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        New Message Board Archives >> 2003 Posts >> New to the board
        
(Message started by: pablo on Jun 26^th, 2003, 3:46pm)

Title: New to the board
Post by pablo on Jun 26^th, 2003, 3:46pm

Howdy!

My name is Pablo and I'm ... oh wait, different meeting.

Well, my name is Pablo and I have been 'chosen' to suffer CH's!

I'm currently going through a cycle and I have IM'd a few folks privately - thank you for your responses.

At the encouragement of one of the people, I thought I'd post my story. Frankly, with all humbleness aside, I think other people have it _much_ worst than I. All I can say to you folks is that I feel your pain and I empathize completely.

My first cycle started in 1985 around summer time. I don't recall how long they lasted but I think it was only a one to two week cycle. Back then I didn't know what to do so I did nothing. Well, I did go to the Student Clinic (last year at the Univesity - now you all know how old I am! :) and they weren't much help.

Come 1989, another series but this one lasting longer. This time I went in and was diagnosed with CH. At first the doc gave me Vicodin which did absolutely nothing. I gave him back the bottle. (I was very athletic then and I didn't want to be taking drugs if I didn't need 'em - I still run now! A man's gotta keep his svelte girlish figure! <g>) The doc introduced me to Imitrex. I thought I had found manna!

1994 was a doozy for me. Spring a nice six week cycle. This time I was ready for the beast. I had my Imitrex and I was out swinging! I took the sucker down and it was down for the count. I had to have friends take me to ER a couple of times until I was given The Kit.

I had one friend, whose brother thought I was faking CH to get her attention because he saw the results of Imitrex: I was up and about after a trip/shot to the ER - she took me. If he weren't bigger than me, I'd beat him up! :) Okay, I could at least get one punch in and then run like hell!

I moved just about a month ago and being the ever optimist, I threw away my self-inoculator and some very old prescriptions of Imitrex vials. Oh was that every dumb! That beast hadn't gone away but in fact had waited for me to throw away The Kit. I'm sure he was hanging out in the deep recesses of my head, legs propped up reading a girlie magazine (only the articles of course) waiting for The Fool to toss The Kit: batter up!!

June 7th of this year, as I was driving across the country to my new home (doggies in tow), I had a 30 minute bout at 73MPH! Woohoo! I had one eye clench, head tilted (a scene from an old Batman episode eh?) and the dogs snoring in the cab. I knew it had awakened.

I've been getting them off and on and now more on than off. I finally went in yesterday to get some Imitrex. The doc knew about CH's which was great. He gave me a prescription of Imitrex which I promptly filled. I noticed that the box didn't come with a self-inoculator. I asked the Pharmacist and she said oh, it's all self contained. I thought, hmm, okay -- remember I threw away my old inoculator away right?

Well, today I had an encounter with the beast. I thought, okay you sumbitch, you're mine, I have my meds and I'm gonna take you down. Put you back in the box and hopefullly renew your subscription.

I opened the meds and I couldn't figure it out. I tried to read it with watering eyes and couldn't figure it out. The pain was a bit much. I decided to get in my truck and drive to the pharmacy - 5KM away or so? I drove slowly and made it. I stumbled in but I tried not to make a scene. I waited patiently in line until my turn. Clutching my head I said: I don't know how to work this, please help.

The pharmisist opened it up and looked at it and tried to figure it out. I sat down at the bench into a ball and clutched my head. It was peaking.

As an aside, my episodes have a steep slope which almost is asymptotic. Oh where was I?

Just as I peaked, I crashed and it was over. Turns out they thought it was self-contained but it wasn't. It'll take four weeks to order the inoculator but in the mean time, I've downloaded a web page on how to give myself a shot. Wtf, I'll figure it out. :)

Tomorrow I'm ready to 'stick' myself. I'm kinda thin (I mentioned I like to exercise about 90 minutes ago right?) so I need to find a spot to stick myself. I'd hate to look like a dog chasing its tail ...

Oh, one last tangential thing ... so this past February I busted my wrist. I did an excellent job! :) I do strive to do well at what I do! Anyway, it was just this far away from needing to be pinned up. When I first come in, the triage nurse says, on a scale of one to ten, ten being the worst, how much does it hurt. I thought for a sec, hmmm, CH's hurt like hell, so I said: six.

The ER doc sees it's busted and moves it around etc. It hurts a bit but again, a CH is _wayyyyyyyyyyyyyy_ more pain than this ... so he orders up some x-rays and looks at them. He comes back and says, well, you've really broken that wrist. I'm surprised how bad it is ... it didn't occur to me until later that CH's have shown me what real pain is about.

And with that, that's why I'm very empathetic to those folks who are chronic or who have episodes that last longer than my measly six weeks. Hats off to you, I feel your pain my sisters and brothers!

