diagnosed with both Migraines and Cluster Headaches, so I definately feel your pain. However, I don't get a two year break. They tend to come on somewhat suddenly without any regular frequency. I usually can sense when one is coming on and can start getting medicine in the system. I think being able to get some medicine in before it becomes full blown is really the key.

Now, for the even worse part. My wife also has been diagnosed with both. My 7 yr old son has been diagnosed with, I guess pediatric migraines, and now the 4 yr old also complains of headaches.

My sympathies are with you. Besides Excedrin Migraine, a frigid, quiet dark room with a wash cloth over my forehead seems to work the best for me. Hopefully, you've found something that works for you. If not, read around and experiment. Good luck.

Oh, WOW MY sympathies are with you and your family. I guess that doesn't help much - I can't imagine a chronic dose of these

[ajcarlson]

Have you ever tried the Imitrex inhalers? I had chronic clusters from 94-99 and have been in remission since. I was a pack a day smoker - quit smoking and haven't had a cluster since!

[JTimmons]

My sympathies are with you. Besides Excedrin Migraine, a frigid, quiet dark room with a wash cloth over my forehead seems to work the best for me. Hopefully, you've found something that works for you. If not, read around and experiment. Good luck.

Have you talked to your doctor about Zomig? It's the only thing that works with my migraines. Takes about 10-20 minutes for the disolvable tablets to work and for those really bad ones I take a 5 mg inhaler which works in about 10 minutes (tastes like you know what). Another that I have used in Maxalt, but prefer the Zomig by far.

Not sure if either will help with cluster heaadaches or not, can't say that I have had one or would want one from the sounds of them.

[cabinetman]

I get one of those headaches when I see the three little letters IRS.



"I'M NEVER WRONG - BUT I'M NOT ALWAYS RIGHT"

[WayneJ]

Rod,
I have a very close friend that gets those cluster headaches usualy in the summer when pollen is high. Imitrex inhalers were the only thing that gave him any help. This past weekend he went for laser treatment to help stop smoking to see if this would help. When he gets them he is usualy bothered for about a month.Mostly they seem to come on after dinner. I can only guess what the pain must be like.
Wayne

[gjat]

Rod and other headache sufferers,
For years I used to suffer from debilitating migranes that were so bad it hurt to lay down in a dark room or even sit. For hours I could only stagger around in pain, since it was excruciating to sit or lay for more than 15 minutes.

My English wife followed her mum's remedy to keep a bottle of Apple Cider Vinegar in the fridge. When I felt the migrane coming on, or even after it was full-blown, I took a wash cloth saturated with the cold vinegar (NOT dripping) and laid in bed with a towel under my head and the washcloth on my forehead and eyebrows. Within an hour, it took the edge off and became a dull headache. It is amazing and drug free. After it became a headache, I could then take motrin or asprin without being sick.

[SteveR]

Hi Rod and JSU,
I have these little "jewels" as well. Yep a fellow clusterhead, not a fun group to be in. My cycles are yearly for about 6 mos., and I am almost done (I hope)! I was very surprised to see someone even knowing about them, much less have them as they are on the rare side. For an abortive, I use high flow O2 (12-15lpm) and non-rebreather mask (both items very important to work effeciently).....works like a charm most of the time..and keeps me off all the darned meds. Imitrex injections work fast as well, but may have a tendency for rebounds. Put a cork in the adult beverages while you are in cycle too. For most an almost instant trigger.

If you need some links to show O2 effectiveness to show your doctor for a script let me know.
Steve

[RodKirby]

Day 7 - intensity and duration lessening. Looks like the pattern is being consistent.

[germdoc]

Rod--

It is not true that there are no treatments for cluster headache. I am including the following excerpt from one of our medical references (Up To Date). You should certainly ask your doctor about these medications and request a referral to a neurologist if he/she can't help you.

I would consider one of the triptans (Imitrex, Zomig, etc.) as an abortive therapy--very few side effects and works quickly--and a calcium blocker as a long-term preventive therapy. (Will also help your blood pressure!)

CLUSTER HEADACHE MEDICATIONS — Most patients who suffer with cluster headaches will need to take both an abortive and preventative medication.

Abortive therapy — Abortive therapy may include the following:

The majority of people obtain relief by inhaling 100 percent oxygen by mask.
Triptans (eg, sumatriptan and possibly zolmitriptan) can stop an acute cluster attack, often within 10 to 15 minutes. Sumatriptan can also be combined with oxygen therapy.

Octreotide appears to be effective and well tolerated in the treatment of acute cluster headaches. Minor gastrointestinal upset is the most common side effect of octreotide treatment.

Dihydroergotamine (DHE 45) 1 mg given by nasal spray relieved the pain of acute cluster attack in a small clinical study [25].

Preventive treatment — Preventive therapy is usually started at the onset of a new cluster. A number of drugs may be useful:

Verapamil is effective and has few side effects, although there may be a delay of four to six weeks before headache frequency diminishes.

The steroid drug prednisone is very effective preventative therapy, but it should not be used long term because of side effects.

Lithium appears to be particularly effective for the chronic form of cluster headaches.

Ergotamine, methysergide, cyproheptadine, and indomethacin have also been shown to be effective.

Prophylactic medications can be gradually stopped after the expected duration of the cluster has passed. The drugs can be restarted if symptoms recur.