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        New Message Board Archives >> 2006-2007 Getting to Know Ya Posts >> New Cluster Head
        
(Message started by: rnkc on Dec 30^th, 2005, 9:10pm)

Title: New Cluster Head
Post by rnkc on Dec 30^th, 2005, 9:10pm

My name is Rich and I am new to the board but not new to cluster headaches. I have had these headaches off and on for over 20 years now. I am 44 years old. I am married but my family doesn't understand the painful episodes. I usually get 8 weeks worth of clusters every year or so. Not that long of a period but the pain makes up for it. I have been having episodes now for over 2 weeks. Usually get them at night after I go to sleep. Nothing ever really helps the pain except for O2 which I only get in the ER. I just started taking Kudzu extract vitamins for 2 days now. Hope these work! Just want to say hi to everyone here and it's nice to know I'm not alone. It's nice to talk to other people who suffer from the same symptoms I do.

Title: Re: New Cluster Head
Post by AussieBrian on Dec 30^th, 2005, 9:24pm

G'day Rich, and welcome to the cluster-go-round. Yes, we do understand and no, you're no longer alone.

Title: Re: New Cluster Head
Post by Jasmyn on Dec 30^th, 2005, 9:41pm

Hi and welcome Rich.

Like the Aussie Brain said we are here for you, all rowing the same boat and you don't have to do this alone anymore.

Try to get your family to read here or join the supporters group, that will be a big stride in helping them understand this condition and what you are going through.

The lights are always on here.

A Good Morning to you Mr. Brain, it's going to be a scorcher here today! ;;D

Title: Re: New Cluster Head
Post by Gator on Dec 31^st, 2005, 3:10am

Howdy Rich and welcome to the asylum. Feel free to share your experiences and ask as many questions as you want. You get to having a bad time of it, you can come in here and rant and rave, kick and scream whatever it takes to get it out of your system. Venting is good for you. You might be surprised just how much it helps to have someone there that understands.

CH effects the whole family so we're here for them as well. Supporters are very important in our lives and sometimes, they need support, too. Try and get the family in here if possible. Maybe if they see that there are many others just like you, they will come off with a better understanding of what you go through.

Wishing you Pain Free Days And Nights (PFDAN)

Title: Re: New Cluster Head
Post by Bob_Johnson on Dec 31^st, 2005, 7:07am

If O2 is working for you, why not get a rig setup for home use?

Would be helpful to review a range of treatment options with your doc: 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

This a good article by a solid doc: http://www.headachedrugs.com/pdf/HA2005.pdf
Read all the material, even sections on migraine. Material which important to cluster folks is sometimes also common to migraine.

Title: Re: New Cluster Head
Post by BobG on Dec 31^st, 2005, 12:11pm

on 12/31/05 at 07:07:12, Bob_Johnson wrote:

If O2 is working for you, why not get a rig setup for home use?

Ditto what Bob said.
Will your insurance cover it? Will your doctor prescribe it?

No? There are ways to use welder's O2 which are much cheaper.

Title: Re: New Cluster Head
Post by burnt-toast on Dec 31^st, 2005, 12:45pm

No you're not alone. I could live with these headaches it it wasn't for the unearthly pain. ;)

A few years back, my my leg swelled to huge proportions when I slipped on deck. When I went for X-rays the doc. asked for X-rays of both legs. Turned out the leg injured on the deck wasn't broken, but I had walked around with my other leg broken and it healed out of proper alignment. That pain never bothered me, BUT THIS PAIN DOES.

Oxygen seems to address your abortive needs but you might want to talk with your Neurologist about preventatives. If you can somewhat predict your cycles it may be possible to pre-empt attacks by building therepudic levels of preventatives in your system just prior to your On-periods. But please coordinate this with your Neurologist. A good headache journal will help you identify the specifics of your cycles and possibly determine if preventative may help.

Welcome to the Pain-Train

Tom

Title: Re: New Cluster Head
Post by Barry_T_Coles on Jan 1^st, 2006, 1:55am

Hi Rich and Welcome

Ditto to what the others have said and remember that there will always be some'one on line to talk through things.

Kind Regards
Barry

Title: Re: New Cluster Head
Post by alchemy on Jan 1^st, 2006, 4:13pm

welcome aboard rich, sorry you're having a tough time with it. this is the place to be. i've gotten great help here and you will to. jim

Title: Re: New Cluster Head
Post by scottyf on Jan 2^nd, 2006, 10:55am

Hi there

This is my first post - was diagnosed just over a week ago. Have had these headaches since summer 2001, about 2-4 weeks every year, every couple of days, without fail on the left side.

3 times over the years I went to a GP about them, and every time was reassured that it wasn't anything sinister, my eyes and reflexes were fine etc... Plus if painkillers work, in that the headaches stop after 30mins, then its OK. But then I experiemented and went without painkillers and they still stopped after about 30mins! Finally a neurologist told me what it was.

Its a relief to know its nothing life threatening, but a bit worrying that one day it might become permanent - 2-4 weeks a year I can deal with (Im 24 now). Been told of some medications I can take when the next period starts (not if!).

The main thing I found was that I would have to disappear from people's sight when getting the pain - my Mum found me in the middle of the night once and was so shocked at the state I was in, and even more surprised when 10mins later I was fine!

This site is really useful by the way, so I just have one question at the moment - Im soon to do a few more weeks travelling. Does clusterheadaches count as a condition that I should tell my travel insurance company about?

Oh, and this may be a coincidence, but these headaches started for me as soon as I stopped getting bad hayfever every summer!

Hope all are well (at least everything else in your body!)

Scott

Title: Re: New Cluster Head
Post by rnkc on Jan 8^th, 2006, 1:01pm

Been getting CH's usually at night now. I did get an O2 tank and it helps at home, usually pain is gone in about 15 minutes. However, it minimizes the CH's and I might get another within a few hours. Does everyone else get this horrible neck pain along with the CH's like I do?

Title: Re: New Cluster Head
Post by Melissa on Jan 8^th, 2006, 1:20pm

on 01/08/06 at 13:01:29, rnkc wrote:

Does everyone else get this horrible neck pain along with the CH's like I do?

Ohhhhhhhhhh yes. And because I have an anxiety disorder, it's magnified X 10. I find that going to bed with an icepack on the base of the head/top of the neck, helps a lot as well as switching to another cold one after I have an attack, before I go back to sleep. I think I am coming to my cycles end right now, and have an appt. with my Chiropractor tomorrow to help with my tension HA's and neck pain due to all the cluster cycle anxiety, coping positions and such.

Title: Ditto on th neck pain!
Post by Richr8 on Jan 11^th, 2006, 11:45pm

If the CH wasn't so bad, I;d take myself out over the neck pain.

Title: Ditto on th neck pain!
Post by Richr8 on Jan 12^th, 2006, 12:22am

If the CH wasn't so bad, I;d take myself out over the neck pain.

Title: Re: New Cluster Head
Post by Cathi04 on Jan 12^th, 2006, 12:54am

Hi guys, and welcome to Clusterville! It's a mixed bag..glad you found us, so sorry you need to be here!
Nonetheless, you will not find a more caring supportive group than this.........and best of all, they KNOW it's NOT "just a headache"....arrrggghhh!!!!!!!!!
Pull up a chair and settle in. Read the links to the left, share questions and issues. Someone is generally around 24/7 to talk to........
please remember....
life is what is enjoyed in between the hits....CH is NOT your life.........be sure to enjoy all you can!

Oh and, should you need, there IS a family services committee, awaiting to serve you, if things ever get too tough!
Wishing you PFDAN

Cathi