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(Message started by: MKenney on Mar 21^st, 2003, 10:09pm)

Title: Whacked
Post by MKenney on Mar 21^st, 2003, 10:09pm

I am sure this has been done before.

I am on a post-midnight schedule of headaches, but not tonight.

Had a great Friday night dinner with the spouse, Ginny, but I needed to go to the market since I will be doing soccer all day tomorrow and will not be able to do the regular Saturday errands.

I felt some twinges on the way to the store, but that is not unusual. Once in the store things started to get a little worse. By the time I got to the meat counter, I was in the middle of a headache. I am standing there trying to figure out where they hid the seven bone roasts when I realized I could not think much anymore. Where can I hide 'cause I sure can't leave a full basket and drive home? I know. Head for the cat and dog food aisle. Oh, by the way, the lithium kicks in to add a little bladder urgency.

I know where the restroom is so off I go. If that damned Men's room door is locked again, there are going to be some really surprised ladies. I'll go for pervert, but I ain't wetting my pants.

Later, in front of the cat litter display (which I actually needed), I struggled through a tightly controlled episode. 18 minutes. No yelling. No pacing. No obscenities. No friendly, but useless, icepack. Hanging onto the shopping cart for dear life pretending to read my shopping list. I really do prefer the back yard.

Two kinds of people go by. Some pretend you don't exist; others want to help. Some want to call 911. One woman offered me a pain pill that she uses for meregraines. A store clerk was afraid that I would throw up. The teenagers snickered.

My lordy, but I do hate episodes in public places. You can't run, and you have none of the comforting, but useless, props that are available at home. I've been trapped in uncontrolled environments before, but it never gets any better.

Mike

Title: Re: Whacked
Post by HanalaR on Mar 21^st, 2003, 11:12pm

Hi Mike,

It's the worst, and it's happened to me frequently, because I have no regular cycle & the HAs just come randomly.

I was renewing my license last month & as I was waiting in line, the twinges came. Thinking that I'd be outta there soon I was keeping my hand pressed to my eye, praying that the line would keep moving. I figured I could handle one line, and then get out as soon as possible. As the HA grew to about a Kip 7, I was informed that I had two more lines to go & since we had so much snow this winter the place was packed. I was starting to panic, but I had no choice but to stay because my license was expiring.

By the time I sat down to have my picture taken I was in serious pain & to top it all off I closed my eyes when the flash went off and had to have the picture retaken.

It's a pretty tough situation & by the grace of God, I have miraculously gotten myself through it many times. I would much rather be alone in my bathroom, with my scalding hot water compresses and no onlookers. I could regale you with many more stories.... it's really the pits.

Chana :-/

Title: Re: Whacked
Post by catlind on Mar 22^nd, 2003, 12:13am

Couldn't agree with either of you more!

There is something about getting a CH in public that invokes almost immediate panic. It's kind of like fear of going into labour and having your water break in public (for the mom's out there that is) except when you are pregnant it's OBVIOUS what's going on. CH is just inside your head, no signs or outward indication that you are suffering the worst pain known to mankind and having to try and act like a human while doing so.

Thank goodness it's a rare ocurrence for me. Of course that's probably because I become a hermit during my cycle so I don't have to deal with that!

Welcome aboard Mike and Chana, don't believe I've met either of you yet :)

Cat

Title: Re: Whacked
Post by Edna on Mar 22^nd, 2003, 12:15am

Hi Mike.......WOW power to you for your success in the battle.......You got courage dude!!!!

I'm a weeny......not sure I could of withstood what you did.......have had attacks in public before.......and straight to injecting myself with my imitrex.....guess the grocery store would have had a fit with that one.

Thanks for sharing with us.......gives others here courage to endure what we must to get by!!!!!

