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        New Message Board Archives >> 2004 Cluster Headache Specific Posts >> CH Q&A in Sunday paper
        
(Message started by: JDH on Jun 7^th, 2004, 2:07pm)

Title: CH Q&A in Sunday paper
Post by JDH on Jun 7^th, 2004, 2:07pm

I saw this in our Sunday St Louis Post Dispatch under one of those "Ask the Dr" articles.
I guess it's a good thing that they're talking about CH's but I'm not so sure I like the Dr's answers. He doesn't mention Verapamil as a preventative or a non-rebreather mask for o2 [smiley=huh.gif]
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Cluster headaches may call for preventive treatment
By Dr. Paul Donohue
06/06/2004

Dear Dr. Donohue: I suffer from cluster headaches. I have been to doctors, and they offer no help. I tried oxygen with no luck. Everyone talks about migraine headaches but never cluster headaches.

Cluster headaches occur on one side of the head and usually behind an eye. They produce fierce pain and often come on during sleep. Many times the nostril on the side of the headache drips, and the eye on that side waters.

These headaches can wake their victims, who jump out of bed to frantically pace the floor in an attempt to get rid of the pain. This is the exact opposite of migraine sufferers, who seek a quiet, dark place to relieve their headaches. The pain lasts 30 to 60 minutes.

Cluster headaches recur from twice to six or more times in 24 hours. That's the "cluster" in their name. They can occur daily for weeks or months and then suddenly fade away for months or years before resuming.

There are many ways to treat cluster headaches. Oxygen is one of them. It should be delivered through an airtight mask, and you have to breathe it for 10 to 15 minutes. Imitrex, a migraine medicine, is also used for cluster headaches, and it comes as a nasal spray or as a self-administered injection. Those routes make for a quick response.

Have you tried preventive treatment? Here are some medicines to take when you don't have a headache to keep one from happening: Calan, a heart and blood pressure medicine; Neurontin; lithium; and Amerge.

Title: Re: CH Q&A in Sunday paper
Post by Bob P on Jun 7^th, 2004, 2:14pm

Calan is verapamil.

Title: Re: CH Q&A in Sunday paper
Post by Bob P on Jun 7^th, 2004, 2:18pm

on 06/07/04 at 14:14:14, Bob P wrote:

Calan is verapamil.

I had a Chinese neurologist a few years back. It was hillarious to listen to him try to pronounce verapamil. He'd fumble with the name 2 or 3 times and then say, "Aw, Calan".

Title: Re: CH Q&A in Sunday paper
Post by JDH on Jun 7^th, 2004, 2:34pm

on 06/07/04 at 14:14:14, Bob P wrote:

Calan is verapamil.

Thanks Bob, I didn't know that...duh me.

Jim