Clusterheadaches.com Message Board


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

        New Message Board Archives >> 2004-2005 Getting to Know Ya Posts >> Newbie ECHr 
        
(Message started by: Scott Bruce on Mar 8^th, 2004, 8:07pm)

Title: Newbie ECHr
Post by Scott Bruce on Mar 8^th, 2004, 8:07pm

Hey,

I'm Scott 23 from Perth Scotland.
I'm diagnosed witth ECH still in first bout (Active since around May june 2003)
diagnosied by both GP + neuro
Take Imgr Jab's No O2 as yet
currently on a steriod to try to abort the cluster.

Scott

PS I'm a bit bored its 1:15 local and am expecting the beast to visit in the next hour or two

Title: Re: Newbie ECHr
Post by FZfan on Mar 8^th, 2004, 10:43pm

Hi Scott. So sorry to hear about your diagnosis, but glad you got a correct one. Good luck in your battles with the beast.

I'm new here also, but if you're bored and you haven't done so, then definitely read everything available under the menus to the left. I'm sure glad I did. Learned alot, but I'm still baffled also.

Currently in week 3 of this episode. Finding this site alone has helped make this episode more bearable than past ones.

If you haven't done so, give the o2 a try.

Title: Re: Newbie ECHr
Post by TxBasslady on Mar 8^th, 2004, 11:35pm

Welcome to the board, Scott

Hope the steroid breaks the cycle for you.

By all means, get your doc to give you RX for the 02.
For most folks here, the 02 really seems to do the trick.

Read the links on the left. The one on oxygen gives you the info you need to ask the doc for.

Let us know how you are doing.

PF vibes,

Jean

Title: Re: Newbie ECHr
Post by Kevin_M on Mar 8^th, 2004, 11:57pm

Scott,

The steriod may keep it under wraps while you are taking it, and the imitrex will do perhaps for anything that breaks through during that time. But steriod have a length of time which they can be taken and are usually tapered down in weeks.
Should the clusters not choose to leave when the steroid is discontinued, the abortive that you have may need to be kept handy and in large supply.
A preventive is usually introduced while on the steroid so that when the steriod is tapered down, the
preventive will help, should the occurance of headaches wish to continue. Taking abortives alone can extend a cycle because it may keep coming back without a preventive to chip in and help with the job to curtail the frequency of occurance.
Counting on a steriod alone to knock out or abate a cycle by itself is hopeful. I've learned to not be to optimistic about a cluster cycle going out in a short span of time without it attempting to gain strength again
when undetered by a steady preventive.
Just mentioning this because when I had not found an effective preventive for myself and was left to survive on abortives alone, the cycle chose to stay longer with many, many painful days and nights which finally made me go out and keep searching again for an abortive which works.
Not questioning your doctors, but if they are gambling soley on the steriod ending the cycle and the plan doesn't go as thought, you are the one who will be paying for their gamble.

Welcome, just tossing in two cents worth.

Kevin M

Title: Re: Newbie ECHr
Post by Scott Bruce on Mar 9^th, 2004, 7:18am

Cheers guy's

a stable preventitive is actually a problem for me!
My doc treats me for an Ozzy style tremor using Propranolol which works for the tremor nothing else. Should the steriods fail he will have to withdraw the treatment for the tremor and wait till the Prop is fully clear of my system before attempting me on a full time preventitive, then find a new treatment to stop a 23year old walking about like a jack hammer on heat!!!!

As with all CH'rs the way forward is never the simple one is it.

Cheers

Scott

Title: Re: Newbie ECHr
Post by pubgirl on Mar 9^th, 2004, 8:04am

Hi Robert the......

Where's William Wallace?

Oh yes, silly me, he's on the Meds board killing Brits! ;;D

Wendy the Brit ;)

Title: Re: Newbie ECHr
Post by Prense on Mar 9^th, 2004, 9:32am

Welcome aboard Scott!

There are some meds that can be taken at the same time as propranolol. However, some of these meds could make your tremors worse, but I think there are some still out there that should fit you. That's not to say they would work though. I'm not sure what all you have tried.

...damn, since may/june 03? That sucks!

Hang in there.

Chris

Title: Re: Newbie ECHr
Post by Robert the....... on Mar 9^th, 2004, 9:54am

AS per other preventitives,

I've been through Pizotifen (short course) For seditive purposes (It doesn't work in cycle)
and Indometacin which I don't know the US version but it just burnt my stomach lining and did nothing else.

there are others on my Neuros drug menu that my GP still has to try but as with our wonderfull NHS there is nothing done in a rush. It took 5-6weeks to get the treatment letter from the Neuro to my GP from a hospital only 1/2 a mile away from the surgery.

My GP's next step is Verap. with a new tremor treatment. We shall see.

