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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Cluster Headache Specific >> Trying the water treatment
        
(Message started by: jack8417 on Apr 22^nd, 2007, 11:31am)

Title: Trying the water treatment
Post by jack8417 on Apr 22^nd, 2007, 11:31am

This is the start of my 4th week on this cycle. I have had only two other cycles (ever) and they have been years apart. So far I have had about two attacks a day (3 to 4s), but the worst has been only about a 7 (about an hour after I went to bed). Even that one only lasted about 15 minutes. The last two cycles I had some 9s and 10s and I am a little nervous about getting one of those as you all know how those feel.
Yesterday I decided to try the water treatment which suggests drinking a glass of water every 1/2 hour. I had the morning one (maybe a 4) and started the water treatment right after. I did not have the evening one so I will try the treatment again today (and post the results). Have many of you tried this treatment and how successful has it been for you? Also it seems like since this is the start of my 4th week I may (with some luck) be on the downside of this cycle. I went to the Doc Friday and got a prescription for oxygen just in case. It may seem pretty cheap, but I thought I would wait to see if I am going to get a bad one (9 or 10) before filling the prescription as my deductible is $5,000.
Thanks,
jack

Title: Re: Trying the water treatment
Post by TxBasslady on Apr 22^nd, 2007, 3:36pm

Hi Jack,

I tried the water treatment a couple years ago, and yes, it did seem to help a bit.

I'm a Diet DP nut, and tried the water cause I read somewhere about aspartame (in the diet drink) and wondered if this was agitating my CH.

Since then, I got 02, and depend on the 02 explicity. I use no other meds for my CH, just the 02.

If you have a script for 02, you should try it. It's been a very successful treatment for many here. When/if you decide to try it, get yourself a clustermasx. It enhances the effects of the 02.

Just remember...don't drink so much water that you wash all the good nutrients from your body.

Jean

Title: Re: Trying the water treatment
Post by jack8417 on Apr 22^nd, 2007, 3:43pm

Thanks, I was telling my wife that I did not have one last night and at 10 am today, but unfortunately I am having one right now. Not bad so far, but it has been about 15 minutes. I would say it is a 3 or 4. I hear you about the water. I may need to take more multi-vitamins. Is 6 weeks kind of a typical cylce? I am just starting the 4th week and hope that six is the end. It seems like my other two cycles were just one month. As soon as I get a bad one I will fill the oxygen prescription.
jack

Title: Re: Trying the water treatment
Post by TxBasslady on Apr 22^nd, 2007, 4:27pm

Well, a typical cycle for CH is unknown....CH does what it wants, when it wants.

However, you are probably safe in assuming this time period is typical for you. Keep in mind, it may change at any time.

I'm episodic too, but I have no cycle. I get hit anytime. There are no weeks or months I can set aside for CH...I stay prepared year round.

Whatever you decide to try, give it time to work. If you have tried the water treatment the last few days, and it seemed to help, then stick with it. Never give up after just a couple days.

The CH can break thru anything, so don't be surprised if you skip a hit or 2 and then get hit at an "off-time" different from what's your typical.

It's certainly a possibility that your cycle could end before the 6 weeks, but again, be prepared.

Some drink down a super cold Red Bull....or keep their water in the freezer till it's super cold, then drink it to kick a CH. These little trick seems to work for some folks, but not for others.

I used to drink really hot tea for the low level CH's. It always seemed to knock them out.

You don't mention any meds you take. Do you medicate at all for your CH?

Best of luck to ya,

Jean

Title: Re: Trying the water treatment
Post by Sandy_C on Apr 22^nd, 2007, 5:03pm

Hi Jack,

I'm episodic with cycles lasting anywhere from 8 to 16 weeks, with two to six hits daily. Fortunately, I am one of the lucky ones that I also enjoy pain free time between cycles of anywhere from 18 to 24 months.

When in cycle, I DEPEND on ice water. I will down no less than ten 12 ounce glasses of good old ice water every day, all day long. The commode and I are great friends during cycle ;;D

When getting a hit, I the hold the icy cold water in my mouth it begins to get slightly warm, then another mouthful. Why? Because along with the pain in my right eye, temple, runny right nostril, pain in the right ear, etc., I get Godawful pain in my teeth and roof of my mouth on the right side. Holding the ice cold water, or even the cubes in this area seems to help.

