Clusterheadaches.com Message Board


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

        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2002 >> Heart Patients
        
(Message started by: reelboat on Feb 26^th, 2002, 8:36am)

Title: Heart Patients
Post by reelboat on Feb 26^th, 2002, 8:36am

I've been susfully using Depakote for the past 2 years to abort my CH cycles. This year I quit takig the Depakote on the first of Febuary which is 2 weeks after the end of ny normal cycle. I had some heart surgery on the 5th of Febuary. Triple bypass and a new valve. I recieved 17 units of blood products and 41 IV's while in the hospital. Therefore my system has been completely flushed and exchanged with new fluids. My CH's started up again yesterday with 3 HA's and 2 so far today. I restarted the Depakote and am again using Imitrex 1/3 injections to abort the HA. My other drugs are Coumiden, Atenolol, Lasix, Potassium and Ambien. Does anyone see any problems with this drug combination? Does anyone see a problem with taking Depakote or Imitrex injections? Any suggestions? Thanks.

Title: Re: Heart Patients
Post by nancyc on Feb 26^th, 2002, 9:27am

I would not feel comfortable taking imitrex injections after heart surgery of any kind. Does your Cardiologist know you are taking them? As far as the depakote goes, i dont think there would be a problem...this is one for Ueli to answer...he is our cluster genius....

Title: Re: Heart Patients
Post by Donna on Feb 26^th, 2002, 9:31am

Is your cardiologist aware of what you are taking for ch's? What did he have to say?

He's really the one you should be asking.

Have you been diagnosed as having ch?

Why don't you tell us a little more about your ch history, how they act, whether they wake you at night, etc.

Glad to see you here asking questions, but you're not giving us much to go on.

Title: Re: Heart Patients
Post by reelboat on Feb 26^th, 2002, 1:11pm

Sorry about the lack of information. I used to be an active member of the old board but quit reading it when the constant bickering started. When this new cycle started I immediately came back to the only home a CH'er knows. I've had CH's for 28 years, confirmed by 3 neuroligest. I'm currently under the care of an excellent headache specialist. Shes the only doctor out of about 15 who had ever aborted a cycle. Two in fact. I was hopeing I had found a perminate cure. Oh, well. My cardiologest sees nothing wrong with either Depakote on Imitrex. I took them both before the surgery and he says my heart is in better shape now than before surgery. I'm seeing my HA Dr this afternoon. She's the one who is a little uncomfortable with the Depakote or Imitrex. I'll let you'all know how it turns out. I was really just wondering if anyone else had experiences in this area.

Title: Re: Heart Patients
Post by reelboat on Feb 27^th, 2002, 1:29pm

Just an update after my visit to yhe HA Dr. She agrees with my cardioligest that the Imitrex would be OK since my heart circulation has been approved, but would prefer me to use Oxygen first, Imitrex nasel spray second and then the injections. The Depakote is also OK provided the coumided lab that monitors my INR knows that I'm on Depakote. It will thin the blood a little.

Title: Re: Heart Patients
Post by sailpappy on Mar 5^th, 2002, 11:14pm

My Father in law died some time ago from deminished capacity of oxygen in his blood because of a bad heart, the last three month he suffered terible cluster headaches and found the onlyhing that gaave him any releif was morphine, Nitro just triggered the lusters so bad that after the second attempt with the Nitro he took me off to the side and said to me"John I would have blown my brains out 25 years ago if I had to live with this like you do! " I tried to tell him about the innerstrength we all posess but he couldn't get past the pain and http://www.gifs.net/animate/mummyrunning.gifdied within a week after that. Pappy