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        New Message Board Archives >> 2004-2005 Getting to Know Ya Posts >> A bit about myself
        
(Message started by: zebb37 on May 13^th, 2005, 6:26am)

Title: A bit about myself
Post by zebb37 on May 13^th, 2005, 6:26am

Some of you will have read my pleas with regard to my plight in Sri Lanka and although I first joined this site about a year ago these few have been my first real posts - have just lurked really and forgotten about u all whilst I was out of cycle.

Anyways, I thought that I might write a few words about my experiences living with this little demon.

Although I didn't know it at the time, I got my first CH in november 1994 about 3 days after my 30th birthday. I was on holiday in India at the time, quietly lazing on the beach with my wife, and vividly remember this incredible pain suddenly appearing on the left hand side of my head. It was excuciating and within minutes I was my knees in tears. I had no idea what had happened to me and wasn't to know for another year and a half.

I spent the next 3 weeks or so popping paracetomol like there was no tomorrow and to pretty much no avail.

Then it went - just like that. All gone. No rhyme, no reason. Just, gone.

My next episode was not until the spring of 1996 and this time the pain came right-sided. It has been ever since. I was in agony and missing loads of work. Again, I didn't know what was going on and yet I wouldn't go to the doctor - telling myself that he'd only laugh at me, After all it was only a headache.

About 3 weeks into the episode I was on the phone to my father who told me that he'd suffered from something very similar from the age of 15 to 30 and that they were called cluster headaches.

Armed with this new information I traipsed to my family doctor who prescribed loads of ergot related remedies which had no effect at all - he even tried morphine - lasted precisely 2 minutes. Then the pain went and I forgot about it.

The following year I ended up in hospital - had a spinal tap - that was fun and waited 3 days (med free) for a neurologist to come and see me. One shot of imigran and I was pain free.

This being the uk - it was 3 months before I could see the neurologist for a proper diagnosis - of course I was pain free by then but at least we knew where we were.

The intervening years have now settled into a familiar pattern with my clusters almost exculisvely being right-sided and coming in the spring time with my episode last 8 - 12 weeks.

Pain management is trial and error. Sometimes things work and then stop. I tend to see this demon as being a particularly devious bugger which will do anything in it's power to climb over obsticles and hurt me.

Come to thik of it I do, often think that it really does have a personality and really does want to hurt me. Are we CH sufferers possessed?

I thank God for sites like this and am glad that I'm not alone and sometimes I really do feel alone.

And now Im going off to find some Kuduzu - or whatever it is

Title: Re: A bit about myself
Post by E-Double on May 13^th, 2005, 8:30am

Glad ya made it home safe.....both country and now here!

Welcome!

We all refer to the demon/beast/ what have you as a living entity with a personality......It's funny...."don't piss him off!" "SHHHHH....don't tell him that I was PF for a few hours or days." on and on......

You share a story with what sadly seems many of us....going yrs without knowing what it is.

At least you know and can handle it properly.

Good luck, hang in there & stay positive!

Eric

Title: Re: A bit about myself
Post by Jonny on May 13^th, 2005, 5:13pm

on 05/13/05 at 06:26:56, zebb37 wrote:

forgotten about u all whilst I was out of cycle.

I thank God for sites like this and am glad that I'm not alone

Which is it?

If both of these statements are true its pretty damn selfish, dont you think?

Title: Re: A bit about myself
Post by Ruth on May 13^th, 2005, 6:04pm

Well, Welcome back, I hope you can find something that works for you.
I have learned many valuable things on this site and one of them is to ignore jonny!

Title: Re: A bit about myself
Post by Jonny on May 13^th, 2005, 6:08pm

on 05/13/05 at 18:04:16, Ruth wrote:

I have learned many valuable things on this site and one of them is to ignore jonny!

Thats impossible in my Kingdom [smiley=laugh.gif]

Title: Re: A bit about myself
Post by zebb37 on May 14^th, 2005, 1:07am

on 05/13/05 at 17:13:12, Jonny wrote:

Which is it?

If both of these statements are true its pretty damn selfish, dont you think?

[smiley=laugh.gif]

Damn right it's selfish ::)