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        New Message Board Archives >> 2006-2007 Getting to Know Ya Posts >> mentally and physically exhausted 
        
(Message started by: bruce802 on Aug 4^th, 2006, 4:07pm)

Title: mentally and physically exhausted
Post by bruce802 on Aug 4^th, 2006, 4:07pm

Hello to all and thank you for all the wonderful information here. I have been a CH sufferer for 18 years now. I have been in remission for about two years now up until 10 days ago. The cluster bouts have been getting increasingly worst since they started 10 days ago, now they feel like they are at their worst.

Two nights ago I had the worst one yet that lasted almost 3 hours. The next day it left me completely exhausted mentally and physically. I ended up calling my doctor and he saw me 2 hours later. He asked me questions and symptoms that I have be having and then told me I was having CH’s, which I already knew I was having. He ended up giving me three different types of medicines to try, Axert (almotriptan malate) Maxalt-MLT (rizatriptan benzoate) and Zomig nasal spray (zolmitriptan) for when I end up with my nightly CH. Last night I ended up having a CH just shortly after I went to bed, I never even fell asleep before getting it, which is unusual seeing how I usually get them about an hour after falling asleep. I quickly got up and took one Axert, 30 minutes later the CH was almost gone and I returned to bed.

One question I have is, does anyone feel mentally and physically exhausted the next day from a CH the night before?

Thank you to all for any info or responses to my post

Bruce.

Title: Re: mentally and physically exhausted
Post by LeLimey on Aug 4^th, 2006, 4:35pm

Bruce first an foremost DO NOT TAKE THOSE THREE MEDS WITHIN 24 HOURS OF EACH OTHER

Triptans are vaso constrictors, they constrict your blood vessels all the way around your body not just in your head and as such can cause heart problems if used incorrectly. You shouldn't take more than 2 doses of ANY triptan within 24 hours and you shouldn't take more than one type of triptan in 24 hours.

I'm adding to this post because I wanted to get that warning up asap.

Bruce I think I can speak for all of us when I say we can all feel washed out the morning after a hard night, you're no different to the rest of us there hon.

What meds have you used in the past? What's helped and what has been rubbish? Have you ever tried O2?
Please excuse all the questions, I know I'm a nosy old bat but the more we know the better equipped we are to help you and help you we will!
We have quite a few other posters in MA so I'm sure they'll be along to add their welcomes too
Looking forward to hearing more from you
Helen

Title: Re: mentally and physically exhausted
Post by Bond007 on Aug 4^th, 2006, 5:13pm

Hey Bruce! Welcome to the site. Sorry to hear about the cycle starting up again.

OH! AND, LISTEN TO EVERY WARNING HELEN JUST GAVE YOU!

What your doc just gave you is an extremely dangerous dosage of triptans that VERY easily could result in death. WOW! I just can't get over the fact that any doc would hand out those kinds of meds like that. Blows my mind.

Now, to your question. Definitely yes. After a night of dancing with the beast, I'm exhausted! Physically & mentally. Hence the reason why I'm also on antidepresssants. I actually overslept my alarm clock by an hour and half this morning without even giving it an extra thought. Fortunately, my work schedule is a little flexible. Pain is exhausting by nature.

Title: Re: mentally and physically exhausted
Post by Jonny on Aug 4^th, 2006, 5:16pm

Listen to Helen about the triptans, Bruce.....you dont want to play the mix game.

For the wake up call try the Zomig NS, it works wonders for me and it may for you.

Let me know if you have any questions.

BTW, im just a few minutes south of Boston.

Title: Re: mentally and physically exhausted
Post by maffumatt on Aug 4^th, 2006, 5:27pm

I find if I am not on any meds I get a feeling of euphoria after a bad hit. It was explained to me that this was a result of endorphins being released as a response to the pain. This feeling lasts for several hours and have helped me get through a lot of days at work. But it also makes it impossible to go bact to sleep when the hit is over. I normally only get exhausted after several days and weeks of no sleep. For me it is an accumulated effect.

Title: Re: mentally and physically exhausted
Post by prcole18 on Aug 4^th, 2006, 5:34pm

Mate, after a heavy night I'm good for nothing next day sometimes can't even make it to work.

Title: Re: mentally and physically exhausted
Post by bruce802 on Aug 4^th, 2006, 9:40pm

Thank you all for your quick response to my post. Helen my Doctor did explain to me not to take more then 2 of one of the scrips in a 24 hour period and not to mix any of them. Maybe I didn’t explain myself as well as I could have in my post. And thank you all for your concern. He just gave me a few different ones to try if the first one didn’t.

As for any other meds, these are my first ones I have ever tried. I have been dealing with the headaches with out meds ever since they have started. I never had health insurance or a doctor up until now.

My Doctor also said that if the three meds didn’t work for me that he would prescribe O2 for me.

