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05 Jun, 2007 - 12:59 pm

How do you control it?

I find it embarrassing‚ especially as I work with children and they all think I am crying. Well I am‚ but not for sadness‚ but pain.

I was given a keterolc injection as an anti-inflammatory but that was not successful. Even standard over the counter pain killers are not helping relieve the pain.

Yesterday was a great day‚ minimal pain and leakage‚ but now I need to leave the house everything has to play up.

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13 Jun, 2007 - 11:06 am

Hi‚ and welcome to the site. For me the least of my concerns is that my eye and nostril is running‚ and besides‚ you need to be alone when one strikes anyway‚ so it's a non-issue for me‚ and using over the counter pain killers is like trying to squash an elephant with a fly swatter. But I'm sensing yours are quite mild if you can still work around people while enduring a CH....
Lets hope they dont progress in severity for you!

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09 Jul, 2007 - 4:57 am

Hi Nickee‚
How are you feeling? I hate the water leakage‚ especially when I am around someone - That + the drooped eye are extremely embarrassing. And the hitting the head ain't so great in public either... But when your in that much pain there is nothing much you can do to hold the tears back.
I know it's hard with work. I have only just started back at my normal job but am only lasting a couple of hours a week if I make it in at all (now 3-4 hrs) bc the CH pains are that bad + I cannot last a full day still. This is also very embarrassing for myself (and I'm sure a few of you out there) as I use to be able to work fulltime and sometimes 7 days straight!
I was made casual recently but use to be fulltime. I am extremely lucky to have such an understanding boss as she knows what I was like b4 the CH.
I am a sales assistant so working with the public. When I am at work I try + put on the "There's nothing wrong with me" face‚ doesn't always work though when you're tearing up + have a 1/2 drooped face. Even some adults make silly comments but what can u do.. Makes it worse when your wearing makeup‚ I don't bother anymore LoL You try to make yourself look better by wearing it than you end up looking like Alice Cooper!
It would be hard working with children as you could not explain yourself + why your are crying. Just keep in thought you are very brave + very strong willed to be working whilst suffering from CH. I agree with Roger about the over the counter drugs "pain killers are like trying to squash an elephant with a fly swatter" So true.
I'm sorry I haven't got any suggestions to minimalise the tears. I agree‚ being by yourself makes it abit better to cope with but unfortunately there is nothing I have found to help I am still seeking.
I do hope your pain minimalises.
All the best Nickee‚
~Kellie

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10 Jul, 2007 - 11:30 am

Hi Nickee

I also work with children and I am suprised at your ability to continue at work with a CH. I have only ever had one infront of my kids‚ which was last Friday. They were great‚ they ran and got a heat bag for me and I was soon sent home as I cannot be around anyone when the major pain hits.

I agree with Roger though‚ the tears and nose running are my last concern when the pain is bad‚ although after a while it starts to realy irritate me. I just have to try and deal with it!!

Take care

Bec

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11 Jul, 2007 - 12:47 am

That's great Bec about your kids helping u out whilst u had that attack.

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11 Jul, 2007 - 5:06 pm

CH is all still very new to me. I've only had one attack so far.

I suffered with pain for about 5 weeks before I knew I had CH.

There has been excruciating pain‚ but I am the kind of person who refuses to take a day off work no matter how sick I am.

I'm not normally self conscious‚ but the eye was really bothering me more than the headache was.

Thanks for your replies.

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12 Jul, 2007 - 6:36 am

Hey again Nickee‚

Awwwe I know what you mean about the eye. It's all extremely annoying and painful.
I too get very self conscious about the way my eye looks.
I use to wear makeup all the time but now I don't really bother anymore b/c it's just runs + I end up looking like a beat up panda
I tried wearing some last nite but it ended up running and irritating my eye LoL Gah!

I was like you about work for a number of months when I 1st got this. I didn't want to let my work down (and still don't) so I kept on working.
It was up until my boss came to me noticing I was in that much pain + reading & writing wrong‚ not remembering things like how to use a calculator(!)‚ silly mistakes‚ tired from no sleep etc.
I ended up breaking down like a baby crying in her office b/c I knew I couldn't just try and ignore it anymore. She told me I should really go to a hospital about it.
Things just went down hill from there but I am really grateful to have an understanding work place. I wouldn't imagine many places being like that these days‚ very supportive.

Like I said‚ You are truely a strong person + applaude you for that

All the best Nickee‚
~Kellie

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12 Jul, 2007 - 3:27 pm

Thanks Kellie!

Unfortunately taking time off/leaving work is very hard for me to do. I am a teacher in a small country town. And I think I would die if I couldn't teach anymore.

I am hoping it is a long time between attacks so I can be more prepared next time and teach others how to help me cope. I think they laughed at me when I said I had CH‚ thinking I was just making a big deal out of migraines.

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13 Jul, 2007 - 2:43 am

Yeh I absolutely know what u mean. Ppl really don't understand CH at all. I've had many a rant on this forum about this LoL!!!
Ppl just think it's a "Headache" - go lay down‚ take a panadol‚ what's the big deal etc. I tend to shut down now when ppl say stuff -I get the feeling ppl joke about me too and it's awful b/c it's such an intense pain‚ like electricution in your head that never stops!
I hope that your pains dull down + like you said hope that you get longer breaks between attacks.

I printed out this for my work mates + friends‚ you might be interested. It helps ppl better understand the condition + it also helped me incase something happens at work they knew what medication I was taking.

If you are interested check them out.
Go to:
http://www.ouchuk.org/html/news/Note%20for%20colleagues.pdf
And:
http://www.ouch-us.org/chgeneral/employer_form.doc

My work mates all read it with out me even asking. I just left it in our tea room and it helped them understand it alot better so I was really happy that they actually took the time to read about it.

Anyhoo‚
Take care Nickee‚
~Kellie

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20 Jul, 2007 - 9:56 am

Great suggestion Kellie. Nickee I also printed these information forms out last year in the middle of a very painful cycle.

I am a teacher too and I know how hard it is to take time off work‚ I imagine being in a small town would make this harder. Once I gave that information to the Principal and my colleagues‚ I found that dealing with my cylce this year has been so much easier because they understand what I am going through.

It's hard for people to comprehend‚ but we just have to keep them as educated as we can so that they are supportive when we need it!

Good Luck.

Bec

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