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        Supporter's Corner >> Supporter's Corner >> Newbie, but about last night...
        
(Message started by: kathy804 on Dec 29^th, 2004, 1:09pm)

Title: Newbie, but about last night...
Post by kathy804 on Dec 29^th, 2004, 1:09pm

Hello to you all, my dear husband is a ch sufferer, this current episode started in earnest 2 weeks ago. He is on prednisone, 50mg/day, historically this helps ALOT. He started last Wed. Yesterday he to cut back to 40mg, had a "ghost" (is that what you call them?) early in the day but that just caused some anxiety. Last night though, about 2:30 I witnessed one of the worst attacks I beleive he has had in a LONG time.
It woke him out of a deep sleep and it was probablt too late for the imitrex pills to work.
I sat with him, tried to keep him calm, told him to breathe and just tried to comfort him. I have no idea if any of this was the right thing to do. Does deep breathing help? I know he didn't want to be touched but he did hold my hand

What else can I do, I can't bear watching him suffer like this.

Title: Re: Newbie, but about last night...
Post by eddie on Dec 29^th, 2004, 1:18pm

sorry to hear about your hubby, my wife has a hard
time not knowing what to do. i go outside and take
a walk it does help but it wakes me up. when one
hits me i dont want to talk, listen or be touched
but i love my. wife she has figured it out just leave
me be for a little while and it will pass. then i go to
her and hug her.hope it gets better for you and him
eddie

Title: Re: Newbie, but about last night...
Post by nani on Dec 29^th, 2004, 1:37pm

Welcome, Kathy...sorry you had to find us. It's harder to be a supporter (I think) than a sufferer. Why don't you ask your husband what he wants you to do during an attack? Also, invite him here for support and info. He can let us know what meds he's tried, etc. We may have info to offer. This supporter board doesn't get read as much as the others (at least by me), so if you have a question that needs an immediate answer, try posting on the others. Hang in there. [smiley=hug.gif] to you and many Pain Free wishes to your hubby.

Title: Re: Newbie, but about last night...
Post by kathy804 on Dec 29^th, 2004, 1:59pm

Thanks, I probably posted too early, I'm still scouring the boards and web sites offered here. I think I just needed to hear from people who know what I'm talking about ya know?
Most people think they are like a regular migraine and shrug it off, they have NO IDEA how bad these monsters are.

Thanks again for listening

Title: Re: Newbie, but about last night...
Post by Margi on Dec 29^th, 2004, 2:05pm

Hi Kathy, welcome. Glad you found us.

You really do have to let your husband lead the way, I'm afraid. Most sufferers do prefer to be left alone during an attack but most of us supporters stay within earshot if they need anything.

There are a number of things you can do, honey. Does ice help him? I keep three of those gel-filled bags in the freezer at all times. My husband lays one on the back of his neck at the onset of the attack. It helps to keep him calm and does defray the pain a little.

Ice water might also help him - chill him from the inside.

Another thing you can do is watch the clock for him. You live with him. You know how long these attacks last. That helps my hubby to know that he's only got 20 minutes more to get through. Then 15. Then 10. It's reassuring to him to realize that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

You asked about deep breathing....it really depends how he's doing it. If he's doing it quickly and in a panic, then no. It won't help him - it will only increase his anxiety, blood pressure and he could hyperventilate. However, if he can teach himself to breathe slowly and rhythmically (i have no idea how to spell that), then it will help to keep him calm and keep that blood pressure down.

Has he ever tried oxygen? If the deep breathing IS helping him, then he might be a really good candidate for oxygen. Is he seeing a doctor? If so, INSIST on a prescription to try oxygen. Print out the information here from the Oxygen button on the left and don't leave the doc's office without a 'script.

THAT's how you can help, Kathy - educate yourself and become your hubby's voice when he can't speak. Be his buffer, his advocate. There's precious little we supporters can do to stop the pain but we CAN help to make life easier for our sufferers. Check out our Family Services Team here too - pages written by supporters who understand what YOU go through, too. You can find it here: http://www.clusterheadaches.org/family/index.htm

And, please feel free to continue posting here on the supporters' boards, ok? We supporters do read these sections and quite often, answers are sent by email (privacy is a big issue with supporters). So don't think you have go into the "deep end" here to find help, ok? We're always out here watching for new supporters who are running out of rope.

If you need a shoulder, please feel free to email me at moxie_miss@hotmail.com.

BIG hugs,
Margi

Title: Re: Newbie, but about last night...
Post by nani on Dec 29^th, 2004, 2:23pm

Quote:

We supporters do read these sections and quite often, answers are sent by email (privacy is a big issue with supporters). So don't think you have go into the "deep end" here to find help, ok?

ooops...sorry Margi, I did qualify it by saying :

Quote:

(at least by me),

Title: Re: Newbie, but about last night...
Post by TxBasslady on Dec 29^th, 2004, 5:43pm

The best support is love and understanding.

It is difficult to understand the pain, unless you have experienced it. However, when you give support to someone you love, in a way, you feel the pain too.

I am a sufferer....my husband has sat many a night with me, just like you did for your hubby. When my pain was gone, I could see and feel his pain.

CH has an incredible way of affecting everyone in the family.

You sound like a great supporter. Your hubby is very lucky. Margi is a great supporter also, and her offer to help, is genuine. Sometimes it's a good thing to see how other supporters cope. You can get alot of ideas of things you can do, and have those ideas ready to go when the need arises.

Good luck to you, and lots of PF vibes to your hubby,

Jean

Title: Re: Newbie, but about last night...
Post by Jackie on Dec 30^th, 2004, 11:56am

Hi Kathy..

I'm married to a clusterhead too. Watching them suffer is heartbreaking....if you stay strong it will help give him the strength to get through....positive thoughts that tomorrow is another day and may just be better. Educating yourself (here & on OUCH) is a great line of defense. There are lots of 'home remedies' that can help too.

We're always here to help.

Good luck,
Jackie

Title: Re: Newbie, but about last night...
Post by kathy804 on Dec 30^th, 2004, 12:41pm

Thanks again to all of you. Rich seems to have them under control again with the prednisone, but is still feeling really beat up. He hasn't tried oxygen yet, he really wants to try it as a last line of defense. I think he's concerned about the side effects, not that Prednisone is any safer.

Margi, your idea of timimg them is great, I never thought of that and I'm sure it would give him some sense of relief, knowing the end is comming.
I'm a yoga person so I really thing the deep breathing, not hyper-venelating, would really help if I could get him to concentrate (not easy during an attack)

We are both self employed and currently ininsured, so we are exploring getting his Imitrex from Canada, does any one else do this?

Thanks again for the positive thoughts

Kathy

Title: Re: Newbie, but about last night...
Post by miapet on Jan 2^nd, 2005, 10:26pm

Hi, just wanted to add a *hug* to those being given.
D has been a CHer for about 20+years.
We would encourage the o2 as an abortive, it cut D's headaches from 20 minutes to 8 minutes (we watched the clock all the time *g*). As for side-effects, CHers don't use the o2 for extended periods of time, so it's pretty safe. I think, general rule of thumb is, if after 15 - 20 minutes, if the h/a is still there the o2 isn't working for that one (correct me if I'm wrong?)
As for drugs out of Canada, I would say it's worth a try, especially if you have a US script. There are plenty of on-line pharmacies to try, or if you live up north, you can drive over. I get my meds (non-ch) in Mexico, and haven't had any problems.
*positive light and energy*
miapet