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Melissa70
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Some questions, rather new to board...
« on: Apr 29th, 2004, 8:53am » |
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Hi everyone!
I posted on the Getting to Know You board a few weeks ago. I appreciate all the respones I received. I've been reading and reading the posts - it helps to know that I'm not alone in this.
I had my first cluster headache two years ago. I recently saw a neurologist for the first time two weeks ago.
Up until now, I've been averaging four clusters a year. They last approximately three weeks each, are excruciating when the peak, with the peak day having about 20 headaches.
So, anyway, I had a bad cluster in late February, early March, lasted four weeks. Really debilitated around the peak of it. So, I decided to go to a neuro. He was great. Prescribed oxygen and gave me Zomig as an abortive. We decided against a preventative right now, as they hadn't been terribly frequent and pretty much all medicine makes me sick!  Oh, he did put me on Melatonin 6 mg a night, told me I could up to 9. The first week on the Melatonin I felt great, rested, happy, hungry, etc.
Then, last Thursday, I started with a cluster. My last ended on March 11 - so it had only been 5-6 weeks. I've never had them so close together.
I think the Melatonin has helped, because they didn't seem as severe. My peak day was yesterday, and I had about 10-12 headaches during the day, but not quite as horrible as before. I used the oxygen, off and on, it worked some and didn't work some. I used one Zomig yesterday, and I really hated the way it made me feel. So much pressure and tightness in my jaw, neck, shoulders - and it made me sick. It only helped about an hour, so I'm not sure it was worth it.
About 8:30 last night, the last headache ended and other than a twinge or two, I feel fine now.
So - my questions!!! (Finally - right??) Is the Zomig reaction normal? Does it really only help for that one little short amount of time??
I've read the oxygen info, but have trouble nowing when to start it - and how long to use it.
Is the Melatonin maybe the reason this one was shorter and less severe?? Only lasted about 7 days. Once it peaks, for me, its pretty much over, other than a twinge or two for a couple of days.
Sorry so long, thanks for reading!! 
Melissa
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thomas
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Re: Some questions, rather new to board...
« Reply #1 on: Apr 29th, 2004, 8:59am » |
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Melatonin shortened my last cycle ( I think.......You never know with this thing) They used to run about 3-4 months, the last cycle only went about 3 weeks.  I was one happy lad. As far as the zomig goes, which zomig and what dosage are you using. I use the 5 mg tablet, it works great, however I do feel like I'm gonna be real sick when it starts to work (beats the hell out of going through a ch, though). And, I normally get about 8 hours pf after taking a zomig.
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UN_SOLVED
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I need a fully-automatic Imitrex injector !!
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Re: Some questions, rather new to board...
« Reply #2 on: Apr 29th, 2004, 9:05am » |
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I can't say alot about Zomig. I can't even remember if I've ever had it  Imitrex can give you some side effects like tight chestness and shortness of breath. Some even feel a sense of doom. But it's usually over very quickly. If your side effects are really bothersome, check with your neuro for something else.
There's no real way to say if the Meletonin is what caused your cycle to be shorter or less intense. The CH attacks are unpredictable. If it seems to help, stay with it. (I took up to 12 mg everynight for awhile)
on Apr 29th, 2004, 8:53am, Melissa70 wrote: with the peak day having about 20 headaches.
My peak day was yesterday, and I had about 10-12 headaches during the day, |
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This is an aweful lot of CH Attacks. More than the norm. Could this be CPH ? Have you tried Indomethicin ?
Unsolved
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HypnoticFreddy
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Re: Some questions, rather new to board...
« Reply #3 on: Apr 29th, 2004, 11:33am » |
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I know you said that a lot of medicines (preventatives) make you sick, but you really oughta experiment with them.
There are quite a few that are given as first line defense, such as Verapamil.
As far as 20 CHs per day?!?!
I agree with UnSolved. I am not sure that is common with CHs.
-Scott
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Prense
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Re: Some questions, rather new to board...
