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Topic: new mom needs help ASAP! (Read 1098 times) |
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Lissa
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new mom needs help ASAP!
« on: Jan 3rd, 2007, 2:51pm » |
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I have a 2 1/2 month old child and I've been getting hit recently with very bad clusters. I'm taking 180 mg Verapamil and Imitrex to abort. The imitrex works but it takes some time. I need a preventative. Please help with any suggestions. I can't take care of my baby like this. 
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Episodic cluster survivor since 1995 at age 16.
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seasonalboomer
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Re: new mom needs help ASAP!
« Reply #1 on: Jan 3rd, 2007, 3:14pm » |
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1.) Are you taking Imitrex tablets or has your doctor given you the correct version for clusters, being the Imitrex injections. Injections work in less than 10 minutes, and most of the time even quicker. Pills are pointless for cluster.
2.) Are you breastfeeding? If so, has your doctor reviewed whether Imitrex and breastfeeding is okay. The imitrex website seems to allude to the fact that the doctor should be advised if you are pregnant or nursing.
3.) Do you have Oxygen? O2 has been a lifesaver for many pregnant and new moms because it is completely safe and often very effective. If not find the link here at ch.com about O2 and talk to your doc about getting you O2 with a reg that will go to 12-15 lpm volume and a NON-rebreather mask -right away.
Scott
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Lissa
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Re: new mom needs help ASAP!
« Reply #2 on: Jan 3rd, 2007, 3:46pm » |
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I'm taking imitrex pills. I'm not nursing. And I have tried oxygen with success. I need a preventative though. Any suggestions? Should I be taking a stronger dose of Verapamil?
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Jonny
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Re: new mom needs help ASAP!
« Reply #3 on: Jan 3rd, 2007, 3:54pm » |
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on Jan 3rd, 2007, 3:46pm, Lissa wrote:| Should I be taking a stronger dose of Verapamil? |
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Yes you should, 180 is WAY to low. ask your doc to up it!
Its good to see you again, babe......but not like this!
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TxBasslady
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Re: new mom needs help ASAP!
« Reply #4 on: Jan 3rd, 2007, 5:23pm » |
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Guess I can't add to what Scott and Jonny says..but I will send you lots of vibes.
Bless your heart...
Jean
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E-Double
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Re: new mom needs help ASAP!
« Reply #5 on: Jan 3rd, 2007, 7:41pm » |
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Talk to doc about increasing.
Hugs, congrats & good luck
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vig
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Re: new mom needs help ASAP!
« Reply #6 on: Jan 4th, 2007, 8:18am » |
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listen to J/EE...
hope you're feeling better!
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burnt-toast
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Re: new mom needs help ASAP!
« Reply #7 on: Jan 4th, 2007, 10:55am » |
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New mom - peak cycle. I can only ask that God bless you with a quick remission.
In the alternative, since you're not breastfeeding you have options for preventative medications, including combinations that may help get attacks under control.
Although not perfect, my salvation is 1200mg Lithium Carbonate/720mg Verapamil over the course of a day with 9mg Melatonin 30-40 minutes before bed. As Jonny points out your Verapamil dose is low, it may help to increase it but this will depend on your tolerance for it.
I would like to add that while I'm not a big proponent of Prednisone, 1-2 week tapers have helped knock down the the severity of attacks. Unfortunately, results have been hit & miss, it either works or it doesn't. Prednisone is a risky drug and long-term use is not recommeded for treating CH.
Put pressure on your doctor(s) to work closely with you to establish aboritive/preventative therapies that help you. Anyone in your situation warrants some additional attention from doctor(s). You have far more important things to deal with than CH.
Best Wishes,
Tom
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| « Last Edit: Jan 4th, 2007, 11:07am by burnt-toast » |
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Bob_Johnson
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Re: new mom needs help ASAP!
« Reply #8 on: Jan 4th, 2007, 11:12am » |
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See author's comments on Verap:
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
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Bob Johnson
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pubgirl
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Re: new mom needs help ASAP!
« Reply #9 on: Jan 4th, 2007, 3:04pm » |
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Lissa
Congratulations on your baby!. If it is your first, I remember this period of my life well and I can TOTALLY sympathise with needing to be attack free while your baby is so small- your Verap dosage wouldn't even tickle most CH sufferers, so try upping WITH AN ECG to check your reaction to it, or as suggested, a short , tapered course of steroids to try and "break" the cycle.
Under doctors advice you can use the prednisolone steroids while you are waiting to achieve the correct level of verapamil for you (it takes time to work and get it right) Don't forget that ECG though.
My best to you and hope you get it sorted soon so you can enjoy this really precious time (and I mean that, small babies turn into little horrors too fast 
Wendy the Brit
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FramCire
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Re: new mom needs help ASAP!
