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Topic: Please not again---- (Read 298 times) |
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platano
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Please not again----
« on: Jun 18th, 2004, 2:34pm » |
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Hello,
I am 33 y/o male from CA. When I was 22 living in MI I had my first attack, that lasted approx. 4-6 weeks, in the mid-spring. At 24 in the fall I had my second episode. It was not until the fall of my 29th year in Portland Oregon that my 3 episode occured. Since this is the most recent, in my memory it appears to be the worst of the 3. Now, it is late srping early summer 4.5 years after my last attacks.
A few weeks ago I had a very light feeling of a cluster coming on, the feeling of a tense neck, followed by the pain behind and around my eye, (but it was very subtle).
Last night around 2:15 am, I woke up, with a pain in my head, went back to sleep for a minute or two, then woke up realizing what was happening. My eye was droppy, nose became stuffy, and then runny, the side of my head flet like there was a small balloon was behind my eye, and someone kept blowing it up. I paced, put a cool towel over my temple, I pressed hard on my head, I paced again.....I looked a the clock, 2:17, 2:18, 2:25 then around 2:35 I feel into a deep sleep again. My body craves sleep after the pain.
It has been years, I had hoped it was just a one time thing, but from past experiences, when I get one, here comes the episode. I have never had a headache like this that was not followed by an "episode".
Needless to say to other sufferers, I am scared to death, I have a career, in which the 20- minutes cycles, and the need for sleep are not convenient! Are there any new medical breakthroughs in the past 5 years, or are clusters still viewed as "headaches"?
Before the doctors I saw did not know much about them. Prescribed pain killers, but by the time the PK took effect, the headache was over,
I have tried -- vicaden, tylonel 3, vioxx (hmmm), it seems that antihystamines worked, but I am not sure if I was presrcibed these around the same time the episode was ending.
Thanks, I just wanted to vent, and not go to sleep tonight-
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Superpain
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GOT O2!?
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Re: Please not again----
« Reply #1 on: Jun 18th, 2004, 3:21pm » |
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Welcome.
None of those drugs are effective.
Yes there is effective treatment available these days.
Find a good neuro that specializes in headache management, read up and be an informed patient.
Take this to your doc.
http://www.future-drugs.com/admin/articlefile/ERN020304.pdf
Oxygen at 12-15 lpm is the first and best abortive you need to try. Then there's plenty of other abortives such as imitrex injections, and several triptan nasal sprays that work very well too.
The most common and successful preventative strategy is to do a taper of prednisone while starting a longer cycle of verapamil.
Narcotics are useless...
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Chris
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Maria_Scala
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HI Platano...Sorry you started another cycle. Just started mine 3 weeks ago after almost 2 years without them. I would have to agree with Chris that things are definitely much better in terms of medication, etc. I would definitely take the article Chris mentioned to your doctor. I printed it for myself too...thanks Chris! Best wishes and hang in there.
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thomas
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Nighttime hits?
Ch is a terrible condition and they hurt no matter what time of the day you get hit. Personally, the ones that kill me the most, are the ones that come while I am sleeping. Many people have had success avoiding the nighttime hits by using melatonin, which in the U.S. is available over the counter. The dosage varies from person to person, but most usually have success with anywhere from 6-9mg. Some have had luck with much lower doses as well; you may have to experiment with the dosage, in order to find the one that is best for you. As with any medication, check with your doctor before you start using it.
PFNAD to all.
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Little Deb
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Re: Please not again----
« Reply #4 on: Jun 24th, 2004, 8:39pm » |
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Platano,
Welcome to ch.com............sorry you are maybe coming into cycle again. I know how you feel. I have been having the "shadows" again, and the other night woke up with the real thing again. My cycle isn't due for at least another month. And yes, it does scare me to death. I don't know if I am ready for another cycle. But I find some comfort in knowing I am only episodic. There are so many others who have it way worse. Know that you have support here, 24/7. And good luck finding a new doc and some good meds. Check out the OUCH site for doctor listings if you don't have one. I used to have a good neuro in Merced. I am sure you will find a good one in the bay area.
Thomas thanks for the info on the Melatonin. I will ask my doc tomorrow about it. I hate the night hits, too. 
big hugs................little deb
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Superpain
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Re: Please not again----
« Reply #5 on: Jun 25th, 2004, 3:55am » |
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It's a high dose, but at my "high point" in cycle, 18 mg of melatonin gave me the first full night of sleep I'd had in months. Doses too small make me restless and not able to get comfortable enough to sleep. Almost instead of overdosing, the bad side effect come with "underdosing".
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Chris
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