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        New Message Board Archives >> 2006-2007 Getting to Know Ya Posts >> Meds that cause CH & ER ignorance
        
(Message started by: Portland_kait on Oct 7^th, 2007, 2:05pm)

Title: Meds that cause CH & ER ignorance
Post by Portland_kait on Oct 7^th, 2007, 2:05pm

Is there a list of over the counter and perscript meds that can trigger an attack?

I thought I had migraines, until I had a three day "migraine" that became so intense that I barley drive my self to the ER. (I shouldn't have driven.) I the had to wait two hours to be seen, then another two for demeral, which didn't do much. When I saw a new family Dr. the next day he was very surprised that th ER didn't know that I was having cluster headache. I was very upset. It is pretty much putting a person through torture.
The nurse would even seeen irritated when at one point the attack got so intense I was sobbing under the blanket upright. This was a year ago. Just writing about it boils my blood.
I think I am going to finally call the hospital's consumer department and ask them to be more aware.

Title: Re: Meds that cause CH & ER ignorance
Post by Bob_Johnson on Oct 7^th, 2007, 3:58pm

Your experience is common and largely reflects the little training M.D. receive in headache. That CH is a very small minority of the patients a doc sees contributes to the situation.

See my message on medical education in the CH Specific section.
-----------
Headache. 2000 Oct;40(9):730-5.

The misdiagnosis of cluster headache: a nonclinic, population-based, Internet survey.

Klapper JA, Klapper A, Voss T.

Colorado Neurology and Headache Center, Denver 80218, USA.

OBJECTIVE: We conducted the first nonclinic, Internet-based survey of cluster headache to investigate this population with regard to diagnostic problems encountered, effective and ineffective medications, problems obtaining medications through third-party payers, and symptoms as they relate to International Headache Society criteria. BACKGROUND: Previous cluster headache surveys have been at specialty centers. These patients might be different from cluster headache sufferers in the general population. An Internet-based population of cluster headache sufferers who connected to a Web site responded to the questionnaire, and e-mailed it back to our site to be analyzed. We analyzed a total of 789 respondents, 76% men and 28% women. RESULTS: Eighty-seven percent of respondents qualified as having cluster headache according to International Headache Society criteria. However, diagnosis was delayed an average of 6.6 years from the onset of symptoms. The average number of physicians seen before the correct diagnosis was made was 4.3, and the average number of incorrect diagnoses was 3.9. Seventy-one percent of respondents had undergone unnecessary magnetic resonance or computed tomography scans, and 4% had unnecessary sinus or deviated septum surgery. We found that many inappropriate medications such as propranolol, amitriptyline, and antibiotics were prescribed and that successful medications for clusters such as sumatriptan and oxygen were often denied due to a failure to understand the nature of this disorder. Seventy-seven percent of respondents were smokers. Seventy-four percent stopped smoking in an attempt to improve their condition; however, only 3% experienced relief. CONCLUSIONS: The most alarming finding was the delay in diagnosing cluster headache in this population--an average of 6.6 years. The selection of medications demonstrated to be successful in the treatment of clusters proved effective for the majority of this population. Many respondents reported being denied some of these effective medications by their physicians or third-party payers. Using International Headache Society criteria for cluster headache, 87% of the respondents should have been correctly diagnosed by the first physician seen.

PMID: 11091291

Title: Re: Meds that cause CH & ER ignorance
Post by Portland_kait on Oct 7^th, 2007, 6:29pm

Thank you for that um...scary but good to know info.

Title: Re: Meds that cause CH & ER ignorance
Post by luveemom on Oct 10^th, 2007, 4:10pm

I'll just speak for myself, but the ER trips I have taken....and there have many over the years have been a complete waste of endless hours of my time when I still leave in as bad or worse condition than I arrived in...No one seems to know a G-damn thing about a CH...will not give me o2, or when they do it is not high flow, then they just load me with morphine.......it's f-ing hopeless.........I have learned the hardway my friend....I now see it as torture.....I'd rather stay home and die.

Alicia

Title: Re: Meds that cause CH & ER ignorance
Post by Brewcrew on Oct 10^th, 2007, 5:13pm

The few times I tried it, Viagra triggered a bad one every time.

Title: Re: Meds that cause CH & ER ignorance
Post by Jonny on Oct 10^th, 2007, 8:49pm

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Title: Re: Meds that cause CH & ER ignorance
Post by Portland_kait on Oct 10^th, 2007, 9:23pm

eeep!
Well, I heard and actually now that I think about do notice that sudefed type medicines are bad.
I know what you mean about the hospital. Unless you know they are going to treat you right, why bother. The all the bright lights and noise as well.

Title: Re: Meds that cause CH & ER ignorance
Post by schaan on Oct 15^th, 2007, 12:41am

efexor triggered worse ever although i believe it was the wellbutrin (zyban) component that did it.

took it for depression and im now depression medication free now that i have hope for my ch !!!!!

my depression seems to be diminishing rapidly with the proper treatment schedule im on now.

btw this is under doctors supervision ( a must )

Title: Re: Meds that cause CH & ER ignorance
Post by RichardN on Oct 15^th, 2007, 1:33am

If you've used hi-flo 02 (with non-rebreather mask) successfully, . . . . screw the emergency room and go directly to the closest firehall. Several here have been accomodated without question and their experiences led me to a similar situation last January. . . when I was having a bad cycle.

I had stopped at my favorite hangout (pool room) on the way to get (8) tanks refilled when I had an attack coming on . . . stepped outside to my van and the tank which was hooked up to my regulator was almost empty and I didn't have a spare full one. Emptied the one tank quickly. My 02 supplier was two miles away . . . there was a firehall 1 1/2 blocks away . . . and I went straight there . . . explained I was having an attack and out of 02 . . . they wasted no time in pulling out a tank and a new mask (even though I had my own), and was able to get relief in about 10-15 min., declining the offer to sit down, and explaining the "dance" to them. I don't know how many clusterheads they had ever seen, but I do know they didn't hesitate at all to comply with my request.

Be Safe, PFDANs

Richard

Title: Re: Meds that cause CH & ER ignorance
Post by Portland_kait on Oct 16^th, 2007, 2:45pm

Wow! I can't believe how much info you can get on this board!