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        New Message Board Archives >> 2006-2007 Getting to Know Ya Posts >> New member
        
(Message started by: Suns on May 19^th, 2006, 6:30am)

Title: New member
Post by Suns on May 19^th, 2006, 6:30am

Hello all,

i'm a 29 year old male from the netherlands, my name is Bas,(Suns is just a nickname)and i am also a clusterhead..

I've had the "beast" as you all seem to call it for a few years now. It usually pops it's ugly head up around end of april, beginning of may...

This year's cluster started about two weeks ago now, the "beast" visits me about every other night...(hope i say this correctly..i have it on day 1, day 2 is ok, have it again on day 3, etc..)

Had it last night too, my head is still sore...

When i have an attack, the pressure starts in the right side of my throat, moving up to my right jaw, right ear, right temple (??)...then i can actually feel (and sometimes hear) the "beast" go in my head...my right eye swells up and starts to tear..
Attacks usually last for about 2 to 3 hours...
After the attack ends both my temples, my forehead, my nose, right eye and right jaw stay sore and painfull for about a day...

Last monday i had a massive attack dragging on for just over 5 hours... from 23:00 till about 4:20 (11p.m. till 4.20 a.m.)
Followed by wednesday, about a 3 hour attack, and yesterday was another 4 hours of agony..

It seems the "beast" is a bit stronger this year.. :'(

Visited my doctor this morning, have an appointment set with a neurologist on the 6th on june..hope to get some more info there..

Oh, by the way, the only medication i use is Verapamil..i have the imigran thing to stuff up my nose, but that doesn't work for me...used to work about 25% of the time, the last 2 years it doesn't seem to help anymore though...

Anyways, just thought i'd tell you all a little about myself..

I wish all of you strenght and many many painless days..

greetings from the netherlands,

Bas a.k.a Suns

Title: Re: New member
Post by Bob_Johnson on May 19^th, 2006, 8:24am

Here is a link to read and print and take to your doctor. It describes preventive, transitional, abortive and surgical treatments for CH. Written by one of the better headache docs in the U.S. (2002)

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

Title: Re: New member
Post by Bert on May 19^th, 2006, 11:11am

Hey, a fellow countryman. Pity to hear that you get visited by the beast as well. You'll soon find out that there's a lot of information on this site. Besides, the other clusterheads here can give you some good advice .

Bert

Title: Re: New member
Post by MJ on May 20^th, 2006, 1:22am

Hello Suns and welcome.

Title: Re: New member
Post by marlinsfan on May 20^th, 2006, 2:05pm

Nasal imitrex (imigran) spray doesn't work all that well. Most of us use needles.

Oxygen in my abortive of choice. Read the link that was posted, it has great info.

Title: Re: New member
Post by Suns on May 22^nd, 2006, 3:55am

Hello all, thanks for the replies.

Today i told my doctor i want the oxygen....he'll call me back in about 3 hours...

I really really hope it'll work as good as you all say...

I had attacks on saturday and sunday again.....both 4 hours +..... :(

I'll let you know how things progress...

Oh, by the way, do you guys use anything besides the oxygen? Do i need to keep taking my verapamil?

Greetz,

Suns

Title: Re: New member
Post by Suns on May 22^nd, 2006, 11:52am

Ok,i have my mini O2 tank now....I hope this works for me....

Title: Re: New member
Post by Richr8 on May 22^nd, 2006, 12:50pm

You are going to be amazed! Do you have a non-rebreather mask? And remember 15 LPM minimum.

It works for me atleast 60% of the time, so don't get discouraged if it doesn't work the first time. Let us know how it goes.

Title: Re: New member
Post by marlinsfan on May 22^nd, 2006, 10:23pm

on 05/22/06 at 03:55:34, Suns wrote:

Oh, by the way, do you guys use anything besides the oxygen? Do i need to keep taking my verapamil?

Oxygen is an abortive, used to stop the headache. Verapamil is a preventative used to keep the headaches from coming. Many here use both: abortives & preventatives.

My only preventative is melatonin, and I watch what I eat religiously.

Pay attention to Richr8's questions: non-rebreather mask and 15 liters per minute for the Oxygen to work properly.