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        New Message Board Archives >> 2004-2005 Getting to Know Ya Posts >> Hey from the Netherlands
        
(Message started by: Dutchman on Oct 13^th, 2005, 9:40am)

Title: Hey from the Netherlands
Post by Dutchman on Oct 13^th, 2005, 9:40am

Hello all,

My name is Peter and i live in the Netherlands. In my 24 years of life i spend 5 of them with CH.
I'm a periodic CH and get them about 4 times a years for 4-6 weeks. Since it took me 3 years to get the right diagnose (tought it was a tooth problem) i've been searching for sollutions resently. Right now i am on what we Dutch call Imigran, but i believe the medical term is sumatripan. I take these injections when i feel a (bad) attack coming up. Right now i am in a clear spot and loving my life. In a period i use 2 injects a day for about a week, the other 3-5 weeks roughly 1.

Alcohol sometimes is a trigger, but not frequent and only when i am in my periods. For me the trigger is the weather (i think). In some types of weather i am more sensetive i think.

My symptoms are all the usual, my effect is on the left side (i am left handed as well)

My hobies include basketbal, going out, role-play (d&d and computergames)

Also i am a member of a dutch discussion group of clusterheadache and want to use this grand site to give them new hopes :)

My motto: When the going get's tough be sure you are the tougher.
(sadly this motto almost never get's me up in a bad attack, but i am confident i will be the tougher in the end)

I'm here to beat this condition, and that i will not fail in! >:(

Title: Re: Hey from the Netherlands
Post by LeLimey on Oct 13^th, 2005, 11:32am

Hello Peter, its nice to meet you!
Have you ever tried Oxygen as an abortive? I find it incredible, it works within 5-7 minutes for me.
There are other triptans than Imigran (called Imitrex in the US) which are longer lasting but not injectible. Zomig or Zolmitriptan is available as a nasal spray and that has a long half life so it prevents further hits and some people in the UK have been trying Frovatriptan as a preventative. IE taking it before a hit is due to prevent it coming completely.. that one gives up to 24 hours of PF time!
As to alcohol, that is a trigger for most people in cycle, there are some people who can drink but mainly it seems to be chronic sufferers who can drink alcohol...although this is by no means solely the case!
As with everything else in CH nothing is set in stone :-/
We do have a couple of other sufferers based in Holland here so stick around and look out for them, it will be good for all of you!
Let us know how you are getting on or if you would like any more info okay?
Helen

Title: Re: Hey from the Netherlands
Post by Gator on Oct 13^th, 2005, 2:07pm

Hi Peter and welcome to our little corner of the web.

Like Helen said, alcohol is a common trigger. A lot of people (like me) say changes in barometric pressure like those that accompany bad weather are a trigger as well.

I'm glad the Imigran works to abort the attacks for you. Read the Imitrex Tip in the link to the left. Many people find they can abort with 1/3 to 1/2 a shot which reduces some of the side effects and makes the med last longer. Do you take any kind of preventative medications?

What's the address of the discussion group to which you belong? Some here may be interested in joining and we'll have that information to pass on to others from the Netherlands.

Information is the key to getting the proper treatment. There is lots of information in the various boards here. Lots of support from people who know what you are going through.

Again, welcome.

Mike

Title: Re: Hey from the Netherlands
Post by Jasmyn on Oct 13^th, 2005, 2:43pm

Hello Peter. Welkom aan boord. Baije goed om jou vanaf Holland hier te sien.

Jammer vir die CH. Alle sterkte daardie kant.

Jas

Title: Re: Hey from the Netherlands
Post by Dutchman on Oct 14^th, 2005, 1:45am

thanks for the warm welcome all!

The discussion borad is a simple one set up in MSN groups.

here (http://groups.msn.com/clusterhoofdpijn) is the link, but it is all in dutch. The message boards is called 'prikbord'.

Thanks i will check out the info!