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New Message Board Archives >> 2006-2007 Getting to Know Ya Posts >> Hello Good to Meet You
(Message started by: Nigel33 on May 6th, 2007, 10:29am)

Title: Hello Good to Meet You
Post by Nigel33 on May 6th, 2007, 10:29am
Hi to everyone

My name is Nigel, I am 41 and live in the North of England. I started suffering from CH approx 2 years ago but was only diagnosed this year having consulted 4 different Doctors. I was being treated for Sinus infections everytime by my Doctor - numerous pills that did no good at all!

My latest bout of headaches started on the 28/12/06 and lasted until 3 weeks ago but resulted in the me losing 5 weeks of work on sick leave!

I can say that when I have these headaches I have never felt so ill, not just the pain but my whole body feels like I have been beaten with a Baseball Bat. I feel a little hope now that I know what this illness is and I look forward to speaking to people who have to go through this torment also.

Take care everyone, especially those suffering now - my thoughts are with you.....

Title: Re: Hello Good to Meet You
Post by LeLimey on May 6th, 2007, 10:33am
Hi Nigel its good to meet you, just sorry it has to be here.
What meds were you taking for this last bout and dd they help at all? I know you're out of cycle now but lets get you armed and dangerous for next time!
BTW, a few of us are meeting up in Blackpool on the 17th of May if you're near enough and would like to join us, you'd be more than welcome!

We'll do all we can to help you either way.
Helen

Title: Re: Hello Good to Meet You
Post by Nigel33 on May 6th, 2007, 10:39am
Hi Helen good to meet you also. My last Doctor gave me Verapamil tablets and Imigran Nasal Sprays. The effect the Verapamil has had has been dramatic - what a difference when I take these!

I have an appointment with a Specialist on the 17/05/07 so I wait to see what advice he or she can give me.

Nigel

Title: Re: Hello Good to Meet You
Post by LeLimey on May 6th, 2007, 10:50am
You need the imigran injections, the nasal sprays don't work fast enough and if your GP checks their BNF (British National Formulary or "bible!) they will see that the only licensed treatment for CH in the UK is the imigran injections (commonly called Imitrex on this site by the way) They don't like to prescribe them as they are sinfully expensive but they work and they work fast and thats why we should have them. It states in the BNF that given the excruciating morbidity* of the condition it would be unethical not to prescribe on grounds of cost.

Have a good read here, there are lots of home remdies which really can help such as ice packs or heat depending on which is right for you, red bull (or generic equivalents) strong coffee and so on. I know caffeine is usually thought to provoke headaches but given that CH is a vascular HA - the veins expand to up to 20 times on the affected side of your head crushing everything else which is why they hurt so much. Caffeine, like Imigran is a vaso constrictor, it reduces the size of those blood vessels if you get it down your neck quickly enough and thus takes away the pain.. repeat after me - caffeine is my friend!  [smiley=laugh.gif]

Feel free to ask any questions, go armed with info to your neuro appt so you can get the best out of him/her and stick around!

Helen


*it effing hurts to you and me  ;)

Title: Re: Hello Good to Meet You
Post by Nigel33 on May 6th, 2007, 11:00am
Thanks Helen

I appreciate your advice very much. I agree the Imigran Sprays do not do much. I will see my Doctor regarding the injections......LOL thanks for the common English at the end by the way you speak my language :0)

It is a good tip about the Coffee - one of the Doctors I spoke to actually warned me off Caffeine saying it would make the pain worse!

I don't know if many people on here have suffered the same but I spent a few weeks being prescribed anti epilepsy drugs - I have never been so ill in my life!!! Dizziness, sickness, problems concentrating - you name it. On top of this I still had the pain of the CH to cope with!

Take care and thanks again

Nigel

Title: Re: Hello Good to Meet You
Post by nani on May 6th, 2007, 11:12am
Hi Nigel! Welcome. You're in very good hands with Helen... so I just wanted you to know I've always wanted to have a friend named Nigel.  :)
pain free wishes, nani

Title: Re: Hello Good to Meet You
Post by Nigel33 on May 6th, 2007, 11:13am
Hi Nani

Thanks for your post, well one good thing from this is you now do have a friend called Nigel!!!

Title: Re: Hello Good to Meet You
Post by Rosybabe on May 6th, 2007, 4:30pm
Hi Nigel!

Welcome aboard!!

Hope you get to feel better very soon!!

and yes you have a very unique name!!

                                           Rosy.

Title: Re: Hello Good to Meet You
Post by TonyG1 on May 6th, 2007, 9:30pm
Hi Nigel !  As Nani said, you're in good hands with Helen!  Just wanted to say welcome aboard!   [smiley=wave.gif]

Tony

Title: Re: Hello Good to Meet You
Post by Callico on May 6th, 2007, 11:26pm
Welcome aboard.  Be sure to follow up on your reading and get as much info to take with you to the specialist as you can handle.  there is a lot more experience and knowledge on this board than in 99% of the Drs offices in this world, including most "specialists".  Unfortunately most Drs think migraine when they think headache and can't get past it, hence the advice to stay away from caffeine.  If you were to take my coffee away someone would be hurt very badly very soon! ;;D

As you will learn, there are no CH drugs available.  We have to make do with other drugs that sometimes work for some of us.  Thatis one reason for you to learn as much as you can before you go in to the Dr so that you can participate in deciding which route to take in treating yourself.  Some epilepsy drugs have been useful to some people, but others of us like yourself find the side effects to be worse than the cure.

I hope you will hang around while PF to learn and also to lend a hand to the rest of us who don't have that luxury.

Jerry



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