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Topic: diet (Read 294 times) |
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tammy
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I was diagnosed with cluster headaches back in June and this is my third attack since then. The first lasted for 11 days--I thought I was dying. The second for 8 and this is my fifth day for this one. Anyway, I have tried many medications and it seems like nothing really works. So, is there a diet that is recommended to help with cluster headaches? I'll do anything to make it stop!
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Virginia
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Re: diet
« Reply #1 on: Oct 1st, 2004, 9:31pm » |
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Tammy,
Welcome to the board and sorry you had to find us. There will be many people who will argue about this but unlike migraines there are no known correlations between diet & cluster headaches. One thing most everyone here will agee on is stay away from alcohol while you're in-cycle. It is a known trigger.
What meds are you trying? Is anything working for you? Have you gotten oxygen yet (a must)?
Tell us more.
Virginia
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The Clusterhead formerly known as 9erfan.
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Kevin_M
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Re: diet
« Reply #2 on: Oct 1st, 2004, 9:33pm » |
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on Oct 1st, 2004, 9:16pm, tammy wrote:| The first lasted for 11 days--I thought I was dying. The second for 8 and this is my fifth day for this one. |
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Sounds like you are in pain but what do you mean, one long headache for these durations?
Kevin M
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tammy
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Re: diet
« Reply #3 on: Oct 1st, 2004, 9:58pm » |
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No, not one long headache, but several each day during these time spans.
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tammy
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Re: diet
« Reply #4 on: Oct 1st, 2004, 10:02pm » |
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The meds they gave me were: Verapamil-which is a blood pressure med from what I understand. Oxycodone and Lortab. Nothing makes it all better. I have stopped taking oxycodone and lortab and only take a verapamil once a day during the time I am having an attack. Never had oxygen and the doctor never mentioned it to me, but I am going to an Army hospital, so they probably don't know much about it.
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Kevin_M
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Re: diet
« Reply #5 on: Oct 1st, 2004, 10:20pm » |
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Ok, clearer.
The verapamil is a preventative that needs to be taken everyday. Building it up in your system can take days. It does not help to take it only when the headache attacks. The pain medications won't help and are not advised because of the frequency of the attacks, besides they can be ineffectual anyway.
Verapamil as a preventative usually would not be effective below 360mg a day, but check with your doctor on that. Many here use it, but an abortive is the medication which you take as the headache hits.
Breathing pure oxygen is an excellent way to stop a headache, there is much written about it on a tab to the left. Many also use triptans such as Imitrex to abort the headaches. These are prescribed as seen fit by a doctor, but seem to be the only way to stop a headache.
Cluster headache pain does not go away with pain meds. Oxygen and triptans constrict the vascular system around the trig (sp) nerve. That is the only solution so far, concerning clusters. Preventing them is difficult but there are preventatives which work for some and not others. Verapamil is popular, but only when taken correctly.
I would persist with treatment, so far it seems you are going to suffer unless changes are made.
there are more answers here, but convincing the doctors of correct treatment for you is a current concern. Oxygen would be a real good start.
Kevin M
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| « Last Edit: Oct 1st, 2004, 10:21pm by Kevin_M » |
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E-Double
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Re: diet
« Reply #6 on: Oct 1st, 2004, 10:23pm » |
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on Oct 1st, 2004, 10:02pm, tammy wrote:| The meds they gave me were: Verapamil-which is a blood pressure med from what I understand. Oxycodone and Lortab. Nothing makes it all better. I have stopped taking oxycodone and lortab and only take a verapamil once a day during the time I am having an attack. Never had oxygen and the doctor never mentioned it to me, but I am going to an Army hospital, so they probably don't know much about it. |
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Tammy you definitely need to do some research and have your doctor do some as well. There is potential relief out there for you. You just need to educate yourself and be armed with information.
Here are some easy reads for you and your doc.
http://www.future-drugs.com/Iparticle.asp?publicationid=4&articleid= 286
http://www.future-drugs.com/admin/articlefile/ERN020304.pdf
http://www.headachedrugs.com/archives/preventivemeds.html
Keep your head up the best you can!! Stay positive and reach out when needed. You will learn tons and have found a wonderfully supportive family.
Best,
Eric
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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.
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