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        New Message Board Archives >> Jul-Sep 2003 >> Cluster's at work
        
(Message started by: Joshman420 on Jul 28^th, 2003, 10:13am)

Title: Cluster's at work
Post by Joshman420 on Jul 28^th, 2003, 10:13am

Hi Everybody!

I am new to this board ... but not new to CH's.

In fact, even as I type, I have a Beast behind my left eye trying to get out. My beat behind my eye doesnt use ice-picks (maybe sometimes) ... he prefers to use pliers, as I constantly feel like my eye is stuck in a pair.

I sit here, at my office... trying to work, but as this thing keep getting worse and worse, I pull out my Bubaltibal medication (the most recently attempt at relief, as prescribed by my HMO doctor) and it will just drug me up, and zombie me out.

Help me out here guys, whe you get attacked at work ... is it reason to call it a day and go home?

Title: Re: Cluster's at work
Post by echo on Jul 28^th, 2003, 10:44am

on 07/28/03 at 10:13:01, Joshman420 wrote:

I pull out my Bubaltibal medication (the most recently attempt at relief, as prescribed by my HMO doctor) and it will just drug me up, and zombie me out.

Help me out here guys, whe you get attacked at work ... is it reason to call it a day and go home?

Nothing like a CH at work to really cause problems. Can't think, don't care, and to everyone - LEAVE ME THE F ALONE!

What is Bubaltibal ?

To answer your question -- I usually try to hang in there for the rest of the day.

Title: Re: Cluster's at work
Post by Joshman420 on Jul 28^th, 2003, 10:51am

Sorry, I spelled it wrong ... typing with a CH attack, is a challenge.

Butalbital ... Barbituate / Aspiring / Caffeine
more info here: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/uspdi/202102.html

its supposed to be for Migraines ... it definately makes mush-material.

I saw my doctor last Thursday, with a list of meds I printed right from this website, and he still prescribed something not even on this whole site. CH attacks are bad enough ... having a doctor not willing to listen, doent help either.

45 minutes into this mornings attack, I still cant decide if I should go home ... (I'm a sales man, no work ... no comission)

Title: Re: Cluster's at work
Post by Miklos on Jul 28^th, 2003, 10:57am

Like you, I am on commision. I have pretty understanding management so, like Echo, I usually stick it out at work. Besides, if I am really having problems, it's too darn dangerous to drive.

The folks laugh at my O2 tank, but someone usually checks to make sure I have enough ice to go with it during an attack.

Title: Re: Cluster's at work
Post by aprilbee on Jul 28^th, 2003, 11:02am

Welcome Joshman, I also try to hang in at work, but I have had to get an ice pack and lay down for 30 min or so and PRAY!! Sorry you had to find us, but glad you're here!!

April

Title: Re: Cluster's at work
Post by catlind on Jul 28^th, 2003, 11:02am

Welcome aboard Joshman, as you have seen in this site, narcotics are not an effective treatment for CH. First they don't work, second they can cause a whole host of secondary problems that you don't need.

I suggest finding a new doc if your present one isn't willing to learn. O2, Imitrex injections and Verapamil are the cocktails of choice and have the highest effective rate. There are many other triptans available as well. Maxalt, Amerge, Zomig, Frova, Relpax and so on. The verapamil is used as a preventative, and can be combined with lithium if it isn't effective on it's own.

Keep us posted and let us know if there's anything you need.

Cat

Title: Re: Cluster's at work
Post by Joshman420 on Jul 28^th, 2003, 11:08am

You guys are awesome!

I am at about an hour an half into todays attack, and these pills are not doing anything for me.

I am up and down from my desk every five minutes, just to walk it off a little bit ...

I want to cry out, because it hurts so bad ... but I will only get laughed out ... I work in a cubicle enviroment so eveyone can hear me, It feels really good though, to be able to cry out here ... with people who REALLY understand.

I am new to this website, but I feel so welcomed, and I so much want to be a part of the community.

