| 09 Apr, 2009 - 9:34 am |
I just joined the site after getting frustrated with CH. It has been 18 months since I had my last cluster. That's the longest gap I've ever had and I was hopeful to not get them again‚ unfortunately they're back. The dread for my wife and I is almost as bad as the issue itself!
First got these headaches 7 years ago when I was 25. I usually get them for between 2-4 weeks and between 1 and 3 a night‚ peaking in the middle of the cluster.
It was much worse at the start - I didn't know how to deal with them and I'd just try and "sleep it off" which I've learnt is the worst thing I can do. Since I've learnt how to deal with them I don't have really excruciating ones as often. I feel very fortunate that I don't experience them as badly as some of you guys but I've been told by my neurologist that they'll get worse as I get older...yay
Triggers
-Alcohol (I normally drink a fair bit but have learnt to not have any alcohol during the entire cluster period)
-Sleep/laying down (I only ever get them when I've been asleep)
-Tiredness (not sure if this is cause/effect or both)
-Overseas travel (I've been overseas 4 times and twice I've had them - this could be to do with stress or air pressure)
Symptoms
-First I get a slight pressure in temple/behind right eye
-Lance-like pressure behind right eye grows and grows
-Vein in right temple becomes raised
-Right nostril runs
Treatment
-The most effective for me is getting up straight away and applying a hot pack to right eye and temple. If I get to it quickly enough I can "abort" the headache within 5 minutes‚ this becomes difficult If I sleep through the warning signs (pressure in temple/eye). I NEVER lay down again with the hot pack‚ keeping my head vertical is very important.
-Hot shower with water running over eye/temple. I did this today (6am) when the hotpack didn't work‚ it went away within 2 minutes
-Sometimes if scared or concerned it'll be a big one I take some ibuprofen.
I've just started a new cluster so I'm going to try a few ideas out that I've seen on the net:
Jogging- When I get one after 5am‚ going to try running‚ some say the extra oxygen will alleviate the headache
Sex- Not sure if this will increase oxygen levels or what‚ at the very least it'll take my mind off the pain!
Cold Pack- I usually use a hot pack with reasonable success but I might try the opposite
Deep Breathing- Oxygen seems to be a common treatment so I'll give it a go - don't want to bother about getting pure oxygen just yet though.
Let me know if this helps or you have any other tips.
Brad
| 0 people like this |
