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Topic: My Kudzu Diary :) (Read 2306 times) |
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Lissa
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My Kudzu Diary :)
« on: Jan 6th, 2006, 12:13pm » |
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I just started kudzu therapy this morning. I'll use this thread as my diary.
1) Your Age: 26
2) Your Gender: Female
3) Are you Episodic or Chronic? Episodic
4) How many years have you had cluster headaches?: 10 years
5) If episodic, how many cycles in a typical year, what time of year, and how long? Sometimes skips 2-3 years. Usually lasts 1-4 months.
6) If episodic, how many weeks into a cycle did you start on kudzu? I believe I began this cycle back in October.
7) If chronic, how long have you been chronic? N/A
 What brand of kudzu do you use? Solaray
9) What dose did you take during the first 24 hours that you started on kudzu? 150 mg
10) Did a change in your cluster headache pattern occur after taking kudzu? If so, how soon after you started did it occur? _______________________
11) How certain are you about the answer to question 10 (scale of 0-10, where 0 is not at all certain, 10 is completely certain). _____________
12) At the end of the first week on kudzu, how effective would you rate kudzu (0-10, where zero is not at all effective, 10 is complete remission)? 8
13) How certain are you about the answer to question 12 (scale of 0-10, where 0 is not at all certain, 10 is completely certain). 3
14) What other medicines are you taking? Include preventive and abortive medicines for CH, non-CH medicines, vitamins, etc. Celexa and a multi-vitamin. Starting oxygen as well.
15) Have you noticed any side effects? If so, what are they? Increased symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome.
16) On a scale of 0-10, how intolerable are the side effects? (0-no side effects, perfectly tolerable; 10 - extremely unpleasant). 8
16) Are there other observations, comments or questions that you would like to add?? __________
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| « Last Edit: Jan 12th, 2006, 9:47am by Lissa » |
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Episodic cluster survivor since 1995 at age 16.
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vig
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Re: My Kudzu Diary :)
« Reply #1 on: Jan 6th, 2006, 1:38pm » |
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good luck, we'll be watching with fngresi crdoses!
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Jasmyn
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Re: My Kudzu Diary :)
« Reply #2 on: Jan 6th, 2006, 2:50pm » |
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Good thing Leesa!
Waiting to see the progression. 
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Jazz 
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Lissa
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Re: My Kudzu Diary :)
« Reply #3 on: Jan 7th, 2006, 1:02pm » |
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1/6/06 (Day 1): I took the kudzu in the morning. Had a slight headache (1 KIP) and that's all.
1/7/06 (Day 2): It's noon and no sign of a headache.
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| « Last Edit: Jan 9th, 2006, 9:57am by Lissa » |
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Lissa
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Re: My Kudzu Diary :)
« Reply #4 on: Jan 9th, 2006, 8:37am » |
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1/8/06 (Day 3): No cluster. Side effects of kudzu...possibly gas?
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| « Last Edit: Jan 9th, 2006, 9:57am by Lissa » |
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nani
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Re: My Kudzu Diary :)
« Reply #5 on: Jan 9th, 2006, 8:45am » |
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on Jan 9th, 2006, 8:37am, Lissa wrote:| Side effects of kudzu...possibly gas? |
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Gas is definitely a side effect. Much harder on our co-habitants than us, LOL.
I'm glad it's working for you, Lissa!
BTW...it's 2006.
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Lissa
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Re: My Kudzu Diary :)
« Reply #6 on: Jan 9th, 2006, 9:58am » |
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on Jan 9th, 2006, 8:45am, nani wrote:
BTW...it's 2006. |
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Nice catch! 
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Melissa
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Lissa, what day did have your first attack? Have you been in cycle for very long, or are you expecting one soon?
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Lissa
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Re: My Kudzu Diary :)
« Reply #8 on: Jan 9th, 2006, 10:25am » |
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This cycle started October 16th. That was the day of my first attack. I have been on Verapamil since then. I went off Verapamil and three days later got hit. It was then I decided to try Kudzu and oxygen.
Is there a reason why I can't take imitrex with Kudzu?
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Melissa
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on Jan 9th, 2006, 10:25am, Lissa wrote:| This cycle started October 16th. That was the day of my first attack. I have been on Verapamil since then. I went off Verapamil and three days later got hit. It was then I decided to try Kudzu and oxygen. |
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Thanks for the answers.
Quote:| Is there a reason why I can't take imitrex with Kudzu? |
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Please read this link: http://med-owl.com/clusterheadaches/tiki-index.php?page=Kudzu
Quote:Those using triptans and verapamil are advised that kudzu could interact with these medicines as kudzu affects both serotonin and calcium levels in the blood. There have been two reports of adverse effects in people who combined kudzu with either verapamil or a triptan.
