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        New Message Board Archives >> 2006-2007 Getting to Know Ya Posts >> HELP!!!!!!
        
(Message started by: kmitchell16 on Apr 19^th, 2006, 5:54pm)

Title: HELP!!!!!!
Post by kmitchell16 on Apr 19^th, 2006, 5:54pm

I was recently medically dischaged from the air force because of ch and I am out in california going to see my doctor and she asked me what she should prescibe me and I told her verapamil and some steroid to get rid of these things but she only presribe me the verapamil and I am screwed i cant leave my house between 10 and 3 pm because of these headaches everyday for the past 3 weeks will someone please help I have already lost my career and nobody wants to hire me because of these headaches I just dont know what to do. PLEASE HELP [smiley=huh.gif]

Title: Re: HELP!!!!!!
Post by E-Double on Apr 19^th, 2006, 7:28pm

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 used Zyprexa as an abortive and have found it to work (for me) as fast as Imitrex and without the "hangover"

http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cgi-bin/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. (Maybe I should start folowing my own advice again hahahaha!)

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

Title: Re: HELP!!!!!!
Post by Richr8 on Apr 19^th, 2006, 7:39pm

Welcome, and sorry you had to find us.
Eric, as usual, covered things very well. I can only add that as far as the career goes you may have to wait until you are off cyle to get embedded ,and then hope for the best when your cycle returns, go in armed with this:

http://www.ouch-us.org/chgeneral/colleagueletter.htm

I know it has worked for me so far.

Title: Re: HELP!!!!!!
Post by alchemy on Apr 19^th, 2006, 8:02pm

Welcome, sorry you're having such a rough time. Hang in there and read the info Eric gave you. Things will get better. jim

Title: Re: HELP!!!!!!
Post by Charlotte on Apr 19^th, 2006, 8:16pm

Read everything and hang in there. Sometimes all you can do is get through it. Just get through this first.

Sorry about you're career.

Hopefully, things will level out, either because an episode ends or you find something that helps, then you can look for or make another career. Most of us are workaholics, I think (when I can think, that is). If we're lucky, we find a fit, but it is a struggle.

Charlotte

Title: Re: HELP!!!!!!
Post by RichardN on Apr 20^th, 2006, 1:10am

Hi and sorry you're here

DO copy the 02 info and take to your doc. Works for 60-70% of us to abort.

Be Safe, PFDANs

Richard

Title: Re: HELP!!!!!!
Post by Jasmyn on Apr 20^th, 2006, 3:54am

Welcome.

What dosage Verapamil are you on? Verapamil takes 7 - 14 days to build up, sometimes, before you will start to see an improvement in the duration and intensity of your attacks. Verapamil dosage can also be increased if a lower dosage does not give the desired results.

Great info Eric gave and read as much as you can on the left hand side of the board and the pinned topics at the top of each section. Print the info when you go and see your doc again, be armed with knowledge for this war.

Title: Re: HELP!!!!!!
Post by Bob_Johnson on Apr 20^th, 2006, 7:55am

Starting searching for a new doc who has experience/skill in treating headache. We have too much experience here with well intended but unskilled docs.

1. Search the OUCH site (button on left) for a list of recommended M.D.s.
2. Yellow Pages phone book: look for "Headache Clinics" in the M.D. section and look under "neurologist" where some docs will list speciality areas of practice.
3. Call your hospital/medical center. They often have an office to assist in finding a physician. You may have to ask for the social worker/patient advocate.
4. http://www.achenet.org/physicians/ On-line screen to find a physician.
5. http://www.headaches.org/consumer/index.html Call 1-800-643-5552; they will send a list of M.D.s for your state.