Clusterheadaches.com Message Board


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

        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2004 >> Lurker turned poster, broke cycle?
        
(Message started by: HopefulJay on Jun 21^st, 2004, 1:43pm)

Title: Lurker turned poster, broke cycle?
Post by HopefulJay on Jun 21^st, 2004, 1:43pm

Have been reading for several weeks but this is my first post.

I am episodic and am in my third cycle. I'm 32, had my first cycle for a couple of months in 1998, then again for about 6 wks in winter 2000-2001, now in my 5th week of a third cycle.

First two cycles was misdiagnosed and sent to an ENT specialist for nonexistent sinus infections. Finally figured out what I had this time thanks to the Net, this site in particular was very helpful. New PCP, younger and more attuned to litening than previous dr was, agreed I showed textbook symptoms of CH.

Gave me Maxalt to abort. I quit smoking, am avoiding triggers like mad, sure do miss chocolate and wine.

Took Maxalt the first day and all of a sudden my once-a-day or every-other-day headache cycle turned into 2 or 3 onsets daily. Took Maxalt religiously for a week, had to pay for a refill my ins. co. would not cover, then go back to beg for more samples when that also ran out and couldn't afford a refill. PCP was concerned about me taking the max. dosage for so many days in a row but agreed to provide addl. samples.

meanwhile I took magnesium supp 250 mg X 2 daily and Melatonin, staring at 3 mg nightly. Increased melatonin to 6 mg after a few days, then 9 mg. Then I started waking up very nauseous and so tapered back Melatonin down to zero and quit the magnesium, switched to a multivitamin instead. Nausea cleared up in about 2 days.

Then all of a sudden, after 2 days without either of those supplements, and a reduction to 1 to 2 CH onsets daily, I have not had any onsets in, let's see now, 79 hours and counting, even when I was in a smoky room with friends last night nothing happened.

I am hoping this is the end of this cycle. Don't know if this info is useful or interesting to anyone but thought I'd share.

Good luck everybody and thank you so much for the education this site has provided, it probably saved me untold pain being able to see a doctor and tell him what was wrong without going through all the BS I have had to go through the last 2 cycles.

Title: Re: Lurker turned poster, broke cycle?
Post by BobG on Jun 21^st, 2004, 1:58pm

Quote:

I am hoping this is the end of this cycle. Don't know if this info is useful or interesting to anyone but thought I'd share.

Of course it is of interest here. Thanks for sharing. We are always open for good news.
Can't say if the meds you used helped bring the cluster to an end or not. Since it was 5 weeks it may have just gone away by itself. Whatever it is it's good news.
Welcome to the board. There's lots to learn here.

Title: Re: Lurker turned poster, broke cycle?
Post by HopefulJay on Jun 21^st, 2004, 4:52pm

Thanks Bob! It's good to feel welcome.

I too wonder if I just maybe got lucky and the cycle ended regardless of the stuff I took for it. I guess it's part of the mysterious nature of this ailment, eh?

I am curious - has anyone else has the morning nausea complaint from high doses of melatonin? The stuff really does help me sleep and I have a sneaking suspicion it might have helped curtail my cycle - just a hunch, nothing more. But I've read the other posts on melatonin and haven't found anyone else who mentioned a nausea issue. Man, did I wake up sick after those high-dose nights, especially the 9 mg time - 2 nights of that and I was suffering almost as bad from nausea as I had been from the headaches. Plus the weird hot and cold flashes ... although I also wonder if the magnesium (it was Mg Oxide) was at fault. I tried to find a chelated form but didn't have any luck. Have to check out GNC at the mall maybe if I decide to try that again. I read that the oxide form could be a problem for the GI tract.

Anyway, nice to make everyone's acquaintance. I'll keep you posted on whether this really is the end of my cycle or just a lull.

Title: Re: Lurker turned poster, broke cycle?
Post by Superpain on Jun 21^st, 2004, 5:05pm

None of it ever made me naseous... But glad to hear you are pf!

Title: Re: Lurker turned poster, broke cycle?
Post by eyes_afire on Jun 21^st, 2004, 6:14pm

Hi Jay,

If I was you, I'd be more suspicious of the magnesium causing the stomach problem. Magnesium oxide can act as a laxative and give you the shits. I wouldn't rule out the melatonin as contributing to the problem, but I'd be more suspicious of the magnesium.

--- Steve

Title: Re: Lurker turned poster, broke cycle?
Post by miapet on Jun 22^nd, 2004, 3:42am

woohoo!! glad you're p/f!!!
*positive light and energy*
miapet

Title: Re: Lurker turned poster, broke cycle?
Post by HopefulJay on Jun 25^th, 2004, 1:05pm

Just a little update here ... have been free of CH for seven and a half days and am feeling truly blessed and lucky.

Weird thing is, the onsets of nasal congestion still come almost daily but without any headaches. I have had one or two individual, momentary twinges that felt like a headache might be coming on, but then - nothing.

Now that I know what this disease is like, though, I fear I will always be cringing inside, fearful of the next cycle. And what will happen the next time I get an ordinary headache? I'm going to freak out! Guess I'll keep stocked up on Maxalt melts and take them with me whenever I travel?

Title: Re: Lurker turned poster, broke cycle?
Post by Superpain on Jun 25^th, 2004, 5:35pm

Ordinary headache!? [smiley=laugh.gif] [smiley=crackup.gif]

C'mon, give me a break... After knowing what a cluster feels like, even the worst sinus headache isn't THAT bad.

Sounds like you did alot right this time. Just be prepared to kick it's ass right off the bat next time. ;)