Horrific Headaches

[Nezquick]

I hope someone can help or offer suggestions.

For the past few weeks, I've started suffering from horrendous headaches which come on in a matter of seconds and then slowly subside over a few hours. The pain is 10/10, comes on instantly and is behind my eyes and at the front of my head. I literally have to squeeze my eyes shut and lie down and can't help but grab at my head until the pain settles a bit. Taking Ibuprofen seems to help but only after a few hours. They're not migraines as I used to get those many years ago and the pain is completely different. The pain is literally so debilitating I can't do anything when it happens.

The first time it happened was in the gym a couple of weeks ago when I was bench pressing. It then happened last week as I was pumping up my bike tyre. It happened again last night when I was in bed. When I woke this morning I felt groggy and was still in a bit of pain.

I normally wouldn't bother my GP and hate going but last night I almost got my wife to take me to A&E the pain was so bad.

Anyone got any ideas?

I'm thinking it may be a good idea to go and see my GP but I don't really want to get fobbed off with the usual "migraine" BS, when it's clearly not that.

[Bill]

I spent last Friday in A&E with similar that was suspected to be a subarachnoid haemorrage. A CT and lumbar puncture later and they think it was just a tension headache, but they took it very seriously. Like you I had sudden onset 10/10 pain that wasn't touched by analgesia. (SWMBO is a GP, and a few friends are A&E consultants - all said A&E was the right decision.)

[The_Doc]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thunderclap_headac...

??

[FlyingMeeces]

Seeing your GP is unquestionably the right option for what you're describing - between the 'could be something nasty' factor and the huge effect on your quality of life, this wants sussing out then some sort of intervention. It's not minor, or at least should not be assumed to be.

[Nezquick]

The_Doc said:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thunderclap_headac...

??

I saw that last night on Google but quickly dismissed it after stting myself that's what they are.

I'm going to the docs....just to be sure! I don't really want to mess about with something like this.

[GCH]

Clean your sinuses (properly) and see if it remains.

[matt12023]

Sounds a bit like cluster headaches, from the regularity, location of pain and severity, just a guess mind

[mike_e]

I'd forget the Doctor and get to A&E if you have another attack. Without wishing to frighten you unnecessarily, the pain levels are just like those for a Subarachnoid hemorrhage (as was suspected in an earlier post) and you may have an Aneurysm, so it's not something you should ignore. The wife had very similar symptoms (and is also a Migraine sufferer) and in her case was quite a large Aneurysm which had started to bleed. Two worst factors are being female and a smoker apparently, so chances are (75%) it's something far less sinister. The potentially high mortality rate means you certainly wouldn't be wasting a doctor (or A&Es) time having some tests. More than half of patients with Subarachnoid hemorrhages go on to suffer some form brain damage too (as in the wife's case) so you should definitely get it checked out.

[kurt535]

Nezquick said:

I hope someone can help or offer suggestions.

For the past few weeks, I've started suffering from horrendous headaches which come on in a matter of seconds and then slowly subside over a few hours. The pain is 10/10, comes on instantly and is behind my eyes and at the front of my head. I literally have to squeeze my eyes shut and lie down and can't help but grab at my head until the pain settles a bit. Taking Ibuprofen seems to help but only after a few hours. They're not migraines as I used to get those many years ago and the pain is completely different. The pain is literally so debilitating I can't do anything when it happens.

The first time it happened was in the gym a couple of weeks ago when I was bench pressing. It then happened last week as I was pumping up my bike tyre. It happened again last night when I was in bed. When I woke this morning I felt groggy and was still in a bit of pain.

I normally wouldn't bother my GP and hate going but last night I almost got my wife to take me to A&E the pain was so bad.

Anyone got any ideas?

I'm thinking it may be a good idea to go and see my GP but I don't really want to get fobbed off with the usual "migraine" BS, when it's clearly not that.

