Anyone who lives with cluster headaches could you please advise

[Kittykat77uk]

Hi my boyfriend suffers so bad from cluster headaches and has done so for the past 8 years..ive known him for a year. When i first met him he wasn't in a bad period by that i mean he would go upto a wk without an attack..at the moment he's having a severe bout. I obviously want to be there for him and help him when an attack occurs, getting his oxygen tank and administering his injections which is the practical support but what about emotional support at time of attack? What i want to do is hold him while he goes through it but i doubt very much thats the best thing..any sufferers please help, am i being neglectful of the emotional support? Is being held the last thing you want when having an attack? Please dont think im being selfish by asking in what on the surface looks to be about myself.

[Kittykat77uk]

Thank you so very much for replying. I'm glad you didnt think it was a selfish question. I did ask him today if being held is what he wants and he said no as the sumatriptan..not sure if that is the correct spelling..makes him burn up. Obviously i know that what i go through when he has an attack is nothing compared to what he goes through and i wish i could go through it for him. Thanks again for your kind words it means alot :)

[Pipamonium]

I suffer from migraines but I can tell you what I prefer and maybe it will help since I know my husband goes through the same feelings you are going through. By doing what you said you do you are showing him emotional support. I know that the simple acts my husband does for me of putting blankets over the windows and turning off any noisy things in the apartment gives me all the emotional support I need. It means one less thing I need to worry about for myself and lets me know that he cares and he's there for me. Sometimes I do appreciate being held but most of the time I'd rather everyone stay a million miles away from me.

My best advice for you is to simply ask what your boyfriend would prefer. I'm sure he'd feel loved and comforted by you just asking. It shows you care and even if he says to just do the 'practical' things then leave him alone you doing so will give him the support he needs.

I hope that helps. :) By the way - in my home my husband suffers more from my migraines than I do so I don't think you sounded selfish at all in what you wrote. You obviously care and I know it's got to be incredibly hard on you to see the person you love in pain and having nothing you're able to do for them.