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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Cluster Headache Specific >> back after 4 years....
        
(Message started by: cpalifer on Dec 1^st, 2006, 2:19am)

Title: back after 4 years....
Post by cpalifer on Dec 1^st, 2006, 2:19am

Hello,

I haven't been to this site since, well, four or five years. Kudos to the folks who run this site, it has improved greatly. I enjoyed taking the survey and seeing all the drugs I've tried (Sansert, Caffergot, prednizone) that never worked.
I fell asleep on the couch tonight and a half hour later, boom, I woke up with a Kip 8-9. No shadow warning at all. I haven't had a headache for 4 years. I don't know which is worse, the pain of the headache or now knowing that you didn't grow out of the headaches like you thought you did and that depressive feeling of what's to come. I am 47 and have suffered since I my first headache at age 20.
I've always been a "grin and bear it" type person during headaches but am going to look at O2, since I do "exercise" when a headache comes on to get oxygen into my system, it seem to help.
Thanks again to the people who've made this site so informative and helpful.

Title: Re: back after 4 years....
Post by bothofus on Dec 1^st, 2006, 4:26am

Hello and welcome back.
Know what ya feel by getting hit out of no where, blindsided as it is. :o
After 4-5 yrs of being a normal person, the beast brought ya back to a familiar nasty normal, sorry about that. :P
Have ya tried verapamil? Some here including me have mixed feelings about it, but it does stop my hits.
Got imitrex?
Others will be along with more info on the O2.
Carl
47 also

Title: Re: back after 4 years....
Post by sandie99 on Dec 1^st, 2006, 5:42am

I'm so sorry that the beast is back to torture you. I do hope that the visit is a short one.

Best wishes & PF days,
Sanna

Title: Re: back after 4 years....
Post by BarbaraD on Dec 1^st, 2006, 7:52am

Red Bull at the first sign

Melatonin at night before bedtime (9-12mg) helps keep the night hits at bay (takes a little time to start working)

Hugs BD

Title: Re: back after 4 years....
Post by pattik on Dec 2^nd, 2006, 10:15am

Welcome back. If you have done some reading on this site, you probably know that many folks here have gotten good results from O2. It's very important to have a regulator that will allow enough LPM--some people need up to 15 LPM for it to work. And a non-rebreather mask is essential. Check out the oxygen info link on the left. Sorry you have to be back here, but this is a very informative site, and hopefully you will find some things to help you.

pattik

Title: Re: back after 4 years....
Post by johnd7 on Dec 3^rd, 2006, 1:06am

I highly recommend the clustermasx at www.clustermasx.com. I think many around here recommend it.

Also check out the info around here on Kudzu and also information on www.clusterbusters.com. Both of these offer alternative options not found from a Dr.

Title: Re: back after 4 years....
Post by painfulnoodle on Dec 3^rd, 2006, 12:27pm

O2 worked for me when I had it, but only temporarily. Red Bull works but those things are expensive. Instead I keep stocked up on Mt. Dew ... and it tastes better to me!

Immitrex is great for me, but my insurance only allows me to have 4 headaches a month ... nice of them huh? ... so I have to stretch those out.

I'm in a weird cycle right now. No real timing to it and, thankfully, never worse than about a Kip 7 or 8. But they come at all hours of the day and night. I've always been blessed because they've never really affected me during the daytime during work hours. Not so this time.

One thing I've noticed recently, and would love some other feedback on this one, we've been in a little cold snap here in Dallas for several days and I've notice that when I walk out for a quick smoke at night in that bitter cold wind (20's ... that's cold in Big D) my CH seems to die off pretty quick. I guess it's like a full body ice pack. Maybe just coincidence, but until it quits working I'll be standing half naked in the cold ... sorry if you're one of my neighbors!!!

Title: Re: back after 4 years....
Post by cpalifer on Dec 4^th, 2006, 1:34am

Thanks for everyone's encouragement and advice.
I haven't had a CH since Thursday night, but have had shadows which I react to very quickly by blowing my nose and taking Tylenol sinus to keep the air holes clear.
I think going outside helps with the O2 levels, I too go outside and breathe in cold air and find it to help. ;)
Thanks, again.