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        New Message Board Archives >> 2004-2005 Getting to Know Ya Posts >> Hope everyone has a painfree newyear!!
        
(Message started by: painkiller on Jan 14^th, 2005, 9:07pm)

Title: Hope everyone has a painfree newyear!!
Post by painkiller on Jan 14^th, 2005, 9:07pm

I've been in "remission" for 2 years and now the new year hit and you guessed it...woke up after an hour of sleep with a full blown attack and have no meds in the house and i have to wait until the 26th to see the neurologist... anybody know of anything that might help me get through until my Dr. appointment? By the way I've had CH for the past 17 years and still haven't found anything that really works for a long period of time except for luck. ;)

Title: Re: Hope everyone has a painfree newyear!!
Post by nani on Jan 14^th, 2005, 9:27pm

Hi painkiller...welcome and sorry you're suffering again.
Look around the medication board for info on melatonin, an OTC supplement that helps many with nighttime hits. There are also threads with other nonmed ideas like caffeine, ice, heat, etc. Look around the boards here and at the OUCH site for ideas to discuss with your neuro...Pain free wishes....nani

Title: Re: Hope everyone has a painfree newyear!!
Post by painkiller on Jan 14^th, 2005, 9:40pm

will do that nani, thanks, it's nice to know there are people who care and thats why i'm here because if you don't suffer from ch or seen anyone suffer from it then you really have no idea what it's like... anyway my doc prescribes oxycontin 10mg to take an hour before bedtime since sleep is the trigger of my headaches. but i'd like to find an alternative even though the oxycontin works wonders and gets me a full night sleep because i feel like a drug addict the way other people including the pharmacist stare at me when i get my script filled..well i'm rambling but thank you again for the advice and being "here"

Title: Re: Hope everyone has a painfree newyear!!
Post by nani on Jan 14^th, 2005, 9:45pm

The Oxycontin works? I'm surprised. Traditional pain meds will not usually work for CH and often cause rebounds. It makes sense to stop taking it and try the melatonin. Have you been diagnosed with CH? If so, what other meds have been prescribed for you? ...nani

Title: Re: Hope everyone has a painfree newyear!!
Post by E-Double on Jan 14^th, 2005, 10:00pm

Not all treatments work for everyone and being that you have no meds @ this point nor have you been officially diagnosed, there are a few things that might be able to give you some relief non-medicinally.

If you do have the "typical" wake you up in the middle of the night horrors then.... Melatonin might be a savior.
Many of us (myself included) have found that taking 6-9mg (some take more) about a 1/2 hour to 45minutes prior to bed have Knocked out the night visits and can finally get sleep.
Some tricks that I used to use and sometimes still do are:
*Wrapping a bandana tightly around my skull (be careful)
*Filling a sink with scaulding water creating a steam bath and placing my head over it with a towel covering
it.
*Going from Steam to Frigid shower.
*Standing infront of A/C
*Icepacks or frozen veggies on the back of the neck or eye
*Tons of STRONG coffee.

YOU CAN TRY TO GET YOUR GP TO PRESCRIBE O2

Best to ya,

Eric

Title: Re: Hope everyone has a painfree newyear!!
Post by painkiller on Jan 14^th, 2005, 10:27pm

thanks for the info e-double... and i'm sorry i haven't mentioned it but i have been officially diagnosed with ch about 12 years ago after seeing..(get this) a dentist, a sinus specialist(which i had my sinuses "reamed" out to no avail), back to my family doc for treatment of allergies with no success until she finally sent me to the neurologist who diagnosed me in 5 min. but sent me for the usual cat scan and mri just to be on the safe side. prednisone therapy breaks my cycle but it takes about a week and a half before the headaches stop which seems like an eternity.. goig to go and get melatonin tomorrow and see how tha works....thanks again

Title: Re: Hope everyone has a painfree newyear!!
Post by RichardN on Jan 14^th, 2005, 11:19pm

Hi Freddy

Read the 02 info to the left and copy pertinent 02 info to take to your doctor. Aborts most if caught early enough for many of us (70% + I believe is correct) . . . .definitely does for me. Also, you'll know right a way if it works . . . you don't have to "taper on" a medication over whatever period . . . .that's for preventative.
02 is my abortive, Verapamil my preventative, 6 mg Melatonin before bed, water/water/water
LOTS of info here and folks who know your pain.

Be safe,

Richard

Title: Re: Hope everyone has a painfree newyear!!
Post by CC2004 on Jan 15^th, 2005, 12:11am

hi painkiller - welcome,youve come to the right place

Since you're on no meds, you might have success with WATER WATER WATER - I urge you to try it, I was well into my cycle by 7 weeks, had another 3 months to go, but WWW kicked my cycle in the butt, the very first night I slept through and then only got rare hits, a little over 2 weeks of it and my cycle was prematurely ended...
Since you get hit at night, drink a good size glass every half hour in the evening until bed, then hourly during the day, and you need to write it down so you dont forget. Its hard to drink that much to begin with you soon adjust and its definitely worth trying - it seems to be most effective when not on preventative meds, although I dont think melatonin would interfere
Please try it, we need more to try this to research more where its effective

sorry if I sound like a nag, I guess folks round here will be getting used to me by now

wishing you well :)
CC