PF wishes to ya,
EDNA

Title: Re: Whacked
Post by sailpappy on Mar 22^nd, 2003, 12:45am

;D ;D Mike,
This senerio has unfolded so many times that I already have a plan. The very first thing I do upon entering the store is find the manager and in a few minutes of their time, I explain what the problem is,
I find out where the Ice machine is and get permission to wear an 8 pound bag of Ice on my head
should it become neccessary!
I have an Index card writtern out that tells of my problem and states emphaticly not to call the police or EMS and that it will end within a hour or less.
only thing needed is quiet and coolness. Works each time for me! Thanks for ear and I hope it helps sometime! Pappy
http://www.gifs.net/animate/sungulls.gif
http://www.gifs.net/animate/sailboat.gif

Title: Re: Whacked
Post by cootie on Mar 22^nd, 2003, 2:15am

Hi Mike and Chana.....just wanted to step in here and say HEY...hang in there guys tay ? Pam-Coots-that-wishes-I-could-be-of-more-help

Title: Re: Whacked
Post by LadyWitch on Mar 22^nd, 2003, 4:19am

Dont know how you did it. Had first CH 6 weeks ago. Now in I think the third night of my third episode. They seem to keep getting worse. Maybe up to kip 7. (think that is how you put it) Am afraid to go to sleep tonight as I have had a shadow all day. It is as if the beast is breathing down just waiting for me to go to sleep. Have not had a HA start while I was awake yet. Have to say that had I been you in the grocery store, I would have had no qualms about leaving a full cart behind. Guess that is because I have worked in retail and have had to empty the left behind cart. lol

Title: Re: Whacked
Post by Charlie on Mar 22^nd, 2003, 5:27am

I know about this horror. I used to get them at lunch counters. Fun. Normally, I found a the bathroom or a booth so I could hide. The technique that follows was hard to do when not alone and waitresses would never leave me alone and were too helpful. Now and then this thing would work. Actually, the very first time I used it was in a restaurant and it worked after about ten minutes. This thing most of the time, gave me back a portion of my life. Give it a try:

Dr. Wright's Circulatory Technique:

This is not transcendental meditation, imagery, relaxation, or anything psychic. It's entirely physical and takes a lot of work and concentration. Give this method a good workout. It’s not a miracle, but it’s been helpful to many.

When I was diagnosed, my neurologist said to treat this as a vascular problem. I was told to concentrate on “redirecting” blood circulation in order to retard flow to the head. This is done by trying to “send” blood into the arms and hands or other extremities. When properly done, your hands will become warm and redder with increased circulation. I also found it easier to concentrate on one hand.

This relieves just slightly, the pressure on the affected vessel, which indirectly causes our pain. We all have this ability but it can be exhausting. I was often able shorten my attacks from about half an hour to no more than a few minutes. Sometimes, when awake, I could entirely abort the attack IF I KEPT AT IT. Often, I would suffer only minor discomfort instead of excruciating pain. Do not stop just because your hands are warm or redder. Keep this up until you are sure it's subsided. If you let up or lose concentration, it’s very hard to restart this process. It may take some time but when this works, the relief is almost immediate.

I learned this from the doctor in a few minutes. He simply told me to try to keep blood away from the head. He thought it easiest to concentrate on the arms and hands but any place that works for you is fine. He said to think of it as "filling your hands" with redirected blood. It’s important to keep at it THROUGH the pain. This will be difficult, but it’s the only way this technique will work. Don’t let up until you are sure the attack has ended.

This will not always work, but I think it will always have at least some effect on the severity and duration of the attacks. It can be useful between medications or while waiting for some other drug to take effect. All it takes is a little practice. It was fairly easy to learn and what I'm writing here is more than I got from the doctor, as I've drawn from my own experience.

When awakened in horrible pain, it’s very hard to focus, but I think it’s always worth a try. This costs nothing but hard work, is harmless, non-invasive, and it gives us a fighting chance.

I wish you the best of luck - Charlie Strand

Title: Re: Whacked
Post by suzy617 on Mar 22^nd, 2003, 8:00am

Hi Mike,
Yes that is a terrible thing when it hits you in public. I give you lots of credit for not freaking out and causing a scene. Fortunately for me that only happened once since most of mine hit while I'm sleeping. I was at a bar with all my friends and like a fool I tried a beer which is a big NO NO while in cycle for me and it came on way too fast. I started panicing but my friend explained to everyone what was wrong and they just left me be till the imitrex kicked in. Just one guy came over and started rubbing my back but when he saw I wanted to rip his head off, he backed off quickly. If I were alone with strangers I think I would have freaked out.
Yes Catlind your right about relating the fear to having your water break in public. You just dont want strangers looking on as you press the panic button.
Well nice to meet you and hope your pf soon,
suzy