« Reply #10 on: Jan 4th, 2007, 7:52pm » |
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1. Get O2... cheap and if it has worked do it.
2. Talk to your Dr about upping verapomil but if he/she balks at it, you may need to show them the article linked above. The dose I was on shocked a doctor who said there was no way I was on that high of a dose. He didn't know the dosage for CH.
3. Prednizone might be a good way to go. It might help out in the short term while the verap takes effect. I dont use prednizone anymore but it did have good effects for a while
If you ever want to talk, PM me. I am a stay at home dad who had to deal with 2 kids (6 months and 2.5 years) during my first cycle. Not easy but it can be done.
You WILL find relief!!!!!!!!!!
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You've overstayed your welcome since the day we met but it doesn't seem to matter to you. No medications are your master, nothing makes you fret, it's a helpless feeling having nothing I can do
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chewy
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Re: new mom needs help ASAP!
« Reply #11 on: Jan 5th, 2007, 7:29am » |
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Up the verapamil!
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lionsound
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Re: new mom needs help ASAP!
« Reply #12 on: Jan 6th, 2007, 9:00am » |
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Lissa,
please let us know how you are doing. see if you can arrange for someone to come and hold the baby a while for you.
I nursed my baby who is now one so I can't speak to prevents. Although i take a pile of vitamins including magnesium, fish oil and B2. I love my O2 and I have use clustermasx (http://www.clustermasx.com) which works great.
you are not alone I have taken care of my babies while getting hit. it totally sucks, but you can do this!! Remember, support is a med too!!!
PF's for you!!!
-rori
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Bill_G.
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Re: new mom needs help ASAP!
« Reply #13 on: Jan 7th, 2007, 4:12am » |
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First of all congrats on being a new Mom 
Secondly, for what it is worth,if you are not nursing, I have to join the crowd and recommend upping verapamil. I had been in cycle for about five months taking 320mg per day. Convinced Neuro to let me up meds to 400mg per day came down to nothing more than one or two 4s per day. Admitted to hosp. for unrelated matter they would only give me 320mg. per day. within 36hrs the monster returned. Got released from hosp. went back to 400mg a day and within 24 hrs. was down to mostly shadows.
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Lissa
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Re: new mom needs help ASAP!
« Reply #14 on: Jan 8th, 2007, 8:56am » |
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Thank you all so much for your advice! I really appreciate it. I upped my dose of Verapamil and I haven't been hit since. I hope that does it for me. Thank you again!!!
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B14CK5H33P
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Re: new mom needs help ASAP!
« Reply #15 on: Jan 17th, 2007, 4:49am » |
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Cool to hear. If you start getting hit again though, your doc may have left some room to up the dosage. Of course the higher up you go, the more often you should have your BP checked so you don;t get on too high a dose. I did that and it wasn't fun.
Peace,
Carl
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pubgirl
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Re: new mom needs help ASAP!
« Reply #16 on: Jan 17th, 2007, 5:20am » |
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Lissa
That is great news. Thanks for letting us know. I echo what Carl says though and additionally you must have an ECG at each Verap increase to check how your heart is responding to it.
Enjoy your baby
Love
Wendy
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bejeeber
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Re: new mom needs help ASAP!
« Reply #17 on: Jan 22nd, 2007, 9:33pm » |
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on Jan 3rd, 2007, 3:14pm, seasonalboomer wrote:1.) ....the correct version for clusters, being the Imitrex injections. Injections work in less than 10 minutes, and most of the time even quicker. Pills are pointless for cluster....
Scott |
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Agreed!!
And if youy do get hit again, the "imitrex tip" you can click on over there on the left has good instructions on how reduce the dosage by 1/2 or so...
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ozzyrocks36
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Re: new mom needs help ASAP!
« Reply #18 on: Jan 23rd, 2007, 2:45pm » |
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I am a single dad of 2 kids and I know how hard it can be to be a productive parent while in cycle.My kids are 9 and 10 and its still difficult.I can,t even imagine tryin to raise a newborn while being hit. GOD bless you and stay as strong as you are.You are a great fighter. I'm so glad to hear you are doing better now.Keep up the good work and enjoy your little angel....
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Karla
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Re: new mom needs help ASAP!
« Reply #19 on: Jan 23rd, 2007, 8:01pm » |
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Imitrex and Zomig both have a nasal spray out. Imitrex kicks in as fast as the shot for me in 6-15 min. Much better than the pills. Good luck with all this info.
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Karla
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sandie99
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Re: new mom needs help ASAP!
« Reply #20 on: Jan 24th, 2007, 5:30am » |
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Lissa,
I'm glad to hear that you're PF now! That's fantastic!
I keep my fingers crossed that the beast will also stay away. 
Best wishes & PFdays,
Sanna
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