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New Message Board Archives >> Jul-Sep 2003 >> Female with clusters for 31 yrs
(Message started by: mose on Aug 4th, 2003, 3:47pm)

Title: Female with clusters for 31 yrs
Post by mose on Aug 4th, 2003, 3:47pm
Hi,
I'm a newbie. But not a newbie to the beast! I'm a female & was told that this is a mans headache. That's is why it took so long for them to figure out what I had. My life isn't mine. I allways work around  ( what if a get my headaches ) Mine come in the winter months now. So
I Know not to plan anything! Don't drink at Holidays, Keep the same sleep pattern, Watch what I eat & pray  they don't come. When they do, It is for months.I work too. So it makes it hard. I have had the same doctor for yrs. We have tried many things. So farr the only thing that seems to help are the D.H.E . I feel like a drug addict with all the drugs I take when I have the headaches. But , enough about me. Is there any other women that have these?
Kim

Title: Re: Female with clusters for 31 yrs
Post by Leesa on Aug 4th, 2003, 3:57pm
Hiya Kim  ;D  "Welcome to Clusterville" sorry your here but your in the best care ANYWHERE! Welcome to the family! As for your ? if any woman suffer from these you better believe it hun. I can think of several right off the top of my head. It's not just a "man thing" cluster's that is. Take your time and read all you can on this board become a sponge and soak it all in gal!! LOADS of important info here for ya. If ya have any ?'s just ask we will be more then happy to give ya some answers and if we dont have em Im sure we can find the answers for ya. )I dont suffer from the beast but my better half does.  >:()
Welcome wagon hauling Leesa  ;D

Title: Re: Female with clusters for 31 yrs
Post by vig on Aug 4th, 2003, 3:58pm
When I first started reading about CH, the statistics were ~6:1 M:F, now it's down to about 2:1.

I'm going to leave the 'why's for someone else, me arse has already been flamed enough.

Title: Re: Female with clusters for 31 yrs
Post by klp on Aug 4th, 2003, 4:27pm
hi kim, your not alone. glad you found us though. more and more women are being diagnosed. my neurologist feels its because more women are working and that may have something to do with it. i personally think its because more md's are being open minded and not classifying it as a mans diagnosis only. I believe in equal rights for men and women but this beast is something i wish was just a "guy thing". sry guys. but we get childbirth we shouldnt have to deal with this also. lol. krista

Title: Re: Female with clusters for 31 yrs
Post by simplevox on Aug 4th, 2003, 4:55pm
Yep - I'm female and I have them too.  I had always heard that the typical sufferers were male, heavy drinkers and heavy smokers.  None of those fit me,  I guess I'm just lucky.   :'(

Title: Re: Female with clusters for 31 yrs
Post by cootie on Aug 4th, 2003, 6:09pm
Welcome mose...you'll find there are 'quite a few women' on here that have CH....it really suprised me when I first got on here cuz all my research thru the years b-4 I found this place was limited and said it was mostly a man's disease.....I have found out differnet of course. I've learned alot on here.....I'm a supporter.....have you went the  imitrex and verapimil route alot say works for them on here ? Pam that knows lots of new CH gal pals

Title: Re: Female with clusters for 31 yrs
Post by Mastifflvr28 on Aug 4th, 2003, 8:54pm
100% female with extremely classic episodic cluster headaches here.

Have you tried Indomethacin, Mose?  It's a MUST try, just in case, for cph which is more of a female affliction.  And it's 99% affective for cph.

Welcome to the family, I hope you find what you need here. Please check out all the medical info here and at OUCH...even though you SAY you've tried a lot of stuff, you may find something new or a new combo that you've never thought of.
Good luck,
Mast

Title: Re: Female with clusters for 31 yrs
Post by barbee on Aug 4th, 2003, 10:41pm
Hi.  Just a male malady?  Ha, we should be so lucky.  Supposed to be for youngish men?  Another Ha.  I'm an ancient female, chronic, and have had them for 13 years.

