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        New Message Board Archives >> 2004-2005 Getting to Know Ya Posts >> Can't get in gear
        
(Message started by: MzBlackIce on Dec 1^st, 2004, 1:53pm)

Title: Can't get in gear
Post by MzBlackIce on Dec 1^st, 2004, 1:53pm

Hi everyone, I'm new to the site. Had a major CH early this morning and sought out a diversion and ended up here. In my "newbieness" I posted on the wrong page and politely got my hand tapped. :)

Anywhoo, it's now 12 hours after my CH. I'm PF but I am just not myself. I can't seem to get in gear. I feel tired and listless. Has this happened to anyone else?

Title: Re: Can't get in gear
Post by nani on Dec 1^st, 2004, 4:16pm

Hello and welcome! ;)
CH can completely sap me of any strength I might have. Tell us more about yourself...
Have you been diagnosed? Are you using any meds?
We're here to help... :)

Title: Re: Can't get in gear
Post by Ronny on Dec 1^st, 2004, 5:55pm

Hi,

It can realy suck the life out of you.

Automatic or stick? ;)

Ronny.

Title: Re: Can't get in gear
Post by vig on Dec 2^nd, 2004, 10:17am

Happens all the time, this is a rough way to go through life.
you got your hand tapped?
what? no spanking?

Title: Re: Can't get in gear
Post by alleyoop on Dec 2^nd, 2004, 4:52pm

on 12/02/04 at 10:17:03, vig wrote:

what? no spanking?

That'll come later when we get to know you better!

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

Title: Re: Can't get in gear
Post by MzBlackIce on Dec 2^nd, 2004, 10:35pm

LOL...I like you guys already. I've had CH for 25 years. The first attack was when I was 13. I didn't realize that's what they were until about 5 yrs ago when I finally went to the doctor about them. Ironically, I don't seem to have a pattern to keep track of whether it's a time of year when they hit or if the weather is a factor.

Imitrex was my friend (oral version). I have had the injections, but I have HB and of course during an attack my pressure goes up and I found the injections made me feel ill in other ways. The beast has been lying dormant for about a year, but lo and behold the sucker is back again. Kicking butt and taking names.

Yesterday was PF, but tonight I sit once again tearing and snotting and guess who's outta Imitrex. [smiley=bigcry.gif]

Title: Re: Can't get in gear
Post by nani on Dec 3^rd, 2004, 12:17am

Have you tried oxygen to abort? I can't take any of the triptans, so oxygen to abort and lithium, verapamil and Neurontin as preventatives. Have you seen a neurologist? If not - you should. Find one that knows about CH. Sorry you're having a bad time.

Title: Re: Can't get in gear
Post by RichardN on Dec 3^rd, 2004, 12:46am

You owe it to yourself to try the oxygen -- when in cycle I go nowhere without it. Read the info to the left. Added benefit is that the cost is reasonable if insurance won't cover.

PFDAN's Richard

Title: Re: Can't get in gear
Post by Gator on Dec 3^rd, 2004, 3:01am

Welcome to the website, MzBlackIce. I hope you have a good doctor that will listen as well as talk. So many people find it hard to find a good ch doc. Lots of good knowledge on this board and in the people that use it. Read all the stuff in the links to the left and on the OUCH website.

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.future-drugs.com/admin/articlefile/ERN020304.pdf

Here is a link to some non-prescription alternatives different people have used to help with the pain:

http://www.clusterheadaches.org/resources/non_script_treat.htm

If you are currently taking medications, I would suggest you talk with your doctor before taking any of the nutritional supplements. At the very least check for interactions at a website such as:

http://www.drugdigest.org/DD/Home/AllAboutDrugs

Nutritional supplements can interact with prescription meds just the same as some prescription meds interact with each other. Better safe than sorry where your health is concerned.

Oxygen is an excellent abortive. Works for most people when used properly. Defintely try this. As well as it works, I have a hard time understanding why more doctors do not prescribe it. If your doc won't prescribe it for you, you might try welder's O2. It's the same pure oxygen used by medical suppliers. Many people here use it and would be more than happy to help you set it up. Here is a link that tells about using O2 and shows a setup using welder's O2.

http://www.maplefallswebdesign.com/misc/oxygen/oxygen.htm

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

Gator

Quote:

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.

Title: Re: Can't get in gear
Post by MzBlackIce on Dec 3^rd, 2004, 8:56am

I am so glad I found this site. You and this site are a great resource.

The beast has kept me home today. It's still here creeping in the shadows waiting to knock me on my ass again. In the mean time, I feel like I'm wading in a fog pool.

Title: Re: Can't get in gear
Post by thebbz on Dec 3^rd, 2004, 10:00pm

Dear MZ BlackIce,
Hope your doing better today. Hand tapped :'(.no worries. ;)
One headache = double shift of hard labor. You can pick which ever kind of labor. LOL Drains the energy for sure.
BB