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        New Message Board Archives >> 2003 Posts >> I WAS REALLY HOPEFULL LAST NIGHT
        
(Message started by: moni on Apr 12^th, 2003, 4:47pm)

Title: I WAS REALLY HOPEFULL LAST NIGHT
Post by moni on Apr 12^th, 2003, 4:47pm

I was really hopefull last night when I found this site.

Unfortunately I wrote earlier and only one person responded. Can you guys help with your experience.
Thx

Title: Re: I WAS REALLY HOPEFULL LAST NIGHT
Post by don on Apr 12^th, 2003, 4:56pm

Keep in mind your posting on a weekend.

Timing is everything.

Research the daylights out of this site and the OUCH site and then post with whatever questions you may have, but you may have to be patient.

Remain hopefull. You have found a home.

Title: Re: I WAS REALLY HOPEFULL LAST NIGHT
Post by Bob P on Apr 12^th, 2003, 4:59pm

Moni,

What you describe in your first post doesn't sound like clusters. Clusters go from 0 ro 10 on the pain scale in 5 or 10 minutes. They last 15 minutes to 2 hours and then leave as quickly as they started. People usually get 2 or 3 of these attacks each day. This will happen every day for 4 to 12 weeks and then they are gone only to return some months or years later.

Title: Re: I WAS REALLY HOPEFULL LAST NIGHT
Post by catlind on Apr 12^th, 2003, 5:06pm

And of course everything Bob just said can be found different in the multitude of people here :)

If there's one thing I've learned from the people here, the only predictable thing about this affliction is the severity of the pain, and the unpredictability of it.

:)

Cat

Title: Re: I WAS REALLY HOPEFULL LAST NIGHT
Post by Frank on Apr 12^th, 2003, 5:09pm

Sometimes the quality of the help you get depends on how well you describe the symptoms. When you say your husband's headaches lasted 4-6 days... is that what you really mean? Or do you mean he had headaches everyday... for six days in a row... but not all day during that time?

Most cluster headache attacks occur daily, or almost daily... sometimes several times per day. They usually last 30 to 90 minutes each (rarely up to 2-3 hours) each.

Take the "Cluster quiz" http://www.clusterheadaches.com/quiz.html What do you think?

Title: Re: I WAS REALLY HOPEFULL LAST NIGHT
Post by cbolony on Apr 12^th, 2003, 5:15pm

Quote:

Research the daylights out of this site and the OUCH site and then post with whatever questions you may have, but you may have to be patient.

Remain hopefull. You have found a home.

Don is right tell your husband read everthing he can and then start asking questions.
My CH i get 3-4 times a year lasting 6-8 weeks each cycle.My CH is on the left side and eye.I get 3-4 sometimes more attackes a day.For the low kips i use oxygen for the 7-10 kips i use imitrex injections stops them in about 10 mins.I been having CH since 1996
This site is a great place with a lot of great people on it.
If they can help your husband they will.

Title: Re: I WAS REALLY HOPEFULL LAST NIGHT
Post by don on Apr 12^th, 2003, 5:37pm

I've been a sufferer for 26 years and no cycle is the same.

I think it was Cat who said the only thing you can predict is that they will hurt and they will go away.

Title: Re: I WAS REALLY HOPEFULL LAST NIGHT
Post by jonny on Apr 12^th, 2003, 5:47pm

When you think it can't hurt no more it starts to hurt less.

..............................jonny

Title: Re: I WAS REALLY HOPEFULL LAST NIGHT
Post by Charlie on Apr 13^th, 2003, 9:56pm

My experience is that this thing hit me and convinced me I had any one of half a dozen deadly maladies. When I found out what this horror was, I tried everything available in 1969. They've been gone for 13 years but here is something my old neurologist came up with way back then. It helped me most of the time:

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: I WAS REALLY HOPEFULL LAST NIGHT
Post by catlind on Apr 14^th, 2003, 9:19am

Charlie,

I've modified that technique somewhat, using a different method I can reduce the pain of a CH and turn off any other pain. Combining the concentration on the arteries, and using Richard Bandlers ideas of on and off switch, I visualize a CH toggle switch in my head. On top is on and on the bottom is off. I visualize holding the switch off. It works quite well once you get the hang of it. These things sound kinda funky, but they can and do work if you can master the technique during pain free times.

Cat