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Topic: Future Cluster Concerns (Read 292 times) |
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goodolboy
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Future Cluster Concerns
« on: May 4th, 2007, 2:57pm » |
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I was just diagnosed with CH Thursday. Honestly I’d never heard of it before so I’ve found this website to learn more about them.
So far I’ve only had three episodes in the last year. Typically they’ve been one to two headaches a day for a week or two. What made me go to the doctor this week was I had 8 in less than 48 hours. One of which woke me up from a dead sleep. It felt like someone was sucking the life out of me through my left eye. They seem to be getting worse.
I’m 26 and they started a year ago. Do they get worse as you get older?
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Rosybabe
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Re: Future Cluster Concerns
« Reply #1 on: May 4th, 2007, 4:24pm » |
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HI, welcome aboard!! 
Sorry to hear you have CH, but you have made it to the right place, read a lot and you will find helpful information and lots of people to help you anytime..
you may also check out O.U.C.H. it will be great if you sign up there also.
now about your question...
I am 35, I have them since I was 12 and they stay pretty much the same for me...but everyone is different and with CH you just never know...
others will come and greet you ...hope you get out of cycle soon!!!
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Guiseppi
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Re: Future Cluster Concerns
« Reply #2 on: May 4th, 2007, 4:55pm » |
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The answer is yes, no and maybe! I'm coming up on 30 years. They've gotten much easier to bear over the years because of everything I've learned about managing them. I honestly can't remember the last time I had even a 9. Between my preventative, lithium, my abortives, oxygen, cafergot and imitrex, I'm no longer afraid of them like I once was. I always have oxygen nearby in or out of cycle and I've learned to stockpile the imitrex even when out of cycle.
So the best answer to your question is educate yourself and while it won't make them go away, it'll give you the upper hand more often then not.
Guiseppi
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BB
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Re: Future Cluster Concerns
« Reply #3 on: May 5th, 2007, 9:55pm » |
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Hi and welcome,
Please tell us more about yourself and how the cycle is going this time.
What meds did the doctor give you ? Have you found them to be working well?
Painfree wishes to you.
Annette
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goodolboy
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Re: Future Cluster Concerns
« Reply #4 on: May 7th, 2007, 8:10am » |
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This cycle was the worst I’ve ever had. See I was misdiagnosed a year ago. My doctor at the time diagnosed them as migraines. I disagreed because I’ve had migraines, my clusters are far more intense, I have more of them and one doesn’t last all day like a migraine. Back to this cycle, I ran out of my “migraine” meds (Maxalt MLT) at the start of the cycle. I honestly didn’t think they worked well anyway. I thought I could tough it out but last Tuesday hit me like a freight train. One woke me from a dead sleep which had never happen. They were coming closer together and with more intensity than I had ever felt. My wife got scared and found me a new doctor (we just moved from Michigan to Illinois). This doctor agreed that they weren’t headaches and thought it was CH. He told me he didn’t know much about them so he read me off the symptoms and I knew I had found the answer. He prescribed Imitrex and Verapamil so I started the Verapamil right away.
I don’t know if the meds are working or if my cycle is just coming to an end. I’ve been fighting it for 3 weeks now and last Tuesday was by far the worst. They’ve dropped off to about one a day and they are not as intense. I’ve only used the Imitrex once and it worked like a charm. My cycles seem to last anywhere from 3 weeks to a month I hope this ones coming to an end. Thanks
GOB
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Guiseppi
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Re: Future Cluster Concerns
« Reply #5 on: May 7th, 2007, 10:47am » |
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My bad for not mentioning oxygen in my first reply. It's a fantastic abortive with none of the side effects of imitrex! It needs to be from a high flow regulator, up to 15 litres per minute...(your doc won't like that...print out the info on the left and bring it to him)....and you must use a non re breather mask. That's a mask that doesn't let any outside air in so you get pure oxygen. You need to start it at the very first twinge. Foe me it won't reverse the progress of a headache but will hold it at the level I started the oxygen at.
Whether in or out of cycle I have a stack of E-tanks in my garage that can be fired up in les then 30 seconds. My security blanket if you will! I hope the cycle is finished with you but if not, I'd really encourage you to look into the oxygen.
Guiseppi
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TonyG1
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Re: Future Cluster Concerns
« Reply #6 on: May 8th, 2007, 7:49pm » |
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on May 7th, 2007, 8:10am, goodolboy wrote:One woke me from a dead sleep which had never happen.
He prescribed Imitrex and Verapamil so I started the Verapamil right away.
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Hi GOB -- Sorry you have CH but glad you found us !! Welcome to the board! I've had CH for 21+ years now and I am always a night hit person -- those seem to be the worst ... I rarely ever get hit while awake but night ... thats a different thing for me when in cycle...
Verapamil is effective for many of us! What dosage did the doc put you on ?? Did he/she give you the extended release or the immediate version ?? Just curious ... I take a low dose for a CH'er but it is effective for me, right now... 240mg extended release per day.
Again, welcome !!
Pain free wishes for you !!
Tony
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