Clusterheadaches.com Message Board


    
      
        Clusterheadaches.com Message Board
        (http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi)
      

        New Message Board Archives >> 2005 Cluster Headache Specific Posts >> desensitizing histamine
        
(Message started by: hubbydo on Feb 18^th, 2005, 3:43pm)

Title: desensitizing histamine
Post by hubbydo on Feb 18^th, 2005, 3:43pm

My hubby has clusters and cluster/migraines. He has just started another cycle--last one about 5 years ago when he had histamine treatment at headache clinic. Anyone out there have this treatment? We knew we may have to do it again--but it is so scary!! Do we wait and see if all of the meds will work, or go get the treatment before we have to be admitted to have it through the emergency room?

Title: Re: desensitizing histamine
Post by Margi on Feb 18^th, 2005, 4:01pm

Hi - what exactly was the histamine treatment he received? Do you remember what kind of drugs they gave him? Was it DHE?

There's a lot of newer research out there now that means most clusterheads don't ever see the inside of the emergency room. Oxygen is being prescribed as an abortive for each individual attack and it has a pretty high success rate with little side effect. Imitrex is another popular abortive.

As well, there are a number of preventative drugs - verapamil, lithium, etc. Lots of information here in the buttons to the left. Feel free to print it out and take it to your doctor.

And, for what it's worth, there really is no such thing as cluster/migraines. They are either cluster or migraine.

Title: Re: desensitizing histamine
Post by hubbydo on Feb 18^th, 2005, 4:56pm

My hubby goes to the Diamond Headache Clinic in Chicago. He uses Imitrex(injection) for migraines, and when the migraine goes into a cluster cycle, we use vistiril (sp)(injection) and get ourselves to clinic PDQ. He then gets a series of shots: torodol, more vistiril, and some kind of high powered steroid. We go home with a dexamethasone packet, 500 mg of depekote, verapamil, and indocin. The histamine desensitization is a 22 bag intravenous drip that will desensitize the build up the histamines in the back of the eye. When My hubby had the treatment--he was a new man in a few days!! The treatment lasts 11 days. We were admitted into inpatient as my hubby was base lining in a migraine, and would go into the cluster, only to go back to the migraine--thus the migraine/cluster diagnosis.

Title: Re: desensitizing histamine
Post by nani on Feb 18^th, 2005, 7:24pm

One of our members unsolved has had it done. If he's around now, I'm sure he'll reply to this. Pain free wishes, nani

Title: Re: desensitizing histamine
Post by karma on Feb 18^th, 2005, 8:28pm

If I was independenty wealthy and could choose whatever treatment I wanted without regard to cost the Histamine treatment would be among the last.
Mind you i'm not talking from experience and I know that most would pay any price for relief but there is so much more available.
The first step is to educate yourself and your doctor
Try the 02, take a look at www. clusterbusters.com. The latest success story involves Kudzu.
At 12 - 50 k for the histamine you've got allot of room to manuever.

Title: Re: desensitizing histamine
Post by unsolved1 on Feb 24^th, 2005, 11:48pm

I've done this a few times now. It's 21 bags and it worked great the first 2 times. I got about 5 weeks Pain Free each time. Since then, it don't work too well. Just did a total of 45 bags in a months time... Still having random clusters. Today was first day PF !!

Fingers are crossed

Unsolved