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        New Message Board Archives >> 2004-2005 Getting to Know Ya Posts >> HELLO
        
(Message started by: dummy on Apr 6^th, 2005, 2:29pm)

Title: HELLO
Post by dummy on Apr 6^th, 2005, 2:29pm

This is my first time to register on your site, but have suffered with clusters for 30 years. Had been sailing along smoothly for years, but got tangled up with the monster again back in December when they yanked my Vioxx and can't seem to get myself untangled.

Finally have pulled my last two aces out of my back pocket - acupuncture and the Diamond Headache Clinic in Chicago. I've been headache-free since my initial visit at Diamond and am trying not to get overly optimistic so as not to have my hopes dashed AGAIN. Are there any clusterheads out there who have been to Diamond? Would love to hear about your experiences.

Title: Re: HELLO
Post by nani on Apr 6^th, 2005, 6:10pm

One member, unsolved, has been to Diamond more than once. He got the histhimine drip.
Welcome, by the way. :)

Title: Re: HELLO
Post by Kris_in_SJ on Apr 6^th, 2005, 8:04pm

Welcome (I refuse to call you Dummy),

Sorry you have to be here. I am confused on the Vioxx thing. I hadn't heard of it being of much use to clusterheads. I've been on Celebrex for several years for arthritis, but it hasn't done diddly for my CH.

Would like to hear more on how Vioxx helped you.

Meantime, you might email or PM Unsolved about his experiences at the Diamond Clinic. You'll find him in the member list.

Keep us informed. Many Hugs,

Kris

Title: Re: HELLO
Post by dummy on Apr 7^th, 2005, 9:54am

Regarding Vioxx, all I know is that I was headache free the entire time I took my one little pill a day (12.5 mg for over a year). I tried discontinuing it ever so often, but headaches would start to come back after 4-5 days. Also very coincidental that I went into cluster immediately after Vioxx was pulled off the market and have been in big trouble ever since (4 months of agony). I'd forgotten just how terrible the pain can be. My neurologist at Diamond said Vioxx's initial purpose for going on the market was for treatment of headaches, but that arthritis and back pain became its most popular use. When I asked why Vioxx worked so well for me while the other COX-2s did not (Bextra and Mobic), he said that Vioxx was stronger than the others. Vioxx is now available again, but Diamond wants to pursue my current treatment first. I suffered a CH while at the clinic and was given an injection of Toradol (60 mg), similar to Vioxx in chemical make-up, which broke the headache within 5 minutes. I was also given a 1 cc injection of Marcain to the greater occipital nerve in the back of my head. I'm taking 50 mg Indocin 3xday, 80mg Verapamil 3xday, Bellergal 2xday and 9mg Melatonin at bedtime. Have not had a headache since I left the clinic on Monday. I have a follow up in two weeks, and was told if I'm not much improved by then, they will hospitalize me for 10 days for treatment.

I'm also undergoing acupuncture treatments and have had five treatments to date. I'm pulling out all the stops this time around. That's about the story on my current situation. I'll try to get in touch with Unsolved to see about his experience at Diamond.

And actually, Dummy is a term of endearment in my family so I'm not offended in the least by anyone calling me that! Thanks for the message.

Dummy

Title: Re: HELLO
Post by Kris_in_SJ on Apr 7^th, 2005, 9:07pm

Thanks for the info, D (I still can't call you Dummy),

What kind of treatment is the Diamond Clinic planning to admit you for?

I'm an 3-5 yr episodic well controlled with Verapamil, Melatonin and Trex during cycles that last about 10 weeks. But I still want to learn as much as possible about what helps others. Just in case I need to know in the future ....

Kris