Thank you all again for your responses, Just knowing there is support from people like all of you makes a person dealing with these headaches feel a lot better.

Hope I can be of some help to others as you all are.

Bruce

Title: Re: mentally and physically exhausted
Post by chewy on Aug 4^th, 2006, 10:21pm

Hello there Bruce,

Always good to have another Mass. yankee around albeit for shitty reasons.

Sounds like your Doc is on the right tract. Talk to him about a preventative. The favorite around here is verapamil.

Title: Re: mentally and physically exhausted
Post by Bond007 on Aug 4^th, 2006, 10:23pm

Whew! That's reassuring to know that your doc did give you those warnings, bud. I feel a whole better!

I'm glad to hear that you've finally got insurance and are in a position to seek professional medical help in dealing with these damn attacks.

Best of luck and PFDAN's!

Title: Re: mentally and physically exhausted
Post by LeLimey on Aug 5^th, 2006, 6:08am

Bruce I'm glad you had the warnings too, it was as much for other's benefit as yours that I posted as there are always people who read the site and never post. I try to bear that in mind in my responses so that everyone gets info thats useful :)
O2 is my favourite abortive of all time, I love it. I can abort a hit in as little as 5-7 minutes using a ClusterMasx (http://www.clustermasx.com). I'd say ask for it as well as the triptans, not instead of!
As Chewy says, the most common preventative is verapamil. That is usually started in conjunction with a prednisone taper which takes the pain away while the verap kicks in. Different people need different doses of verap so be prepared for that, the mean dose tends to be around 480mg with some people managing on a bit less and some having to go to double that for relief.
It is a BP med so you need to increase dosage gradually and you should always have an ECG at every increase and before commencing it.
Pred is a steroid and as such you shouldn't be on it for more than about 3 weeks ideally.
I hope all this helps, we'll continue to answer any questions you have until you get pain free.. and then you can help with rowing this boat okay?! ;)
Take care
Helen

Title: Re: mentally and physically exhausted
Post by bruce802 on Aug 5^th, 2006, 7:34am

Thank you all. I will talk to my doctor about verapamil and see if he can prescribe O2 just to lessen the pain faster.

Last night was my second night with meds and having a CH. I woke an hour after going to bed and ended up taking the same med as the night before (Axert), I timed the whole process to see how quick and affective it was for me. I would have to say my pain was at a 5 when I awoke, after taking the axert, I noticed some of the pain starting to subside at around 15 minutes, by 35 minutes the pain was almost gone. This to me feels like something that I can deal with on a nightly basis verses no help at all. If you all were me, would you continue taking the same pill, or take a chance and try one of the other meds and hope they were as affective if not more? I only ask because I have been so run down from the previous attacks that I don’t want to chance not feeling better within a 30-minute period or at all.

One more question, should my doctor be sending me to a neurologist, or do you all think it’s better that he is treating me?

Thank you all.

Bruce.

Title: Re: mentally and physically exhausted
Post by chewy on Aug 5^th, 2006, 8:00am

Quote:

One more question, should my doctor be sending me to a neurologist, or do you all think it’s better that he is treating me?

If your Doc is treating and prescrbing correctly for CH then I dont see a reason for a neuro.

Try over the counter melatonin for a sleep aid.

Quote:

I ended up calling my doctor and he saw me 2 hours later.

You wont get that with a neuro.

Title: Re: mentally and physically exhausted
Post by LeLimey on Aug 5^th, 2006, 8:18am

Bruce the Zomig should work much faster for you and what's more is the effects last longer which will block further attacks.
I'd definitely suggest you try the Zomig.
The only thing about seeing a neuro is getting an MRI, you already have a confirmed diagnosis and your doctor seems pretty clued up so I'd stick with him until you outrun his knowledge!

Title: Re: mentally and physically exhausted
Post by bruce802 on Aug 5^th, 2006, 10:00am

Chewy, that sounds like good advice. I really didn’t want to have to go to a new doctor if my regular one is knowledgeable enough to treat me.

Helen, I think I will try your advice as well, I mean what do I have to loose, other then one more good nights sleep, at least then I will know what works best.

Thanks again everyone

Title: Re: mentally and physically exhausted
Post by skorpio1104 on Aug 5^th, 2006, 10:19am

Everyone:

HELEN is the second best to have next to a doctor!!! She is an awesome help to anyone old but especially us newcomers...
I don't know where she's getting the time and energy to be on so much, but I know, I appreciate her!!
Her quote of "Evil, Wicked, Mean & Nasty" means nothing!!!

Gotta love her for her support!!

Thanks Helen for being here for all of us!!!

Title: Re: mentally and physically exhausted
Post by Jonny on Aug 5^th, 2006, 2:08pm

on 08/05/06 at 10:19:46, skorpio1104 wrote:

Thanks Helen for being here for all of us!!!

Helen of Clusterville......They dont come no better than that gal :-*