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        New Message Board Archives >> 2005 General Board Posts >> Rough couple of weeks
        
(Message started by: AlanG on May 14^th, 2005, 4:46am)

Title: Rough couple of weeks
Post by AlanG on May 14^th, 2005, 4:46am

Hi Folks,
Havent been here in a while, four months maybe. I was doing fairly well with just 2-3 attacks a day. The last two weeks however have been hell on earth. I got put into the emergency room last sunday as I spent 12 hours over night screeming my head off as my oxygen failed to abort the pain. I went through 3/4 of a 3foot' D bottle in that time. Normally a D bottle will last me a month, this one lasted less than 24 hrs. So did the other two D bottles I went through. Ive been having up to 20 attacks a day anywhere from 30 mins apart to 90 mins apart, In the last two weeks I havent been able to get more than 90 mins of sleep. I put my head down or rest it on the couch so I am upright instead of horizontal, close my eyes try to sleep and wham...off it goes again. On at least 2 days my pain went continuous for 17 hours on oxygen with no relief and the third time this happened I got 12 hours into it, screeming my head off and crying ( not good to see a 50 year old man crying, thought I was tougher than that.) So I phoned my brother to take me to the emergency room. They after questioning and getting details like Insurance, Man its hard to think and concentrate when your in pain. They gave me a shot and prescribed benyldryl anti histamine to take at night, and a stronger form of aleve to take during the day. Man these folks got a lot to learn about this condition!!!!!
Right now its 3:45 Am and im already into my 4th attack since midnight, The oxygen seems to be working ok, after about 10-15 mins breathing it. But I feel like Im coming appart at the seams, pray for me. this has been going on for the last two weeks.

Title: Re: Rough couple of weeks
Post by sandie99 on May 14^th, 2005, 5:11am

Alan,
I'm so sorry the beast has been giving you so hard time... [smiley=hug.gif]

Lots of ((((((((((vibes))))))))) are on your way. You're in my thoughts.

Wishing you peaceful sleep & PF days,
Sandie

Title: Re: Rough couple of weeks
Post by Ruth on May 14^th, 2005, 9:18am

Alan,

Have you tired any other abortive medication with the O2?
If you haven't I would check into it. Sounds like you are in some serious trouble and you need to get some relief soon.
I do send my prayers that you will find something that is going to work for you and get you through this.

Ruth

Title: Re: Rough couple of weeks
Post by don on May 14^th, 2005, 9:25am

Quote:

On at least 2 days my pain went continuous for 17 hours on oxygen with no relief

That doesn't sound like cluster. What does your neuro say about all this?

Title: Re: Rough couple of weeks
Post by nani on May 14^th, 2005, 9:58am

Sorry you're having a hard time. Are you taking any preventatives? You may also want to try sitting up in a recliner to sleep. Pain free wishes, nani

Title: Re: Rough couple of weeks
Post by Kim Y. on May 14^th, 2005, 10:47am

Man I am so sorry the beast is being such a creep right now. Have you tried Melatonin to sleep at night. Sleep deprivation can bring on attacks as well. I have had a lot of success with it most of the time.

Good luck with the beast. PF wishes [smiley=hug.gif]and <<<<<<Vibes>>>>>>> coming your way.....Kim

Title: Re: Rough couple of weeks
Post by Karla on May 14^th, 2005, 3:07pm

since you are getting hit that hard that many times over 8x a day is highly unusuall for a clusterhead but not for someone who has CPH. If I remember correctlly about the only medicine that works for this is indomethacin. CPH and CH are almost identical in everything except for the frequency of attacks per day. Do some research in the archives on this or post a question asking abouit it and maybe you will get more info.

Title: Re: Rough couple of weeks
Post by AlanG on May 15^th, 2005, 8:01am

What is CPH ? I have no clue, Thanks everyone for your support and prayers. Last night I got more than 5 hours sleep and when I woke up I didnt go into pain...A real good sign.
I tried melatonin but only for one night about 2 days ago, im not sure if it did anygood, Im gona get my pain logs faxed to my neurosurgeon and see what he has to say about it.
Love you all !

Title: Re: Rough couple of weeks
Post by BarbaraD on May 15^th, 2005, 8:10am

Alan

You've got to take the melatonin for longer than one night. It takes a while to get in your system. Take about 12mg at night for a couple of weeks to see if it's working.

Watch the O2 - If it hasn't worked in 15-20 minutes get off it. It can dry up your lungs at a high flow rate.

Get to your neuro (if you can't get in immediately find out when he's on call at the ER - fast way to get to see him/her).

Sounds like you need to be on some preventatives.

Sorry you're having such a bad time of it. I still think it's got something to do with barometer. This time of year I seem to be worse than at others.

Hoping you PF days soon

Hugs BD

Title: Re: Rough couple of weeks
Post by AlanG on May 15^th, 2005, 9:10am

Hi folks,
I just looked up CHP, Its chronic paroxysmal hemicrania (CPH). The symtoms fit me especially the frequency and the bit about head or neck movement. I constantly rub the left side of my neck where the pain usually originates then moves to my eye, cheek bones, teeth and base of the skull and upper neck. You might have done me a wonderful BIG awesome blessing by letting me know about this, Im going to my doctor tommorrow morning to discuse all this and to try Indomethacin. Bless you all, Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Title: Re: Rough couple of weeks
Post by AlanG on May 15^th, 2005, 9:22am

Thanks barberaD,
some thing to do with the barometer ??? well I have noticed that when the weather is mucky things are usually worse or when there is a low pressure system over head I get more pain. where I live we have been in a low pressure cycle and the weather has been kind of mucky, this morning at 6:30 am I saw snow falling...yes folks snow.. guess you have to live with that in northern minnesota.
thanks for your input, another thing to concider and watch for.
thank you, thank you, thank you.