GOAL#1 O2 Tank ... ( humbling myself, to be 26 yrs old, and desperate for Oxygen)

Title: Re: Cluster's at work
Post by OwieMan on Jul 28^th, 2003, 11:14am

Ack it erased my post

I hang mine out at work.

I grab a wad of paper towels and get em wet with hot water and use that during the worst of the pain. THen shake em out for the cooling effect.

I have so far been able to handle it, but I had two bad ones this weekend that I would have had to hide from everyone. They were bad...

Basically it depends on you and your boss.

I usually feel pretty worn out after a bad one and would like to be in bed, but I havent had one send me home yet.

Title: Re: Cluster's at work
Post by don on Jul 28^th, 2003, 11:47am

Butalbital = fiurocet

Good for migraines, OK for shadows, useless for CH

Title: Re: Cluster's at work
Post by Joshman420 on Jul 28^th, 2003, 11:59am

Yes Don ... in my experience you are 100% right

If I am just getting shadow's they seem to work , but if I am in a full-blown CH attack, it does nothing.

2 and half hours ... The beast is FINALLY Leaving ... Thank God!

You guys kept me at work! thanks! one thing is for sure, the rest of the day will feel like I was punched in the eye.

Title: Re: Cluster's at work
Post by Gofishgriff on Jul 28^th, 2003, 12:12pm

Actually, Barbituate / Aspiring / Caffeine is Fiornal.

Fiorcet has codine instead of the Barb.

EDIT - Just looked up Fiorcet and it has the barb in it too. Shows you how much I know. DOH! ::)

Welcome Joshman. My doctor perscribed Fiornal for me, and like Don said, it does NOT work. Went to the doc this past week and got some imitrex nasal spray. I'm hoping this will be a good abortive.

On a side note, I have used my wife's Darvacet recently when I felt one coming on and it stopped it!

Hang in there. If it's bad, I'd leave work only if you can drive (or have someone drive you). I've had attackes at work and I usually go in our conference room, shut the door, and start dancing.

Good luck.

Title: Re: Cluster's at work
Post by OwieMan on Jul 28^th, 2003, 12:32pm

yeah, I would ask for a place to hide if the boss was willing...

I'm suprised you could sit at your desk for the whole thing, I would at least pace around and sit in the floor :)

You're a tough man.. Good job

Title: Re: Cluster's at work
Post by Pushkin on Jul 28^th, 2003, 12:34pm

Hi Joshman,

Many of us have found a cup or two of hot coffee to be very helpful. I usually rely only O2, but coffee has really helped me many times when O2 wasn't available, like in some past work situations. It doesn't work for everybody, but worth a try if you have nothing else.

Good luck and welcome

Title: Re: Cluster's at work
Post by Live4Fun on Jul 28^th, 2003, 12:44pm

Joshman,

Welcome aboard my friend. Sorry you had to find us, but glad you did. :)

I usually try to stick mine out at work. I am lucky though cause I have an office where I can shut the door... I have gone home once or twice after being hit with KIP 9s and 10s cause I was just too exhausted to do anything.

Hope this helps!

Bryan

Title: Re: Cluster's at work
Post by klutch on Jul 28^th, 2003, 1:00pm

Hang in there man, I am on full commission as well. Can't afford to miss to much work because these meds costs are killing me. I used Maxalt up until about a week ago and it worked great. The minute, and I mean first minute I felt the beast I slammed 10mg of Maxalt and within 10 minutes he was resting.

Let me know how things turn out, I need to get a handle on this as the last one I had at work was during a meeting with the president. He actually sent me home for the day and said don't worry about vacation, you need this time alone. Didn't know quite how to take that.

Title: Re: Cluster's at work
Post by ruskus on Jul 28^th, 2003, 1:59pm

An Imitrex injection works great for me on a big time CH. Don't really need it during the day, but when the beast comes knocking at 2 AM, within 10 minutes I am on the way down and back to sleep.

Russ

Title: Re: Cluster's at work
Post by FrankF on Jul 28^th, 2003, 2:11pm

on 07/28/03 at 10:57:32, Miklos wrote:

...
The folks laugh at my O2 tank, but someone usually checks to make sure I have enough ice to go with it during an attack.

