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        Supporter's Corner >> Supporter's Corner >> My name is Angie and I am a supporter
        
(Message started by: Angie on Apr 5^th, 2007, 1:24pm)

Title: My name is Angie and I am a supporter
Post by Angie on Apr 5^th, 2007, 1:24pm

I am Barry Swords Supporter.

I do not suffer from cluster headaches but I live with Barry who does. I go with him to his nero to discuss meds and the best way to help him.

I am with him every step of the way, thank god for this site because it has helped him so much. I learned a lot about CH from reading everything on this site. It has made me a better supporter.

Thank you to everyone for all your help and I am glad we are not alone anymore, since Barry signed on in Nov. :)

Title: Re: My name is Angie and I am a supporter
Post by E-Double on Apr 5^th, 2007, 2:47pm

Thank you!!

Title: Re: My name is Angie and I am a supporter
Post by Grandma_Sweet_Boy on Apr 5^th, 2007, 5:18pm

Hey Angie - nice to see another Ontarian in the mix here.

Won't be long now until Santa takes up residence in your neck of the woods. I love going there so maybe this summer, we'll all get a chance to meet up with one another.

Best to you and Barry.

Carol

Title: Re: My name is Angie and I am a supporter
Post by eddie on Apr 5^th, 2007, 7:03pm

thank you Angie
eddie

Title: Re: My name is Angie and I am a supporter
Post by TonyG1 on Apr 5^th, 2007, 9:42pm

Ditto on what others have said ... thank YOU!!!

Title: Re: My name is Angie and I am a supporter
Post by Jackie on Apr 8^th, 2007, 10:49am

Hi Angie.....nice to meet you. I'm a supporter too....

WELCOME!!! You will never be alone in this battle again.

Jackie

Title: Re: My name is Angie and I am a supporter
Post by nani on Apr 8^th, 2007, 11:06am

Hi Angie! Welcome, and thank you.

Title: Re: My name is Angie and I am a supporter
Post by George_J on Apr 8^th, 2007, 8:09pm

Welcome, Angie.

Supporters are our heroes--we're happy you've decided to join us.

Best wishes,

George

Title: Re: My name is Angie and I am a supporter
Post by Linda_Howell on Apr 8^th, 2007, 8:11pm

Angie....I have no idea of why, but you have made me cry. Barry is one lucky man sweetheart.

Linda

Title: Re: My name is Angie and I am a supporter
Post by Angie on Apr 9^th, 2007, 8:54am

Thank you for your warm welcome.

I will continue to read and learn. Knowledge is power. Hopefully someday I will be able to help people like you have helped me.

Nice to see other supporter's being such a big help. Our family does not understand CH, not like THIS FAMILY that does understand.

I hope everyone had a great Easter Weekend.

Title: Re: My name is Angie and I am a supporter
Post by clusterwife on Apr 12^th, 2007, 9:17am

Hi Angie, I'm a supporter too. We are a special breed. Leah.

Title: Re: My name is Angie and I am a supporter
Post by Merbear on Apr 14^th, 2007, 1:32am

Hi, Angie...and everyone else! My name is Meredith and I guess I'm a Chris Harris supporter! My husband has had clusters for 3 (4?) years now. I feel like I'm a semi-pro because his dad suffered from clusters, too. I at least knew what to expect when Chris' began.

Springtime is hell for us. We may be making a trip to the Houston Headache clinic on Monday for IV treatment. Chris has had a headache for almost a week now. He can't stop it with meds at home. He is very depressed and I am seeking out supporter help because I'm having a rough time with this cycle! He spent literally 3 years in bed and when these times come, we try to remind ourselves that things are better than they used to be. HUGE pity party at my house this week!

Anyway...glad to have a forum to shout out to.

(P.S. Nina, I believe? Kudos to your non-smoking! Chris smoked for 25 years and quit Labor Day weekend. Never thought I'd see it happen. I'm a non-smoker but I can imagine what a tough time you had. Brace yourself...Dad's quiting!)

Title: Re: My name is Angie and I am a supporter
Post by Mosaicwench on Apr 14^th, 2007, 10:45am

Hi Angie and Meredith - welcome!