Title: Re: Whacked
Post by 2late on Mar 22^nd, 2003, 9:38am

gettin' attacked away from home totally sucks at least with me i have defined cycles so as long as i have my trex injection with me all i do is a 10 min. dissapearing act. good luck to ya! ........Jack

Title: Re: Whacked
Post by Kcir on Mar 22^nd, 2003, 10:10pm

Hi Mike,

I know what you mean. CH in public places is not fun. My last one in public was while packed like a sardine on a airplane.

When I'm in a cycle I nearly always have O2 close by, but I have noticed that if I go somewhere that I can't take the O2 or forget to take it I frequently will end up with a CH even if it is not the normal time of day to have one.

Question----Do you think CH is triggered by panic or fear of having one in public? Or maybe fear of not having your dancing partner? (what ever that may be) ???

Rick T

Title: Re: Whacked
Post by MKenney on Mar 22^nd, 2003, 11:26pm

Dear Kcir:

Generally I do not worry about "public" onsets of a headache because there is nothing I can do about it except survive. The presence of the public is personally annoying, but, hell, they don't know who I am.

I will agree with you that airplane rides are particularly rugged since there is no cat litter display to hide in front of. One flight attendent suggested that if I did not quit banging my head on the window, the air would leak out, and we would all die (which would have been fine with me). Most often they provide a bag of ice (which doesn't help) but which does make it look like I am trying to control myself. Most of the other passengers try to look the other way.

Edna: I have changed my mind about smileys. I have found a set of R-rated smileys that do not induce insulin shock. Now to make them available to the website.

Mike

Title: Re: Whacked
Post by Kcir on Mar 23^rd, 2003, 8:06pm

Mike,
During that flight I refered to I got hit two times in 4 hours. The first one (third of the day) my wife asked for O2 and they actually brought it to me. The second one (4th of the day) was too close to landing to ask again, it was possibly the worst one I ever had over the last 25+ years.
I am not really bothered by the people around but I do think that not having my O2 and other comforts of home (my dancing partner) may work on my brain and cause additional CH. Seems like I get that first twinge and I can't think of anything else and I get Wacked.

Do you think that the pressure changes of a plane trigger CH?

Do you think fear of not having O2 and or other comforts
of home trigger CH ?

Rick T

Title: Re: Whacked
Post by MKenney on Mar 23^rd, 2003, 8:40pm

Dear Kcir,

I typically do not worry about whether or not I will get whacked when I travel (and I did a lot of business trips for IBM) . Why be anxious about what will probably happen if you are in the midst of a cycle? I hate the pain and it is always inconvenient, but I know I will live. I have been hit before the flight, during the flight and afterwards. I did not usually have any comfort tools with me. To be honest though, I have had far more flights without a problem than flights with a problem even during cycles of five or more headaches per day.

The pressurized cabin never seemed to have an effect one way or another.

Mike

Title: Re: Whacked
Post by maggie_may on Mar 24^th, 2003, 12:00pm

Hi Mike,

I know all about getting hit while in public places. I tend to get mine either when I first wake up, right before bed, or during the afternoon - which is more likely for me. I'm typically at work when I get them during the day. Everyone looks at me like I'm crazy and they usually walk away whispering and pointing. It wouldn't bother me too much if these were people that I was sure I'd never see again - so, I usually hide in the bathroom until it's over.

About the airplane situation, I was coming back from vacation this past Saturday and boarded the plane feeling a twinge over my eye. I was sure that I was going to get hit onboard and I was so afraid - being 35000 ft in the air and no where to go, not to mention a bad case of clausterphobia - really made it worse. I think by the time we were up in the air, I reached a Kip 3ish, but then it went away until we were landing and it came back to the 3ish. I think the pressure might have done something to irritate the beast - but that's just me.

All I can say is that I try and get to a bathroom or somewhere else I can hide and to have that trex with me - it'll be a lifesaver ;)

wishing you pfdans
maggie