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        New Message Board Archives >> 2004-2005 Getting to Know Ya Posts >> Hello Everyone
        
(Message started by: ArCane on Aug 24^th, 2004, 1:36am)

Title: Hello Everyone
Post by ArCane on Aug 24^th, 2004, 1:36am

Hello everyone!! Im a young clusterhead from Missouri. Ive had clusterheadaches ever since I was 16 years old and Im 22 now. I found this site today because Im currently in a cycle and was looking for more ideas on how to kill them. The symptoms of my cluster headaches are somewhat unique. I have alot of common symptoms; most of the time happens during seasonal changes, attacks last 2 weeks-2 months having a headache 1-10 times a day, headaches occur during sleep or early morning (always on time), 6 months-1 year remmision periods, always on right side of head, nasal congestion, unable to lay still, etc. I have a couple unique symptoms however. One is I become very sensitive to light and sound. Its very disorienting and it makes the world spin, but the pain is so bad I can't sit still either. I have to pace back and forth in a dark, quiet room with my eyes closed. Another one is if the pain is sever enough I vomit. If you ever broke your arm and your stomach felt upset because of the pain, its sort of like that only worse. Once I do vomit, however, the headache usually goes away within 15 mins. I have made myself vomit on purpose to see if I could cure one that way. It didnt work and I ended up vomiting in the begining and at the end of the headache (Not fun).
Clusterheadaches have been in my family for generations. My father calls them the "family curse." The clusterheads of my family have had sinuses worked on, looked over by specialists, countless medications, just about anything and everything to get ride of "The Dragon" (My nickname for the beast) with no success. I myself have had countless preventitive medicines and medicines to take during an episode. I can pop imitrex like tic-tac (not recommended) and they do nothing. Its like trying to stop a freight train with a sling shot.
Well I could go on forever but you all have your own headaches to worry about. Im so glad there is a community like this. I have been alone with this pain for awhile (Dad quit having them since he was 50), and its good to know Im not. I wish everyone a PFDAN.

ArCane

Title: Re: Hello Everyone
Post by Superpain on Aug 24^th, 2004, 3:10am

Try an imitrex shot... That's normally like firing an RPG at a train. ;)
O2 is very helpful too.

Title: Re: Hello Everyone
Post by farmboy on Aug 24^th, 2004, 11:14am

on 08/24/04 at 03:10:51, Superpain wrote:

Try an imitrex shot... That's normally like firing an RPG at a train. ;)
O2 is very helpful too.

more like cruise missle on a train.

Title: Re: Hello Everyone
Post by IndianaJohn on Aug 24^th, 2004, 12:32pm

Hi ArCane,
so sorry that you have to be here but it sopunds like you're in the right place. I too have a sensitivity to light and sound. I almost always have to find a dark quite place to struggle with the beast. I get the nausea with the severe attacks as well, and get teh same relif after vomiting too.

Imitrex injections are a good choice to abort a HA. I prefer the Imitrex nasal spray. I get relief within 5 to 10 minutes. A good first line is O2 then Imitrex as a backup.

There are also preventative meds that help. Prednisone taper while taking verapamil works for me.

Hope this helps,

John