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        New Message Board Archives >> 2004-2005 Getting to Know Ya Posts >> i'm driving myself and my husband crazy
        
(Message started by: ortizd on Jun 15^th, 2005, 9:25pm)

Title: i'm driving myself and my husband crazy
Post by ortizd on Jun 15^th, 2005, 9:25pm

i've had a headache for several weeks now. this has happened to me before, but after spending way too much money on a CT with normal results, the headaches going away, and being pain free...i figured it was just something i was going through and i was finished with. well, their back. i have had so much anxiety with this series because people who die from Aneurisms caplain about headaches. well all i have done so far is drive myself and my husband crazy. i wake up during the middle of the night, pace around the house, drink some water, look at the pain medicine but don't take it because the pain just comes back, complain about my head hurting daily. the pain is on one side of my head...behind my eye (tried over the counter pain killers - work- but not for long - useless)...in my sinuses (tried sinus and allergy medication for these symptoms - useless), i can make it through an 8 hour soccer camp with 8-10 year olds, but i can't make it through the night. I hate this and i need some support. I am going back to the doctor - and old family doctor to get his opinion and hopefully a good diagnosis. However, as soon as i read about these syptoms and how others were affected - i felt an instant connection. I can't talk to my husband about this without him getting upset or saying just go to the doctor, but i don't blame him because it's everyday that i complain about my head hurting lately and it's something i have come to hate too. when will it end? Please reply with any empathy or helpful advice.

Title: Re: i'm driving myself and my husband crazy
Post by pattik on Jun 15^th, 2005, 9:41pm

Hi ortizd...sorry that you had reason to find this site, but welcome. It would be a good idea to take the cluster quiz (link on the left) and also check out as much of the info on this site as you can before you see your doc again. Many of us have good luck using oxygen. That link will give you some specific advise on how it should be used to abort cluster headaches. The more info you can take into your doctor, the better he/she will be able to help you. You may need to see a neurologist though to get a correct diagnosis. So read, read, read and go to see your doc armed with as much info as possible. Good luck, and I hope you get a handle on your headaches soon.
Pat

Title: Re: i'm driving myself and my husband crazy
Post by ortizd on Jun 15^th, 2005, 11:10pm

i took the quiz. passed with flying colors. i'll check out oxygen. thanks for the advice.

Title: Re: i'm driving myself and my husband crazy
Post by BobG on Jun 16^th, 2005, 4:54am

Hey ortized,
You passed the test? Sorry to hear that. We all hoped you'd flunk. But, if clusters are what you have this is the best place on the planet to be. Lots learn.
If the 'old family doctor' doesn't give you a good diagnose have him/her refer you to a neurologist.

Kyle Texas? Did you know there is a Cluster Convention about to happen in Dallas? You'll learn alot and meet some ~~strange~~ wonderful people there that understand clusters.

Title: Re: i'm driving myself and my husband crazy
Post by marlinsfan on Jun 16^th, 2005, 5:56am

on 06/15/05 at 21:25:19, ortizd wrote:

I can't talk to my husband about this without him getting upset or saying just go to the doctor, but i don't blame him because it's everyday that i complain about my head hurting lately and it's something i have come to hate too.

There is a supporter section on the message board. Have your husband read there so he can better understand what you're going through and how he can help.

Good luck at the doc appt, & keep us posted.
Jose

Title: Re: i'm driving myself and my husband crazy
Post by Kim Y. on Jun 19^th, 2005, 10:50am

Welcome, but so sorry that you had a reason to find us. All good advise above just thought I would add that if you are getting woke up at night. Maybe you could try Melatonin 6-9 mg to aide you in sleep. Many say thay have had a lot of success with it. Hopefully let you get some sleep so that you have the strength and rest to battle with the Beast. [smiley=hug.gif]

PF wishes.................Kim

Title: -Re: i'm driving myself and my husband crazy
Post by burnt-toast on Jun 19^th, 2005, 11:05am

ortized -

Your should find a neurologist that treats headaches and if possible is treating Clusher Headaches.

I had terrible experiences for my first two years - going undiagnosed - because I worked with an internal med. and neurologist that were completely unfamiliar with the condition.

It's a good idea to get the right help as well as support.

Welcome abord the pain train.

