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 >> HI from Staten Island NY
        
(Message started by: Rod_v._Devil on Nov 30^th, 2004, 4:41am)

Title: HI from Staten Island NY
Post by Rod_v._Devil on Nov 30^th, 2004, 4:41am

Tonight I read a lot of posts. I'm 37 and with 18 - 24 month PFs. cycle lasting 3 weeks to 4 months. Sansrt was the best 8 to 10 a day down to 3-5 a week. Taken off the market (no longer proiftable.) So I'm on the Zone 80 mg a day 40am and pm. This time around I hit 15k (Ive gone beyond my 10kips of the past.) Attacks of longer then 3 hrs back off a bit and seem to get stuck. At tihs point I used stadall (off THe Market as of last year) Now A 2X does of viciden seems to bring the pain to a level of satifactory dicomfort. But leves me stoned and as a teacher I can't go to work that way. Blood pressuer is a larger issue this time around and O2 helps the day attacks. Removed all salt from my dite + 3X H2O. Lots of ice showers to distract, 20% benzoncane on the gum and roof eases the root canal feeling during a dance. Menthal gel on the rubed ion the side of the head (The nerve from the eye to the base of the neck, seems to ditract for a time)

This is week 3 for this cycle. This is the worst cycle my wife and I can remember.
PS. Please be caful with imitrix it almost killd me.

Title: Re: HI from Staten Island NY
Post by nani on Nov 30^th, 2004, 9:35am

Welcome rod. Read my post on the other board. I hope you don't teach typing or spelling. ;)

Title: Re: HI from Staten Island NY
Post by Rod_v._Devil on Nov 30^th, 2004, 11:30am

I typed these posts durring a CH. I teach Instructional Technology not Spelling. And Spell check is not an option on this system.

Title: Re: HI from Staten Island NY
Post by nani on Nov 30^th, 2004, 11:41am

I'm teasing you, hun. I do that. I also give people a hard time about spelling and punctuation. I substitute teach and I can't help but notice. I think I've told someone here in the past that my hubby has hidden all the red pens and pencils in the house because he's tired of all the marks on the monitor. ;;D

Title: Re: HI from Staten Island NY
Post by dagger on Nov 30^th, 2004, 4:45pm

Hi. I am new to this site but not to cluster headaches. They started when I was 15 and I am 50 now. The attacks get further apart with each cycle. I went five and one-half years until the latest one hit. I am using imitrex for the first time and am curious about your warning. Could you elaborate? I am also a teacher. I can still do my job because my attacks are mostly at night, but I sure am tired a lot.

Title: Re: HI from Staten Island NY
Post by E-Double on Nov 30^th, 2004, 9:30pm

I too am a teacher (special ed. & a board certified behavior analyst)

Imitrex is key for me to abort as well as O2......

As for the night........I take melatonin which has pretty much helped in wiping out the visits of the nocturnal monster.

Drop me a line if ya need and would be glad to talk to ya in more depth......oh yeah also from NY the other island ;)

Good luck.... tons to learn and always be prepared with knowledge, support and good meds!

E.

Title: Re: HI from Staten Island NY
Post by Rod_v._Devil on Nov 30^th, 2004, 9:35pm

I took 3 in a 24 hr period many years ago. I had severe rebounds before I what rebounds were. The amount of constriction I felt in my chest My wife and I thoght it was over. We went to the hospital and my BP was 110 over 115 they switch out 3 machines then did it by hand and just looked at me and strached their head in disbelife. The constrction lasted days and weeks. I'm a big guy I will not go near the stuff. For some it works I tend to be senstive to most drugs.. Just do not go byeond the recomened dose.

Title: Re: HI from Staten Island NY
Post by nani on Nov 30^th, 2004, 10:25pm

I can't take any triptans either. I've got high blood pressure and a predisposition to heart issues. Oxygen works about 75% of the time for me.

