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        New Message Board Archives >> 2006-2007 Getting to Know Ya Posts >> New to the Site, not new to the Pain. 
        
(Message started by: Drosen on Jan 23^rd, 2006, 5:31am)

Title: New to the Site, not new to the Pain.
Post by Drosen on Jan 23^rd, 2006, 5:31am

Hey everybody.

Names Dennis. Im 26 and have had CH for 10 years now.
Im in the middle of a bout right now, which will last about a month. Trying to find reasons to keep on living. To all of you who have chronic headaches, you have have my deepest admiration for your ability to persevere and endure. And my deepest sympathy for having to face what I do, but all the time.

My headaches come in one of two varieties: Short and intense (9 or 10 level) or long and drawn out (4-8 level pain). The short ones usually last an hour or two, and peak with intense vomitting. This usually brings relief and then i pass out. Longer headaches can last from 4 - 18 hours with periods of various intensity sometimes also accomanied by nausea. I get a couple of attacks a day for a period of about 4 weeks, and then im safe for another year, or sometimes two. Have occasionaly spent the night in hopsital from CH.

Have been on:

Tylenol 3 - works sometimes, hard to keep down

Imitrex ]
Migranol ] - have worked and then stopped
Maxalt ] or didnt work.
Amerge ]

Propanalol - useless

am currently on relpax. which worked for a few days only.

Amerge also caused me chest pain and maybe a minor heart attack.

when im having an attack i like to turn the lights down, and press a very hot water bottle against my eyes, take a hot bath, apply pressure to my eye, scream, cry, throw things and vomit.

As you might guess, im getting pretty tired of the abortive medicines. think its time to start looking into other kinds of treatments.

hrmm, sorry if this hasnt been a very uplifting post... :P

Title: Re: New to the Site, not new to the Pain.
Post by AussieBrian on Jan 23^rd, 2006, 5:43am

on 01/23/06 at 05:31:29, Drosen wrote:

hrmm, sorry if this hasnt been a very uplifting post

No need for apologies here, mate, we're just sorry you're doing it so tough.

Keep looking around the board and ask all the questions you want because we're all in this together and know just how you feel - from the inside.

Welcome home,

Brian.

Title: Ho Drosen!
Post by Richr8 on Jan 23^rd, 2006, 6:14am

Glad you found us. Hav you used oxygne with any success at all?

Title: Re: New to the Site, not new to the Pain.
Post by chewy on Jan 23^rd, 2006, 7:30am

Have you researched other types of headaches? Sounds like a lot of stuff going that are not typical of cluster.

Title: Re: New to the Site, not new to the Pain.
Post by Kevin_M on Jan 23^rd, 2006, 8:00am

on 01/23/06 at 05:31:29, Drosen wrote:

Imitrex ]
Migranol ] - have worked and then stopped
Maxalt ] or didnt work.
Amerge ]

Propanalol - useless

am currently on relpax. which worked for a few days only.

Amerge also caused me chest pain and maybe a minor heart attack.

I hope you weren't mixing triptans in a close timespan.

Title: Re: New to the Site, not new to the Pain.
Post by alchemy on Jan 23^rd, 2006, 8:37am

sorrry you had to find us but glad you're here. sorry it's tough going for you. I know it's hard at times to find a reason for living, I'm chronic, I can't remember my last pf time. This has led to a couple of suicide attempts. I'm telling you this so you can see that you have light at the end of the tunnel, hang on to that and enjoy your pf times when you get them. don't make the same mistakes i did. remember there is always support here, this site has the most amazing people in the world they have helped me so much I can never thank them enough. try 02 and hang on. jim

Title: Re: New to the Site, not new to the Pain.
Post by marlinsfan on Jan 23^rd, 2006, 10:19am

Try oxygen. High-flow regulator, non-rebreather mask.

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

Also, see oxyeng info link on left.

Hang in there bro, this will pass. We've all been where you are.

