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        New Message Board Archives >> 2006-2007 Getting to Know Ya Posts >> 2nd cycle ever...nice to meet ya
        
(Message started by: NorCal78 on Mar 4^th, 2007, 5:34pm)

Title: 2nd cycle ever...nice to meet ya
Post by NorCal78 on Mar 4^th, 2007, 5:34pm

Just thought I'd say hello and introduce myself. I'm in my 2nd cycle ever. My first was 3 years ago and I thought the beast might've forgotten me since it's been so long since his last visit. :-[ .
I am from Northern California, Chico to be specific, I'm lucky enough to have the best wife in the world who supports me and understands what I'm going through better than anyone (other than those of you out there who have the HA's too) I really thought I had this thing behind me but 2 weeks ago he paid a visit late one night in a sound sleep.
The first time 'round I thought I was surely dying, having an anurism (sp?), or suffering from a massive brain tumor. My wife took me into the hospital where they told me I had a sinus infection, I eventualy convinced them that this was no mere sinus infection, they admitted me and did all kinds of tests and put me on a good dose of IV addivan (sp?) and morphine...sent me home 2 days later after the spinal taps, and mri's etc, told me I did have a sinus infection AND cluster headaches...beat that cycle with Imitrex shots and thought it was a fluke but damnit, I was wrong....
Hello to all, I've read the site extensively and am currently using Imitrex (when necessary), red bull (when i can get away with it) and O2 (when I'm at home) and really feel lucky to not have suffered without meds/abortives for very long....any pm's are welcome as I'm sure I'll be sending a few! sorry about the rambling...I've been wanting to get on here for a week now!

--NorCal

Title: Re: 2nd cycle ever...nice to meet ya
Post by TonyG1 on Mar 4^th, 2007, 6:05pm

Hi NorCal, welcome aboard ! Sorry you're in another cycle :o but glad you found this place. Looks like your first cycle was a fun ride... I remember I thought I had a brain tumor during my first cycle as well. Many years later ... I'm still kickin' ;;D

I see you've got the abortives covered imitrex, O2, etc. Did they put you on any preventatives? (verapamil, topomax, etc.) Additionally, tell us a little about your hits (i.e. frequency, timing, intensity, etc.) There is a LOT of great information here and I suggest: READ, READ, READ !!

Wishing you pain free days & again welcome to clusterville !

T.

Title: Re: 2nd cycle ever...nice to meet ya
Post by Sandy_C on Mar 4^th, 2007, 6:26pm

Hi NorCal, and welcome.

You've come to the right place to get information on CH, what works for some, what works for other. As you will learn, nothing work for EVERYONE!

Someone is always here, 24/7, so log on and ask any questions you might have. There will always be answers. This place was a Godsend to me, and I hope we can help you.

Sandy

Title: Re: 2nd cycle ever...nice to meet ya
Post by BB on Mar 4^th, 2007, 7:56pm

Hello and welcome,

I am glad to see you getting a correct diagnosis and that you have oxygen already. :)

Keep reading the Board and post as many questions as you wish and PM away. People here are very helpful and kind.

Painfree wishes to you.

Annette

Title: Re: 2nd cycle ever...nice to meet ya
Post by NorCal78 on Mar 4^th, 2007, 9:36pm

I wish had documented my 1st cyle better, I don't really remember what the duration of the cycle was or how frequent the hits were, but this time around it started with 1 hit per night for the first 3 nights or so...right around 11:30, pretty much like clockwork, in fact when i get off of work at 9pm i would pretty much come home and brace myself for a hit. After 3 or 4 days I started to get 2 hits a day, one usually in the mid afternoon and then my "usual" at around midnight...
As far as the intensity, the first hits of this cycle were pretty mild in comparison to the ones that have come now that I'm in the thick of it...it seems like the more that come, the more intense they are also. My experience with imitrex is weird, I've been wondering if anyone else has felt like if you use the imitrex to abort a CH, the beast "owes" you one? I will use it and dodge the HA, but then I'll sometimes get another somewhat random HA in the middle of the day or night when I'm not expecting one.
Oh yeah another thing i was wondering is if anyone has switched sides, so to speak. The very first hit of this cycle was on my right, but every hit since has been on the left. Any input would be great...

--NC78

Title: Re: 2nd cycle ever...nice to meet ya
Post by MathenyMan on Mar 5^th, 2007, 2:14am

I, unfortunetly, have been diagnosed for a long time now but just recently got oxygen. I have no idea if there is any correlation but I noticed that before I started using oxygen as an obortive I pretty much NEVER had CH's on the left but now that I'm using the oxygen it happens more on the left than the right. I dont know if this helps but, just something I noticed, and I've had CH's for 14 years now...best of luck.

Title: Re: 2nd cycle ever...nice to meet ya
Post by Linda_Howell on Mar 5^th, 2007, 1:05pm

Hi NorCal. I, and another clusterhead, live in Redding.

Come visit us here: http://www.calouch.org/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl

or if you would like to talk or get some info you don't already have, you can PM me and I'll be happy to call you.

Linda

Title: Re: 2nd cycle ever...nice to meet ya
Post by kcopelin on Mar 6^th, 2007, 3:50pm

Hey NorCal!
Sorry you had to be here, glad you are though. Preventatives? Really need those. Transitional... lets see...
something like prednisone for a couple of weeks while the preventative (like Verapamil) kicks in, and the abortives for the hits.

I am the other Redding person. Pm anytime, I go to Chico from time to time and would love to meet ya.

PFDAN
kathy

Title: Re: 2nd cycle ever...nice to meet ya
Post by barry_sword on Mar 6^th, 2007, 10:00pm

Hi NC78. Pleased to meet you. :)

Barry