Yet Another Bulletin Board

Welcome, Guest. Please Login or Register.
Nov 23rd, 2024, 9:02pm

Home Home Help Help Search Search Members Members Member Map Member Map Login Login Register Register
Clusterheadaches.com Message Board « Back to the Doc Today »


   Clusterheadaches.com Message Board
   Cluster Headache Help and Support
   Medications, Treatments, Therapies
(Moderator: DJ)
   Back to the Doc Today
« Previous topic | Next topic »
Pages: 1  Reply Reply Notify of replies Notify of replies Send Topic Send Topic Print Print
   Author  Topic: Back to the Doc Today  (Read 396 times)
bothofus
New Board Veteran
USA 
***



It's got to get better !

   


Gender: male
Posts: 177
Back to the Doc Today
« on: Sep 17th, 2006, 6:01am »
Quote Quote Modify Modify

Hello again,  I go in today for a checkup with my gp after taking the depakote for 2 weeks.  I guess they are helping.  Haven't had any day hits, just 1-2 nightly hits at about 6-7 on the kip scale.
 
I'm going to ask/tell him about the verapamil.
 
What dosage should I tell him?  
 
He is knowledgable about clusters, just hesitant about over prescribing I think.
 
Carl
IP Logged
E-Double
CH.com Alumnus
New Board Hall of Famer
USA 
*****




Are we ourselves?

  Edoubleitk   Edoubleitk1
Email

Gender: male
Posts: 6458
Re: Back to the Doc Today
« Reply #1 on: Sep 17th, 2006, 8:40am »
Quote Quote Modify Modify

on Sep 17th, 2006, 6:01am, bothofus wrote:
Hello again,  I go in today for a checkup with my gp after taking the depakote for 2 weeks.  I guess they are helping.  Haven't had any day hits, just 1-2 nightly hits at about 6-7 on the kip scale.
 
I'm going to ask/tell him about the verapamil.
 
What dosage should I tell him?  
 
He is knowledgable about clusters, just hesitant about over prescribing I think.
 
Carl

 
In the end it will be determined by your body.
It is however suggested that you start at 480 and if necessary increase.
In addition, the research suggests that you should be on regular release and NOT sustained/extended and that it should be spread out throughout the day.
You should also have your heart monitored to make sure that your BP does not drop.
 
Good luck and kick its a$$
IP Logged

I can't believe that I have to bang my
Head against this wall again
But the blows they have just a little more
Space in-between them
Gonna take a breath and try again.
bothofus
New Board Veteran
USA 
***



It's got to get better !

   


Gender: male
Posts: 177
Re: Back to the Doc Today
« Reply #2 on: Sep 17th, 2006, 9:40am »
Quote Quote Modify Modify

Thanks,  I hope he will do it, as the depakote doesn't seem to be doing the job fully.
 
I SHOULD be near the end of my cycle.  Just got woke up with another hit after lying down for an hour.
 
Carl
IP Logged
Bob_Johnson
New Board Hall of Famer
USA 
*****





   
Email

Gender: male
Posts: 1796
Re: Back to the Doc Today
« Reply #3 on: Sep 17th, 2006, 12:50pm »
Quote Quote Modify Modify

Here is a link to read and print and take to your doctor.  It describes preventive, transitional, abortive and surgical treatments for CH. Written by one of the better headache docs in the U.S.  (2002)
   
http://www.brightok.net/~mnjday/chtherapy.pdf  
IP Logged

Bob Johnson
bothofus
New Board Veteran
USA 
***



It's got to get better !

   


Gender: male
Posts: 177
Re: Back to the Doc Today
« Reply #4 on: Sep 17th, 2006, 5:36pm »
Quote Quote Modify Modify

Thanks Bob,  I had read that before and forgot where I saved it.  I had already gone for the appt. when I read it.
 