Over and out ... until tomorrow when at the same Bat Time and the same Bat Channel, I'll go toe-to-toe with The Beast. I'm gonna slay that sumbitch!

-pablo

Title: Re: New to the board
Post by Wendy the Brit on Jun 26^th, 2003, 3:54pm

Pablo

What a fantastic first post!
Welcome to the club. Here you find all the help you could need and all the friends you deserve.

Wendy the Brit

P.S. You left out the masturbation! It's OK to mention it here, promise!

Title: Re: New to the board
Post by pablo on Jun 26^th, 2003, 3:59pm

Thx for the warm welcome Wendy and the disclosure of my masterbation habits to help deal with the beast. <G>

Although I think The Beast is just an excuse to masterbate! woohoo!

Title: Re: New to the board
Post by vig on Jun 26^th, 2003, 4:09pm

very cool and welcome to the club, Pablo.
Pablito

Title: Re: New to the board
Post by pablo on Jun 26^th, 2003, 4:12pm

Thank you!

Title: Re: New to the board
Post by catlind on Jun 26^th, 2003, 4:25pm

Wonderful first post Pablo! You sure had me laughing here! I love your sense of humour and your ability to put together some great dialogue of the beast!

Welcome aboard, grab an oar and start rowin!

Cat

Title: Re: New to the board
Post by vig on Jun 26^th, 2003, 4:27pm

I must be missing something here?

Title: Re: New to the board
Post by cathy on Jun 26^th, 2003, 4:37pm

Hi Pablo Sorry your suffering but great to see you post!! Grab an oar and start rowing..... ;D

Vig.....you forgot the welcome....*smile* ;)

Cathy :)

Title: Re: New to the board
Post by BillyJ. on Jun 26^th, 2003, 4:55pm

Welcome Pablo!!

1-have you tried O2? http://www.maplefallswebdesign.com/misc/oxygen/oxygen.htm
2-Verapamil is one of the most effective preventatives
and is considerably less costly than trex
3-Prednisone is a common temporary abortative used to
control the beast until the verapamil starts working.

I'm glad to see that you have a good sense of humor
about it.I think that humor and positive atittude are
needed to survive this wonderful shit we are blessed
with.
Theese things definitely put a new perspective on the
meaning of pain, sometimes called a "pure"or "perfect"
pain.
Again,WELCOME aboard!
Sorry you had to join us but glad you found us.you
won't find a doctor or group anywhere with more knowledge than you will find here.

Wishing you pain free times,
BillyJ

Title: Re: New to the board
Post by miCHel on Jun 26^th, 2003, 5:21pm

Ola Pablo!

Great first post! You were wondering where to stick those Imitrex shots... I shot myself 44 times in one month during my last cycle and I alternated between both thighs. It was almost invisible.

By the way, I hope you will never throw away your Imitrex again, I used a few shots that were hidden in my closet for a couple of years and they worked their magic perfectly. I wasn't sure but somebody on this site told me to go ahead and try it. And it worked.

Take it easy and kill that beast!

miCHel

Title: Re: New to the board
Post by Roxy on Jun 26^th, 2003, 5:39pm

Welcome Pablo.....sorry the beast has returned to haunt you....but I loved your post..... :)

I've been averaging around 5-6 shots a day, and finding a place is difficult. I normally hit my upper arms, but they are a little bruised up right now. So for me....it's the ass for a bit. I use the thighs when I'm driving....I'm right with you on the getting hit while flying down the highway...... ;D I use the vials though, so I don't have to mess with splitting the shot....I just grab a needle and jam it in.....much less concentration....LOL.

Sorry about your wrist.....hope it heals fast.

PFDAN,
Tracey

Title: Re: New to the board
Post by pablo on Jun 26^th, 2003, 6:57pm

Thank you for all the well wishes and advice! I appreciate it very much!

Title: Re: New to the board
Post by cootie on Jun 26^th, 2003, 9:54pm

Hello pablo.....interesting post.....sorry for your pain ! I see you have a good sense of humor....you'll fit rite in here as you learn ! ;D The laughin learner Pam ;D

Title: Re: New to the board
Post by MarkHW on Jun 26^th, 2003, 10:10pm

Hey Pablo... welcome!
Mark

Title: Re: New to the board
Post by Charlie on Jun 26^th, 2003, 10:34pm

Welcome aboard Pablo.

Nice horror story and stick around. Anyone with your attitude is more than welcome.

Here is something you can use that worked very well for me:

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: New to the board
Post by ShariRae on Jun 27^th, 2003, 10:14am

Welcome aboard Pablo. Your sense of humor is a great gift!! Sorry ya had to find us but stick around, lots of great folks here & a multitude of knowledge.
Huggs
Shari