bleurgh.
Had one yesterday - first time in many years. Any tips on managing them - any advances in recent years? Any fellow sufferers?
Lay in the dark
No noise
Cool room
Watch out about eating because usually the nausea is so strong it can make you throw up.
wait
wait
wait
wait
until you can join the living again
Nah - that's migraine, not cluster headache.
I've just seen the Wiki picture of what it looks like. Not pleasant! But can't you just try and knock the little man from the top of your head?
nooooo idea then, all I know is that they hurt like hell, but I've never ask them to introduce themselves.
Cluster headaches hurt more for less time than migraine. Not so much nausea nor light sensitivity.
Fortunately I only have some of the symptoms (severe pain, drooping eyelid, pinpoint pupil) not the full works. Lasts 2-3 hours, then gone, leaving me exhausted. The pain is about 1...
Pasta with cheese sauce for dinner, followed by chocolate... is this wise?
A work colleague of mine suffers from them. His doctor has given him some medication to manage them. I'll ask him what it is tomorrow, but from what I remember it's an injection you have to administer yourself.
With luck this a one off occurance for you since you haven't had one for a long time. I can understand how it is as I've seen my colleague pretty much incapacitated by this, and I know he's not swinging the lead.
Hope it's over and done with.
1.Avoid alcohol.It trigger headaches.
2.Take care to limit your exposure to substances like oil-based paints, solvents or gasoline.
3.Avoid exposure to tobaccoo products particularly during periods when headaches are clustering.
4.Certain medicines can trigger headaches, so always check with your doctor or chemist.
5.Nitrates found in smoked or processed meats can also work against your health.
6.Sometimes magnesium helps, as this mineral seems to be low in sufferers of cluster headaches.
7.Eating chilies such as cayenne pepper can help.
8. Some cluster headaches are triggered by stress, so stress reduction techniques, such as yoga, meditation, and regular exercise, may be effective.
9.Some cluster headaches may be an allergic response triggered by food or environmental substances, therefore identifying and removing the allergen(s) may be key to resolution of the problem.
Sometimes when you are dehydrated it can kick one off, especially when the weather gets warm. Drink plenty of water - you have my sympathy..
I've found sitting under a luke warm shower can help with pain relief, a bit odd sounding I know but helps me, not always ideal at 3am though
1.Avoid alcohol.It trigger headaches.
I don't drink alcohol anyway.
2.Take care to limit your exposure to substances like oil-based paints, solvents or gasoline.
I don't sniff glue.
3.Avoid exposure to tobaccoo products particularly during periods when headaches are clustering.
I don't smoke - or work in a smoky environment. Though I do remember years ago starting to get a migraine in a smoky room, so I took a drag on a cigaratte and the symptoms disappeared...
4.Certain medicines can trigger headaches, so always check with your doctor or chemist.
Good point
...
7.Eating chilies such as cayenne pepper can help. I love chillies!
I don't stress and I don't have allergies (been tested).
I hope so too. Then it wouldn't be a cluster headache! (A cluster of one?).
It sounds odd, but it does make sense. I might try it if it ever happens again.
Where's the link Adrian...
[](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Clusterhead.jpg)
In Zurich I went to a neurologist, he gave me a nasal spray that worked excellent. Even though these are infrequent but intense, it is now nice to have this on hand so I can quickly use it if one hits. Go to a Neurologist a regular doctor will argue with you about whether you really have a bad headache or not.
Good luck,
MakeABigWish
Right, I've had a word with my colleague and got the following information:-
First of all before you'll be prescribed anything your doctor will, in all likelihood, need to refer you to a neurologist - apparently Dr Christian Meier in Baden comes highly recommended, but I feel that may be a bit far from you.
The medication is as follows:-
Zomic Nasal - Administered, funnily enough, through the nose.
Imigran (Sumatriptan is the generic name) - This is the self administered injection which is injected into the thigh. This is much much stronger, and while it will remove the pain, it's quite possible that it will leave you a bit woozy. It's likely you won't be prescribed this to begin with, and then only if the other medications do not help
Disclaimer - I'm not a doctor and the info here is based purely on what my colleague has told me. It's very possible that you have a different condition. So, as always, speak with your doctor.
HTH
Hi,
I suggest you go to the Hirslanden Kopfwehzentrum in Zurich. http://www.kopfwww.ch/
They are extremely experienced with cluster headaches and have lots of different medication that actually works!
No cant help much either other than to say i suffer with regular migraines. Had another one today! i take medication from my GP for them but they have recently started to not work so well. Whilst i was waiting to collect my last perscription i was chatting to lady near me who was saying she get medication for cluster headaches from her GP. Maybe that will be best solution, or you could try the locum advice whom i once say which was 'try to elliminate stress in your life!!!' lol x
Neurologist sounds like the best bet. There's one nearby I might try.
Good luck.
Hello everybody im new to this Group.
wondering if there is anybody from Basel ?
I have cluster headaches chronical and im just wondering if there is anybody else with ch
around here ? Peter
I am (actually maybe thankfully was - always in doubt though) a fellow sufferer. I'm heading out the door at this moment but please PM me and we can chat more. Nothing worse than clusters - those who don't know just don't know. I do know your pain.
There are food triggers - can google a list.
My mom tried everything with hers - finally stopped after menopause. One thing that sometimes worked for her was o2 treatments.
I used to sit on the bathroom floor (dark) and put an ice pack on the back of my neck. My mom used heat.
Sounds stupid but i really tried to picture myself in a happy place.
I'll see if I can find some more stuff. There was a particular drug I used that helped but can't recall the name.
Do yours repeat at the same time or interval when you are in a cycle?
Hoping for you it's a short cycle. Hugs!!!!