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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Cluster Headache Specific >> A question?
        
(Message started by: ferrie on Nov 9^th, 2006, 3:43pm)

Title: A question?
Post by ferrie on Nov 9^th, 2006, 3:43pm

When you have a big attack of CH, say in the middle of the night, does it eventually simmer down to just really painful until the next biggie and go on like this throughout the long period? What are your experiences of Imigran tablets? I noticed some reviews while searching the web, that some people swear by the tablets, please give me your experience. I am going to the docs tomorrow and am going to ask about the injections.

Julie

Title: Re: A question?
Post by seasonalboomer on Nov 9^th, 2006, 3:49pm

Julie,

The tablets aren't worth a damn to clusterheads. Take too long.
Focus on the injections, or the inhaler (some people like the inhaler that don't like dealnig with shots.) The folks who swear by the tabs are primarily migraine sufferers - who, if they got a chance to feel the injection would be swearing by the injection. (That's my opinion there if you hadn't guessed).

my big middle of the night hits, prior to ,y using O2 and imitrex, would eventually die down with me in wreck on the floor in some contorted position with my head wedged in some manner and finally sleep and after rolling around for what seemed like forever. but then, gone. and me feeling as if the beast had "had his way with me".

scott

Title: Re: A question?
Post by Linda_Howell on Nov 9^th, 2006, 3:51pm

Hi Julie,

What you describe we call back-to-back headaches. They ramp up and after a while start coming down giving us a break for a little while only to ramp back up once more. I think I'm safe in saying that we have ALL had that happen. But not often. Thank God.

Imigran tablets are great for Migraines, but most here have found that they take wayyyyyyy too long to be effective. Ihe injections or the nasel spray work on about 5 to 15 mins. The tabs take a LOT longer and in my opinion are useless.

Title: Re: A question?
Post by ferrie on Nov 9^th, 2006, 4:09pm

Thanks to both of you for your replies, I guess the tablets are not for me. I am sure I read here that the Inhalers were useless, do they just not suit everybody?

Title: Re: A question?
Post by seasonalboomer on Nov 9^th, 2006, 4:11pm

i used the inhaler twice. it worked almost as good as the shot for me, i just didn't like the drainage in the back of my throat afterword. yuck.

Title: Re: A question?
Post by Linda_Howell on Nov 9^th, 2006, 4:16pm

The inhalers work for me in about 10 to 15 mins. Injections when I can get them..about 5 mins.

Both are better than the tabs.

Have you tried or heard about using oxygen? Here is a link for you because you need to have a prescription for it from your Doctor.

http://www.maplefallswebdesign.com/misc/oxygen/oxygen.htm

Title: Re: A question?
Post by taraann on Nov 9^th, 2006, 6:39pm

As Linda called it, I've had back to back Ch's for more or less weeks on end, I only broke through those with a hospital admittance, IV steroids, Dilaudid, and phenergran to try and break the HA and knock me out cause its a vicious cycle that sleep interruptions trigger more headaches and the more I get the ch's the more I don't sleep and so on and so forth....very vicious cycle, catch 22 really!

Big PF hugs I hope things settle down for you quick

Title: Re: A question?
Post by BigCoffinHunter on Nov 9^th, 2006, 8:51pm

Tablets are pretty useless for aborting an attack...BUT a long lasting tablet like Amerge can work as a preventative to get a good night's sleep. Actually I used about 1/3 of a tablet of Amerge to get through a night PF. I doubt that would work for Imitrex though, it has a much shorter duration. I used the nasal spray (zomig) and had good results in a few minutes.
When I'm in a cycle I have a constant shadow. The worst for me are the 'hangover' headaches I get after a bad hit, where my whole head hurts bad (not a cluster just bad!) for hours and hours afterwards. My skin on my cluster side gets tender and sore. That ruined sleep. My Neuro had me start taking 4 naproxen before bed so at least that pain would be more manageable.....and it was.

Title: CH in miami
Post by josesoriano on Nov 9^th, 2006, 10:37pm

Sorry for posting in your mrssage but I'm in a middle of a crisis and dont't have too much time to find how post a new one.

I have CH for a few years, it was detected in Peru, my country, but now I'm living in miami, yesterday I passed the last 14 hours in emergency room and noone knows what I was talking about after 7 hours they saw me and the doctor even try to do a spinal cort test...image it!!!!...since I arrive the ER told them about my case nobody license there. I am asking if sombody knows a doctor here that can help me.
Thanks ...

Jose

Title: Re: A question?
Post by thebbz on Nov 9^th, 2006, 10:50pm

Check these out
http://www.ouch-us.org/chgeneral/doctors.htm
Good luck
02 02 02 non-rebreather
all the best
jb

Title: Re: A question?
Post by BarbaraD on Nov 10^th, 2006, 6:06am

Julie

Try Melatonin at night before bed. It takes a little while to get in your system, but a lot of us swear by it. I've been taking it for several years now and don't get the night-time hits. It gives us a chance to get some rest to fight off the day hits.

O2 is a wonder also. Most of us use it.

I take cafergot and phenergan when mine raps up to over a 6-8, but most of the time I can kill it with Red Bull/ coffee/ O2.

Hugs BD

Title: Re: A question?
Post by ferrie on Nov 10^th, 2006, 5:39pm

Many thanks to all who replied here, greatly appreciated. I have posted on another thread what happened at the doctors today.