Eric, you forgot your commas!
I, too, am a teacher. ;;D

Title: Re: HI from Staten Island NY
Post by thebbz on Dec 1^st, 2004, 12:00am

all you techers, hope yall cn red this... [smiley=laugh.gif]
No imitrex, hope you have a good neuro. You might consider checking out clusterbusters.com. Works for many without imitrex options as well. All the best
BB

Title: Re: HI from Staten Island NY
Post by Kris_in_SJ on Dec 1^st, 2004, 8:57pm

We have several people here on the board who have used much more than the daily recommended dose of injectible Imitrex.

I hasten to add, however, that this IS NOT RECOMMENDED!

I, myself, find it to be the only thing that stops the beast in his tracks. While the initial side effects can be scary, after the first few times, the same side effects mean relief is quickly on the way.

That being said, I will say, "Good Night."

(How did I do, Nani?)

Kris

Title: Re: HI from Staten Island NY
Post by nani on Dec 1^st, 2004, 9:17pm

A+ Kris. Great work! :)

Title: Re: HI from Staten Island NY
Post by alleyoop on Dec 2^nd, 2004, 7:30pm

on 12/01/04 at 00:00:51, thebbz wrote:

all you techers, hope yall cn red this... [smiley=laugh.gif]

[smiley=laugh.gif]At least they ain't a pedantic lot BB! [smiley=laugh.gif]

...................alley ;;D

Title: Re: HI from Staten Island NY
Post by RichardN on Dec 3^rd, 2004, 1:27am

The way I understand it, is that the brain is the only organ that can control it's 02 supply . . . so, when you take the 02 the brain says, "hey, too much oxygen", and constricts the dilated blood vessels that are putting pressure on the nerves.

Imetrex constricts the vessels throughout the circulatory system and if you have high cholesterol or blockage, you might "cure" your CHs permanent. My doctor gave me a stress test (which showed blockage) followed by a heart cath which showed blockage, but not enough for a stint, but enough to be concerned about the possible dangers . . . I can't take it.

These guys will correct me if I'm way out of line, but I think that's pretty much the way it works.

Hang in, hang out, be safe,

Richard

Title: Re: HI from Staten Island NY
Post by Gator on Dec 3^rd, 2004, 2:06am

Bob Johnson posts this once in a while for people that can't do triptans. Worth asking your doc about.

Gator

Quote:

You may be aware that I've been posting this for a couple of years. It has given me 100% relief, always within 20-minutes. Why not print this info and talk to your docs about a trial. On a per dose basis, it's much less expensive, to boot.
-----
1: Headache 2001 Sep;41(:813-6

olanzapine as an Abortive Agent for Cluster Headache.

Rozen TD.

Department of Neurology, Jefferson Headache Center/Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, Pa.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate olanzapine as a cluster headache abortive agent in an open-label trial. BACKGROUND: Cluster headache is the most painful headache syndrome known. There are very few recognized abortive therapies for cluster headache and fewer for patients who have contraindications to vasoconstrictive drugs. METHODS: olanzapine was given as an abortive agent to five patients with cluster headache in an open-label trial. The initial olanzapine dose was 5 mg, and the dose was increased to 10 mg if there was no pain relief. The dosage was decreased to 2.5 mg if the 5-mg dose was effective but caused adverse effects. To be included in the study, each patient had to treat at least two attacks with either an effective dose or the highest tolerated dose. RESULTS: Five patients completed the investigation (four men, one woman; four with chronic cluster, one with episodic cluster). olanzapine reduced cluster pain by at least 80% in four of five patients, and two patients became headache-free after taking the drug. olanzapine typically alleviated pain within 20 minutes after oral dosing and treatment response was consistent across multiple treated attacks. The only adverse event was sleepiness. CONCLUSIONS: olanzapine appears to be a good abortive agent for cluster headache. It alleviates pain quickly and has a consistent response across multiple treated attacks. It appears to work in both episodic and chronic cluster headache.

------------------------------------------------------------------------ --------

olanzapine has a brand name of "Zyprexa" and is a antipsychotic. Don't be put off by this primary usage. Several of the drugs used to treat CH are cross over applications, that is, drugs approved by the FDA for one purpose which are found to be effective with unrelated conditions--BJ.