Well, because the daytime attacks have stopped (at least for the past few days)  he decided to not put me on the verapamil.  I told him I had some inderal but had stopped taking it because I didn't know how it would interact with everything else, but he said it would be ok to start taking it along with the depakote.
 
If it doesn't seem to help I will call him and tell him to start the verapamil.
 
Carl
IP Logged
chopmyheadoff
New Board Old Timer
United_Kingdom 
****




Its only a headache, deal with it - SMACK

   


Gender: male
Posts: 481
Re: Back to the Doc Today
« Reply #5 on: Sep 19th, 2006, 3:58am »
Quote Quote Modify Modify

seems to me that the meds you are taking are not working and id demand to try the verapamil. this can take up to 2 weeks to work however it worked after abount 2 days on me.
 
most are started at 240 and increased from there as your heart needs to be monitored while increasing the dose. im on 480mg at the moment and am 99% pain free
 
good luck bro
chop
IP Logged
bothofus
New Board Veteran
USA 
***



It's got to get better !

   


Gender: male
Posts: 177
Re: Back to the Doc Today
« Reply #6 on: Sep 19th, 2006, 4:32am »
Quote Quote Modify Modify

Hey chop, good to hear from ya!
How is your latest condition with the ecg?
 
Yeah, I need to get my wife to call him and tell him to do just that.  Had one bad enough to shoot as soon as I got in from work yesterday.  Then got woke up after 4 1/2 hrs with about a 3-4 on the kip that went away on its on after about 10 mins and went back to sleep.  Haven't had any daytime hits other than that though.  Have been working a TON of overtime though, so that may be triggering/screwing  with my sleep pattern.
 
Great to hear from ya!
 
Carl
IP Logged
bothofus
New Board Veteran
USA 
***



It's got to get better !

   


Gender: male
Posts: 177
Re: Back to the Doc Today
« Reply #7 on: Sep 21st, 2006, 4:19am »
Quote Quote Modify Modify

Well here's the latest, went to the doc 9-20-06 and just happened to be having about a 5 on the kip when I walked in.  It was an associate of my reg doc.  He noticed right away of course.  The first thing he asked about was oxygen.  As bad as my eye felt, it opened a little bit at that remark.  Anyway, in the exam room we talked and it was no problem gettin a scrip for the verapamil.  He asked me what dosage I wanted and everything.  Even told him no on the extended release.
 
Now, went to the pharmacy and they only had the extended release.  Took the scrip to another pharmacy, same thing.  (head drops)  Pharmacist calls doc who asks to speak to me to try to find another pharmacy within driving distance (it's now after 6pm CDT).  So we decide to just have the pharmacy order it and pick it up today.
 
The doc was impressed with the info I told him about from this site.  He asked me for the web address and I could hear him typing it in while on the phone.
 
Maybe now the nights will be HA free and easier to get  some sleep.
 
Thanks for listening to my ramblings,
Carl
IP Logged
chopmyheadoff
New Board Old Timer
United_Kingdom 
****




Its only a headache, deal with it - SMACK

   


Gender: male
Posts: 481
Re: Back to the Doc Today
« Reply #8 on: Sep 21st, 2006, 10:16am »
Quote Quote Modify Modify

fantastic , really pleased for you there mate - hope the verap works for you like it did for me !!
 
that doctor sounds worth his weight in gold - id stick with him in future if you can.
 
good luck
choppa
IP Logged
chewy
Guest

Email

Re: Back to the Doc Today
« Reply #9 on: Sep 21st, 2006, 8:32pm »
Quote Quote Modify Modify Remove Remove

Quote:
Thanks for listening to my ramblings,  

 
Ramblings. You call them ramblings?
 
Buddy. I wish every sufferer had those rambles. Sounds like you got yourself one hell of a Doc.
 
Great to hear good news about treatment.
IP Logged
E-Double
CH.com Alumnus
New Board Hall of Famer
USA 
*****




Are we ourselves?

