Clusterheadaches.com Message Board


    
      
        Clusterheadaches.com Message Board
        (http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi)
      

        New Message Board Archives >> 2006-2007 Getting to Know Ya Posts >> Looking for help for a friend
        
(Message started by: melissam on Oct 4^th, 2007, 12:00am)

Title: Looking for help for a friend
Post by melissam on Oct 4^th, 2007, 12:00am

A good friend of mine told me that he is thinking of killing himself because of cluster headaches. He lives in an isolated rural area, and I can help him look into assistance for prescription medications, but I am wondering if anyone knows of any research studies he could look into for help here in the US?

:'(

Title: Re: Looking for help for a friend
Post by nani on Oct 4^th, 2007, 12:16am

Hi Melissa. Start here:
http://www.ouch-us.org/chinfo1.htm

In particular, see the crisis intervention link. Lots of helpful info there.
Thanks for caring. :)

Title: Re: Looking for help for a friend
Post by Bob_Johnson on Oct 4^th, 2007, 3:53pm

MANAGEMENT OF HEADACHE AND HEADACHE MEDICATIONS, 2nd ed. Lawrence D. Robbins, M.D.; pub. by Springer. $59 at Amazon.Com. It covers all types of headache and is primarily focused on medications. While the two chapters on CH total 42-pages, the actual relevant material is longer because of multiple references to material in chapters on migraine, reflecting the overlap in drugs used to treat. I'd suggest reading the chapters on migraine for three reasons: he makes references to CH & medications which are not in the index; there are "clinical pearls" about how to approach the treatment of headache; and, you gain better perspective on the nature of headache, in general, and the complexities of treatment (which need to be considered when we create expectations about what is possible). Finally, women will appreciate & benefit from his running information on hormones/menstrual cycles as they affect headache. Chapter on headache following head trauma, also. Obviously, I'm impressed with Robbins' work (even if the book needs the touch of a good editor!) (Somewhat longer review/content statement at 3/22/00, "Good book....")

HEADACHE HELP, Revised edition, 2000; Lawrence Robbins, M.D., Houghton Mifflin, $15. Written for a nonprofessional audience, it contains almost all the material in the preceding volume but it's much easier reading. Highly recommended.

Title: Re: Looking for help for a friend
Post by Emily on Oct 8^th, 2007, 10:43am

Hi Melissa,

I don't live in a rural area and I have lots of friends and family around me, but when this first started happening, I felt really lonely and isolated too. I was also feeling miserable all the time.

With ch, it can feel as though you're the only person in the world who understands what you're going through, especially for those who don't find good docs and/or neuros. Whilst the folks giving advice here aren't medical professionals, your friend will find support, practical advice and an ear to bend here. Get your friend to come here and sign up. This board and the amazing people here have helped me as much as the meds and a diagnosis and all the rest of it.

I highly recommend it.

Em

Title: Re: Looking for help for a friend
Post by MR_FLOOR on Oct 8^th, 2007, 10:40pm

on 10/08/07 at 10:43:43, Emily wrote:

I second that

Dave

Title: Re: Looking for help for a friend
Post by luveemom on Oct 10^th, 2007, 4:06pm

Hi Melissa,
I agree with the other posts. There is a crisis link on here, and at one point or another, just look at the kip scale we do feel like suicide is better than the pain......it doesn't mean we want that or will follow through.....although some do, it is the worst pain of your life, and your friend needs help.....if you can get him on here he would find a lot of support from people who feel just like he does....it is not uncommon to feel the way he does. I hope that you are able to provide him with some tools to get him the support he needs.
Alicia