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Topic: My Intro (Read 206 times) |
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TomTerrific
New Board Newbie
Would someone please remove this ice-pick
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Posts: 5
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Hello All, thought I'd come here and introduce myself.
My name is Tom and I've had CH since 1980. I was a sophomore in high school and between first period Band and second period Chemistry I would get an intense pain above my right eye. At the time I attributed it to pressure generated by playing my trombone. I would sit in the back of the classroom on a stool and spin and spin until I couldn’t walk and that seemed to offer some small relief. I wouldn’t let on that anything was wrong, I would just suffer through class and after about a half hour the pain would go away. This went on for several months and then they quit.
They came back the next year and I finally told my mother about them. She took me to an ear-nose-throat doctor and he would rinse my sinuses and vacuum them out – that was a lot of fun. Then he would give me these shots UP MY NOSE! I never knew what he was giving me, but I was just a kid and didn’t think to ask. Well, guess what, after several of these treatments over several weeks the headaches quit. So what he was doing must have worked, right… The next episode struck the next year and I kept my mouth shut about it. I was plagued with bi-annual episodes (spring and fall) throughout college and for the next six years. Occasionally I would skip an episode, or if I was really lucky an entire year. But they would always come back. When I got out of school and got a job I would retreat into my office each morning and twirl in my chair. I would take Tylenol with a soda and that would help some (later I realized it was the caffeine in the soda that was helping).
Finally, one day I had what was later diagnosed as a panic attack and was taken to the emergency room with chest pains. I was about 30 at the time. My heart was fine, but I went to see my father-in-law’s doctor just to make sure everything was okay. It just so happened that he specialized in headaches. During our discussion about my “attack” I mentioned the headaches I had been having and he perked up. He asked me several questions, many of which lead me to think he was reading my mind. He diagnosed me with CH on the spot and gave me a prescription for verapamil. After about two weeks the headaches tapered off and then quit. Since then I get episodes about every two to three years. They start out small and I dismiss them as sinuses then WHAM I get one and there is no doubt that they’re baaacckk. I started my latest episode a week or so ago and I took my first varap last night. Now I just have to wait and hope it works once again.
I find that caffeine still works well to stop a CH if I take it at the first twinges. I take a 200mg “stay alert” tablet and go find somewhere quiet to wait it out. Normally they’re gone within a half hour. This go-around they’re hitting around 3 am and again about 7 pm. The 3 am is normal for me, but the early evening is a new thing. It certainly screws up the evening. Last night’s didn’t seem to respond too well to the caffeine and lasted over 45 minutes. It was the worst one yet this time. I guess they’re still ramping up.
Well, that’s my story. I’m sorry if it’s a bit verbose, but I just found this site a couple of days ago and this is the first time in 27 years that I’ve been able to talk to others that know what it’s like. My darling wife is a wonderful support person and I couldn’t get through these without her, but she doesn’t actually experience them (and I am so thankful for that).
I'm sure I'll be posting more later so until then,
thanks for listening and PF days to all!
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Cluster Headaches wouldn't be so bad if they didn't hurt so %$@#% much.
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TonyG1
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Hi Tom, welcome home. Sorry you're in another cycle.
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George_J
CH.com Alumnus
New Board Hall of Famer
White-Breasted Nuthatch
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Posts: 4222
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Re: My Intro
« Reply #2 on: Feb 22nd, 2007, 12:24am » |
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Welcome, Tom.
You mention Verapamil--have you had any experience with some of the other standard medications? Please tell us a bit about what you've been prescribed if you will.
If you have not already done so, please explore the links to the left, paying particular attention to the "oxygen info" link. Oxygen, properly administered, has been shown to be an effective abortive for the majority of us.
on Feb 21st, 2007, 6:08pm, TomTerrific wrote:Then he would give me these shots UP MY NOSE! I never knew what he was giving me, but I was just a kid and didn’t think to ask. Well, guess what, after several of these treatments over several weeks the headaches quit. So what he was doing must have worked, right… The next episode struck the next year and I kept my mouth shut about it.
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Can't say I blame you. <shudder>
Again, welcome.
Best,
George
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Ah! The foreigners put on such airs
Wearing the tangerine suits
And their harlequin eyes.
The pain they inspire
Draws in harmonica melodies
And the feathers of birds
Which flame up at their touch.
It all comes to light in the sheer
Debonair.
(Ellen)
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duckie
New Board Newbie
Go Duckies
Gender: 
Posts: 34
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Re: My Intro
« Reply #3 on: Feb 22nd, 2007, 4:17am » |
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Hey Tom, welcome to the gang we feel your pain. Remember your wife is welcome here too. PF vibes, Lii
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Guiseppi
CH.com Alumnus
New Board Hall of Famer
Gender:
Posts: 2703
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Re: My Intro
« Reply #4 on: Feb 22nd, 2007, 9:51am » |
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I'll second the vote to check out oxygen. It will abort an attack in less then 10 minutes for me. I didn't have much success with verapamil but know now the dosage was probably way low, 120 mg a day. I use lithium as my prevent when on cycle then the oxygen and an occasional imitrx jab when I really get creamed.
Welcome aboard, please keep us updated on what do and don't work, it's where a lot of learning happens!!
Guiseppi
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Why are all sensors, seeking intelligent life, pointed AWAY from earth?
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Mattrf
New Board Hall of Famer
Thank god for my wife and kids who keep me alive.
 
Gender:
Posts: 817
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Re: My Intro
« Reply #5 on: Feb 22nd, 2007, 12:25pm » |
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Welcome to our funny farm, real sorry you had to find us but glad you did, it is an incredible thing to finally be able to talk to people that know exactly what you are going through and the feeling of I am really not nuts is great.
Pull up a chair my friend you are home.
Matt
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There is no stronger a person then one who can deal with brain pain and still function.
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RichardN
New Board Hall of Famer
 
Gender:
Posts: 690
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Re: My Intro
« Reply #6 on: Feb 23rd, 2007, 1:12am » |
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OXYGEN OXYGEN OXYGEN
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I can live with the beast as long as I don't have to "dance" with the bastard.
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