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        New Message Board Archives >> 2004 Cluster Headache Specific Posts >> Attention...Post Menopausal Women
        
(Message started by: carol_ann on Oct 7^th, 2004, 12:23am)

Title: Attention...Post Menopausal Women
Post by carol_ann on Oct 7^th, 2004, 12:23am

I am 55 yrs old and I got my first CH eight months ago. I was sleeping and bolted out of bed. I thought I was having a stroke.

I have yet to go more than two weeks without a headache.

I've had an MRI and have seen a neuro. I have CH. My worse headaches are in the middle of the night. I use 02 and it helps. I can't take verapamil or imitrex. I had one predisone treatment, but the side effects were too much.

Is there anybody out there like me?

Thanks,
Carolann

Title: Re: Attention...Post Menopausal Women
Post by thomas on Oct 7^th, 2004, 8:51am

Have you tried melatonin?

Title: Re: Attention...Post Menopausal Women
Post by BobG on Oct 7^th, 2004, 12:26pm

Ditto what Thomas said. Or, maybe Dramamine before bed. Try sleeping with you head elevated or in a sitting/reclining postion.

Can't take Imitrex? There are other tripans available, have you tried any?

Welcome to the board Carolann.

Title: Re: Attention...Post Menopausal Women
Post by yikes_another_one on Oct 7^th, 2004, 2:49pm

I never had headaches, until I started on birth control pills....

I was diagnosed with 'stress induced migraines'
but the pain seemed tied to the pills.

Then
they prescribed Zomig....
maybe one or two dose would cut short the pain,
and shorten the attack.

but I lost insurance,

and the attacks became more frequent...
more typical...

but I ran out of money to buy it

and didn't have more than a few months to use it....
so I'm not sure of the pattern there.

Try O2 - try melatonin....

every one here is rooting for ya
to have pain free days and nights.

TJ

Title: Re: Attention...Post Menopausal Women
Post by Kris_in_SJ on Oct 7^th, 2004, 5:45pm

Hi Carolann,

I had my first cycle at the tender young age of 42. Since I was pre-menopausal at the time, my hope was that they would go away completely once I completed "the change."

Well, I reached that milestone 2 years ago at age 48, and I still just came off one of the worst cycles ever.

For women, I do believe hormones play some role in CH, though I couldn't explain how. It's all tied up in the hypothalamus, somehow.

I have found Melatonin to help a great deal with knocking out those late night hits. I usually take 6 to 9 mg before bed. Many people swear by it. Hope you find some relief.

Hugs,

Kris

Title: Re: Attention...Post Menopausal Women
Post by carol_ann on Oct 8^th, 2004, 12:53am

Thanks for the feedback. I am taking 6 mcg. of melatonin a night. It puts me to sleep, but I still wake up in the middle of the night. Should I take more?

I am afraid of imitrex because the one and only time I took it, I felt like I was drowning. The doc. said not to take it again.

My main concern right now is am I chronic or will I have a break? I had migraines until menopause and then they stopped for at least four years and now it's clusterheadaches.

Will I still have CH when I'm 80? (If I live that long.)

Thanks,
Carolann

Title: Re: Attention...Post Menopausal Women
Post by carol_ann on Oct 8^th, 2004, 1:05am

It's me again. I take 2 300mcg. of melatonin. I made a mistake. What should I take?

Thanks,
Carolann

Title: Re: Attention...Post Menopausal Women
Post by Superpain on Oct 8^th, 2004, 2:33am

Yes, you can take more melatonin.

About the imitrex, alot of people, myself included have a hard time with trex the first few times. Actually it hardly even worked for me the first 3 times I took a shot. And the side effects were very unpleasant. However, if it kills the headache for you, you might keep trying at least on the bad ones. From my experience I can tell you the side effects (feeling like your being squeezed, strangled feeling) diminish after a few uses, and relative to suffering a full blown CH are very minor. Just a thought... :)

Title: Re: Attention...Post Menopausal Women
Post by thomas on Oct 8^th, 2004, 8:54am

Try to find some "time-release" melatonin and combine it with the regular melatonin, this should allow you a longer period of sleep.

Title: Re: Attention...Post Menopausal Women
Post by Kris_in_SJ on Oct 8^th, 2004, 10:13pm

Hi Carolann,

I've found my magic dose it be around 9mg, but I know some people who take more.

Also, like Superpain said - don't be too afraid of Imitrex injects. They're a lifesaver for many for many when the beast hits hard. Personally, I don't feel like I'm drowning when I inject. I feel more like my hair is on fire and my body is too heavy to run away from it. LOL

It helps to cut the dose a little (see the tip to the left). Otherwise, O2 is a big savior for many.

I'd sure like to say that we won't still be sufferering when we're 80, but at this point, nobody really knows ....

Many hugs and wishes for PFDAN!

Kris

Title: Re: Attention...Post Menopausal Women
Post by Ruth on Oct 9^th, 2004, 10:44am

Good Luck Girl,
I am 53, and have had CH sense 18, so who knows how long we will live with these. I use imtrex, but I use only a little like the tip says. I have also done two pred tapers on my second right now. I take a lttle melatonin, but am thinking about upping that as I get most of mine in the night or just after I go to bed.
What the HEll, I guess we just gotta hang in there.
Ruth