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        New Message Board Archives >> 2002 Posts >> New Member (long)
        
(Message started by: mgreg on Nov 2^nd, 2002, 9:35am)

Title: New Member (long)
Post by mgreg on Nov 2^nd, 2002, 9:35am

Hello all, nice to meet everyone.

I am 34 years old. I had "regular" migraines most of my life but found a drug called Midrin when I was 19 and was relatively pain free until I was 28. Then I started getting cluster headaches every other day from about 11PM until 3 or 4 AM. It took a few weeks and the obligatory misdiagnosed sinus infection to get me to a neurologist that I hated (could barely speak english) but who was very familiar with Clusters. Through Predisone and Verapimil I was pain free in two weeks and have remained free of ALL headaches (except for the morning after partying to hard ;) ) since.

About two weeks ago they came back. After 6 years, I was happy to try antibiotics to clear my "sinus infection". I had slight suspitions that they were clusters again but after so long a break I was hoping otherwise. My family MD is not very familiar with Clusters but is a very caring, understanding Dr. He is always willing to listen and try just about anything I want so long as there is medical basis for it. He is also big on samples to see if they work before spending $$. He gave me a new drug called Flovax which did nothing. After reading up here and elsewhere he was happy to give me MANY samples of Imitrex and a few weeks worth of Varapimil yesterday. Hoping for the best! Does anyone know if the Imitrex can be taken as an "emergency preventative"? I am going to dinner tonight and did NOT have a HA last night so tonight is just about a sure thing. (That's almost as bad as the HA, KNOWING that you will have one) Any idea if taking Imitrex can "ward off" a HA when your in a position where you really CAN'T have one? Mine have all come on between 5 and 11PM this cycle. With most of them starting about 9.

I read the Kip scale with interest and amusement. I'm so used to some form of head pain that anything under a 5 is not even a HA to me, just a minor inconvenience. I was glad to read about the defintion of "shadows" in another post here because I have had then a lot this bout and wondered what they were. Even wish you could hold someones hand for a few seconds and let them feel your pain? Your Dr. for example? I really don't think the general public understands the level of pain. I describe it as a knitting needle poked up through your eyeball into your sinus cavity and someone "bumping" the needle every few minutes. Sound about right?

I like the attitude on here. "Since I am gonna cry involuntrily, I may as well laugh about it when I can" seems to sum it up! Couldn't agree more. My family is very understanding and I TRY to be when I am in pain as well. I wander the house alternating between being as social as possible and hiding.

I have found that temperature differences seem to help me sometimes. I will stand outside on the deck in a pair of shorts intil I am freezing and then get under a pile of blankets to warm up, then do it again. (Same works with a bath) Seems to help but then again, I am starting to think that ANYTHING that gets your mind off the pain helps.

Anyway, rambled long enough but it feels good to talk about it.

-Mark G

"I love escalators, they can't break. They just become stairs. 'Escalator temporarily stairs, sorry for the convenience' " - Not my quote but can't remember who's it was, I was in a lot of pain when I heard it :D

Title: Re: New Member (long)
Post by don on Nov 2^nd, 2002, 9:50am

Imitrex injections are definitely an emergency
abortive

Title: Re: New Member (long)
Post by domm on Nov 2^nd, 2002, 9:51am

Mark - welcome to the board. Sounds like you've already clicked you way thru this site and are doing the "doc and meds" thing. Hope you joined OUCH and explored that site.
To answer your question, I've never had success in using Imitrex as a preventative. I have heard from others that this technique works. They take a 'trex 20 minutes before an important event and it seems to ward it off. It hasn't worked for me though.
Good luck and PFDANs to you
domm

Title: Re: New Member (long)
Post by Linda_Howell on Nov 2^nd, 2002, 9:58am

Mark,

I think I understand what you mean by a "emergency preventative" I have used Amerge, another Triptan,
for exactly what you have asked about. As a preventative when I had to do something and couldn't afford to have an attack. Amerge takes a while to work unlike Imitrex, but it lasts longer, so hence is perfect for what you're talking about. Of course you can use Imitrex as a preventative, but it only lasts about 4 hrs. So have a short dinner. LOL

Linda Howell

Title: Re: New Member (long)
Post by OneEyeBlind on Nov 2^nd, 2002, 12:38pm

Welcome to the board. I use Imitrex injections as an abortive and it works so fast that you can go to that dinner of yours, get hit, go to the bathroom with a headbanger and come back 15 minutes later and have desert !!!!! Never even attempted to use it as an abortive.

(oops meant to say "never attempted to use it as a preventative).

Title: Re: New Member (long)
Post by pjbgravely on Nov 2^nd, 2002, 8:24pm

on 11/02/02 at 12:38:19, OneEyeBlind wrote:

Never even attempted to use it as an abortive.

Hope you ment preventative PJB

Title: Re: New Member (long)
Post by OneEyeBlind on Nov 2^nd, 2002, 8:37pm

Yea I did PJ thanks ..guess I am a little tired today !!!

Title: Re: New Member (long)
Post by Mark C on Nov 2^nd, 2002, 8:54pm

Welcome to the board Mark,
Sounds like you just might qualify, sorry about that.
I suggest you surf the links here and on the OUCH site for tons of good information. Educate yourself.
Imitrex is a great medicine for me. Finally something works, at least for a while. Imitrex link attached.
Good luck,
Mark

http://www.migrainehelp.com/user_guide.html

Title: Re: New Member (long)
Post by Charlie on Nov 2^nd, 2002, 8:58pm

Welcome to our crazy board. We have our fun and you sound like you'll get along fine. 8)

The others here know their stuff about meds and O2. Pay attention to these jerks. They know of what they speak. ::)

Glad to have you aboard

Charlie

Title: Re: New Member (long)
Post by Slydog on Nov 2^nd, 2002, 9:09pm

Mark, Glad you found us. Hope you can find what you need here. Slydog

Title: Re: New Member (long)
Post by Drk^Angel on Nov 3^rd, 2002, 12:50am

Welcome to the board! Sorry that the beast is fryin' your cranium with an industrial sized flamethrower. Good luck!

PFDAN....................... Drk^Angel