« Reply #4 on: Apr 29th, 2004, 3:52pm » |
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on Apr 29th, 2004, 9:05am, UN_SOLVED wrote:This is an aweful lot of CH Attacks. More than the norm. Could this be CPH ? Have you tried Indomethicin ?
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Exactly what I keyed in on...
What is the "typical" duration of the attacks when you peak out like this?
Chris
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Superpain
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Re: Some questions, rather new to board...
« Reply #5 on: Apr 29th, 2004, 4:06pm » |
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on Apr 29th, 2004, 9:05am, UN_SOLVED wrote:I can't say alot about Zomig. I can't even remember if I've ever had it Imitrex can give you some side effects like tight chestness and shortness of breath. Some even feel a sense of doom. But it's usually over very quickly. If your side effects are really bothersome, check with your neuro for something else.
There's no real way to say if the Meletonin is what caused your cycle to be shorter or less intense. The CH attacks are unpredictable. If it seems to help, stay with it. (I took up to 12 mg everynight for awhile)
This is an aweful lot of CH Attacks. More than the norm. Could this be CPH ? Have you tried Indomethicin ?
Unsolved
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No it's not...
I've had more than 20 a day at the cycles peak.
CPH was ruled out for me.
Some of us are just "lucky" that way. 
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Chris
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miapet
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Re: Some questions, rather new to board...
« Reply #6 on: Apr 29th, 2004, 4:24pm » |
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D is chronic, and this last cycle within his 'normal' cycle peaked at 1 h/a every hour . . .we had almost NO recovery time . . .and, when you factor in the no sleep .. .we didn't have recovery time . . .
You're right Superpain . . .some of y'all are 'just lucky' that way ...
*positive light and energy*
miapet
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Melissa70
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Re: Some questions, rather new to board...
« Reply #7 on: Apr 29th, 2004, 6:09pm » |
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Thanks, everyone - for all the comments and answers.
I called the neuro about the Zomig, and he said that was a side effect, the pressure feeling, but he would prefer my not taking it again. Since Imitrex and Zomig are so similar, we're going to try Max-Alt. I took that once before, for migraines, and had no problems with it.
As for the 20 a day thing, I actually read an article just last night about the CPH versus cluster thing. I haven't tried indomethacin, and of course I forgot to ask the neuro today, so I'll have to call back about that!
Since this cycle wasn't typical (shorter, less severe) - I'll describe the last one in more detail to let you all know what it was like.
It started on February 20. I had two headaches. I stayed at two for a few days (one nighttime - the other day time). Then they progressively built up, three, four for a few days, five for a few days, six, etc, etc. My "peak" day was on March 6 - I had one at 3:00 a.m., one at 7:30 a.m., one at 9:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m., then until 3:00 a.m., I had them pretty much hourly, lasting 30 minutes or so each.
So ---- the peak day is always like that, more headaches and closer together. HOwever, like the day before peak, I probably only had six or seven. Then the day from hell, then it quits, like someone flipped a switch. I collapse into a deep sleep, and pretty much am done with the cycle after that, except for a few small ones over a day or two.
I'm going to be researching more about the CPH.
Thanks so much, again!
Melissa
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Superpain
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Re: Some questions, rather new to board...
« Reply #8 on: Apr 29th, 2004, 6:17pm » |
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That sounds about like the buildup in my cycles except my last one lasted for 2 yrs, and the "peak" was about 6 weeks long. 
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jonny
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Re: Some questions, rather new to board...
« Reply #9 on: Apr 30th, 2004, 6:05pm » |
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on Apr 29th, 2004, 6:09pm, Melissa70 wrote:I'm going to be researching more about the CPH.
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If the Doc gives you Indomethacin ask for "The bullets" they are way more fun than the pills
...................................................jonny
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Prense
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Re: Some questions, rather new to board...
« Reply #10 on: Apr 30th, 2004, 6:08pm » |
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heh
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