I've tried so many things, my neuro has given up.  The side effects are as bad as the pain, and we know how bad the pain can be.

Someday there'll be a cure, but probaly not in my lifetime.  PFDAN to y'all

Title: Re: Female with clusters for 31 yrs
Post by ave on Aug 5th, 2003, 2:38pm
Hello Mose, welcome to the madhouse this message board.
I am a female also, but my doctor was better educated and never told me I could not have 'm!

One word of advice, check out all the medical info here, and on the OUCH site that you'll find under the buttons on the left.

There has been a lot happening, in the medication field as well. Maybe there is some more relief for you.

Also...
I noticed you said you are careful with what you eat. You are not sticking to those well meant migraine-trigger lists, are you?

Triggers for clusters are much less general than for migraines. They are very personal,  in fact, though alcohol is a BIG one, and MSG seems to clinch it for many of us.
I found only one to date: liquorice.






Title: Re: Female with clusters for 31 yrs
Post by echo on Aug 5th, 2003, 2:46pm
Welcome to the MB Mose.  Sorry to read you are another victim of the beast.  Glad you found us.

Title: Re: Female with clusters for 31 yrs
Post by suzy617 on Aug 5th, 2003, 3:16pm
Female CH'er here also.  Imitrex is the choice for me for aborting. Will also be trying depakote this time around. Stick around, there are MANY females here. We wouldnt dare let the men take over this place.  ;D

Suzy

Title: Re: Female with clusters for 31 yrs
Post by kim on Aug 5th, 2003, 3:34pm
Hi kim,

Female classic episodic suffer (25+ years)........Long road.....but walk on....lots of helpful info here and lots of terrific folks who worked endlessly so we have more to grab onto.

YES WOMEN GET CLUSTERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!S'okay.

Well wishes :)

PS:  Your name is Kim too?  Make sure folks now it's you an not me posting ;D*****

Title: Re: Female with clusters for 31 yrs
Post by cathy on Aug 5th, 2003, 4:33pm
Hi Mose, welcome to the board, sorry your not having a good time...PF vibes to you  :)


Kim is that you....c u in 12 days...if it is you... ;D

Cathy

Title: I have done theRe: Female with clusters for 31 yrs
Post by mose on Aug 5th, 2003, 4:46pm
[b][/b]Thanks Everyone for the replys!!! I guess I'm not the odd ball. Sorry to here there are so many . I do take meds. Tenormen . Indomethacin 3 time a day. My nero wants to wean me from the Indo. Says it will give me allsores. I have been on it for 5 yrs. Please don't mind my spelling , it is very poor. He wanted me to go on Topmax. That stuff made me feel real weard. I see him again this month. He isn't going to be happy with me, cause I can't take that. I quit smoking too. Hope it helps.It has been 5months now. Well since I had my last battle with the beast!!!Well see. I know for sure I can't mess to much with my sleep pattern. It does kick start them. I can tell to when there going to come and pay me a vist too. My metabolism slows down. I put on weight. I get real short with everyone. My neck gets stiff on the side I get the CH on then with in a week or two at night I get woken up!!! I know you all know what I mean. Here we go. I use the imatrex!!!!! I use the shots. I do notice right be for the go away They hit real hard & longer & more time in a day. Where the Imatrex isn't enough. You only can use 2 in 24hrs. I need more than that!!! Any how thanks so much for replying. Kim

Title: Re: Female with clusters for 31 yrs
Post by Mastifflvr28 on Aug 5th, 2003, 8:33pm
Mose,
Glad to hear you are using imitrex.
Please check the "imitrex" tip on the left, or get the VIALS of trex.  You should only need a 1/3rd of a shot at a time.  That usually will kill the beast.  Then you can take 6 shots a day, whooo hooo, lol.
Good luck,
Mast

Title: Re: Female with clusters for 31 yrs
Post by River_Rat on Aug 6th, 2003, 12:32pm
Welcome to our little, but growing family. Read all you can. Sorry you have to be here but you've found the right place.

LEE <-------- Male heavy drinker and smoker.



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