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        New Message Board Archives >> 2006 General Board Posts >> a #9 or 10 maybe 15 attack
        
(Message started by: phil098342wq on Oct 16th, 2006, 7:43am)
Title: a #9 or 10 maybe 15 attack
Post by phil098342wq on Oct 16th, 2006, 7:43am
I have not had a number 9 attack since February.  The meds, the glasses, and self care have helped.  I rate my headaches same as the Kip scale.  I almost did call an ambulance.  I woke up at 7 in terrible pain.  I took some Tylenol because it just felt like an overall bad migraine, nothing like a cluster.  I have been fortunate and like a squirrel I have stockpiled drugs and do not hesitate to take them when I feel the slightest tinge of a ch coming on.

Throughout the morning the pain got worse and worse and worse.  Going from a 3 to 7 and quickly to a 9; it felt like I had been shot in the head at point blank range with a 12 gauge shotgun.  I took the normal drugs, nothing and had to take a second dose shortly thereafter and lay down as the drugs and the ch cause massive nausea.  I do have meds for it as well.  I guess I am getting like a druggie with all my problems.  The headache never left me all day yesterday and I am a little groggy while writing this.

I have usually had a massive attack more along the ch guidelines, one sided, runny nose, but yesterday it was the entire brain.  I guess looking back at it I should have called 911.  Does anyone else have occasional attacks like this??  I am dreading today, I have an early dental appointment, it will be very brief, but I will be exposed to his bright light and the sun.  Then I have a long long day at work followed by class.  I cannot miss any of this, but I guess if I collapse I will have a good enough excuse.

Thanks for listening to me complain, some days that is all we can do, lol. [smiley=huh.gif]
Title: Re: a #9 or 10 maybe 15 attack
Post by brewcrew on Oct 16th, 2006, 8:22am
Sounds like a real bummer.

Care to share what "normal drugs" means?
Title: Re: a #9 or 10 maybe 15 attack
Post by phil098342wq on Oct 16th, 2006, 8:47am
Let me see, I take Valproic Acid, 1500 mg at night to prevent the damn demons. Imitrex 100 mg at the onset and again during, Phenergan 20 mg for the nausea, Randitine 150 mg when needed when the acid upsets my stomach.

Its funny, I joke about being on acid, my mother actually thought i was serious when I first started it.
Title: Re: a #9 or 10 maybe 15 attack
Post by Charlotte on Oct 16th, 2006, 9:27am

on 10/16/06 at 07:43:00, phil098342wq wrote:
I have not had a number 9 attack since February.  The meds, the glasses, and self care have helped.  I rate my headaches same as the Kip scale.  I almost did call an ambulance.  I woke up at 7 in terrible pain.  I took some Tylenol because it just felt like an overall bad migraine, nothing like a cluster.  I have been fortunate and like a squirrel I have stockpiled drugs and do not hesitate to take them when I feel the slightest tinge of a ch coming on.

Throughout the morning the pain got worse and worse and worse.  Going from a 3 to 7 and quickly to a 9; it felt like I had been shot in the head at point blank range with a 12 gauge shotgun.  I took the normal drugs, nothing and had to take a second dose shortly thereafter and lay down as the drugs and the ch cause massive nausea.  I do have meds for it as well.  I guess I am getting like a druggie with all my problems.  The headache never left me all day yesterday and I am a little groggy while writing this.

I have usually had a massive attack more along the ch guidelines, one sided, runny nose, but yesterday it was the entire brain.  I guess looking back at it I should have called 911.  Does anyone else have occasional attacks like this??  I am dreading today, I have an early dental appointment, it will be very brief, but I will be exposed to his bright light and the sun.  Then I have a long long day at work followed by class.  I cannot miss any of this, but I guess if I collapse I will have a good enough excuse.

Thanks for listening to me complain, some days that is all we can do, lol. [smiley=huh.gif]


I hope you are doing better today.  Sometimes this signifies the end of a cycle, but if you do not feel better today, radically better, please make time to call or email or check in with your Dr.

Charlotte
Title: Re: a #9 or 10 maybe 15 attack
Post by Tiannia on Oct 16th, 2006, 11:01am

Quote:
Imitrex 100 mg at the onset and again during


You take the tablets?  You might want to try to talk to your doctor about getting the nasel spray or the shots. They might work faster for you.

PF Wishes to you.
Tia
Title: Re: a #9 or 10 maybe 15 attack
Post by BarbaraD on Oct 16th, 2006, 11:07am
Have you been checked for your toxicity level on the Valporic Acid -- that stuff is bad news if you get too much. Need it checked at least once a month.

Sounds like you were having a bad migraine. I get those and hate it. The nauseau part is enough to drive you crazy (don't get that with CH). I take ergotomine (Cafergot) and phenergan if I feel the first twinge of the nauseau (Can't spell that word for nothing). That's my guideline - if naseau hits then it's migraine - if not - it's CH.

And YES, I've had days like that. They WILL pass.