  Edoubleitk   Edoubleitk1
Email

Gender: male
Posts: 6458
Re: Back to the Doc Today
« Reply #10 on: Sep 21st, 2006, 10:24pm »
Quote Quote Modify Modify

on Sep 21st, 2006, 8:32pm, chewy wrote:

 
Ramblings. You call them ramblings?
 
Buddy. I wish every sufferer had those rambles. Sounds like you got yourself one hell of a Doc.
 
Great to hear good news about treatment.

Exactly!!!!!!!!!!
 
Right onn Carl!!!!!!!
IP Logged

I can't believe that I have to bang my
Head against this wall again
But the blows they have just a little more
Space in-between them
Gonna take a breath and try again.
unsolved1
Guest

Email

Re: Back to the Doc Today
« Reply #11 on: Sep 21st, 2006, 11:54pm »
Quote Quote Modify Modify Remove Remove

Goodluck & be careful with the Verapamil if you do begin it. I just wanted to add that some us can't handle Verapamil very well. For instance, 400mg a day would kill me by lowering my BP and dropping my heart rate to deadly levels.  Undecided  It's defeinatley not for everyone.  
 
Goodluck
 
UNsolved
IP Logged
bothofus
New Board Veteran
USA 
***



It's got to get better !

   


Gender: male
Posts: 177
Re: Back to the Doc Today
« Reply #12 on: Sep 22nd, 2006, 4:11am »
Quote Quote Modify Modify

Thank all of ya'll for the support and for listening to my, um, er, explanation.
 
He started me on a pretty low dosage (80mg 3x a day), but seemed genuinely interested in doing whatever it takes to getting the dosage right.  Prob try that dosage for 2-3 days to see how my bp reacts.
 
Only had time to take it 2 x when I got in, so still got my usual hit 1 hour after sleeping and another about 5 hours later.  Was taking 9 mg of melatonin at night and may give that another try.
 
Thanks again,  Carl
IP Logged
bothofus
New Board Veteran
USA 
***



It's got to get better !

   


Gender: male
Posts: 177
Re: Back to the Doc Today
« Reply #13 on: Sep 23rd, 2006, 4:46am »
Quote Quote Modify Modify

Alrighty!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
One good nights sleep in the books.  The verapamil has seemingly been the silver bullet.  I've got finger's crossed and thanked the Lord for another day either way.
 
Carl
IP Logged
Charlotte
CH.com Alumnus
New Board Hall of Famer
USA 
*****




I love YaBB 1G - SP1!

   
Email

Gender: female
Posts: 1932
Re: Back to the Doc Today
« Reply #14 on: Sep 26th, 2006, 1:32am »
Quote Quote Modify Modify

fingers crossed for you.
 
Charlotte
IP Logged
bothofus
New Board Veteran
USA 
***



It's got to get better !

   


Gender: male
Posts: 177
Re: Back to the Doc Today
« Reply #15 on: Sep 26th, 2006, 4:36am »
Quote Quote Modify Modify

Thanks Charlotte,  Have now had 3 days and 4 nights PF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
I was thinking I might be near the end of this cycle, but got to checking and this one has been going on for about 5 weeks.  Seemed like 10 weeks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
So, I definitely think it is the verapamil working like no other preventative I've tried before.
 
PFDAN to you and all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Carl
IP Logged
Pages: 1  Reply Reply Notify of replies Notify of replies Send Topic Send Topic Print Print

« Previous topic | Next topic »


Clusterheadaches.com Message Board » Powered by YaBB 1 Gold - SP 1.3.1!
YaBB © 2000-2003. All Rights Reserved.


©1998-2010 Web Vision Enterprises All rights reserved. All information on this site is protected by international copyright laws. You may not re-distribute any information from this site without written permission from Web Vision Enterprises and the webmaster of this site. Violators will be prosecuted.
You may view our privacy policy and financial disclosure statement here

test rss