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        New Message Board Archives >> 2004 Posts >> Severe Depression/Pain
        
(Message started by: babycakes on Jul 13^th, 2004, 12:03pm)

Title: Severe Depression/Pain
Post by babycakes on Jul 13^th, 2004, 12:03pm

I'm having no relief from the Lithium or Verapamil. My spouse is undergoing chemo, too. We both want to die...see no reason to continue. I'm in my 20th year of clusters...and only getting worse each time.
I need help. I'm scared.
Brian

Title: Re: Severe Depression/Pain
Post by Gator on Jul 13^th, 2004, 12:24pm

Welcome to our little corner of the web. I'm sorry you're going through such a rough patch. There are a lot of people here that can relate.

Are you Episodic or Chronic? How long do your episodes last? Are you taking both together? What dosages of each have you tried/are you taking? What other meds have you tried? I see you list preventatives, what abortives do you use? Have you tried O2?

There are other meds besides Lithium and Verapamil for the treatment of cluster headaches. Try downloading this - it's a paper on the treatment of CH from Dr. Todd Rozen, Director of Headache Research Cleveland Clinic Headache Center. It covers preventatives, transitionals and abortives as well as surgical techniques.

http://www.future-drugs.com/admin/articlefile/ERN020304.pdf

You might try printing it out and taking it to your GP and/or neuro. A lot of docs still don't have a clue on treating CH.

Gator

No one here is a doc that can diagnose or prescribe, but we can share what has and hasn't worked for us. Check with a doc before you try anything from this board.

Title: Re: Severe Depression/Pain
Post by thomas on Jul 13^th, 2004, 1:11pm

o2, zomig, something. :-/

Title: Re: Severe Depression/Pain
Post by floridian on Jul 13^th, 2004, 1:34pm

Good paper, Gator. I browsed it and noticed that he recommends (among many other things) melatonin as a first line preventive for episodics. It works for me. My sleep usually gets weird before my summer cycle, which is a sign to start taking melatonin a half hour before bed time.

Title: Re: Severe Depression/Pain
Post by Woobie on Jul 13^th, 2004, 1:55pm

Hey Babycakes..

I'm sorry about you and your wife! :-[

Stick around - maybe you can find something to help here.... even if it's just a friend or two.

Tina :-*

Title: Re: Severe Depression/Pain
Post by babycakes on Jul 13^th, 2004, 4:26pm

Thanks. I've gotten many responses since this morning. I don't feel so alone anymore.
(not wife...husband...I'm gay)
Helping my partner w/ his chemo...stress is unbearable some days.
Thanks for the good word.

Title: Re: Severe Depression/Pain
Post by Superpain on Jul 13^th, 2004, 6:25pm

Have you done prednisone lately? It helps a majority of us...
And if you don't have O2.... Better get some!

Title: Re: Severe Depression/Pain
Post by Cerberus on Jul 13^th, 2004, 6:50pm

dunno if Oxygen works for you, or of what other meds you have tried...but round these parts its awful damn hard to get permission to do yourself in....lotsa red tape, just aint worth the effort. ;)

Hang in there, its rough, but we're here for ya...

Ramon

Title: Re: Severe Depression/Pain
Post by Little Deb on Jul 13^th, 2004, 6:53pm

If we didn't have bad times, we might not recognize the good times.
Hang in there. Vibes on the way to NYC!

Big Hugs.....................Little Deb

Title: Re: Severe Depression/Pain
Post by alleyoop on Jul 13^th, 2004, 10:58pm

on 07/13/04 at 12:24:33, Gator wrote:

Are you Episodic or Chronic? How long do your episodes last? Are you taking both together? What dosages of each have you tried/are you taking? What other meds have you tried? I see you list preventatives, what abortives do you use? Have you tried O2?

Babycakes,

A little more information might help others to help you. Hang in there, IT WILL GET BETTER!!

..................................alley

Title: Re: Severe Depression/Pain
Post by cootie on Jul 13^th, 2004, 11:05pm

Hang in there...yer not alone while here !!