Title: Re: New to the Site, not new to the Pain.
Post by Guiseppi on Jan 23^rd, 2006, 10:51am

I've been using lithium for 10 years, I'm episodic, usually 2 a year, 8-12 weeks. I'm 46 weigh about 190 and use 900-1200 mg a day lithium when on cycle. So far it's worked every cycle. I get occasional break thru's that I beat down with cafergot and oxygen. Praying you find something that works for you.

Guiseppi

Title: Re: New to the Site, not new to the Pain.
Post by sandie99 on Jan 24^th, 2006, 3:20am

Welcome, Dennis! :)

Wishing you PF time,
Sanna

Title: Re: New to the Site, not new to the Pain.
Post by Drosen on Jan 24^th, 2006, 3:36am

Thanks for the support everyone. Yesterday was one of those bad days. Feeling a bit better today, and relatively pain free so far.

Quote:

I hope you weren't mixing triptans in a close timespan.

no, I usually just get a new one tested out on me every year.

Quote:

Glad you found us. Hav you used oxygne with any success at all?

No. Its never even been suggested to me before. Is this something doctors actively avoid for some reason? Like they dont want us to be on something that works?

Also wondering what people think about doctors. I currently dont even have a regular family doctor. I just go in to the drop-in clinic when i need help. (i havent lived in this city very long). In my hometown i had a doctor who was a dumb-ass and also, briefly, a neurologist who actually listened to me. Do you think its important for me to have a regular doctor, or a regular neorologist that i can meet every time? The Doctor at the walk in clinic was certainly reluctant to refer me to a specialist.

Title: Re: New to the Site, not new to the Pain.
Post by Mike_in_CA on Jan 29^th, 2006, 3:55pm

on 01/23/06 at 08:00:47, Kevin_M wrote:

I hope you weren't mixing triptans in a close timespan.

Everyone here seems to know how important that is, too bad my doctor didn't.
He gave me samples of both Relpax and Imitrex and told me to mix and match until I decided which one worked best. I won't do that again!

It is tough (especially in a smaller town like mine) to find a fully qualified neurologist, but my headaches have gotten to the point where I need better help.

Title: Re: New to the Site, not new to the Pain.
Post by suziq on Jan 29^th, 2006, 5:45pm

Just wanted to let you know that it sounds like you may have a combo going on - CH and migraine. That's what I was diagnosed with - I've had migraines since I was 10 yrs old - but the beast reared it's ugliness around Sept '04, but I believe I had attacks in the past from reviewing my old diaries.

I can feel the difference - keep a record or diary of everything (times, describe the pain, your environment, pain level, meds taken, etc.) and it should help you and your doctor sort thru the symptoms to put a finger on the diagnosis.

Good luck! Sorry to hear you get them too.
Suziq

Title: Re: New to the Site, not new to the Pain.
Post by Dragnlance on Feb 6^th, 2006, 4:12pm

Hey Man,

You have Combo headaches alright! I get CH, Migraines and Tension headaches. They need to be treated differently. Many times one will trigger another. Sometimes food, such as nuts, fermented yeast alcohol like beer and wine, smoked foods like jerky or smoked fish, and things that age, like cheese can trigger headaches. (almond flour and walnut flour will trigger nasty migraines for me) You will read a lot of people are triggered by alcohol.
If you can learn to identify the different headaches, it will go a long way towards helping you survive. I am 42 and have chronic CH. These always, trigger a tension headache in me.
You might find cold packs on the face, will help the migraine, but is murder on the CH. I really hot shower helps just a little for me, but most migraine people cannot handle heat.
Find a good Doctor that knows headaches. They are rare, almost as rare as CH. When you find one, stick with them.
We are with you man, dont give in to the monster, not ever. (if you are like me, Murphys Law rules, and the day after you off yourself, a cure will be found) Fight the monster, for someday you may get to watch it die!!

Lance