The patient in this question has cluster headaches. These headaches can be differentiated from migraines and tension headaches, as they tend to come in episodes across several years, with absent periods in between. Cluster headaches are often described as excruciatingly painful (sometimes called "suicide headaches").
On top of the previous post, migraines last for 4+ hours. and Tension headaches are bilateral.
submitted by โsympathetikey(1600)
Buzzword: excessive tearing
Cluster headaches, in questions, always come with autonomic symptoms.