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        New Message Board Archives >> 2004-2005 Getting to Know Ya Posts >> The new kid
        
(Message started by: walkingonair on Dec 9^th, 2004, 8:48pm)

Title: The new kid
Post by walkingonair on Dec 9^th, 2004, 8:48pm

Finally a place where I can talk to the veterans of the headache saga. To start I am 18 years old and just started college. Over the course of the last 2 months I have had headache everyday, a constant. It is never not there. I have been to my family doctor and a neurologist. Was first started on Tylenol 3 to ease the pain which it didnt. Tried Imitrex (nasal spray) with no result. Urgent care gave me a strong anti-inflammatory shot which also produced no result. I was then moved to Vicodin 5/500 which has helped for the last month or so. I have built a tolerance to it even at a low dose of 2 tablets per day. I am now taking a 6 day dose of Methylprednisolone (steroid/anti-inflammitory). This has so far in 3 days also produced no result. On any given day pain lingers around 5-7 out of 10 but for the last 2 weeks it has spiked to around 8-9, daily. The neurologist feels I will be unable to function on a high does of narcotics. However, I am unable to function with the headaches so I guess it's a catch-22. I have read on this message board about the possibility of psylocibin as a treatment. Definitely skeptical of that one though. Hallucinogenic to treat headaches. I am also not really fond of an illegal way to cure the dillemma. Hopefully one of you veterans out there might have an OTC solution or remedy you might able to share.
Thank you.

Title: Re: The new kid
Post by nani on Dec 9^th, 2004, 8:52pm

Welcome new kid and sorry you're here. Have you been diagnosed with cluster headaches? What you describe doesn't sound like typical ch. Traditional pain meds will not touch a ch. Typically, oxygen and triptan drugs like imitrex and zomig will abort one. I suggest you go back to the doc and get a real diagnosis. Then you can get the right treatment. Pain free wishes to you...

Title: Re: The new kid
Post by thomas on Dec 9^th, 2004, 9:58pm

on 12/09/04 at 20:48:59, walkingonair wrote:

OTC solution or remedy you might able to share.
Thank you.

Try your luck with melatonin at night and magnesium during the day, those are two of the best OTC meds you can use.

Title: Re: The new kid
Post by walkingonair on Dec 9^th, 2004, 10:44pm

Thank you. The doctors are completely stumped. Neurologist has ruled out any possibility of migranes. I have had several blood labs done all yielding nothing out of the ordinary. To this point they have no diagnosis.

Thomas - thank you for your advice. I will be visiting my local vitamin shop tomorrow. Any reccomended doses on the melatonin and magnesium?

Title: Re: The new kid
Post by TxBasslady on Dec 9^th, 2004, 11:19pm

Welcome to the board.

Buy the Melatonin in 3mg. tablets. You may have to experiment to see what works for you, but I take 6mg. (2 tablets) before bed.

On the Magnesium, I take 250mg. each day.

I am not sure what dosage Thomas takes, but feel free to ask him.

Some folks here take 9mg. of the Melatonin. Like I said, you may have to experiment a bit.

I will also encourage you to take the Cluster Quiz, located in the links on the left. A correct diagnosis for CH is essential. Of course, we are not docs, but the quiz will give you an idea, anyway.

Let us know how you're doing.

PF vibes,

Jean