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        New Message Board Archives >> 2004 Cluster Headache Specific Posts >> One Week Without, but
        
(Message started by: Dover on Apr 12^th, 2004, 10:14am)

Title: One Week Without, but
Post by Dover on Apr 12^th, 2004, 10:14am

I have been a week without a CH (since starting the pred). There is still times when I feel some of the sensations that usually accompany them but without the pain. I am now tappering so I am getting concerned that they are just going to come back at the end of the tapper. Does anyone have any experience with this? I can't tell if I am being like the dog that was beaten too often and just cringes at the sight of a hand, or if I am looking at this clearly and the pred is just a bandaid that once taken off, the wounds are still there.

Title: Re: One Week Without, but
Post by echo on Apr 12^th, 2004, 10:21am

Hope the back down from pred still keeps the SOB at bay for you.

Title: Re: One Week Without, but
Post by HypnoticFreddy on Apr 12^th, 2004, 10:38am

Good for you that the pain is subsiding. I am also just over a week ending a cycle. Topamax has been my saving grace.

When I took Prednisone 5 years ago, I thought it was a horrible drug and it did nuttin for the CHs. But all the powers to ya.

-Freddy

Title: Re: One Week Without, but
Post by Dover on Apr 12^th, 2004, 11:22am

Reading the board has made me a little less optimistic about pred than I was when I spoke to my doc.

I can't help but think we are all being treated for symptoms and not for the underlying cause(s).

Thanks for the encouraging words.

Title: Re: One Week Without, but
Post by rbmb on Apr 12^th, 2004, 12:26pm

I did a pred. taper and I've been pretty much HA free since then but I have the feeling the cycle was winding down anyway and the pred. just got me through it. These CHs seem to have their own time table and the meds just help to make them a little more bearable. I've had CH cycles for several years now and I can't think of a time when taking any med seemed to end the cycle....the cycles just seem to end on their own good time no matter what I do or don't do.
Rich

Title: Re: One Week Without, but
Post by Superpain on Apr 12^th, 2004, 12:43pm

I'm in the same boat...
I've got 2 days left of 20mg of pred.
I haven't had a ha in a week.
I'll keep my fingers crossed for both of us!

Title: Re: One Week Without, but
Post by PatFan on Apr 12^th, 2004, 1:03pm

I went through the very same thing as both of you.... the headaches did return after the pred taper, but the next cycle I started Pred and Verapamil (480/day) and after the two weeks of Pred, the Verapamil was doing its job and thus, no headaches. It's been a lifesaver for me. Ken

Title: Re: One Week Without, but
Post by notseinfeld on Apr 12^th, 2004, 1:22pm

Not sure what your neuro explained but Prednisone is not expected to *end* your cycle or stop h/a permanently. It is just given usually as an intermediary while waiting for other drugs to kick in.

Being a corticosteroid it apparently normalizes the process of the hypothalamus which, IMO, treats the problem and not just the symptoms. However, the break from the h/a is short and sweet. It's just comforting to know that if things get really bad there is some relief available.

Dover--we're the lucky ones! Some people can't even use the prednisone or find it completely ineffectual.

nots

Title: Re: One Week Without, but
Post by Charlie on Apr 12^th, 2004, 1:39pm

Mine tapered by becoming less frequent for a couple days and just slid away for about 5 months. Then Wham! When they finally disappeared for good, it was a long taper in that my next cycle was short and my last one was very short. I'm 57 and It's been 13 years. I hope you have the same experience.

Stick around and let us know how you're doing.

Charlie

Title: Re: One Week Without, but
Post by Dover on Apr 12^th, 2004, 3:55pm

Thanks for the information.

Notseinfeld, I am glad you told me that. I understood it as a means of getting the cort up in the short run so that the body could maintain that level and hopefully start producing enough to keep things relatively normal.

I'm also taking temazepam every night, so I hope that gets the sleep structure back in order. I tend to think the CH's are due to hormonal imbalance and sleep problems working together for the beast.

I will let you know where it goes from here, but thanks again.

Title: Re: One Week Without, but
Post by Rock_Lobster on Apr 12^th, 2004, 4:12pm

Kinda in the same boat as you Dover. No CH in a week+, but the CH side of my skull/face is uber-sensitive. Not on a pred taper though.

Still on the verap/topa... planning the slow taper off those.

I did 3 pred tapers during this episode... great while on the pred, but I was tossed around like road kill when back off it.

Luck,
Rock