The water treatment did not, in my opinion stop hits, shorten the length of a hit, or shorten the cycle. But, it did seem to help lessen the pain in my mouth.

Just my two cents. Good luck.

Sandy

Title: Re: Trying the water treatment
Post by jack8417 on Apr 23^rd, 2007, 6:27pm

Thanks, for some reason I did not get notified about your posting. Glad I checked. I tried the water thing for two days and I am not sure if it helped or not. Like you I get some pain in my teeth, but mainly the last upper molar on the top left. It hurts a whole bunch. The pain there is how I know the other pain is starting. This cycle is so different than the other two that I had. I have only had as I mentioned one 7. I had a mild one at noon on Sunday and none in the evening. None today so far. Sat started the 4th week of my cycle. I take it that a cycle starts the 1st time you notice symptoms. Is that right? It seemed like my two previous cycles lasted a month. It has been 4 or 5 years since the previous cycle.
Thanks for your info.
jack

Title: Re: Trying the water treatment
Post by jack8417 on Apr 23^rd, 2007, 6:42pm

Reply to TxBassLady.
I missed yours also. My Dr does not want me to use Red Bull because of some heart problems.
I have only been using Aleve at this point. My GP would not give me a script for Imetrix. He gave me the prescription for oxygen, but I may have mentioned that I am going to wait for a 9 or 10 before I fill it.
I had a call into my heart Dr before I went to the GP about Imetrex (sic). He later had an assistant call and say it was OK to get a prescription for it after the GP said had already said no. I will go back to the GP if it I have to and ask him to listen to my heart Dr.

I still have never heard from anyone whether you can have a cycle and not use major meds and not have 8s, 9s, or 10s. So far that has been the weay this cycle has gone.
thanks for your help,
jack

Title: Re: Trying the water treatment
Post by TxBasslady on Apr 23^rd, 2007, 8:13pm

on 04/23/07 at 18:42:34, jack8417 wrote:

Reply to TxBassLady.
I missed yours also. My Dr does not want me to use Red Bull because of some heart problems.
I have only been using Aleve at this point. My GP would not give me a script for Imetrix. He gave me the prescription for oxygen, but I may have mentioned that I am going to wait for a 9 or 10 before I fill it.
I had a call into my heart Dr before I went to the GP about Imetrex (sic). He later had an assistant call and say it was OK to get a prescription for it after the GP said had already said no. I will go back to the GP if it I have to and ask him to listen to my heart Dr.
I still have never heard from anyone whether you can have a cycle and not use major meds and not have 8s, 9s, or 10s. So far that has been the weay this cycle has gone.

Jack,

Sounds like you're under the care of your GP and a heart specialist at the same time.

Lot's of CH'ers with heart problems cannot and do not take Imitrex. Some w/heart problems take it with no noticeable side effects. Some have taken it and developed heart problems, others have not.

I'm not a doc, so I can't say what is and isn't the best. I have not personally taken Imitrex, nor will I ever. It's just not my drug of choice. Lot's of CH'ers use it....in the injectable form. The pill form, I understand is too slow to act, but again, I speak not from experience.

Yes, it's quite possible to have a CH cycle and not experience the 8's, 9's and 10's that you speak of. Understand, that CH does whatever it wants. You can have a cycle and it be totally different from the last. You can go 2, 3, or 5 years in between cycles. It can change and you can become a chronic sufferer, with no breaks. The CH can last 6 mos instead of 6 weeks....there's really no guidelines here that you can follow.

Personally, I would have to say that the Aleve does very little for CH relief. CH is not treated with OTC pain relievers with much success. Possible, I suppose, that you're an exception. I'll never say "never"...where CH is concerned, especially since I'm not a doc.

Always follow the instructions from your doc....however, you have 2 docs. I hope that the 2 of them are working together on your CH treatment, considering the existing heart condition.

Read all you can about any and all meds and treatments suggested by your docs. Know what your treatment plan is and check out the pros and cons of each. Feel free to print out anything from this site you feel you need. And always remember that you have a right to question your meds treatment.

