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Title: Just used the last Relpax... Post by BackwaterBiomed on Jan 2nd, 2005, 1:50am Hello all, I'm not entirely sure where to begin, or what I expect. I probably found myself here in much the same state as most of you: clueless desperation. I'm nearing the end of my education as a Biomedical Engineer at Michigan Technological University, a small pressure cooker of a school in the middle of nowhere. I haven't been able to find if CH are like migrianes in their relation to stress, but the cycle I'm in now started just after I finished finals two weeks ago. The first one hit on the way home, thank god I wasn't driving. Quick interlude to describe the particulars of my own private Beast: 2 a day 8am and 5pm lasting 2-3 hours. All symptoms present except the drooping eye, and on a bad one nasuea (I'm suspecting that this is a secondary symptom from the pain). I have suffered from severe migraines for ten years, and have learned a trick or two concerning biofeedback and pain management: my dance is simply to rock back and forth and rub my arm. I have no doctor at home anymore, and unless they know you they aren't going to juggle their schedule to see you sooner than a week (It's astoundingly easy to be labeled as "drug-seeking" ). I called a doctor I had seen several weeks before at school, and she had the compassion to call a prescription of Relpax in to the local pharmacy. I'm sure you all are familiar with the cost of vaseoconstrictors, my insurance would only release six. I ran out christmas eve. I must have looked horrible, because all I had to say was a single word and all family plans were off; I was going to the ER. I discovered that there are only so many ways in which you can tell a nurse that your head hurts. "It's a nine... ten is where I would gladly walk off a cliff." "You could drive a nail into my hand and I would welcome the distraction." In their defence, they see at least a dozen people a day with hang-nails claiming to be in the worst pain of their life. The doctor eventually saw me, and I almost literally twisted his arm until he prescribed Zomig. I was preparing for a sit-in when he finally relented. My insurance would only release six. Two a day, do the math, I ran out on the 28th. I two headaches without it and discovered that my body doubly objects to the presence of high doses of Vicodin. I knew it wouldn't kill the pain too much, I just wanted to pass out. I called my doctor up north as soon as her office opened. She was out of town, but had left instructions with the nurse to call in the Relpax again should I need it. I'm thinking about bringing her flowers when I see her again. My insurance would only release six. The pattern is breaking up, so I'm near the end of this cycle. I hope. But yet again, I am out of meds. The doctors office isn't open until the day after tomorrow, and I deeply suspect that my miser of an insurance company would drop my case should I visit the ER again. All that background for one simple question: are there any behaviors or habits that might lesson the frequency and severity of CH? If you tell me to balance an egg on my nose and sing spanish opera, I'll give it a try. One of my fundamental beliefs is that everything that happens to us is meant to teach us something. If you're strong enough, and smart enough, you can walk out of hell itself and be a better person for it. I'm just not sure how much more humility I can learn. I'm a person who can stay awake for days on end and function normally, but I'm now so exhausted that I don't trust myself to drive. I now know exaclty how relative the term "unbearable" can be, and sometimes wonder if I haven't passed that threshold in some way. When a particularly bad one hits, I see a strange schism, a split, form within me. It is not me that is feeling this pain, just my body. My mind is wailing in terror... hiding. If this cycle continues for another two weeks, I will honestly fear for my sanity. |
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Title: Re: Just used the last Relpax... Post by K. on Jan 2nd, 2005, 2:43am Welcome. Sorry you're going through this. I know you feel like you can't take it anymore and no one should have to. Don't let the beast win and you do that by not giving up. You WILL win in the end. There is a lot to learn here but the most important is the 02. It works well and you won't need to use the other meds as often. My last cycle lasted 15 1/2 weeks! Some people here are chronic so they never get a break. Welcome the the family, we're here to help. K. |
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Title: Re: Just used the last Relpax... Post by nani on Jan 2nd, 2005, 1:03pm Welcome BWB...sorry you're here. Next time you talk to you dr...ask about oxygen. It has worked as an abortive for many of us. Look at the link on the left called Oxygen Info. Another trick that episodics use is to continue to fill prescriptions while out of cycle so that you have plenty when the next one comes. You can go to (or call) your local fire station for oxygen...it has to be 100% and use a non rebreather mask. Good luck and pain free wishes to you. |
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Title: Re: Just used the last Relpax... Post by Jonny on Jan 2nd, 2005, 7:29pm Wahhh.....Dude, suck it up....Deal!!! |
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