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        New Message Board Archives >> 2006-2007 Getting to Know Ya Posts >> New to the board
        
(Message started by: mkidd on Mar 14^th, 2007, 1:36pm)

Title: New to the board
Post by mkidd on Mar 14^th, 2007, 1:36pm

I am new to the site but not to the headaches

When I was 16 years old I started to get the headaches and at that time Excedrin and a cold pack would help me to sleep it off or at least get thru them at times. I was getting them for about a week here and there and just thought it was from my bad teenage eating.

When I was 19years old I was rushed to the ER with horrible stomach pains and had a bleeding ulcer from the Excedrin and at that time was told to stop taking the Excedrin and coffee and that I would be fine there was never any real talk about why I was taking the Excedrin to begin with. I had no insurance so I lived with it. By now they were a few times a day and for about three months a year.

A few years later I got pregnant with my son and they stopped the whole pregnancy I thought yes it is finally over but no I had my son 11/5 and then I got the first headache 11/24. They did however go away for about 2 years and then 4 years ago they made a return with full force many times a day Excedrin was doing nothing for them, no help from the cold pack and I was at the point I was taking Zanex to sleep or should I say knock my self out. I was banging things on my head (massager) and I felt like shooting the side of my head off. And thought I was going to go blind in my eye. I had insurance for awhile and I don’t think my husband could had go thru another of my fits so finally went to the Dr just this past week 3/6 and after telling him how I felt and he knew just what it was right away it felt so good to have a name for it and know I was not going crazy or going to die.

I am now taking a blood pressure med and Maxalt-mlt 10mg and it seems to be helping for the time not totally stopping them but making it easier to live with and I am not flipping out when I have one. I started searching the web and found I was like a text book case from the symptoms and the times and all. It was nice to see I was not alone.

Title: Re: New to the board
Post by Rosybabe on Mar 14^th, 2007, 1:50pm

No, you are not alone..

and here you will find info and support..

Welcome aboard!!!

Title: Re: New to the board
Post by Bob_Johnson on Mar 14^th, 2007, 2:06pm

Imitrex injection is the best abortive for Clusters for most of us. You should also talk to your doc about starting a preventive med. Print out the second link:

http://www.headachedrugs.com/pdf/ha2006.pdf Dr. Robbins site. Then explore the entire site by deleting everything following. com/ and then hit enter.
=========================================================================
Here is a link to read and print and take to your doctor. It describes preventive, transitional, abortive and surgical treatments for CH. Written by one of the better headache docs in the U.S. (2002)

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

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Explore the buttons on the left; some excellent leads.

Title: Re: New to the board
Post by Guiseppi on Mar 14^th, 2007, 2:08pm

Please read the oxygen info and try to get your doc to prescribe it. A couple of key points, you have to start the oxygen at the first hint of a CH, it must be used with s non re breather or "cluster" mask, and it needs to be at a high flow rate, up to 15lpm. Works great for many of us to abort a CH and the side effects are about nil!

Welcome to the board, you have much to learn and will very quickly know more then your doc about these things!

Guiseppi

Title: Re: New to the board
Post by TonyG1 on Mar 14^th, 2007, 6:52pm

on 03/14/07 at 13:36:22, mkidd wrote:

I am new to the site but not to the headaches

I am now taking a blood pressure med and Maxalt-mlt 10mg and it seems to be helping for the time not totally stopping them but making it easier to live with and I am not flipping out when I have one. I started searching the web and found I was like a text book case from the symptoms and the times and all. It was nice to see I was not alone.

Hi Mkidd -- Welcome to the board, sorry you're in pain!! I think the 'flipping out' is commonly referred to as dancing with the devil around here... :)

A BP med -- assume the doc put you on verapamil or another calcium channel blocker ? Quick tip on the MAXALT MLT -- Take it at the first sign of a hit ... as I'm sure you're aware it is all about timing with this condition. Additionally, as Bob and Guiseppi offer some really good information and knowledge is power with this condition. READ, READ, READ on this board ! While the pain is generally the same for all of us, the condition itself is the ultimate in designer medical conditions -- All the fad around here... :) Seriously, what works well for some, doesn't work at all for others. That's why it is best to learn as much as possible about the treatments / therapies to help you manage the condition !

I wish you well and many pain free days !! Again, welcome to the board !!

http://bestsmileys.com/welcome/16.gif