I'm so frustrated... In the midst of being young and dumb with CH I became hooked on prescription pain killers, yeah it brought relief, but the hell of addiction soon followed. I was diagnosed "bi-polar" (whatever that means) tossed in a looney house for a few weeks, battled for a couple of years and came out the other end clean as a whistle, but now my family (and wife) monitor my medications very carefuly.  (I love them for it) I put them through hell, but now I'm at a turning point. I'm at a point in my life where I am prepared to pursue with absolute fervor as pain free a life as possible. However I know that when I start making doctors appointments, etc. I will be confronted, they will think i'm "doctor shopping" no doubt. I'm sick, and I'm tired of playing the role anymore. I want this fixed. Would you guys as a CH sufferer continue on with no relief for the sake of your families thinking everything is on the up and up, or say screw what everyone thinks, i'm going to the doctor and let the chips fall where they may, even if relationships are lost?

Maybe you should see a headache specialist instead of self diagnosing.

              Potter

                  

I totally agree with what you are saying, and trust me I plan too... I've seen them in the past but not armed with the information as I have now.  Again I know i'm no doctor, but if i tripped in a hole and my ankle snapped and was turned totally around facing the opposite direction, I think I could say for fairly certain that I had a "broken ankle" based on my observation of the situation at hand, and by past knowledge of the symptoms of an ankle break... I would indeed go to the E.R. but i'd know the answer before I got there. I'm fairly certain I have CH by the data provided as well.

foolclip281 wrote on Jun 8^th, 2010 at 3:09pm:

I totally agree with what you are saying, and trust me I plan too... I've seen them in the past but not armed with the information as I have now.  Again I know i'm no doctor, but if i tripped in a hole and my ankle snapped and was turned totally around facing the opposite direction, I think I could say for fairly certain that I had a "broken ankle" based on my observation of the situation at hand, and by past knowledge of the symptoms of an ankle break... I would indeed go to the E.R. but i'd know the answer before I got there. I'm fairly certain I have CH by the data provided as well.

That's a piss poor analogy.  Go see a headache specialist.  Ya might save your life.


                 Potter

                Potter

The best preventatives AND the best abortives for CH are non-narcotic. If you're convinced that you won't be seeking narcotics anymore, what's the problem? No headache specialist worth his salt would prescribe narcs for this condition.

Hi foolclip281,

There're a variety of things that can be done to treat your headaches, but until you get an accurate diagnosis of your particular headaches, whatever you do could just as easily make them worse. Like Potter has repeatedly counseled you to do, make an appointment to see a Neurologist who specializes in treating headaches. He'll perform a variety of tests to rule out tumors or other structural abnormalities and then start you on a drug regimen which he will probably alter along the way until he's found a combination that works best for you. In the meantime, read as much as you can from the list of topics in the column on the left side of the home page so that you will be well-informed for your visit to the Neurologist.

Good luck,

Ron

I think you just need to declare right off that you will under no circumstances accept any pain meds for CH.

Those aren't good for CH anyway, and this should put everyone at ease.

There's no way that I, or most other successful CH battlers here, would accept any pain meds for CH.

LOCATING HEADACHE SPECIALIST

1. Search the OUCH site (button on left) for a list of recommended M.D.s.

2. Yellow Pages phone book: look for "Headache Clinics" in the M.D. section and look under "neurologist" where some docs will list speciality areas of practice.

3.  Call your hospital/medical center. They often have an office to assist in finding a physician. You may have to ask for the social worker/patient advocate.

4. START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE; On-line screen to find a physician.

5. START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE Look for "Physician Finder" search box. They will send a list of M.D.s for your state.I suggest using this source for several reasons: first, we have read several messages from people who, even seeing neurologists, are unhappy with the quality of care and ATTITUDES they have encountered; second, the clinical director of the Jefferson (Philadelphia) Headache Clinic said, in late 1999, that upwards of 40%+ of U.S. doctors have poor training in treating headache and/or hold attitudes about headache ("hysterical female disorder") which block them from sympathetic and effective work with the patient; third, it's necessary to find a doctor who has experience, skill, and a set of attitudes which give hope of success. This is the best method I know of to find such a physician.

6. START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE NEW certification program for "Headache Medicine" by the United Council for Neurologic Subspecialties, an independent, non-profit, professional medical organization.
        Since this is a new program, the initial listing is limited and so it should be checked each time you have an interest in locating a headache doctor.
===

Your choice is not between caring for your health and losing your family. IF you don't care for your health, as the first order of business, they will have a hard time living with your pain, etc. and the stress will get to them.

Care for our pain, get it under control, and you will be able to give the full you to them.

We have all been thru this business for a long time and we know that it's possible to have both our family and relief.

Brew wrote on Jun 8^th, 2010 at 3:58pm:

The best preventatives AND the best abortives for CH are non-narcotic. If you're convinced that you won't be seeking narcotics anymore, what's the problem? No headache specialist worth his salt would prescribe narcs for this condition.

Bingo

Please listen to these good people, they know what they're talking about.

Don