I keep an "E" tank at work too when in cycle. I have had people ask me about my emphysema (don't have it), and ask me about my heart (no trouble there either). one coworker said he was going to get O2 for his wife's migraines (don't bother dude, it won't help her).

Title: Re: Cluster's at work
Post by Kirk on Jul 28^th, 2003, 2:32pm

I have an O2 tank at work and keep Imitrex injector with me at all times. I'm in a controlled atmosphere room with restricted access. So i usually tough it out if they don't work. I don't think I could do it in a public enviroment like you do. You're a strong man.
Oh. the Narcotics never worked fo me either.

TTFN

Title: Re: Cluster's at work
Post by Georgia on Jul 28^th, 2003, 3:34pm

Welcome, Josh.

First, I think you need to get yourself a different dr for your CH. You need to find a dr that knows CH and who listens to you. There is a list of CH recommended dr's on the OUCH site. http://www.clusterheadaches.org/doctors.htm

OUCH is the organization for the understanding of cluster headaches. While you are there, join. It's free.

Secondly, get yourself oxygen. I got my first tank when I was 23. I am not sure which was more mentally devastating for me, being diagnosed as a chronic CH'er or having oxygen tanks around my apartment and at work. I know it sounds ridiculous - but accepting that I needed to carry O2 with me everywhere at 23 friggin years old....made me feel weak, fragile, like damaged goods. I was single, trying to live the life of a young, free woman. It was never pretty being picked up by a date and loading my O2 into their trunk. Or walking into work in the morning with a little O2 tank dragging behind me. I am not trying to talk you out of trying oxygen, just the opposite really. I want you to know that I know how you feel when it comes to getting O2 at a young age. I can almost hear what those reading this are saying.."if it helped to stop my headaches, I would ________ and wouldnt give a shit who saw". Yeah, and thats what I said outloud too and thats what my actions gave the impression of. But I can not deny that on the inside, it was hard. My point to you Josh is, it will be hard. Do it anyway.

About whether to stay at work or not: if you are shadowing or exhausted after an attack, you might not make a sale. If you are home in bed, you most certainly will not make a sale. At least if you're there - there's a chance.

Wishing you PF.

Peace and love,
Georgia

Title: Re: Cluster's at work
Post by Joshman420 on Jul 29^th, 2003, 12:37pm

I just wanted to thank everyone who posted.

This was my first post, and I can really feel the support from all you guys ... I toughed it out, and made some sales ... thanks to you guys!

You guys have also given me the strength to stand up to my primary doctor. When I suggested Oxygen as my next treatment ... his response was , and I quote: "You don't need oxygen" ..... Oh, let me tell you, did that set me off.....

I told him about this website, and the feedback I have read from actual people with this disorder, and Oxygen is #1 ... blah blah blah, he actually argued with me .... in the end, he submitted my authorization for O2 treatment, as well as authorization for Imitrex Injections , and a referreal to a Neurologist.

Lets just hope my HMO doesnt screw with me on approving the O2 and Imitrex.

I will keep you posted!!!

Title: Re: Cluster's at work
Post by cathy on Jul 29^th, 2003, 1:32pm

Hi Josh...welcome to you, great to read you got a script for O2 and Imtrex injections....good luck and keep us posted.. :)

Cathy

Title: Re: Cluster's at work
Post by Big_Dan on Jul 29^th, 2003, 1:35pm

... hey, Man... sorry about your situation...

... I just give my co-workers the "I'm gunna reach up your ass and pull your lungs out" look when they start giving me advise for a ch....

... that, and they don't bother me when I'm not having a ch either...

;D

-Big Dan

Title: Re: Cluster's at work
Post by ZAIRA on Jul 30^th, 2003, 3:25pm

Hello Josh and welcome!
Fortunately I have attacks in the evening or in the night, but when I have an attack during the morning I take suddenly Imitrex and I hope that it will pass very soon... but I don’t go home... for me work helps for forgetting the beast!

All the best for you and stay with us, Zaira ;)