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Lissa
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Re: My Kudzu Diary :)
« Reply #10 on: Jan 9th, 2006, 10:49am » |
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I've read that article before. I guess I'm wondering if anyone here takes imitrex with kudzu?
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nani
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Re: My Kudzu Diary :)
« Reply #11 on: Jan 9th, 2006, 6:27pm » |
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Lissa, it's not recommended, but some have done so without any ill effects.
Taking kudzu up to 2 hours before trex can render the trex ineffective, so don't do that, it's a waste of trex.
The potential problem lies in the fact that both trex and kudzu can affect serotonin and they both affect the 5ht receptors. To what degree kudzu does so is still unknown. Have you felt like you've needed trex since you started kudzu? Just wondering....
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Lissa
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Re: My Kudzu Diary :)
« Reply #12 on: Jan 10th, 2006, 8:27am » |
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I haven't felt like I needed imitrex since I started kudzu, but I carry imitrex around with me in my purse. If desperate without the oxygen tank, I may be tempted to take it. That's why I asked.
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Lissa
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Re: My Kudzu Diary :)
« Reply #13 on: Jan 10th, 2006, 8:27am » |
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1/9/06 (Day 4): PAINFREE.
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Jasmyn
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Re: My Kudzu Diary :)
« Reply #14 on: Jan 11th, 2006, 12:38am » |
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on Jan 10th, 2006, 8:27am, Lissa wrote:| 1/9/06 (Day 4): PAINFREE. |
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Jazz
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zanychef
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Re: My Kudzu Diary :)
« Reply #15 on: Jan 11th, 2006, 1:40am » |
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plenty of time to sleep now me headaches aint too bad
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sandie99
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Re: My Kudzu Diary :)
« Reply #16 on: Jan 11th, 2006, 3:11am » |
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Lissa,
congrats! It's wonderful that you're PF!
Wishing you lots of more PF days,
Sanna
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CH happends, Live anyway! PF days to us all!
"Do what you can and let God take care of the rest. Leave your heart wide open and always wish for the best" (Sanna Hillu)
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Lissa
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Re: My Kudzu Diary :)
« Reply #17 on: Jan 11th, 2006, 8:29am » |
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1/10/06 (Day 5): Slight shadow in the morning. Went away by late morning.
1/11/06 (Day 6): Hit with a cluster at 6:30 a.m. Oxygen aborted it.
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Lissa
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Re: My Kudzu Diary :)
« Reply #18 on: Jan 12th, 2006, 9:45am » |
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It's one week on kudzu today. So far I only had that one hit. I thought I was getting one this morning but it never came through.
How much kudzu does everyone take here? I'm taking one pill a day. Do you think that's enough?
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floridian
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Sounds like a light dose, but it depends on the brand, body weight, and your body chemistry.
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nani
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Re: My Kudzu Diary :)
« Reply #20 on: Jan 13th, 2006, 12:17am » |
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Lissa, I agree with Flo. It seems like a light dose. I was taking 6 - 750 mg tabs a day. Since you are still getting hit, albeit "easier", it probably wouldn't hurt to up your dosage a bit. Since you're getting hit in the early AM, maybe an additional tablet at bedtime will help.
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Lissa
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Re: My Kudzu Diary :)
« Reply #21 on: Jan 13th, 2006, 8:21am » |
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1/12/06 (Day 7): PAINFREE
1/13/06 (Day 8 and Friday the 13th go figure): Was hit with an 7-8 at 6:00 a.m. Oxygen worked in about 10 minutes.
When is the kudzu supposed to start working? 
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Episodic cluster survivor since 1995 at age 16.
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Lissa
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Re: My Kudzu Diary :)
« Reply #22 on: Jan 13th, 2006, 8:42am » |
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F***!!! I'm going back on Verapamil. This SUCKS.
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nani
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Re: My Kudzu Diary :)
« Reply #23 on: Jan 13th, 2006, 8:59am » |
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Yeah... it sucks. Don't increase your kudzu if you're going back on verap. Or...just increase your kudzu first. Try to see the brighter side, Lissa. Are 2 hits in 3 days an improvement over normal activity? Kudzu's not a magic bullet, it's just another treatment.
pf wishes, nani
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Lissa
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Re: My Kudzu Diary :)
« Reply #24 on: Jan 13th, 2006, 9:03am » |
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I'm not sure what I should do. I want to keep trying the kudzu (maybe increase it), but I want to go back on Verapamil because I know it works. I usually don't get hit more than once a day. It's been twice in 2 hours this morning. My teeth hurt. 
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