Read up on the Imitrex....the benefits, and the side effcts. Do the same on the 02....and any other choice of meds. Be active in the decisions and choices made by your docs....and ask for a change if you feel it necessary.

Jean

Title: Re: Trying the water treatment
Post by Gator on Apr 24^th, 2007, 3:13am

If your doctor refuses to prescribe Imitrex because of heart related problems, talk to him about trying Zyprexa. Several people here use it to abort attacks and report great success. Your doc may even have samples so you can try it without having to lay out any money on something that may or may not work for you.

Print this out and take it to your doc:

Quote:

Headache 2001 Sep;41(8):813-6

Olanzapine as an Abortive Agent for Cluster Headache.

Rozen TD.

Department of Neurology, Jefferson Headache Center/Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, Pa.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate olanzapine as a cluster headache abortive agent in an open-label trial.

BACKGROUND: Cluster headache is the most painful headache syndrome known. There are very few recognized abortive therapies for cluster headache and fewer for patients who have contraindications to vasoconstrictive drugs.

METHODS: Olanzapine was given as an abortive agent to five patients with cluster headache in an open-label trial. The initial olanzapine dose was 5 mg, and the dose was increased to 10 mg if there was no pain relief. The dosage was decreased to 2.5 mg if the 5-mg dose was effective but caused adverse effects. To be included in the study, each patient had to treat at least two attacks with either an effective dose or the highest tolerated dose.

RESULTS: Five patients completed the investigation (four men, one woman; four with chronic cluster, one with episodic cluster). Olanzapine reduced cluster pain by at least 80% in four of five patients, and two patients became headache-free after taking the drug. Olanzapine typically alleviated pain within 20 minutes after oral dosing and treatment response was consistent across multiple treated attacks. The only adverse event was sleepiness.

CONCLUSIONS: Olanzapine appears to be a good abortive agent for cluster headache. It alleviates pain quickly and has a consistent response across multiple treated attacks. It appears to work in both episodic and chronic cluster headache.

Title: Re: Trying the water treatment
Post by jack8417 on Apr 29^th, 2007, 3:23pm

Yes, thanks I will check into that alternative to Imetrex.
I have started the 5th week and still have about two minor attacks a day. 3s or 4s at the most. I did not fill the 02 prescription yet as I wanted to wait and see if I get a big one. This is really different than the last two episodes that I had.

Title: Re: Trying the water treatment
Post by ClusterChris on May 1^st, 2007, 6:54am

hey jack!

Just out of curiosity, Why are you waiting till you get hit with a 9 or 10 to fill your o2??? In my opinion, thats like waiting for a car accident before you start wearing your seatbelt. Why not be ready for it? should that 9 or 10 happen to come, you'll be sitting there kickin your own ass for not having it ready.

Just my opinion, best of luck to ya!

Chris

Title: Re: Trying the water treatment
Post by inyoureye on May 2^nd, 2007, 8:08pm

on 05/01/07 at 06:54:35, ClusterChris wrote:

That was me 2 weeks ago. Don't be a "me"!!!

After 20+ yrs with this, you'd think I would know better. I had med coverage issues but that's no excuse.

Title: Re: Trying the water treatment
Post by cluster on May 4^th, 2007, 8:48am

<== Please see remark underneath the picture on the left side.

My cluster hits got less severe and less frequent drinking about 2 - 4 liters of water per day. At the same time I started taking verapamil. I found that drinking cold water can also help to abort an attack - prefer oxygen though, used the water when I didn't have oxygen.

pf wishes,
Friedrich

Title: Re: Trying the water treatment
Post by jack8417 on May 6^th, 2007, 4:59pm

Thanks for all of the responses. I did finally fill the 02 prescription and I have used it twice. It seemed to work at least the 2nd time I used it. I am on the 6th week now and went 24 hours without a hit, but got one a couple of hours ago. It was real bearable and I took 4 Advil and waited it out. I wanted to save the o2 as it is Sunday in case I need it tonight. I go on vacation this Friday so I hope I am nearing the end and I hope it is many many years (if ever) before I get these again. I shouldn't complain as I have not had a 9 or 10 at this point and I know many of you have them a lot. I remember how terrible they are still. How could you ever forget.
Thanks again,
jack