Posted by Don on March 23, 1999 at 23:05:44:
In Reply to: the "shadow" - a definition posted by lc bob on March 23, 1999 at 18:34:20:
My shadows are mini-CHes. They are located in the same place as a regular, full-blown CH, but a significantly lower intensity. They are annoying, but I can at least function with them. Usually there is a well-defined point where the pain emenates from. For me the pain is usually constant, very few pulses. And, fortunately, I have never had a shadow escalate into a full-scale CH.
Sometimes I can feel the shadow creeping into my nose and upper jaw - that's when it gets particularly annoying. My shadows will often last all day long - from when I wake up until I go to bed. Mostly analgesics (Excedrin, Advil, etc.) are ineffective in chasing away the shadows. Sometimes an ice pack will help.
One aspect of the shadows (for me anyway) is that because of the relatively low intensity compared to the big boys, I get a mental boost knowing that it can and probably will be a lot worse, so try to enjoy it while you can. Between the bouts of pain, we have to look for those pain-free moments and cherish them and use them to our advantage to try to get our lives back in order or just to stop and watch a sunset or kids at a playground, whatever helps to bring a little sanity back to ourselves.