Scott

Title: Re: Newbie ECHr
Post by Prense on Mar 9^th, 2004, 10:18am

on 03/09/04 at 09:54:24, Robert the....... wrote:

Indometacin which I don't know the US version but it just burnt my stomach lining and did nothing else.

I believe this is normally used to diagnose CPH, although some CHers have claimed relief with it. That side effect seems quite common though.

I don't know if you can get melatonin OTC where you are or not, but it sure seems to help quite a few folks (not me).

Other prevents I was thinking of was topamax and depakote, but I believe they would possibly add to your tremor issue.

Speaking out of ignorance because I do not have tremors... I would think one would live with the tremors in any attempt to treat CH. Of course, I know nothing of your situation as far as severity of either goes, and I am definitely not suggesting adding to the tremors.

I have been chronic for over 10 years. I have said it before... If slaming my fingers in a car door every day would prevent the CH attacks, I'd do it in an instant!

Hell, I'd chop the little bastards off if I thought it would help! ;;D

Hope you find something that works Scott!

Chris

Title: Re: Newbie ECHr
Post by Robert the....... on Mar 9^th, 2004, 10:36am

cheers Chris,

If i had to I'd live with the tremor to be pain free.
I to would hack bits off if i would be able to live without the beast for the rest of my days.
Unfortunatly my Tremors were easier to treat than the CH. and Lets put it this way in the space of 3 years i seriously had to consider having to quit many aspects of my life because the tremor was making my life hell. SEE ozzy osborne see me down my left hand side the DOC though i had early parkisons syndrome at 23.

Scott

Title: Re: Newbie ECHr
Post by Prense on Mar 9^th, 2004, 2:25pm

Like I said... I was speaking out of ignorance. Truly a crappy combo you go there!

Chris

Title: Re: Newbie ECHr
Post by Robert the....... on Mar 9^th, 2004, 2:31pm

Na your fine Chris.

If life was a breeze it would be boring I like a challenge me. just wasn't expecting him upstairs to throw me all that at once.
With medical science as it is i can still deal in about 95% of my life without fuss or giving away that really i am Ozzys other son!! :D ;;D

Title: Re: Newbie ECHr
Post by thomas on Mar 9^th, 2004, 5:03pm

Hey welcome aboard. I'm actually related to that opportunistic S.O.B. Robert the Bruce. lol. And somehow it just doesn't feel right calling a Scotsman, Scott. Ya know what I mean.

Title: Re: Newbie ECHr
Post by Robert the....... on Mar 9^th, 2004, 5:41pm

Its only a issue to Non Scots calling a Scots scot Scott!! ;;D

I'm a 5th cousin type thing or something to the Bruce.
All i got is a fiery Scots temper and a willingness to stand my ground!

Title: Re: Newbie ECHr
Post by thomas on Mar 9^th, 2004, 5:43pm

All I got is a preference for Glennfidich, Glenlivet, Johnny Walker, well you know how it is. ;;D

Title: Re: Newbie ECHr
Post by pubgirl on Mar 9^th, 2004, 5:48pm

hey, you two are related!

How cool is that?

More evidence for the CH gene!

W

Title: Re: Newbie ECHr
Post by Robert the....... on Mar 9^th, 2004, 5:48pm

Glad to here it!!! why else was the amber nector born ;;D

Title: Re: Newbie ECHr
Post by thomas on Mar 9^th, 2004, 5:54pm

on 03/09/04 at 17:48:10, pubgirl wrote:

hey, you two are related!

How cool is that?

More evidence for the CH gene!

W

Shit, Wendy, given my ancestor's propensity for fornication, I'm probably related to all of you. lol

Title: Re: Newbie ECHr
Post by Robert the....... on Mar 9^th, 2004, 6:25pm

The Scot's Gene is everywhere Its what it gets mixed with that would cause the CH, i have a wee touch of english in me and am constantly at war with myself ;;D

Scott

Title: Re: Newbie ECHr
Post by thomas on Mar 9^th, 2004, 6:30pm

on 03/09/04 at 18:25:42, Robert the....... wrote:

The Scot's Gene is everywhere Its what it gets mixed with that would cause the CH, i have a wee touch of english in me and am constantly at war with myself ;;D

Scott

Myself, Scot, Irish, English, German, and just a touch of Dutch. I hate myself, but I sure can handle my booze.

Title: Re: Newbie ECHr
Post by Robert the....... on Mar 9^th, 2004, 6:32pm

Thats the Scot's in you Don't let Wendy tell you otherwise.

very Friendly your family weren't they? :D ;) ;;D
Scott

Title: Re: Newbie ECHr
Post by thomas on Mar 9^th, 2004, 6:33pm

on 03/09/04 at 18:32:44, Robert the....... wrote:

very Friendly your family weren't they? :D ;) ;;D
Scott

Yeah I think we had more than one traveling salesman in the lot, perhaps a few tax collectors too. lmao. I know there were some horse thieves in the mix (bloddy Stewarts). [smiley=laugh.gif]