Hugs BD
Title: Re: a #9 or 10 maybe 15 attack
Post by unsolved1 on Oct 16th, 2006, 11:14am

on 10/16/06 at 11:07:29, BarbaraD wrote:
Sounds like you were having a bad migraine.


I agree with Barbara ... sounds like a Migraine to me. Sorry for your pain.

Goodluck

UNsolved

PS ---> Imitrex JABS
Title: Re: a #9 or 10 maybe 15 attack
Post by Charlie on Oct 16th, 2006, 3:34pm
Damn. Sounds not fun at all.

You seem like a perfect candidate for my technique. If you keep at it, it will work and will be safer and always available when you need it. Here it is:


                     Dr. Wright’s Circulatory Technique:

I am not sure what mechanism is triggered by this but whatever it is, at least indirectly helps kill the pain. I do know that this technique has nothing to do with meditation, relaxation, or psychic ability. It is entirely physical and takes some work. It involves concentrating on trying to redirect a little circulation to the arms, hands, or legs. It can described as a conscious circulatory flexing. Increased circulation will result in a reddening and warming of the hands. Try to think of it as filling your hands with redirected blood. The important and difficult part is that it has to be done without interruption through the pain. Do not give up in frustration. It may not work on the first try. Every now and then it will work almost immediately. I lived for those moments. Try experimenting between attacks. You will find that it gets easier with practice.

I was given less than five minutes instruction in the use of method. The doctor, while placing his arm on his desk, showed me that he could slightly increase his arm and hand circulation. After several attempts, I was able to repeat this procedure and use it successfully. I have had about a 75% success rate shortening these attacks. My 20 minute attacks were often reduced to 10 minutes or less. Once proven that I had a chance to effectively deal with this horror, I always gave it a try as I had nothing to lose but pain.

Perhaps it will help if you think of it as trying to fill the arm as if it is were an empty vessel. I used to try to imagine I was pushing blood away from my head into my arm. Use your imagination. There is one man who wrote that his standing barefoot on a concrete floor shortened his attacks. This may be similar as it draws some circulation away from the head. Cold water, exercise, or anything affecting circulation, seems to be worth a try. My suggestion is to not let up immediately when the pain goes. Waiting a minute is probably a good idea. So long as you do not slack off, this has a chance of working.

This technique is very useful while waiting for medication to take effect or when none is available. It costs nothing, is non-invasive, and can be used just about anywhere. It is not a miracle but it helped me deal with this horror. It can be a bit exhausting but the success rate was good enough for me and a cluster headache sufferer will do just about anything to end the pain. It gives us a fighting chance.

Charlie      
Title: Re: a #9 or 10 maybe 15 attack
Post by phil098342wq on Oct 16th, 2006, 4:40pm
Just to update, I feel so so today

Tia the insurance company won't give me injects, I have BEGGED!!!! for them, did get the 100 mg imitrex through prescription assistance.  The nasal ones made me vomit!

BD my tox level is checked each time I go to the dr or er, even if it is not ch related.  I have been warned, but it seems to really be helping.  I now rarely drink, am more cautious about what I do and make sure everyone knows, medically speaking, about this.

I have always had nausea with Ch's although I do have migrains and let me tell ya, yesterday was no migraine buddies.  I don't know what the hell type of CH demon he was, thank god I am able to see straight today, lol.
Title: Re: a #9 or 10 maybe 15 attack
Post by brewcrew on Oct 16th, 2006, 5:00pm
I've never heard of CH being bilateral.
Title: Re: a #9 or 10 maybe 15 attack
Post by maffumatt on Oct 16th, 2006, 5:26pm
Who is your insurance company and do you have a script for the injections? PM me and I may be able to help.
Matt
Title: Re: a #9 or 10 maybe 15 attack
Post by FramCire on Oct 16th, 2006, 8:39pm

on 10/16/06 at 17:26:50, maffumatt wrote:
Who is your insurance company and do you have a script for the injections? PM me and I may be able to help.
Matt


Also ask all your doctors if they have imitrex inject samples.

I have got them from a PCp and a headahce specialist.  Sadly for me, imitrex doens't help much.
Title: Re: a #9 or 10 maybe 15 attack
Post by MJ on Oct 16th, 2006, 11:43pm
Phil

Judging by your description I would guess with 99.5% certainty that it was not a cluster headache you experienced.

I would venture to guess it was a drug induced headache.
Tylenol and valproic acid (Depakote) do not mix well together. nor does phenergan.

Acid (LSD) as an alternate treatment for CH is much, much safer.
Title: Re: a #9 or 10 maybe 15 attack
Post by phil098342wq on Oct 17th, 2006, 8:06am
MJ you bring up a valid point.  I am taking makor dosage of Tylenol right now due to TMJ issues from an injury, as well as Celebrex.  I just don't understand any of it, it first hit me early in the morning.  But it did get worse, so maybe it was drug induced.  All day yesterday I had a dry mouth feeling.  Maybe I should up my quack...I did not really want to-they can be such pains in the...head some times.


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