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        New Message Board Archives >> 2002 Posts >> Another Cluster Period
        
(Message started by: ANZAC on Nov 3^rd, 2002, 5:28am)

Title: Another Cluster Period
Post by ANZAC on Nov 3^rd, 2002, 5:28am

Here I go again, Another year, another cluster period.
This is the 9th year I have had to deal with cluster haedaches and it was only last year that I was diagnosed correctly. Up till then I was told I had stress headaches even though I wasn't stressed. The only things that I have found to ease my agony are Imigran (a migrain medication) and 100% oxygen. The pain is excrusiating and trying to fight off the pain without aome form of medication seems impossible. I have many sleepless nights and the occasional lost day of work because of them. The medication prescribed for me only comes in a pack of 2 with a maximum dose of 3 in 24hrs which at times becomes a major problem as hospitalisation then follows. Once I have my first cluster for the day I begin to worry that I wont have enough medication to see me through to the next day. even worse on a weekend as I only have 2 tablets and repeats will not be issued at the same time so those 2 tablets have to last from Friday night to Monday morning at a minimum. If anyone has any other remedys they have tried and work please let me know for not only my sake but for my familys sake also... ???

Title: Re: Another Cluster Period
Post by OneEyeBlind on Nov 3^rd, 2002, 6:26am

Welcome to the board. Sorry ya have to be here though. Look through the posts ... there is lots of info on better ways to use the O2 (like chilled). Make sure you are using a non-rebreather mask, etc. Use the search function to find other posts dealing with O2. Check out the buttons on your left. Also, there is lots of info on how to get the insurance to up the number of Imitrex you receive. Look on the OUCH website (link on the left to get there) for that info.

Hope that helps and welcome, welcome, welcome.

Title: Re: Another Cluster Period
Post by ChristineL on Nov 3^rd, 2002, 6:36am

Anzac,

Read all the information on the buttons on the left. Many of us are are Imitrex and O2. Try the Imitrex injections which work much faster than the pills. You can break the dosage down as many of us don't need the full 6 ml. Check out the Imitrex tip on the left. I use Insulin syringes and break the two doses into 12. I find 2 ml works great for me and aborts a CH in as little as 5 minutes. Also has your Dr. given you anything to try and break the cycle? I did the Prednisone bit which lowered the severity and occurances but didn't break the cycle so I switched to Verapamil which has been working very well. A lot of us on this MB have had success with it.

Read and print out all the information on this site to give to your Dr. There is lots of different things you can try.

Chris L

Title: Re: Another Cluster Period
Post by domm on Nov 3^rd, 2002, 9:57am

ANZAC - welcome to the board. Verapamil works for me as a preventattive, although it takes a week of so to "build up" in your system. I started taking it about a month into my cycle and then spent the rest of my cycle pain free. Dosage will depend on you and your doc.
good luck finding the right set of meds that work for you
domm

Title: Re: Another Cluster Period
Post by Drk^Angel on Nov 3^rd, 2002, 9:23pm

Welcome to the board! Sorry that the beast is repeatedly slamming your cranium into a hot grill covered in broken glass and rusty razor blades. Good luck!

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

Title: Re: Another Cluster Period
Post by Mark C on Nov 3^rd, 2002, 9:55pm

WELCOME

Not much I can add other than educate yourself as much as possible. The links here and on the OUCH are a tremendous resource for CH information. Fire up your printer and take the info to your Dr., Educate them as well as yourself.
Sorry about the head, but glad you're here.
Mark

Title: Re: Another Cluster Period
Post by Charlie on Nov 3^rd, 2002, 9:57pm

Welcome aboard and although I don't have info on meds, I just want to say hello and encourage you to look over everything you can. You'll likely find something on this site that will help in some way.

Stick around.

Charlie