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        New Message Board Archives >> 2006-2007 Getting to Know Ya Posts >> Qustion fron the Netherlands
        
(Message started by: ammo on May 24^th, 2006, 5:59am)

Title: Qustion fron the Netherlands
Post by ammo on May 24^th, 2006, 5:59am

Hello, I was diagnosed with cluster headaches over 11 years ago when I was stationed in Germany. Í have had them for more than 15 years now. I’m retired now and living in the Netherlands In the beginning I had my cycle every year for about 6 weeks, since 2000 I get them every three years. It’s 2006 and quests what, like clock work I feel them coming. I would like to know if anyone else experiences the symptoms but has a pain free period of weeks before the pain starts or is it just in my head because I know its that time again. Should I begin taking my medicine now (verapamil) or wait? Once the pain begins I use O2 and imitrex and get all I need under the Dutch health care system.

Title: Re: Qustion fron the Netherlands
Post by Bob_Johnson on May 24^th, 2006, 10:37am

This article should answer both your questions.
-----------
Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2001 Feb;5(1):55-9.

Premonitory symptoms in cluster headache.

Raimondi E.

Catedra de Neurologia, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, 9 de Julio 3826, Rosario 2002 PKP, Argentina. raimondi@cablenet.com.ar

Cluster headache is one of the most excruciating headaches affecting human beings--especially the male sex. Most of the cluster headache cases are of episodic nature, with active cluster periods lasting generally between a few weeks and 2 or 3 months. A still undetermined percentage of patients report nonpainful sensations preceding the onset of the pain attack for a variable period of time. If occurring only a few minutes or a few hours before the onset of pain, such symptoms are called prodromal. When occurring for several days, weeks, or months before the pain, they are termed premonitory symptoms. The author believes that premonitory symptoms have not been properly diagnosed and emphasizes the need to investigate their presence, because by knowing them advances can be made in the understanding of the physiopathology of this particular cephalalgia. Furthermore, it can also allow the physician to be ahead, by giving preventive treatment and stopping or diminishing the intensity and duration of the pain attacks.

Publication Types:
Review

PMID: 11252138

Title: Re: Qustion fron the Netherlands
Post by Guiseppi on May 24^th, 2006, 11:25am

I get the "premonitory" feeling about 2 weeks before I get my first head ache each cycle. It's this weird feeling, mostly in my stomach, that says oh sh@# their back. In the past I'd ignore it and hope they weren't really back. I'm not so naive now and know when I get that feeling I make my appointment with the neuro to get the lithium, oxygen and cafergot going! Wishing you a short easy cycle.

Guiseppi

Title: Re: Qustion fron the Netherlands
Post by ammo on May 25^th, 2006, 3:24am

Thanks for the info, have an appointment with the neuro for 6 Jun. My symptoms begin about 6 weeks before my cycle starts, with pressure above my left. I notice I start to have alot of normal headaches during this time frame. I seen my GP yesterday, she could[t tell me anything about this feeling but she did give me my verapamil and methysergide. Thanks again, and I wish everyone a pain free day.

John

Title: Re: Qustion fron the Netherlands
Post by Jasmyn on May 26^th, 2006, 3:41am

Welkom John.

Best to start your Verapamil, I do hope it will stop the cycle before it gets a hold.

PF wishes to you.

PS: Ek is baije bly jy het ons gevind. Hierdie is die beste webwerf en almal verstaan waardeur jy gaan. Ons is hier vir jou.

Title: Re: Qustion fron the Netherlands
Post by ammo on May 26^th, 2006, 6:08am

Bedankt,

I found this site in Sept 2000, I read and learned a lot over the years. I think I’m part of the silent majority who takes advantage of all the posted questions and responses but feels they have nothing to contribute in return. I think this is a great site with hundreds of caring and knowledgeable people

Doei

John

Title: Re: Qustion fron the Netherlands
Post by Bert on May 26^th, 2006, 10:44am

Hello John,

Glad you found us. I found this site only a couple of weeks ago and eversince I learned so much more about CH. I'm a "chronic" but was very happy yesterday when we celebrated my daughter's 11th birthday that this day was a painfree one. I'm waiting for the summer finally to begin as for some reason warm weather make my attacks less severe.

Best regards, Bert

P.S.: op msn is er ook een nederlandse clusterghoofdpijngroep

Title: Re: Qustion fron the Netherlands
Post by floridian on May 26^th, 2006, 1:19pm

I definitely get warning signs - sleep changes (wake up early feeling refreshed, no matter how late I go to sleep), tingling in feet and brain, twitching in one eye. That is when I start taking melatonin at exactly 9:30, go to sleep at 10:00, take magnesium and 5-htp in the day.

Title: Re: Qustion fron the Netherlands
Post by ammo on May 26^th, 2006, 3:22pm

Hallo Bert,

Gefeliciteerd met je dochters verjaardag. Speaking and reading Dutch is no problem for me, however if I had to communicate via a chat line in Dutch I think they would have found a cure for cluster headaches before I could type my first question. Thanks for the information anyway.

John

Title: Re: Qustion fron the Netherlands
Post by MJ on May 27^th, 2006, 3:17am

I definately know whem I'm ready for another round but I have never been able to explain it.
It is a feeling is all I can say. Usually begins a week or so ahead of time.

Title: Re: Qustion fron the Netherlands
Post by ammo on May 27^th, 2006, 8:59am

This is the first cycle in 15 years that I started writing everything down. In week 18, I started getting the feeling, and now it’s almost week 22 and it’s getting more constant. I usually waited until I was 100% sure that “IT” was back before I began taking my medicine. I’m curious, if I hadn’t started taking my verapamil would it be full blown now or is it just waiting around the corner. Who knows maybe this time it will just stay in the shadows and not come out to play.

John

Title: Re: Qustion fron the Netherlands
Post by MJ on May 28^th, 2006, 11:17pm

on 05/27/06 at 08:59:41, ammo wrote:

Who knows maybe this time it will just stay in the shadows and not come out to play.

John

Hope so John.