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        New Message Board Archives >> 2006-2007 Getting to Know Ya Posts >> Meds triggered my CH
        
(Message started by: JRPaulsen on Sep 26^th, 2006, 2:31am)

Title: Meds triggered my CH
Post by JRPaulsen on Sep 26^th, 2006, 2:31am

Hi all, I'm brand new here and will just tell my story as short and sweet as possible. About 2 years ago, I was trying different antidepressants to help me deal with life as I was raising a bipolar teenage dtr, who was alternately suicidal and then manic, wouldn't stay on her meds, and is now a train-hopper. Anyway, the first med I tried was Wellbutrin, and within 36 hours of taking it, my head hurt so bad that I thought I was having a stroke or aneurisym (sp?). Back to the doctor - who told me she thought I was just having a migraine, and gave me more meds to trial, and also, at my insistance, ordered a brain scan, that came out "fine".

Well, the migraine meds just didn't work at all...don't even remember what they were - there were two different ones with "x's" in them, is all I can remember. I went back to the doctor again just begging for pain meds. I had done a little research by then and informed the doctor I thought I was having cluster headaches and she looked at me like I was crazy (I'm assuming because I'm female). Oh well, I'm used to that, after spending 7 years advocating for my daughter with her doctors, I've learned that they don't know everything and should be questioned.

Anyway, I quit taking the Wellbutrin after the 2nd day, and the worst of the stabbing pains went away in a couple of weeks or so, but other symptoms stayed for months. And I have learned that I cannot have more than 2 drinks EVER or I will be very sorry.

Well, recently my stress level has gone up again, and some of the minor symptoms have come back and are plagueing me on a daily basis - just making me very irritable and tired. The stabbings haven't come back yet, but I'm scared that they will, so I have come here to learn more about what to do, since my doctor seems to be clueless. I'm also wondering if anyone else out there has had this type of reaction to any meds? Sorry this was so long. Thanks all -

Jonni

Title: Re: Meds triggered my CH
Post by georgej on Sep 26^th, 2006, 2:51am

Hi Jonni, and welcome.

Don't apologize for the length of your post--compared to some, including many of mine, it was positively succinct. LOL.

There are many treatments that you may not have looked at yet. Be sure to read all the links at the left of your screen, paying particular attention to the "oxygen info". I'd encourage you to explore these possibilities to the furthest extent possible.

If, after reviewing this material, you still elect not to medicate, there are ways of dealing with CH on this basis as well. There are quite a few of us who do not medicate, and we'd be happy to discuss our reasoning and our coping techniques with you.

Welcome home.

Best regards,

George

Title: Re: Meds triggered my CH
Post by Guiseppi on Sep 26^th, 2006, 9:55am

Hi and welcome to the board! A couple of quick warnings, if you do have CH, the biggest problem with this malady is it is so random, so unpredictable, you can be deceived as to what really is cause and effect. It takes very careful record keeping over a several year period before you can start being sure about triggers, and what starts and stops cycles.

I haven't heard of medications triggering the onset of cluster headaches, a cycle maybe but not the condition itself, but there are for more knowledgeable people then me on the board who may follow up on that. If you are sudffering from CH, they may have just turned on coincidentally with when you changed meds. I use lithium as a block for my CH when I'm on cycle. If you were on lithium for a long period of time, then stopped, you may have been masking CH for some time and not known it!

Welcome again to this mad house of a board. You have much reading to do and probably many questions to ask. You will get more information here then from most doctors and hospitals! Good luck to you.

Guiseppi

Title: Re: Meds triggered my CH
Post by Richr8 on Sep 26^th, 2006, 11:46am

John

Have you taken the quiz on the left? There are many HA conditions that mimic CH in some ways, but to ensure that you get a proper diganosis, take the quiz and read all that you can. Once you have done this you can relay your findings to your neuro who will then have a diffciult time explaiing things away.
There is additional information here:

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

That will help direct you to an appropriate treatment.

Title: Re: Meds triggered my CH
Post by JRPaulsen on Sep 26^th, 2006, 7:45pm

Not sure if I have this reply-stuff down, so I'm hoping this goes where it's supposed to. Anyway, thanks to you all for the info and welcomes! So far, I am very interested in checking out 02...think I will need to find myself a good neuro...have taken the quiz on the left and am a likely ch candidate...and have never taken lithium. I did try Zyban to quit smoking several years ago, and noticed a sudden intolerance to alcohol shortly after that never went away. I had to quit the Zyban as it just made me too sleepy. I was diagnosed with chronic sinusitis for several years in my mid-20's, so I'm familiar with the differences between ch and sinus ha. Thanks again, all...

Jonni

Title: Re: Meds triggered my CH
Post by Cathi04 on Sep 26^th, 2006, 9:01pm

Jonni, from one Oregonian to another, welcome..and I'm sorry you had to seek this place out.
You have gotten some very good advice here, and something you said has piqued my curiosity. How long do these hits last? You refer to them a stabs, is that how they feel? Like, perhaps an icepick stabbing at your eye? There IS a condition called CPH.commonly, Icepick headaches, and a med.which works almost 100% Indocin is the name.. I think first, however, I would ask you to take the ClusterQuiz you see on the bars at the left. Additionally, seek out a GOOD Neurologist, get a DX!
Most important of all, I am going to PM you my phone number, should you need someone to talk to, I'm certainly not the best....but I listen really well!!
Jonni, you're not alone. These people understand your pain. Nothing is too long, no questions are too silly, and noone will intentionally attack you-I assure you!!

Welcome home........

Wishing you PF,
Cathi.....now go check your pm's!!

Title: Re: Meds triggered my CH
Post by JRPaulsen on Sep 28^th, 2006, 5:26pm

Hi Cathi...I can't seem to figure out how to open my mail, boy do I feel silly. And I'm having trouble bringing up the message board on my home computer, so have to wait until I get to work.

Anyway, yes, when my ha is the most painful, it feels like an icepick! Always behind my left eye, also with sinus problems/droopy eyelid/painful face. The stabbings come and go for a few days, then the other symptoms will stick around for a few weeks. I did take the quiz, and was "likely" to have CH, but I know how that goes. I will look into the med you mentioned, Indocin, and try to find a neuro. I'm in the middle of trying to get guardianship of my bipolar 19 yo dtr, and things are a hectic mess right now, and this is one of those things I keep letting slide.

Thanks again, Cathi - and go Oregon!! :)

Jonni