Bonds 25

Is it possible the fluctuating intensity during my bouts are just individual cluster headaches? Thank you everybody

Thank you for your reply. I usually end up keeping my left eye closed during my bouts. According to my log I started in March, I seem to have 2-3 episodes a month. Over the last couple years, although I never thought to keep track since I just thought they were "headaches", my occurrences are definitely increasing drastically no doubt. About 4 years ago I also started to randomly smell cigarette smoke when there is no smoke around. This sometimes will last for weeks at a time and can be to the point where its as strong as if somebody is actually blowing smoke directly into my face. It will then disappear just as quick and will be gone for weeks, sometimes months. This condition confused the hell out of my Doctor, but he did eliminate brain cancer via MRI. I have never been awake and began to get a headache, I have always been asleep. I can try with my Doctor, but I assume he will be hesitant and will suggest I stick with what I have until I see the Neurologist...and who knows how much actual knowledge he will have when it comes to cluster headaches. One thing is certain, these things SUCK and its impossible to try and explain just how much they SUCK to my friends, family and coworkers.

After suffering for many years (~20) from occasional strange headaches that were: 1. VERY severe 2. Would not go away no matter how much Advil, Tylenol or other various migraine meds I would take 3. Would wake me up in the middle of the night in an instant I think I finally figured out it might be cluster headaches. While I'm pretty much self diagnosed at this point, I did see my family doctor who prescribed me Topiramate 25 mg (twice daily) which I started taking last Friday and referred me to a Neurologist. Only issue is there is a HUGE lack of Neurologists in this area and my earliest appointment is mid January. I've been doing some research lately and find my symptoms conflict (at least my interpretations) with some cluster headache diagnosis, so this site seems like a great place to maybe get some opinions since my Doctor's knowledge is quite limited with this rare condition. Here are my experiences. -My headaches always start between 1-2am like clockwork (unless its mild occasionally) and only when I'm sleeping -They vary in pain scale from 3-10 with 6 and above feeling like the left half of my face is being crushed in a vice. I cant imagine anything on earth being more painful than a 9+ -For hours at a time, sometimes for as long as 5 hours, the vice is quickly tightened for a couple minutes, then slowly loosened only to be tightened again minutes later. Sometimes a dull headache will linger for 10+ hours following. -I find myself pacing in my master closet in between tightening and leaning against the wall in agony during while my wife and daughter sleep. Laying down is IMPOSSIBLE or even sitting up in bed or a chair. -Even 40 mg of ambien on an empty stomach isn't enough to overcome the nightmare (9+) -To make matters even worse, following severe episodes, its like I have experienced brain damaged that can last through the following evening. I am just not all there, like a zombie, however, I wake up the next day fine. -Its so severe I sometimes vomit Since March I have kept a log. Date, Pain Scale, Time, Vomit? 3-17, 9/10, 1am-4am, Vomit 3-25, 10/10, 1:50am-3am, Vomit 4-28, 4/10, 4am-7am, No Vomit 5-09, 3/10, 2am-5am, No Vomit 5-13, 6/10, 2am-6am, No Vomit 5-25, 10/10, 1:50am-6am, No Vomit 6-7, 3/10, 4am-11am, No Vomit 6-26, 3/10, 2am-9am, No Vomit 7-5, 8/10, 3am-8am (minor 3/10 lingered until 3pm) No Vomit 7-23, 5/10, 2am-7am, No Vomit 8-5, 10/10, 2am-7am, Vomit (possibly the worst night of my entire 41 years of existence) 8-17, 7/10, 2am-6:30am, Vomit Sorry for such a long 1st post, but I'm very interested in what you guys think. Am I correct, are they cluster headaches? Thank you!!