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        New Message Board Archives >> 2005 Cluster Headache Specific Posts >> HAMMERED
        
(Message started by: kralicke on Mar 5^th, 2005, 6:29pm)

Title: HAMMERED
Post by kralicke on Mar 5^th, 2005, 6:29pm

I TOOK MEATONIN LAST NIGHT AND I DID SLEEP. TODAY HAS BEEN HELL. I AM ON 180 MG VERAPAMIL AND 40MG OF PREDNISONE. I US O2 TO ABORT. O2 LATELY SEEMS TO MAKE THE ACHE PEAK VERY QUICKLY. IT IS NOT GETTING THE JOB DONE LIKE IT WAS. I HAVE HAD THREE TODAY. 7AM, 12NOON AND SO FAR 4PM. LASTED FROM 30 TO 50 MINUTES WITH O2 ON. THESE WHERE FORCE TEN FROM NAVARON AND THEY MAKE THIS 200LB MACHO MAN CRY AND SCREAM. I TRIED TO PUT 50MG IMITREX UNDER MY TONGUE BUT I CANNOT SAY THAT IT HELPED. I AM GOING TO CALL ON NEURO ON MONDAY. I WILL ASK ABOUT INJECTABLE IMITREX AND TOPIRAMATE. I CANNOT LIVE LIKE THIS.

Title: Re: HAMMERED
Post by nani on Mar 5^th, 2005, 6:36pm

[smiley=hug.gif]
Hang in there, hun. This, too, shall pass.
edited to add: talk to your neuro about upping your verapamil.

Title: Re: HAMMERED
Post by kralicke on Mar 5^th, 2005, 6:49pm

on 03/05/05 at 18:36:34, nani wrote:

[smiley=hug.gif]
Hang in there, hun. This, too, shall pass.
edited to add: talk to your neuro about upping your verapamil.

THANKS NANI

Title: Re: HAMMERED
Post by don on Mar 5^th, 2005, 7:00pm

For one thing your verapamil dosage is not at a theraputic level.

Secondly the prednisone should be administered as a taper.

The injectable imitrex is the way to go until you can get an effective med protocol.

Mine is:

2 weeks of verapamil at 480 mg. per day
Prednisone taper after the 2 weeks of verapamil
Imitrex injections to abort.

And finally: UNLOCK YOUR CAPS KEY

Title: Re: HAMMERED
Post by jokrs2 on Mar 5^th, 2005, 7:01pm

Like Nani said, "hang in there". Wish you were not hurtin so bad. Vibes your way. Joe

Title: Re: HAMMERED
Post by Belle on Mar 6^th, 2005, 8:41pm

Hey there!

Sorry you feel like #%*^. I agree about the injections. I tried the tablets (took forever to work) and the spray (seemed to make it worse) and finally found relief with the injections. They make me a little queezy at first but I'd much rather that than waiting at the hospital forever in pain for a shot in the but. Do ask about it. It doesn't work for all but it does for most.

Wishing you pf days!

Belle
::)

Title: Re: HAMMERED
Post by Gator on Mar 8^th, 2005, 5:16pm

Do not use oxygen for more than 15 or 20 minutes. Most will agree if it hasn't worked in that time it's not going to. You run the risk of scarring your lungs if you use it for too long at a sitting for too often. How are you using it? Flow level, type of mask, etc? Some people get away with 7lpm, others need up to 15lpm and for some it just doesn't work at all. The most effective method seems to be 12 - 15lpm through a non-rebreathing mask for 10 - 20 minutes.

For me, oxygen seems to make the attacks spike with the first few deep breaths, then rapidly decreases the pain. Depending on the speed and intensity of the ramp, I'll stay on the O2 for 15 - 20 minutes. Most of the time it knocks the pain out, sometimes it knocks it down to bearable without having to use further abortives. Sometimes I can tell when the oxygen ain't gonna work and I just hit the injectible imitrex. Defintely check on the Imitrex Injections. 5 - 7 minutes for me versus 20 to 30 or more minutes for the pills when they work at all.

I'd ask about going up on the Verapamil before using the Topamax. Depending on your blood pressure, it can be used up to 960mg, but you should get an EKG for every change above 480mg.

Here is a link to read and print and take to your doctor. It describes preventative, transitional, abortive and surgical treatments for CH.

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

Oh, yeah. Loose the caps. In message board/chat parlance it is considered yelling.

Title: Re: HAMMERED
Post by HAMMERED on Mar 8^th, 2005, 9:09pm

Thanks,
I have increased my verap to 360. I have a non-rebreather mask. Yesterday I picked up vials of imitex. Thank you all, over over over. The injection of 2mg sub-q and O2 killed a killer in 5 to 8 minutes. I had a fairly normal work day. I did this twice today. The 2pm has made me scream for the last five days. I did have another one at 5pm which is not usual. Maybe a rebound?? Sorry about the caps. I probably was yelling at the time.

Thanks all,
Hammered

Title: Re: HAMMERED
Post by Kris_in_SJ on Mar 9^th, 2005, 7:59pm

Could be a rebound, though Trex has never caused them for me yet. It could be that this cycle is a little different than the last. I never used to get daytime hits at all, but last cycle I added 3 PM to my schedule.

Hopefully the increased Verap will kick in soon and that 5 pm will become just a small shadow.

Hugs,

Kris

Title: Re: HAMMERED
Post by Elsa on Apr 11^th, 2005, 8:38am

Definately up the verapamil. My husband has to go up to 960 mg during his peak. Not pleasant, knocks him out (not literally) but it works. And thats a miracle. ps. you may have to invest in some Metamucil! :)