Sounding like a potential cluster headache. If so, welcome to a very exclusive club

If you have Facebook, look out for a group called OUCH - organisation for the understanding of cluster headaches. They have an amazing support network with

Good news:

Two frontline remedies:

1. imigram epi - pens
2. O2 inhaled at minimum of 15 litres per minute
3. Cluster headache sufferers are recognised as enduring one the worst medical pains known to mankind. Their nickname are suicide headaches for good reason
4. They are wholly and entirely NOT related to migraine - research suggest links to hypothalamus
5. They can be episodic and occur at the same time every day for a period of time. Some poor sods get them every day

Bad news:

1. Doctors can be bds helping a sufferer and recognising the symptoms because....
2. the Imigram epi pens are viewed as expensive per dose
3. But, doctors are medically instructed to issue them AND NOT the Imigram tablet.
4. O2 can abort an attack within 10 mins so, when used in conjunction with the pen, pain is killed for most quite quickly. You get rights to O2 based off the headache being a cluster and applying for home use with a HOOF form. Again, doctors can't stand in your way, once your condition is confirmed

Once again, I can't urge you enough to seek out OUCH on Fb.

Any other help needed, PM me.

[Nezquick]

kurt535 said:

Sounding like a potential cluster headache. If so, welcome to a very exclusive club

If you have Facebook, look out for a group called OUCH - organisation for the understanding of cluster headaches. They have an amazing support network with

Good news:

Two frontline remedies:

1. imigram epi - pens
2. O2 inhaled at minimum of 15 litres per minute
3. Cluster headache sufferers are recognised as enduring one the worst medical pains known to mankind. Their nickname are suicide headaches for good reason
4. They are wholly and entirely NOT related to migraine - research suggest links to hypothalamus
5. They can be episodic and occur at the same time every day for a period of time. Some poor sods get them every day

Bad news:

1. Doctors can be bds helping a sufferer and recognising the symptoms because....
2. the Imigram epi pens are viewed as expensive per dose
3. But, doctors are medically instructed to issue them AND NOT the Imigram tablet.
4. O2 can abort an attack within 10 mins so, when used in conjunction with the pen, pain is killed for most quite quickly. You get rights to O2 based off the headache being a cluster and applying for home use with a HOOF form. Again, doctors can't stand in your way, once your condition is confirmed

Once again, I can't urge you enough to seek out OUCH on Fb.

Any other help needed, PM me.

Thanks for the info, much appreciated. I'll look into OUCH.

So far I've not had any more occurrences so hopefully just a random occurrence. Booked a doctors appointment though just in case.

[Lemmonie]

kurt535 said:

Sounding like a potential cluster headache. If so, welcome to a very exclusive club

If you have Facebook, look out for a group called OUCH - organisation for the understanding of cluster headaches. They have an amazing support network with

Good news:

Two frontline remedies:

1. imigram epi - pens
2. O2 inhaled at minimum of 15 litres per minute
3. Cluster headache sufferers are recognised as enduring one the worst medical pains known to mankind. Their nickname are suicide headaches for good reason
4. They are wholly and entirely NOT related to migraine - research suggest links to hypothalamus
5. They can be episodic and occur at the same time every day for a period of time. Some poor sods get them every day

Bad news:

1. Doctors can be bds helping a sufferer and recognising the symptoms because....
2. the Imigram epi pens are viewed as expensive per dose
3. But, doctors are medically instructed to issue them AND NOT the Imigram tablet.
4. O2 can abort an attack within 10 mins so, when used in conjunction with the pen, pain is killed for most quite quickly. You get rights to O2 based off the headache being a cluster and applying for home use with a HOOF form. Again, doctors can't stand in your way, once your condition is confirmed

Once again, I can't urge you enough to seek out OUCH on Fb.

Any other help needed, PM me.

Hi from another sufferer!!!!!!

I have migraines AND Clusters. Im a lucky one though as i usually get mine every December for 2 weeks. One a day at 6pm ish. Took me three years to get officially diagnosed by a neurologist and have Imigran Epi pens and O2. I haven't has an episode for the last 3 years now but do get random odd one off attacks and there is no way im giving up my O2 bottle!!!!!!!

The worst pain ever and i have had two kids. When i get mine i am distraught. I cant lie down, i usually bang my head or push my fingers into my eye, i pace about, i hyperventilate. they are simply horrific.

