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        New Message Board Archives >> 2006-2007 Getting to Know Ya Posts >> Hi 
        
(Message started by: pha516 on Dec 23^rd, 2006, 8:21am)

Title: Hi
Post by pha516 on Dec 23^rd, 2006, 8:21am

Hi : I am the wife of a cluster sufferer. My husband Mark has been getting clusters for years. We have gone through a long time period that he did not get any and about a week ago he started with bad headaches that seemed more like migraines. He would throw up and then feel better so we chalked it up as being a migraine. Until last night. The clusters were back. The jabbing pain in his eye, the runny nose, the pacing and crying. What a horror. I almost had him in the car to go to the emergency room (it was 2:00 am) and then they started subsiding. Since today is Saturday I don't think he will be able to get in touch with his doctor so I have a feeling tonight we will be in the emergency room. He used to be on imitrex but of course we have none in the house since his last episode was over 2 years ago. Well, I just wanted to introduce myself. I have seen first had how horrible clusters can be. I sympathize with all of you on the list. I know clusters just have to run their course. THEY ARE HORRIBLE!!! I will try and get Mark to post and introduce himself. Debbie

Title: Re: Hi
Post by Guiseppi on Dec 23^rd, 2006, 10:59am

You're a saint for being a supporter! My wife found this board for me, she's a computer person, I am not, It's been a life saver for me.

Consider posting in the supporters corner, a lot of people carrying the same load you are. Those of us with supporters like you know how lucky we are. That being said, do you have oxygen in the house yet? Quickest easiest way to abort the beast with the least amount of side affects. I keep bottles on hand on cycle or not. Read the oxygen link on the left, print it out and then get real pushy with your doctor!!!! They can be resistant to the idea.

Welcome to the board and thanks again for being a supporter, we love you guys.

Guiseppi

Title: Re: Hi
Post by Linda_Howell on Dec 23^rd, 2006, 7:29pm

Debbie,

Most of us have been the ER route ONCE. By the time you get there it's subsiding or gone and by the time he gets to be seen he'll most likely be considered someone who is seeking drugs.

Til he can get to his Dr. you can take him to any fire station in your area and they will give him oxygen. Go buy him some of those high caffeine enery drinks or make strong pots of coffee for him.

Linda

Title: Re: Hi
Post by Redd715 on Dec 23^rd, 2006, 8:06pm

Debbie,

You are an angel, in all sense of the word.

Being the holidays, and knowing how hard it'll be to get into a good Neuro right now, we need to find a coping plan untill he can see his Doc.

Linda gave great advice, just make sure to tell the firestation "non-rebreather mask and a flow rate of 12-15 lpm."

Red Bull or Monster Khaos.. get a supply....have him chug one when he knows the attack is imminant...then off to the O2...

If his attacks are mostly at night, get some Melatonin and benadryl. Try the melatonin alone first. It may work alone. Some of us have had to use a coctail of the two, but it prevents REM sleep stage and can help hold off night time attacks.DOn't worry about the dosage on the bottle. We CH'ers have to do what works. 9-12 mg is a usual but we are all different and he may respond to a lower dose. Start low and work up.

Try cold packs on the back of the neck, where the blood enters the brain. If cold makes things worse try heat.

Also try having sleep semi upright in a recliner instead of flat in bed. This helps for some of us too.

Fight to see a Neuro asap. Pereferably a headache specialist...

Keep us posted.

Title: Re: Hi
Post by pha516 on Dec 23^rd, 2006, 9:48pm

Thank you all for the great advice but we lucked out. His headache was so bad last night and it left a horrible dull headache today so at about 1:30 pm we went to the ER. We were there from 2:00 - 8:30. Finally when we saw the doctor they gave him a shot of imitrex. After a few minutes his headache subsided but his blood pressure went to 198/128 . My husband is on blood pressure medication so they gave him a blood pressure pill and we had to wait until the pressure came down before we could leave. We also left with a prescription for the imitrex spray which he has used before but he's alittle afraid that when he uses it his pressure might go wacky again. This should be an interesting night!!!! Debbie