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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies >> Would anybody like to give me some free advice?
        
(Message started by: Lubbi2 on Aug 20^th, 2007, 1:53pm)

Title: Would anybody like to give me some free advice?
Post by Lubbi2 on Aug 20^th, 2007, 1:53pm

Oh, heck, I'm even willing to pay for it! I can bake a mean batch of chocolate chip cookies.....

OK, so, I just talked to my doctor, and she wanted to start me on Zomig as an abortive, with no preventative. I really hesitate with any of the triptans because I have PVC (premature ventricular contractions-an irregular heart beat) as well as high blood pressure. So, I mentioned starting with O2 as an abortive, and maybe doing some research on preventatives.

How well do calcium channel blockers work as prevents? What are the side effects? I have to be pretty careful since my husband is overseas right now and its just me and the kids at home. I don't want my 6 year old or my 3 year old to have to call 911 for mommy.

So my doctor isn't against O2, and she wants me to try melatonin for now. However, I have to wait until after my CAT scan which is Sept. 4. I know its not too far away, but the thought of another hit without ANYTHING is very, very unpleasant. And since my doctor is going on vacation for a month next week, I'm gonna have to start the process over with somebody else. Gotta love military health care! And since its military, I might have a fight on my hands to get any O2 anyhow. Yeesh!

Can anybody give me any melatonin advice? Names, brands, dosages?

Thanks so much for any help!

Title: Re: Would anybody like to give me some free advice
Post by nani on Aug 20^th, 2007, 2:22pm

Before you get on verapamil and/or triptans...check with your heart doc as well as your neuro.

Melatonin, OTC, any brand, 3 -12 mgs 1/2 hour before bed.

Look here for standard med ideas:

http://www.ouch-us.org/medications/medications.htm

May I have double chips in my cookies? ;)

Title: Re: Would anybody like to give me some free advice
Post by E-Double on Aug 20^th, 2007, 2:35pm

Yuppers!!!!
Talk with cardiologist.
You may have to have an EKG and stress test.

As far as "how well" it depends on your body.

We are all different and respond so differently thus the difficulty in cookie cutter treatment plans for us.

Get Oxygen regardless.

Do not let your doctor take the wait and see approach with this.

It is the one thing to my knowledge that shopuld not have any effect that is deemed negative.

In addition, you may want to look into zyprexa as an abortive as this is also (to my knowledge) safe with a heart condition.
It is also substantially cheaper than any triptan and despite being a pill works as fast for quite a few of us.

Good luck,

E

Title: Re: Would anybody like to give me some free advice
Post by Wayne on Aug 20^th, 2007, 3:00pm

Hi

Interestingly enough Verapamil is primarily used to treat irregular heartbeat and high blood pressure, that it works as a prevent for CH is a spin off as with all the other meds that work for us. Check the following link.

www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/medmaster/a684030.html

For more info on how it works you can refer to the following article

http://www.mentalhealth.com/drug/p30-i03.html

So you may well be able to factor it into you medical regime - with doctors advice of course.

In my opinion you have to try get a prevent that works, it takes a lot of the horror out of this. Any Dr who will happilly let you wait 3 weeks for no reason isn't taking you very seriously.

As an abortive you can also try Redbull, it works astonishingly well for a lot of folk here. If it helps you you have a quick fix until you get sorted with the o2.

I can only wish you the best of luck. PF Days

PS. So when can we have the cookies??

Title: Re: Would anybody like to give me some free advice
Post by michael on Aug 20^th, 2007, 3:03pm

Hi Lubbi2

Although I haven't been in cycle since I found this site so I haven't had chance to try them, there are a few home remedies that alot of people here swear by:

Water treatment - see the link on the left

Red Bull or any energy drink containing caffiene AND taurine - chugged straight down at the first hint of a hit

Lots of strong black coffee

May get you through till you get a proper abortive

PF wishes

Mike

Title: Re: Would anybody like to give me some free advice
Post by UN solved on Aug 20^th, 2007, 7:44pm

I'm sorry, due to my new policy, I am charging for 'free advice' now. Please forward 1 2 batches of chocolate chip cookies and a reply will be sent to you within 6 - 8 weeks (or sooner if the cookies are really good) . Thank you for your cooperation ;;D

PF Wishes

UNsolved <Mike> 8)

Title: Re: Would anybody like to give me some free advice
Post by Kris_in_SJ on Aug 20^th, 2007, 8:40pm

I also like walnuts in my chocolate chip cookies.

I also suffer from hypertension and occasional bouts of PAC's. High dose Verapamil (a calcium channel blocker) has been a savior for me during cycles.

I also seem to tolerate tryptans despite the hypertension, but would never recommend it as a first line of defense unless oxygen failed to help.

I would also never use an abortive alone - prevents make the cycles shorter and less intense. A prednisone taper totally knocked out my last cycle however.

Regardless, work with your doctors, but don't stick with anyone who only offers you tryptans. If you haven't seen this article, please look at it now, print it out and take it with you to the doc:

http://www.plainboard.com/ch/chtherapy.pdf

Hugs,

Kris

Title: Re: Would anybody like to give me some free advice
Post by Wayne on Aug 21^st, 2007, 4:57pm

So what happened to the cookies?????

Title: Re: Would anybody like to give me some free advice
Post by medicjeff505 on Aug 21^st, 2007, 5:42pm

ok a few things here to consider... first off i would highly recommend speaking to a cardiologist.

i am only a paramedic, but i have had exposure to alot of these meds over the years in dealing with patients, speaking with drs, and in studies.

verapamil is a calcium channel blocker usually used to treat, or rather control atrial fibrillation, htn , and as we all know h/a's.
pvc's are generally benign unless you have r on t pvc's or runs of more than 3 in a row ( v-tach) which then would be typically treated with a sodium channel blocker... like lidocaine in an acute setting. there are other medicines out now but again those are for the acute pt. i am not sure the severity of your pvc condition but as i mentioned we frequently run on pts that have chronic pvc's with no complications from it.

the caffiene suggestions also should not be taken so lightly with your condition as any substance that will speed up cardiac activity will also quite possibly speed up the frequency of your pvc's.

you didnt mention if you were on any antihypertensives either?? i would think verapamil would actuall benefit you x2 in that respect... again i think your best bet would be to get into a cardiologists office asap to get your heart issues sorted so you can get some relief from your h/a's. oh yeah like everyone else says O2... that wont hurt anything. good luck...jeff

Title: Re: Would anybody like to give me some free advice
Post by Bob P on Aug 21^st, 2007, 6:50pm

My heart throws PVC's and has a left bundle branch block but has never been bothered by triptans nor cafergot.
I prefer to use O2 as 1st line abort and also a longer acting vaso constrictor like cafergot or Amerge.

Title: Re: Would anybody like to give me some free advice
Post by DennisM1045 on Aug 21^st, 2007, 7:24pm

If I were you I'd go to the store, buy 2 4-packs of RedBull, go back home and find a good Neurologist. It sounds like you are dealing with a GP that doesn't have (any?) experience with CH. You need an informed physician in your corner. Use the RedBull till you find one.

Good luck...

-Dennis-