The severity of cluster headache is so severe that it is also called ‘suicidal headache.’ Cluster headache is unilateral and affects the eye and its’ surroundings. It starts suddenly and lasts an average of 30-45 minutes. The eye shrinks, gets red and can become watery. The nostril in the affected side can get blocked. However it is tried to be defined in many ways such as stabbing, carving pain or pain like hot poker being stuck, it is difficult to describe the pain.
Should we mention that the witnesses of sufferers during cluster headache attacks are so terrified, the severity of it can be better understood.
Among numerous cluster headache patients, there have been some who tried to describe their pain very differently. Captain Erkan’s narration in particular was very interesting. “Whenever I have pain, I become like a quail who saw a lantern”, he said. “Do not quails fly away when they see a lantern?”, I asked. I remember from my childhood that my brother and father used to go rabbit hunting with a lantern. Rabbits’ eyes gleamed and couldn’t take their eyes off the light which made it easier to hunt them. The story of quails was even more interesting.
The Story of Erkan Captain, Quail Migration Storm
“In the first week of September, on September 7 and 8, a harsh storm takes place which is called ‘Quail Migration Storm’. The quails in Russia cannot arrive on the coast by flying over the Black Sea, but they wait for the storm so they can fly with it. The storm is so rough that the quails drift with it without even having to flap. But after the journey they are exhausted. Hundreds of quails suddenly land on the shore. Finding comfort, they cannot even move so you can catch them even with your hands. This is the reason why this tough storm is called quail migration storm. Whenever pain occurs, I become like a quail, it hits me like a ton of bricks. You have described it as suicidal headache. This pain is so excruciating that one really thinks about dying just to get rid of it.”
I know that the severity of cluster headache is so severe. Whenever I had migraine attack, I felt like ripping my head off. Cluster headache is even more severe than migraine. In my childhood, in every spring and autumn for one month, my father also would suffer from this pain. I remember us grabbing the hunting rifle from his hand, when he abruptly took it saying, “I cannot bear it anymore, I will kill myself”. It was very difficult to find a solution to cluster headache and develop Gokmen Approach but cluster headache is the type of pain that I am most happy to solve. Also, I obtain so much varied information owing to my cluster headache patients. I rethink of life.
Quail migration headache has taught me how delicate quail can pass the huge Black Sea. In my childhood, I used to hurt so bad in my heart whenever my dad went to rabbit hunting and prayed that rabbits would not get caught with lantern and could run away. I haven’t really seen them hunting rabbits. This memory of mine along with the quails which managed to cross all that way being defeated by a lantern made me feel sad.
Thinking that we had changed the nature also caused me to feel even worse. We see the consequences of global warming. It was snowing last week and I started to think, “Will there be a Quail Migration Storm?” on the 7-8th of September this year.” How will the quails cross the Black Sea?…
Note: I checked on the storm calendar before publishing this post. It was also called as Quail Crossing Storm in the calendar. There were other storms such as Swallow, Swan and Crane Storms facilitating birds’ migration. This is a brief example for us not to upset the balance of nature. Let’s not forget that even minor changes in the climate can affect the lives of millions of birds.
Everything has its’ solutions. We can protect the nature and solve cluster headache as long as we think with free mind. (“Aude Sapare”)