[kurt535]

Lemmonie said:

kurt535 said:

Sounding like a potential cluster headache. If so, welcome to a very exclusive club

If you have Facebook, look out for a group called OUCH - organisation for the understanding of cluster headaches. They have an amazing support network with

Good news:

Two frontline remedies:

1. imigram epi - pens
2. O2 inhaled at minimum of 15 litres per minute
3. Cluster headache sufferers are recognised as enduring one the worst medical pains known to mankind. Their nickname are suicide headaches for good reason
4. They are wholly and entirely NOT related to migraine - research suggest links to hypothalamus
5. They can be episodic and occur at the same time every day for a period of time. Some poor sods get them every day

Bad news:

1. Doctors can be bds helping a sufferer and recognising the symptoms because....
2. the Imigram epi pens are viewed as expensive per dose
3. But, doctors are medically instructed to issue them AND NOT the Imigram tablet.
4. O2 can abort an attack within 10 mins so, when used in conjunction with the pen, pain is killed for most quite quickly. You get rights to O2 based off the headache being a cluster and applying for home use with a HOOF form. Again, doctors can't stand in your way, once your condition is confirmed

Once again, I can't urge you enough to seek out OUCH on Fb.

Any other help needed, PM me.

Hi from another sufferer!!!!!!

I have migraines AND Clusters. Im a lucky one though as i usually get mine every December for 2 weeks. One a day at 6pm ish. Took me three years to get officially diagnosed by a neurologist and have Imigran Epi pens and O2. I haven't has an episode for the last 3 years now but do get random odd one off attacks and there is no way im giving up my O2 bottle!!!!!!!

The worst pain ever and i have had two kids. When i get mine i am distraught. I cant lie down, i usually bang my head or push my fingers into my eye, i pace about, i hyperventilate. they are simply horrific.

Such is the rarity of the headaches there's not much point doing the lottery I think :0

Wishing you pain free for as long as possible.

[tybo]

Lemmonie said:

kurt535 said:

Sounding like a potential cluster headache. If so, welcome to a very exclusive club

If you have Facebook, look out for a group called OUCH - organisation for the understanding of cluster headaches. They have an amazing support network with

Good news:

Two frontline remedies:

1. imigram epi - pens
2. O2 inhaled at minimum of 15 litres per minute
3. Cluster headache sufferers are recognised as enduring one the worst medical pains known to mankind. Their nickname are suicide headaches for good reason
4. They are wholly and entirely NOT related to migraine - research suggest links to hypothalamus
5. They can be episodic and occur at the same time every day for a period of time. Some poor sods get them every day

Bad news:

1. Doctors can be bds helping a sufferer and recognising the symptoms because....
2. the Imigram epi pens are viewed as expensive per dose
3. But, doctors are medically instructed to issue them AND NOT the Imigram tablet.
4. O2 can abort an attack within 10 mins so, when used in conjunction with the pen, pain is killed for most quite quickly. You get rights to O2 based off the headache being a cluster and applying for home use with a HOOF form. Again, doctors can't stand in your way, once your condition is confirmed

Once again, I can't urge you enough to seek out OUCH on Fb.

Any other help needed, PM me.

Hi from another sufferer!!!!!!

I have migraines AND Clusters. Im a lucky one though as i usually get mine every December for 2 weeks. One a day at 6pm ish. Took me three years to get officially diagnosed by a neurologist and have Imigran Epi pens and O2. I haven't has an episode for the last 3 years now but do get random odd one off attacks and there is no way im giving up my O2 bottle!!!!!!!

The worst pain ever and i have had two kids. When i get mine i am distraught. I cant lie down, i usually bang my head or push my fingers into my eye, i pace about, i hyperventilate. they are simply horrific.

Another sufferer here.

At few points in the past I was getting attacks every couple of hours...night and day, for three or four weeks at a time. I used to dread going to sleep, because I knew I'd be awoken in an hour or two by excruciating pain. At least during the day, I could kind of plan for it.

Took me years to be diagnosed, too. In fact, once, after a six month wait, the NHS "specialist" prescribed me some paracetamol!

A private nuerologist diagnosed it straight away after explaining the nature of the pain and symptoms. I can't emphasise enough what relief it was to discover the OUCH site...and that there were other people who suffered from the condition, and who actually knew and understood what I was talking about.

That's going back a while now, though. These days, it's a much better recognised condition.

[kurt535]

Dear old 'clockwork' headaches!

i agree they are better known now.

Headache almost seems the wrong name to use for them!!