Cluster headaches / Migraines

[Lemmonie]

I know someone on here is a little bit of an expert so my question is:

Is someone who suffers migrains more likely to experiance cluster headaches? Also is photophobia associated with cluster headaches?

[captainmatt]

I don't know about more likely, but when I was younger I used to suffer from migraines a lot, and still get Cluster Headaches to this day (with the odd migraine, a rarity now though).

Photophobia can occur with Cluster Headaches as far as I know, but it's a bit of a grey area as usually that would then lead into a migraine (at least with me).

[alfa pint]

I'm a cluster headache sufferer, although you're right in thinking there's more of an expert somewhere on here.

The angle and intensity of light will certainly affect things - I have to be careful about where lights are sited inside the house. My cluster headaches are far more frequent in spring and summer too, when the angle of the sun can really set them off.

The good news for me is that they don't last very long - the bad news is the pain level. Sat night's episode lasted about 2 hours and that's the longest in ages.

I don't get migraines.

Edited by alfa pint on Monday 17th January 15:03

[Lemmonie]

I suffer with migraines and have one about every 4 weeks on average so im guessing probably hormonal related. I am prescribed sumatripan (imigran) tablets with co-codomal for the pain and although i have classic migrain (no aura) The tablets usually work.

However over Christmas I had 2 weeks where i was in constant pain pretty much. The first possible migraine came without warning, very very suddenly uncontrolable and untoroble (sp?) pain which was so far off the chart of a regular migraine, so much so i got a friend to take me to hospital where on top of the imigran and codine i got tramadol and diclofenec.
The a few manageable migrains then the two week period saw me with another massive pain surge which woke me from sleep about 5am and involved another hospital trip for more pain relief.

These large episodes were the worst ever and in fact i would rather be in labour and the pain so so bad.

Doctor at hospital mention cluster headaches and advised me to GP. GP just changed meds to imigran inhalours and added tramadol to my pain relief perscription.

Just wondered if i did indeed have cluster headaches and for someone to tell me it wont happen again :-(

[YarisSi]

I would suggest contacting The City of London Migraine Clinic (www.migraineclinic.org.uk). They deal with all kinds of headaches and have a lot of experience with Cluster Headaches and work with OUCH.

They also have some good fact sheets for Cluster headaches on their website under resources.

PM me if I can help anymore.