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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies >> Cycle started 2 weeks ago but Im copin without RX
        
(Message started by: kingsiren on Jan 12^th, 2008, 6:06pm)

Title: Cycle started 2 weeks ago but Im copin without RX
Post by kingsiren on Jan 12^th, 2008, 6:06pm

Hi everyone, My cycle started about 2 weeka ago with a daily mild attack, maybe a Kip 3 in the late morning/early afternoon. As much as I dread the pain, I also don't like the effects of Imitrex, Topomax, Prednisone or the 3 other preventatives I have tried to mixed results. Thankfully I had some O2 left to get me through and I read a bunch of posts on here again.

I started taking a 500mg Magnesium, 1 500mg Taurine every 8, and using the 4 way nasal spray as an abortive. To my surprise the 4 way spray really seems to work, If I use it at the very beginning of an attack it never really revs up past 1 and if I wake up (usually by the time it hits kip 3 or 4 I'm standing in a scalding hot showere or huffing 02) in an attack one stream of spray and it subsides within 3-5 minutes. I haven't used any trex, Im takin melatonin at night and am in the process of obtaining another alternative treatment. I really have to say kudos to the poster who suggested the 4 Way, i never heard of it before and Thank God it actually seems to be helping me. I recently lost my health insurance and my old Neuro left NY so I was dreading starting from scratch with a new Doc but with a lil luck and some prayer I think that I may have figured out a way to tame the beast that I can cope with and afford. I would suggest that anyone who hasn't yet tried the 4 way spray to give it a shot, it works for me and I hope it keeps working. I'll post any changes and I will say a prayer for all of the rest of you suffering, I wish you all many pain free days.

Title: Re: Cycle started 2 weeks ago but Im copin without
Post by kingsiren on Jan 14^th, 2008, 5:42pm

So just to update anybody else who has used the 4 way spray as an abortive, I was up late last night almost 5 am. Finally passed out & was awoken at 9:30 already in the grips of a Kip 4. I always try to take a really hot shower before I use 02, trex, red bull or the spray. 30 minutes in and I knew that this was a doosey so I shotgunned a red bull and took a hit of the spray. 20 minutes later I strapped on the 02 as a last resort because I knew I only had enough left for maybe 10-15 minuntes. By this time I was up to about an 8, started having my silly coping dreams (this time Our Lady Of Guadalupe was jumpin up & down on my bed) but within 3 minutes the 02 cut the pain in half. I used the rest of the tank and when the 02 ran out I took it off and drifted back to sleep. 30 minutes later I was awoken with a 10-15 second hit, then it stopped. I started getting these short hits every few minutes anywhere from a 4 to an 8. It took nearlt 2 hours to subside and as soon as I could dial a phone I called a local welding supply and arranged to go pick up one of the huge tanks, I think its a K.

I'm not sure why but I feel like the attack got really bad after I used the spray, don't know if it is something like a rebound headache or not. I'm not gonna use it for a few days just to see, but it was great while it lasted. I also used the 50mg trex pill 2 nights in a row (I feel like they kind of ward off attacks while I sleep) and haven't used trex in about 16 months so maybe that affected me as well. I usually only get hit with 3 or 4 8++s during a cycle, usually towards the end and this was the first but I know the Beast plays tricks so I'm gonna see how i feel by the weekend. I still haven't been able to obtain my alternative treatment and if I keep gettin hit I will consider the pred/verap or even topamax rather than suffer. I'm not against meds, I was just hoping to avoid the neuro this time around I was laid off work for a bit & my insurance ran out. I have recieved a few emails from people saying that they too have been avoiding meds and I appreciate the support but I would tell anyone whos new not to ruloe any options out, speak to your doctors & read read read the more informed you are about your treatments the better off you will be.

Good Luck everyone