Hi, I had a septoplasty (turbinate reduction and septum deviation) with full anaesthetic on Jan 26 of this year. That night, I had allodynia and that continued for 5 days without any kind of headache. I thought it was a side-effect of the anaesthetic. After 5 days, I got my period and the normal headache with it (right side of head). Then the pain died down for a few days before kicking it up again, this time on the left side.

Since then, the headache has been switching side every 2/3 weeks. Each switch is preceded by extreme pain, nausea and dizziness. Other than that, I am overly sensitive to light and noise, have a goldfish (30 sec) memory, a bruised feeling on my head, and for the 1st time have had 'lights in front of my eyes'. Should also mention that I have only had 2 headaches previous to now where I have been sensitive to light - usually I'm only sensitive to noise.

I am previously diagnosed with migraine without aura and cluster headache. My GP swears black and blue that I am having a cluster headache episode but the pain is completely wrong for that. I have been to a private migraine clinic and the neur. prescribed Cataflam 50mg twice daily, which has helped with the allodynia but not much else, as well as chiropractic treatment which hasn't done a thing (except for cost a lot of $).

I work as a technical writer so work is pretty much out of the question now. I can manage about 30mins on the computer, but anything over that is stretching it. And honestly, I'm just at the end of my tether. To make matters 'worse' I'm living in Norway, where private health care doesn't really exist and getting into a neur. in the public system can take up to 10 months!

I guess what I'm asking is, "what on earth is this 'thing' and what can I do to speed up the recovery process?" - apart from a lobotomy, of course, tempting though it is some days!

Many thanks, Sarah.