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Title: Gnu Guy Post by fuligin on Sep 6th, 2005, 1:58pm Hi all. Please forgive the less than enthusiastic intro, but I don't want to start the headaches again. It seems that the thing to do is post answers to the quiz first so, being the overachiever that I am, I took the 30-question one at http://www.headachecare.com/selfeval.htm . Also, I'm 28, white, male if that is relevant. I don't smoke or drink. ----- 1) N 2) Y, though not usually this bad 3) Y 4) N, not more so than usual 5) Y 6) N 7) Y 8) N 9) N 10) Y 11) Y, though any headaches seem to make me nauseated and cannot take pills during this time 12) N 13) Y, always the exact same spot above my left eye, affectionately called "the tumor" 14) N, it's steady and deep 15) Y, and usually from a weird dream 16) n/a 17) n/a, don't usually drink 18) not sure, don't like chocolate, never any probs. with food allergies 19) Y, usually about 2-3 hrs. w/ 30-60 min. peak pain 20) Y, though it took me a long time to notice this 21) sometimes, especially when pain is at its worst 22) Y, see #15 23) N 24) Y, teeth, jaw, sore scalp on left side, droopy eyelid 25) N 26) Y 27) N 28) Y, never had this many headaches in a row before, otherwise symptoms similar to bad headaches in past 29) N 30) n/a, I have injectable Imitrex for migraines, but I have to be desperate to use it. The side effects are awful. --- Well, I tried to keep it short. I'm trying to get an appointment with a doctor, but all of mine are booked up. Got an appointment with a headache specialist at Roosevelt Hospital here in NYC, but she's busy through the end of January. If this continues, I can't imagine waiting that long. Will try anything in the meantime. Really, anything. (I saw something about capsaicin so I rubbed some habanero juice in my left nostril. Seriously, don't do that. *laughs at self*) I do still have my sense of humor and thank g-d, no nausea this time. - Jackson |
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Title: Re: Gnu Guy Post by E-Double on Sep 6th, 2005, 4:55pm Hiya Jackson, Queens guy here though married and out on the island now. Are you going to see Dr. Newman at Roosevelt? I have heard good things. Since you are using trex anyway, try the "tip" check the hyperlink on the meu and it will show you a way to get relief with much less meds. and save a ton of $$ When you do get to the doctor, make sure to demand a script for oxygen!!! Get on a good preventative and read read read!!! Take care, E |
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Title: Re: Gnu Guy Post by lionsound on Sep 6th, 2005, 5:53pm Welcome Jackson :) It is possible to have both migraines and CH(I do) and to have the symptoms overlap sometimes. It's a good idea to check to see if that Headache doc's office has a cancellation list. Or you can call a lot to check for cancellations....hopefully you won't have to wait until January. Maybe in the meanwhile you could get a regular neuro appt or your regular doc to write you a script for O2. One of my favorite things to help my head is ice or a bag of frozen peas on my head/neck. read, read, read around here and ask questions too! Be well and pain Free! -lionsound |
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Title: Re: Gnu Guy Post by fuligin on Sep 6th, 2005, 8:40pm Thanks for your responses. :-) I didn't mention many of the other things I do for the headaches. Too tired I guess. In general (and particularly when I get the pain), I want to be in a very cold place. I can't stand anything touching me, so it's best if this is very cold air or water. The colder it is, the more I'm distracted from the pain. Not numb, just distracted. The hot peppers thing I mentioned. I keep those menthol headache pads in the fridge so they're extra cold, but they cost $1/pop. (They're more tolerable than ice packs because they're light.) Caffeine can take the edge off, if I take it early in the headache. I'm on Zoloft and low-dose alprazolam for anxiety disorder. As mentioned, I have the Imitrex. I appreciate the suggest to extend my supply, but the truth is I've got plenty. I hate to take it. It doesn't do much for the headaches and it makes me feel really sick, dizzy, tight-chested... not good. The doctor at Roosevelt was Dr. Christine Lay. They said she was the only doctor in my insurance plan who worked at the Headache Institute. That's important because even the copayment's a stretch at the moment. That said, my employer's somehow gotten me an appointment with his GP, who he says is "very thorough". He's not a neurologist, obviously, but is there anything I can do beyond show him my notes and possibly the quiz checklist? Hi to you both, and thanks again! Is there a particular part of the message boards that gets the most traffic? Where do the cool kids hang out, eh? ;-) |
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Title: Re: Gnu Guy Post by E-Double on Sep 6th, 2005, 8:50pm This is a great resource to know like the back of your hand...print it out and give it to the doc http://www.brightok.net/~mnjday/chtherapy.pdf It will present the appropriate treatments that you should seek and your doctor should know!!! If you want an abortive with the least amount of side-effects O2 should not only be requested but demanded from your doctor!!! http://www.maplefallswebdesign.com/misc/oxygen/oxygen.htm I have recently been using Zyprexa as an abortive and have found it to work (for me) as fast as Imitrex and without the "hangover" http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cgibin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=meds;action= display;num=1120904753 If you do have the "typical" wake you up in the middle of the night horrors then.... Melatonin might be very helpful 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. With the exception of 10-12 times.....I have slept through the night since August '04 (went chronic in March 05).....Still get hit during the day but my overall quality of life is better because I am not as exhausted all the time. Some people report that it seems to make them worse....The fact is that we are all different and respond differently to everything therefore it may or may not... The one thing I will tell you as far as my experience was that I had to stick with it...The first night I took melatonin, I was awoken with a doozy only I was too groggy to find my O2 .....It got a lot better for me....I then slept through the night but would get slammed about 1/2 hour after waking up....kinda like knocking the beast off schedule.....then again I was peaking and this cycle has been all over the place with no real pattern. I stayed with melatonin and have had decent sleep overall. It may help and it is natural with not too many sideeffects....also ask your doctor b/c if there are any side effects or contraindications...I think they have to do with mild depression..... Like I said we are all different. Best wishes, good luck & stay as positive as you can!!!! Eric |
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