Tom

Title: Re: i'm driving myself and my husband crazy
Post by cheNY on Jun 19^th, 2005, 11:49am

Hi, sorry about the CH's. There is a lot of good advice here. read, read, read..... knowledge is power. Get some O2 for nights, Imitrex is great & extremely successful, try it. Injections is the only thing that works for me as far as Imitrex. I've use prednisone, a steroid, which worked great. Stay away from narcotic analgesics, they make them worse. if you can research a headache clinic in your area, they are probably the most informed as far as CH's. Good luck. It gets better.

Title: Re: i'm driving myself and my husband crazy
Post by cazman on Jun 20^th, 2005, 1:08pm

welcome sorry your here but at least you now know your not alone ,i remember that instant connection feeling i got when i found this place and it pretty much saved my sanity , the people here are all good folk and will listen nad help in anyway they can the answers are all over the place theres chat area and links to all you could ever want to know . i can relate to the husband thing my wife has a very hard time dealing with my pain mostly cause she know theres little she can do she yet to come on here and read anything wich for me is cause friction between us try to get him to come on here .
at least we are here for you someone will reply to a question or we will just listen to ya talk , keep thge faith and be strong band fallow sugestions when ever you can

Title: Re: i'm driving myself and my husband crazy
Post by cazman on Jun 20^th, 2005, 1:09pm

sorry about the spelling my keyboard cant spell well

Title: Re: i'm driving myself and my husband crazy
Post by Bob_Johnson on Jun 20^th, 2005, 2:39pm

In today's complex medical world, old family docs are only attractive for Norman Rockwell paintings. If you have no choice, i.e., you can't find or don't have access to a doc EXPERIENCED in treating headache, then you will have to say with this man and educate him. But first, try and find experience....

Here is a link to read and print and take to your doctor. It describes preventive, transitional, abortive and surgical treatments for CH. (2002)

http://www.brightok.net/~mnjday/chtherapy.pdf

Let us know what our specific needs are to help guide us in our suggestions.

Title: Re: i'm driving myself and my husband crazy
Post by Leggs on Jun 26^th, 2005, 9:33pm

That was a great paper, I saved it to read before I go to Emory next week for a NEW neurologist. I have something NEW going on at the trigeminal nerve, very unCH like, and we need to get things straight. I had a neuro here, and he was such a circular sphincter at the exit to the large intestine (for some reason, we can say the f word here, just not the A word, go figure??) What was the DATE of that publication? I HATE telling doctors how to do their job, but my experience has shown, when you DO tell them you are an educated patient, and they don't have an ego trip, THAT is the kind of guy you want, someone who has great confidence in him/herself, but does not get threatened by you letting them know something that works for YOU

Also, re: my husband. I think he is just scared about this, and tries not to think about it, I don't have that luxury...

Re: Kim's response, re: the Meletonin, what source do you recommend? I have been waking up in the middle of the night lately, my seasonal is due in July, and just the past week or so, been waking up about 2am, with a stuffed nostril. YIKES!!!! IT'S SO SCAREY JUST WAITING FOR THE BEAST AROUND THE CORNER.

Title: Re: i'm driving myself and my husband crazy
Post by marlinsfan on Jun 27^th, 2005, 10:43am

on 06/26/05 at 21:33:39, Leggs wrote:

Re: Kim's response, re: the Meletonin, what source do you recommend? I have been waking up in the middle of the night lately, my seasonal is due in July, and just the past week or so, been waking up about 2am, with a stuffed nostril. YIKES!!!! IT'S SO SCAREY JUST WAITING FOR THE BEAST AROUND THE CORNER.

I get my melatonin from Walgreens and Publix supermarket. You can find it in the vitamin sections of both places. I take 9 mg per night, and I've only woken up before 4:30 am 3 times in the past 2+ week. Most of my dances with the beast these days is at 5 am, so I'm getting 6+ hours of uniterrupted sleep. Makes a HUGE difference for me!
Jose

Title: Re: i'm driving myself and my husband crazy
Post by Kim Y. on Jun 30^th, 2005, 4:13pm

Quote:

I use the generic brand it is just as good my[smiley=twocents.gif] Make sure you read the ingredients on the generic to the brand name and if they are the same you are ok with the generic. I get mine at Walmart by the phamacy where they keep all the vitamins and supplements.

Good luck and PF wishes..........................Kim