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        New Message Board Archives >> 2005 Cluster Headache Specific Posts >> I'm Back, and cured!
        
(Message started by: WherzRoony on Jan 25^th, 2005, 11:24am)

Title: I'm Back, and cured!
Post by WherzRoony on Jan 25^th, 2005, 11:24am

Maybe Cured is the wrong word to use but they went away about two years ago and haven't been back. ;;D

I haven't been here in quite a while but I figured I'd check back in and say hay.

I had to deal with them from the age of 19 until I was 31. In the last couple of years, the frequency of attacks was much less and the headaches occured more as flukes rather than full blown bouts of CH's.

WHAT I LEARNED IN THE PROCESS!

OXYGEN was the key for me. I bought an Oxy/Acetylene torch kit from lowes or one of those places. I rigged up a valve and hose to the oxygen regulator. When I would feel a headache coming on I would immediatly take several deep breaths of O2 and hold them. If I got to the O2 soon enough, it would stop the CH in it's tracks. If it was too late and the headache had fully kicked in, The occasional O2 hit durring the headache would make the pain bareable if not get rid of it.

I also found that with the Oxygen treatments, If I could keep myself from suffering a really bad headache with the O2, The bouts of cluster headaches would be much shorter, 3 to 4 weeks rather than 3 to 4 months.

After 2 or 3 years of hitting them with O2, they just went away (((((THANK GOD)))))

Best of luck to all of you, I know what your dealing with (But try the Oxygen) I talked a female friend of mine who gets really bad migranes into trying O2 and it worked for her too.

Good luck all ;)

Title: Re: I'm Back, and cured!
Post by floridian on Jan 25^th, 2005, 11:36am

Glad to hear you've been pain free. Cured is a pretty strong word - many people go a few years without CH, only to have it reappear again later. But 2 years PF is worth celebrating!! And oxygen is a good weapon against the beast.

Title: Re: I'm Back, and cured!
Post by Biker on Jan 25^th, 2005, 3:22pm

Yes. Oxygen is great. I also thought I was cured. My hopes are that you live a pain free life. Keep that bottle handy.
Hopes beyond hope that your truly cured. I will always have oxygen close at hand.
Good luck. Go out and socialize. Enjoy life. You should live pain free.

Title: Re: I'm Back, and cured!
Post by dagger on Jan 25^th, 2005, 4:51pm

Glad you are pf! A word of caution, however: My experience (30-something years worth) has been that I have increased periods of remission the older I get. Until I started the recent bout in October, I had been without the "beast" since May of '99. I sure hope you are done, tho. Good luck dagger

Title: Re: I'm Back, and cured!
Post by alleyoop on Jan 26^th, 2005, 3:08pm

Glad to hear you're PF! I've got two brothers diagnosed episodic. One has been PF for over nine years now. Although he won't go so far as to say he's cured, Bill says he enjoys each and every day now.

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

Title: Re: I'm Back, and cured!
Post by sandie99 on Jan 26^th, 2005, 4:24pm

I'm so glad that you're PF. :)
I do hope that things stay that way, too. As a chronic, I keep on hoping that there will be a day when I can say the same!

All the best & PFdays,
Sandie

Title: Re: I'm Back, and cured!
Post by EvertBoer on Jan 26^th, 2005, 5:01pm

Aaaah, optimism. I have thought I was cured at least 3 times now. First, when I hit my 40's and started having 2 year remission periods. Then when I hit 50 and had a 5 year remission period. I'm 55 now, and figure maybe I'll only have 4 or 5 more episodes (if I live to be 75 or so). Mine started at 19 also. But maybe yours really won't come back. I hope so, but if you are like me, even if it doesn't go away, the longer PF periods are almost like a cure.

Title: Re: I'm Back, and cured!
Post by bejeeber on Jan 27^th, 2005, 3:33am

Same sorta thing here where I've had 'em for 24 years or so. They were regular every year for a while, then 1 1/2 years between episodes, 2 years, etc., until I went 5(!) years between the last bouts. Just here checking on the latest treatments so I can be prepared for the next bout which if I'm incredibly lucky won't appear for another 2 years (been 3 years free now).

Yes I am unbelievably lucky even if I do have residual symptoms from a Prednisone O.D. 16 years ago (watch out for that stuff - I remember knowing that I was taking it too dangerously long but not even caring about possible permanent severe side effects due to the desperation - well you know what I mean).

I suppose I paid some dues going without treatment in those pre imitrex years, but my heart REALLY goes out to the chronics. It's just unspeakably messed up that anyone would have to go through that.