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        New Message Board Archives >> 2005 Cluster Headache Specific Posts >> Surgery?
        
(Message started by: Ouch on Feb 18^th, 2005, 4:00pm)

Title: Surgery?
Post by Ouch on Feb 18^th, 2005, 4:00pm

Howdy,

Its been along time since Ive been here, but was wondering what are some of the ups and downs of surgery and what does it consist of. I have a Dr. appt. coming up next week. I wanted to discuss another type of medicine. I am currently taking 720 mgs of Verapimil and it is doing nothing. I have been taking this amount without the Dr. consent. My wife called him yesterday and explained a few things. He told her that I was at risk with the Verapimil. And he would not increase the dose. Can anyone give me some advise as to what other drugs are out there. And some other tips they use during an attack.

Thanks,

The guy that always hurts!

Title: Re: Surgery?
Post by don on Feb 18^th, 2005, 4:11pm

Are you episodic or chronic ?

Title: Re: Surgery?
Post by E-Double on Feb 18^th, 2005, 4:16pm

I have read about chronic CHer's who have had different types of surgery to "treat" CH and the seem to be left with very temporary relief only to have it come back...Some have gone to the extreme having the tigeminal nerve svered which also leaves facial paralysis and the eventual return of the CH...

Bummer!!

I'm only a month or so away form reaching that label....don't think I would ever consider surgery despite how desperate I might get or be.

Read more and bring print outs to your doc.....

http://www.brightok.net/~mnjday/chtherapy.pdf

Doc may add Lithium to your coc tail....other stuff but you might have to do the research!

There has got to be something to bring you some relief.

Research and fight!!!

Best,

Eric

Title: Re: Surgery?
Post by Ouch on Feb 18^th, 2005, 4:20pm

Don..........Been chronic for about 8 years. Ive never really had a good relief period.

Thanks Eric.......but im at wits end here. What are some medication options?

Title: Re: Surgery?
Post by E-Double on Feb 18^th, 2005, 4:29pm

on 02/18/05 at 16:20:31, Ouch wrote:

Don..........Been chronic for about 8 years. Ive never really had a good relief period.

Thanks Eric.......but im at wits end here. What are some medication options?

Did you click on the link I sent you?
It is an enormous guide for many of us who have to educate our "specialists"

It appears that the Verapamil/ Lithium combo is the cocktail of sorts for chronics.

Having been chronic for 8 yrs and not really having any breaks you could look into.....http://www.clusterbusters.com/

check out this thread on the medication board
http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=meds;action=display;num=1085591042

appears to be a VIABLE treatment for many and one that I am getting close to considering.

You mentioned Preventatives....
What do use as an abortive medication?
do you use Oxygen?
Do you use triptans?

Anyway more than anything I wish you some sort of relief!!!!

READ!!!!

Here when you need!

Eric

Title: Re: Surgery?
Post by sandie99 on Feb 19^th, 2005, 3:34am

When you'll find something which works, let us know.
I'm a chronic - using verpamil also - and I'm on my way to see my neurologist in the beginning of March.
I have tried lots of stuff and the only thing which has helped with CH is Maxalt. But what it does is to stop individual CHs and keeps the rest away - on the day in question. I'll have more HAs the next day.

PFdays & nights,
Sandie

Title: Re: Surgery?
Post by toolong on Feb 19^th, 2005, 9:44am

02 is my drug of choice.Try it it seems to work for so many.Check out the "oxygen "info in the box on the left hand side of this page it will give you a lot of information.David

Title: Re: Surgery?
Post by jasckorohod on Feb 19^th, 2005, 11:26am

There is no effective surgery. I live in Europe and in England Occipital Nerve Stimulation Implant surgery is being tried, but results not good; at University of Milan, deep brain hypothalamic implant surgery being done, again results not good and one patient died.

If you haven't already done so, get hooked up with a good pain clinic. I've been chronic since 1996 and went to a pain clinic in 1997 in the US and have continued here-best move I've made. I'm treated with opiates and they work better than anything else-usually get some noticeable relief; tried all the other usual (and some unusual) medications, none of which have worked.

Title: Re: Surgery?
Post by nani on Feb 19^th, 2005, 11:47am

The advice given here is very good...have a look at this as well...

http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=meds;action=display;num=1107368408

Good luck and pain free wishes, nani

Title: Re: Surgery?
Post by Giovanni on Feb 21^st, 2005, 9:17am

Before trying any surgery, check out:

www.clusterbusters.com

Also, the new link on Kudzu under "medications" looks promising. I talked to a friend in Florida recently who said his doc had operated on 3 people. One was a success, one committed suicide, the other is worse and he his now provided medication free of charge from the doc. The doc said he would not operate on anyone else for this condition. I do not know the type of surgery that this doctor had done as several procudures are done.

John