First Cluster headache and 8 years later
I was first diagnosed with Cluster headaches (Episodic) in 2012, by Professor Greene at Nuffield health hospital in Glasgow, after many questions and tests I walked out of there with my cluster headache diagnosis.
I spent 3 months being passed from pillar to post with my symptoms which baffled doctors, opticians and dentists, until one morning I had an appointment with a stand in GP at my gp surgery, where I described again, for the millionth time my symptoms and etc ... when he calmly said ' Cluster Headaches '.
I was then referred to Professor Greene for a diagnosis. I had a CT scan to rule out other causes of the severe pain.
Since then and until 2017 I had no treatments for CH, until my care was overtaken by headache specialist Dr. Tyagi who I see at the Queen Elizabeth hospital in Glasgow, since then I have had access to home oxygen and triptan injections I have also had a 3 month Gammacore trial, I am currently awaiting prescription renewal for a years use of the gammacore.
I changed from ECH to CCH - chronic cluster headache in 2017, I feel the oxygen is the best abortive for me, I have tried the sumatriptan injections - they done nothing for my CH as well as made me feel very ill for days.
I currently work full time in the emergency services on the front line, working is difficult with cluster headaches and especially shift work. Although, I get by, between using oxygen and my newly found weapon - Gammacore.
Every day is a struggle being chronic CH, but taking it day to day is the best approach for myself.
I find great help in the support groups for people with Cluster headaches. This has also been very helpful, fellow sufferers know how I feel, we can relate to each other, this gives a sense of understanding and lessens the alone, isolated feeling I previously had.
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