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        New Message Board Archives >> 2003 Posts >> HELP!
        
(Message started by: rjfrazer on May 25^th, 2003, 8:48pm)

Title: HELP!
Post by rjfrazer on May 25^th, 2003, 8:48pm

Hello all,

I am new to this site, thank god I found it. I have been suffering with episodes of cluster headaches for 20 years. Have just recently started up again, when I found this site, and read about mushroom therapy. Even after all the reading, still not sure how to use the mushrooms. What is the right receipe and when do you do this during or after episodes. Any help out there would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Bob

Title: Re: HELP!
Post by Mikey on May 25^th, 2003, 8:53pm

Mast, oh Mast, or Flash jump in on this one!

Welcome to the boat and the Family RJ. Grab an oar and start rowing with the rest of us! You really need to read and read some more. use the buttons to the left of the screen to get familiar with this site and us.

Go to the back of the boat and ROW!

Mikey, ;D

Title: Re: HELP!
Post by Miklos on May 25^th, 2003, 9:00pm

I have not had to go that path, but Mikey is right. Read the mushroom topics, and send a note to the people he mentioned. They will understand.

Title: Re: HELP!
Post by BobG on May 25^th, 2003, 9:11pm

Hello Bob. Good to see a new face here but sorry you had a reason to come looking.

Before you try the ‘shroom treatment I have to ask………..
Have you exhusted all the “normal” treatments such as verapamil as a preventative and Imitrex and/or oxygen as abortives?

Here’s some links to shroom use, click on the blue below.
http://home.attbi.com/~rwold350/index.html
‘schroom web site from PinkFloyd
http://clusterheadaches.com/wwwboard/messages/82778.html
discussion thread on the good and bad of ‘schroom for clusters 3-15-01
http://clusterheadaches.com/wwwboard/messages/91050.html
pinksharkmark 5-7-01 “meds and mushrooms” drugs to avoid with schrooms
http://clusterheadaches.com/wwwboard/messages/82900.html
pinksharkmark (3-16-01 Hallucinogenic research)

Title: Re: HELP!
Post by Charlie on May 25^th, 2003, 9:26pm

Welcome aboard. You'll find all kinds of things here to help you cope with this horror. The best thing is that you found people who really understand what you're going through.

Here is my technique that helped save what little sanity I have left:

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: HELP!
Post by oringkid on May 25^th, 2003, 9:31pm

Go to the Medications board on this site. All you ever wanted to know about the MEDICINAL use can be found or pointed to from there.

Good luck!

Sherry

Title: Re: HELP!
Post by Robert on May 25^th, 2003, 9:33pm

Thanks for all the help so far you guys this means alot to me, makes me almost want to cry knowing its not just me going through this crap
Bob

Title: Re: HELP!
Post by OneEyeBlind on May 25^th, 2003, 9:45pm

Keep on, keep on ... reading on Bob. Good luck with whatever you choose !!!!!!!!

Title: Re: HELP!
Post by Callico_Kid on May 25^th, 2003, 11:46pm

You're home! You have found the one place that I know of in this world that really understands us. Even our spouses, though they try and really want to cannot fully understand the horror.

All that being said, read all you can about all the options available to you before deciding to try the shroom therapy. I would not try to discourage you from using it if it is the route you wish to take. You just need to be able to make an INFORMED decision. (I have considered it myself, and may yet do it. I have held off because my daughter is a part of our police department and I don't want to put her in a bad position.)

Most of all, stay involved, and help row this boat toward a cure for all of us.

jc

Title: Re: HELP!
Post by Robert on May 26^th, 2003, 12:41am

I have tried everything over the past 20 years,but it seems like there has been no real solutin for me, so I will try just about anythiny at this point. So now I stat looking, seems like that might be the hard part. I will let you all know how it goes, sure glad I found this site, what a great bunch of people
Bob

Title: Re: HELP!
Post by Mastifflvr28 on May 26^th, 2003, 1:50am

Robert,
Read everything BobG put up, it's all good.

And there is NO solution.

What kind of prevents have you tried?

Good luck and read and row :)
any questions, just e-mail
Mast

Title: Re: HELP!
Post by Svenn on May 26^th, 2003, 3:27am

Think everything had been said that had to be said here.

Welcome to Clusterville

Svenn

Title: Re: HELP!
Post by cathy on May 26^th, 2003, 4:40am

Hi Robert... Welcome aboard....great site, great crew....wishing you some PF times.

Cathy :)

Title: Re: HELP!
Post by Peppermint on May 26^th, 2003, 9:15am

Robert,

Welcome, I'm glad you have found your family.... they know what you are going through.

Didn't hear you mention oxygen (02). This is an abortive that works for many many ch'ers and has likely the least side effects. Please see the link below, it was put together by a bunch of clusterheads. Try it, it may work for you.

http://www.maplefallswebdesign.com/misc/oxygen/oxygen.htm

Let us know how it goes.

Peppermint ;)

Title: Re: HELP!
Post by ZAIRA on May 26^th, 2003, 3:10pm

Hello Robert and Welcome!

When I have shadows I suddenly do or O2 and if it doesn’t work I have Imitrex, so that the attack is not so violent... this is my experience and it works for me.

Good Luck,

Zaira ;)

Title: Re: HELP!
Post by catlind on May 26^th, 2003, 3:14pm

Welcome to the family Bob, sorry you have to pull up a chair, but you have found the best table in the house to be at.

Not much to add to what's been said. Read, read and read some more. Let us know about the different things you've tried, both med and non-med treatments. There are a multitude of possibilities in these pages.

Welcome home.

Cat

Title: Re: HELP!
Post by Drk^Angel on May 26^th, 2003, 8:39pm

Welcome to the board! Sorry that the beast is bashing your cranium into a bloody, steamin' pulp against a cement wall, then slomping on it with big fuckin' shitkickers, only to soak it in gasoline, and lightin' it up before kickin' it into the gutter. Welcome to the family! Good luck!

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

Title: Re: HELP!
Post by cootie on May 26^th, 2003, 10:12pm

Howdy Robert...I hope you find somea the answers yer after on here.....won't find a more knowledgeable group anywhere else ! Good luck to ya......PF good times Pam