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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Cluster Headache Specific >> New user's experiment
        
(Message started by: jcreedy on Jun 21^st, 2007, 9:08am)

Title: New user's experiment
Post by jcreedy on Jun 21^st, 2007, 9:08am

Hi all!

I'm so glad that I've found this website. It's great to be able to share stories and learn from each other, especially when my doctors appear to be so hopeless.

I've had my last lot of headaches for the past four weeks but before that hadn't had any since the age of 20 (I'm 27 now). Despite what my doctor said, I don't bother with pointless paracetamol or ibuprofen as they don't work on my cluster headaches.

Because I'm not keen on steroids/injections, I've been reading the forums for a week or so and was very interested to hear about the Taurine trial that Bob Coles did last year. In Holland and Barratt I bought 500mg of taurine tablets, combined 500mg calcium/250mg magnesium tablets and finally 500mg of kudzu tablets.

I've been taking the above since Sunday lunchtime and I've had two cluster headaches since then, wheras before I was on the pills I had one or two a day every single day. I've also been on a few cups of coffee a day and the odd red bull when I feel the 'shadows' before a headache. I am slightly concerned that one of the two headaches was about ten minutes ago and it was almost as strong as the ones I had before the pills.

Have any of you had any success with the above remedies and if so, how many do you take a day? I take two of each a day.

To the more mature users, have your headaches got better or worse with age? Does this hell ever end?!

Many thanks.

James

Title: Re: New user's experiment
Post by Ray on Jun 21^st, 2007, 12:48pm

Quote:

To the more mature users, have your headaches got better or worse with age? Does this hell ever end?!

If you are referring to age, I'm 49, went from chronic to episodic after 15 years. Been episodic for 5 years.

I can't speak to the suppliments, but I have been using the Redbull/Monster drinks occasionally, but they taste like crap and I'm not sure they work better than a strong cup of coffee for me.

Wishing you PF days and nights,

Ray

Title: Re: New user's experiment
Post by vegas1002 on Jun 21^st, 2007, 4:25pm

As for the age - I turned 50 this year. I have had clusters since I was 19. I would have 1 - 2 a night and they would come every 3 years.
I was PF for 4 years and foolishly thought this has finally come to an end. My season started last week and I now get 3 a night. I am sure this is not the answer that you wanted to hear - I'm sorry.
Good luck and wishig you PF days/nights

Title: Re: New user's experiment
Post by mabus on Jun 21^st, 2007, 10:02pm

I'm 47 and have had CHs episodically since my early twenties, though it's my understanding that many post 50 CH sufferers see a marked decline in intensity. I just finished a cycle, and it was not as intense as those I remember from when I was your age. But that was before Imitrex, and for many of us that is a miracle drug. I respect your desires to remain injection free, but life in cycle was pretty bleak before 'trex. Now it's manageable. But each us us are different, and I wish you PF times soon.

Title: Re: New user's experiment
Post by Rosybabe on Jun 21^st, 2007, 10:39pm

you mention all those supplements but...have you try Oxygen??
It works for many of us and does not require injections and is not a steroid.

Title: Re: New user's experiment
Post by jcreedy on Jun 22^nd, 2007, 8:44am

I have a neuro appointment in a month, so will speak to him about some O2. I guess because the supplements seem to have made an improvement I'm keen to stick with them.

No headache today so far and I usually get mine between 10am and 12pm! :)

Title: Re: New user's experiment
Post by George_J on Jun 22^nd, 2007, 10:39am

I've been taking 500 mg calcium and 250 mg magnesium since the middle of my last cycle. (Early 2006). Pretty typical cycle, really, except that it ended more abruptly than most. I also took 9 mg. melatonin nightly, (I've used it during the last three cycles), which seemed to decrease the number of nighttime hits.

As far as I'm concerned, the melatonin's a definite keeper, but the jury's still out on the calcium and magnesium--haven't taken them long enough to say anything one way or the other. I've continued to take them, out of cycle. They don't seem to do any harm, anyway.

Best wishes,

George

Title: Re: New user's experiment
Post by ClusterChuck on Jun 22^nd, 2007, 8:30pm

on 06/21/07 at 09:08:19, jcreedy wrote:

To the more mature users, have your headaches got better or worse with age? Does this hell ever end?!

MATURE users? Is that a polite way of saying OLD FART?? LOL!!!

on 06/21/07 at 22:02:28, mabus wrote:

it's my understanding that many post 50 CH sufferers see a marked decline in intensity.

Well, this "mature user" shows how obstinate the beast CAN be. I have had these for about 28 years, and I am now 57. These last four years have been absolutely the WORST in all my years.

Some of us old geezers DO notice a slowing down, or even stopping, but there are also plenty of us that have NOT had that pleasure.

I guess the beast either can't read, or refuses to read the instruction book! The BA$TARD!!!

Chuck

Title: Re: New user's experiment
Post by jcreedy on Jun 26^th, 2007, 11:43am

Sorry for the lack of updates. I'd been headache free since my last post on the 22nd until this afternoon when I had a minor CH. It was painful but nothing compared to what I've had in the past.

I'll stick with the supplements until I go a week without a headache! I'll also try a few pints tonight and see how things go.