Clusterheadaches.com Message Board


    
      
        Clusterheadaches.com Message Board
        (http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi)
      

        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies >> Back to the Doc Today
        
(Message started by: bothofus on Sep 17^th, 2006, 6:01am)

Title: Back to the Doc Today
Post by bothofus on Sep 17^th, 2006, 6:01am

Hello again, I go in today for a checkup with my gp after taking the depakote for 2 weeks. I guess they are helping. Haven't had any day hits, just 1-2 nightly hits at about 6-7 on the kip scale.

I'm going to ask/tell him about the verapamil.

What dosage should I tell him?

He is knowledgable about clusters, just hesitant about over prescribing I think.

Carl

Title: Re: Back to the Doc Today
Post by E-Double on Sep 17^th, 2006, 8:40am

on 09/17/06 at 06:01:23, bothofus wrote:

In the end it will be determined by your body.
It is however suggested that you start at 480 and if necessary increase.
In addition, the research suggests that you should be on regular release and NOT sustained/extended and that it should be spread out throughout the day.
You should also have your heart monitored to make sure that your BP does not drop.

Good luck and kick its a$$

Title: Re: Back to the Doc Today
Post by bothofus on Sep 17^th, 2006, 9:40am

Thanks, I hope he will do it, as the depakote doesn't seem to be doing the job fully.

I SHOULD be near the end of my cycle. Just got woke up with another hit after lying down for an hour.

Carl

Title: Re: Back to the Doc Today
Post by Bob_Johnson on Sep 17^th, 2006, 12:50pm

Here is a link to read and print and take to your doctor. It describes preventive, transitional, abortive and surgical treatments for CH. Written by one of the better headache docs in the U.S. (2002)

http://www.brightok.net/~mnjday/chtherapy.pdf

Title: Re: Back to the Doc Today
Post by bothofus on Sep 17^th, 2006, 5:36pm

Thanks Bob, I had read that before and forgot where I saved it. I had already gone for the appt. when I read it.

Well, because the daytime attacks have stopped (at least for the past few days) he decided to not put me on the verapamil. I told him I had some inderal but had stopped taking it because I didn't know how it would interact with everything else, but he said it would be ok to start taking it along with the depakote.

If it doesn't seem to help I will call him and tell him to start the verapamil.

Carl

Title: Re: Back to the Doc Today
Post by chopmyheadoff on Sep 19^th, 2006, 3:58am

seems to me that the meds you are taking are not working and id demand to try the verapamil. this can take up to 2 weeks to work however it worked after abount 2 days on me.

most are started at 240 and increased from there as your heart needs to be monitored while increasing the dose. im on 480mg at the moment and am 99% pain free

good luck bro
chop

Title: Re: Back to the Doc Today
Post by bothofus on Sep 19^th, 2006, 4:32am

Hey chop, good to hear from ya!
How is your latest condition with the ecg?

Yeah, I need to get my wife to call him and tell him to do just that. Had one bad enough to shoot as soon as I got in from work yesterday. Then got woke up after 4 1/2 hrs with about a 3-4 on the kip that went away on its on after about 10 mins and went back to sleep. Haven't had any daytime hits other than that though. Have been working a TON of overtime though, so that may be triggering/screwing with my sleep pattern.

Great to hear from ya!

Carl

Title: Re: Back to the Doc Today
Post by bothofus on Sep 21^st, 2006, 4:19am

Well here's the latest, went to the doc 9-20-06 and just happened to be having about a 5 on the kip when I walked in. It was an associate of my reg doc. He noticed right away of course. The first thing he asked about was oxygen. As bad as my eye felt, it opened a little bit at that remark. Anyway, in the exam room we talked and it was no problem gettin a scrip for the verapamil. He asked me what dosage I wanted and everything. Even told him no on the extended release.

Now, went to the pharmacy and they only had the extended release. Took the scrip to another pharmacy, same thing. (head drops) Pharmacist calls doc who asks to speak to me to try to find another pharmacy within driving distance (it's now after 6pm CDT). So we decide to just have the pharmacy order it and pick it up today.

The doc was impressed with the info I told him about from this site. He asked me for the web address and I could hear him typing it in while on the phone.

Maybe now the nights will be HA free and easier to get some sleep.

Thanks for listening to my ramblings,
Carl

Title: Re: Back to the Doc Today
Post by chopmyheadoff on Sep 21^st, 2006, 10:16am

fantastic , really pleased for you there mate - hope the verap works for you like it did for me !!

that doctor sounds worth his weight in gold - id stick with him in future if you can.

good luck
choppa

Title: Re: Back to the Doc Today
Post by chewy on Sep 21^st, 2006, 8:32pm

Quote:

Thanks for listening to my ramblings,

Ramblings. You call them ramblings?

Buddy. I wish every sufferer had those rambles. Sounds like you got yourself one hell of a Doc.

Great to hear good news about treatment.

Title: Re: Back to the Doc Today
Post by E-Double on Sep 21^st, 2006, 10:24pm

on 09/21/06 at 20:32:13, chewy wrote:

Ramblings. You call them ramblings?

Buddy. I wish every sufferer had those rambles. Sounds like you got yourself one hell of a Doc.

Great to hear good news about treatment.

Exactly!!!!!!!!!!

Right onn Carl!!!!!!!

Title: Re: Back to the Doc Today
Post by unsolved1 on Sep 21^st, 2006, 11:54pm

Goodluck & be careful with the Verapamil if you do begin it. I just wanted to add that some us can't handle Verapamil very well. For instance, 400mg a day would kill me by lowering my BP and dropping my heart rate to deadly levels. :-/ It's defeinatley not for everyone.

Goodluck

UNsolved

Title: Re: Back to the Doc Today
Post by bothofus on Sep 22^nd, 2006, 4:11am

Thank all of ya'll for the support and for listening to my, um, er, explanation.

He started me on a pretty low dosage (80mg 3x a day), but seemed genuinely interested in doing whatever it takes to getting the dosage right. Prob try that dosage for 2-3 days to see how my bp reacts.

Only had time to take it 2 x when I got in, so still got my usual hit 1 hour after sleeping and another about 5 hours later. Was taking 9 mg of melatonin at night and may give that another try.

Thanks again, Carl

Title: Re: Back to the Doc Today
Post by bothofus on Sep 23^rd, 2006, 4:46am

Alrighty!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

One good nights sleep in the books. The verapamil has seemingly been the silver bullet. I've got finger's crossed and thanked the Lord for another day either way.

Carl

Title: Re: Back to the Doc Today
Post by Charlotte on Sep 26^th, 2006, 1:32am

fingers crossed for you.

Charlotte

Title: Re: Back to the Doc Today
Post by bothofus on Sep 26^th, 2006, 4:36am

Thanks Charlotte, Have now had 3 days and 4 nights PF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I was thinking I might be near the end of this cycle, but got to checking and this one has been going on for about 5 weeks. Seemed like 10 weeks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So, I definitely think it is the verapamil working like no other preventative I've tried before.

PFDAN to you and all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Carl