I'm a supporter, too. Have been a supporter for going on 16 years.

These folks here are awesome - if you ever hear about a convention or a meet and greet in your area, go! I went to Milcon last year because it was right in my backyard. I've never seen anyone else get hit and it was a real eye opener.

And you'll never find a better group of people to hang out with.

Title: Re: My name is Angie and I am a supporter
Post by Jackie on Apr 16^th, 2007, 7:44am

Hi Meredith.....I'm married to a CHer too.

Welcome...

Can you tell us a bit more about your hubby.
You said he'd had a headache for a week....did you mean a constant headache?

Has he tried 02? It works wonders for many.

What meds. has he been on?

You said he was in bed for 3 years. Was that from the depression or the headaches?

Sorry for so many questions but our main goal here is to help.....both suffers and supporters.

Good luck to you,
Jackie

Title: Re: My name is Angie and I am a supporter
Post by Merbear on Apr 16^th, 2007, 9:26pm

Hi, Jackie! I don't mind sharing. Yes, he's had a constant cluster for a week. He uses his oxygen sometimes. He says it doesn't help but I've told him to use it anyway. He is on Effexor and Seroquil daily and uses Caffergot (a Prednizone) when he has one of these really bad cluster periods. When the meds fail to work, he has to be hospitalized and have IV meds.

Our first few doctor go rounds included: Imitrex, Maxalt, Zomig (he does use this spray some), Topamax, Magnesium, and a few others I've forgotten!

Chris disagrees with me but he pretty much had a cluster for three years. I know he was depressed but he was mainly in pain. I went back to work and he tried to do some work from home but most days he couldn't do anything. His dad had clusters but I think Chris' are even more severe. He has to take his meds pretty religiously or he gets a headache. Spring is an especially bad time for him.

I think he is coming off this headache. He says he's going back to work tomorrow. Hopefully he can make it two more weeks until his doctor's appt. His doctor did say we may have to adjust meds occasionally.

During bad periods like this, we try to remember the years he couldn't get any relief and couldn't do much of anything.

Thanks for the support. I really appreciate it.

Meredith

Title: Re: My name is Angie and I am a supporter
Post by Linda_Howell on Apr 16^th, 2007, 9:44pm

Hi I just a sufferer here and Jackie is the preeminent supporter but I have some things to say and to ask.

No one has a constant cluster for a week. You may be referring to that nagging pesky thing...what we call a shadow. Or the CH comes on for an hour or so and slowly tapers down, only to ramp back up several times. Never heard of it doing that for a week though and I have been chronic for 19 years.

Quote:

and uses Caffergot (a Prednizone)

I'm sorry, but Caffergot is not Prednisone.

I am not being picky here just trying to help you and him get through this because I see you have some misinformation and if it is anything that will help us get through these....is to come armed to the teeth with the correct info.

If you are seeing his neuro in a few weeks, go to the medical info. link to the left of where you are reading this and ask the doctor about trying some of the other preventatives and abortives, like Lithium or Verapamil.

O.K. Sorry Jackie, carry on you were doing great. ;;D

Linda

Title: Re: My name is Angie and I am a supporter
Post by Jackie on Apr 17^th, 2007, 7:10am

Thanks Linda....was hoping a sufferer would step in here... :)

Meredith....
Has hubby been to the Houston Clinic before? What kind of IV treatment?

Linda has given you some good info. Please read all the information you can here and on the OUCH site. Knowledge is power. There probably is a good combination of preventative meds. and abortive meds. that will help your hubby. It just takes some work and time to find them.

As to the 02...it is very important that the flow rate be very high (like 15 lpm) and the mask be the correct one. There is info here for that too. It is also important that the suffer get on the 02 immediately...at the very first sigh of a hit coming.

I hesitate to talk meds. as I am no doctor.....
But...a prednisone taper taken along with Verapamil has been helpful to many....some even adding Lithium to the cocktail.

Depression comes with the CHs for so many sufferers. Perhaps this needs to be addressed with the doctor.

Please keep us posted on how you all are doing.

Again....sorry for so many questions but we are trying to help and understand here.

Good Luck,
Jackie