Clusterheadaches.com Message Board


    
      
        Clusterheadaches.com Message Board
        (http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi)
      

        New Message Board Archives >> 2004 Cluster Headache Specific Posts >> Free at last?
        
(Message started by: rbmb on Apr 9^th, 2004, 4:12pm)

Title: Free at last?
Post by rbmb on Apr 9^th, 2004, 4:12pm

I've gone 3 nights in a row without waking up with a HA.......it's probably too early to declare victory but I may finally be at the end of this cycle. It has been a long one for me.....3 and 1/2 months.... and during this cycle I've used topomax, vermapril and prednisone as preventatives with mixed success and DHE as an abortive nearly every night for about 2 and1/2 months. I'm glad to be able to stop using the DHE as I'm concerned about using it long term although I haven't noticed any side effects except that it had been taking longer to stop the HAs.
If I can go a week or so with no HAs, I'm going to drink some wine and if no HA, I'll know for sure I'm out of this cycle (my canary in a cage in a coal mine).
I'm going to make a serious attempt to quit smoking.....I've got to try to do anything I can that might stop these things or at least reduce the length and severity of the HAs. From what I've read, there is a much higher incidence of smoking in CH sufferers than in the national average and I've got to think there is some connection. Even if quitting doesn't stop the HAs, it would be a good thing to do anyway.
Rich

Title: Re: Free at last?
Post by kamccran on Apr 9^th, 2004, 4:15pm

3.5 months? woah... I hope it is over for you!
Hope you enjoy your wine as well :)
Do you think the smoking is a big trigger? All the best with quitting, if you do go ahead and try to.

Kirsty.

Title: Re: Free at last?
Post by Rock_Lobster on Apr 9^th, 2004, 4:24pm

Right there with you. Fifth day without a CH after a 3-month episode. Hoping I am good to go for a few years.

Not pushing it though... not touching a drink for a few weeks at least. This episode was truly f'in relentless.

Good luck.
Wrokk Lobstah

Title: Re: Free at last?
Post by echo on Apr 9^th, 2004, 4:49pm

I truly hope the end has arrived for you. Gives those of us still in the grips hope.

Title: Re: Free at last?
Post by Superpain on Apr 9^th, 2004, 5:12pm

Me too... Sort of.
I haven't had one since early monday am, and I've only had about 5 in the last 10 days.

I've got 5 more days left on the pred taper so I guess I'll see what happens after that, but it feels like they're gone. I hope so... ::)

Title: Re: Free at last?
Post by Luke63 on Apr 9^th, 2004, 5:42pm

Good for you rbmb...and a well deserved glass of wine when you're sure. And Super....Im happy for you also man.....good job men!!! keep it up! Luke

Title: Re: Free at last?
Post by FZfan on Apr 9^th, 2004, 6:31pm

Lot's of cycles seem to be winding down/ending. I'm thrilled for everyone. Super, maybe it's the married life. ;;D

Title: Re: Free at last?
Post by Charlie on Apr 9^th, 2004, 10:55pm

Welcome aboard. Lots of ideas here.

Mine used to taper and within a couple days, I'd be free of the horror. 3 days is a damn good start and good luck. (I quit smoking 24 years ago. It can be done but my CH departed 13 years ago. Hard to make a connection)

Let us know how you're doing.

Charlie

Title: Re: Free at last?
Post by miapet on Apr 11^th, 2004, 10:57am

*YAY* for everyone who are on the downhill!!!!!!!!!!!! *happy dances*
FZ . . you're right . . .it does look that way *s* . . .I wonder what the moon is doing???
*happy dances* some more . .for EVERYONE
miapet

Title: Re: Free at last?
Post by joesf on Apr 11^th, 2004, 12:22pm

Hey Rich,
I gave mine the wine and beer test last week. NO HA'S!
I am still only sipping small amounts of wine just in case, but I think my cycle is over too!
This time mine left with a grand finalle Ch, real mean and then no fadeout. Just gone. That was over a week ago for me.
You are back on the "Pain Freeway!"

Title: Re: Free at last?
Post by HypnoticFreddy on Apr 12^th, 2004, 10:41am

Nice.. I am on day 11 of PF days. It has been over a month of CHs previous to a Topamax-induced cluster-buster period. Now this weekend I will pour me a strong Vodka-tonic and see if the beast is truly dead. That to me is the test.

-Freddy

Title: Re: Free at last?
Post by Tiannia on Apr 12^th, 2004, 11:31am

Grats Chris, Rich and Wrokk.

I hope you all get free of the grasp of the Beast. I will be thinking about youa dn like echo said it give us strength to know that they might stop for us as well.

Enjoy your PF itmes,
-Tia

Title: Re: Free at last?
Post by rbmb on Apr 12^th, 2004, 12:14pm

I'm not quite out of the woods yet......still getting some shadows, woke up with a mild HA last night but I feel this thing is losing it's grip on me.
Even when I do get out of this cycle, I'm going to keep hanging around here......people here have been very supportive and kind and I've learned a lot about CH just from reading posts here. People who say that the Internet is an impersonal place are wrong. Being able to "talk" with others who suffer from this weird condition is important to me. I've tried to describe what these headaches are like to friends and people at work...... I tell them "They are the worst HAs you can possibly imagine." and they either look at me blankly or say "I had an aunt(or somebody)who had migraines." I guess you have to experience these things first hand to really understand what they are like.
Rich