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Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Getting to Know Ya >> Hi from New Zealand http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1276487756 Message started by Mike NZ on Jun 13th, 2010 at 11:55pm |
Title: Hi from New Zealand Post by Mike NZ on Jun 13th, 2010 at 11:55pm
I'm pretty new to CH, it all started just over a month ago and seemingly the result of a concussion I got at Easter. So to get the diagnosis so soon compared to the years some people have to wait seems a miracle. I just can’t imagine what it would be like to go through this for years without answers as a month seemed like an eternity.
Finding this site and other material online is amazing. It very helpful knowing I'm not alone and I'm not being a drama queen when I'm rolling on the floor in unbelievable agony, crying my eyes out with pain that seems to be beyond description. At the moment I'm just trying to get as up to speed with the vast amount of info there is to see. If anything, there seems to be almost too much. The after effects of the concussion have left my mind in a bit of a fog, which makes assimilating info a lot harder. I'm lucky as I tend to only get one attack each day, with three being the most, so far. The longest gap I’ve had between CHs has been three days, so I’ve no idea if I’m chronic or episodic. I've had CT and MRI scans, lumbar puncture, blood tests and just about everything else in a 6 day hospital stay, so I know it's "only" CH (laughing at the "only") after the third consultant I’ve seen pulled everything together, although some of the others were starting to suspect the attacks were CHs. At first I was given codeine to try to control the pain, which didn't seem to even scratch the surface, but instead got me addicted to it, although I've just got through the withdrawal from it. It's amazing how just by using a perscription medication exactly as perscribed I got dependent on it so quick. I've been given a Prednisione taper and Nortriptyline which seems to be a good way to get some degree of control back, but not yet anything to cut short an attack. After reading countless posts here (many bringing me to tears from recognizing my own experiences in what people have written) I’ve tried using a Red Bull as an abortive. It seemed to result in a milder CH than I’ve had the last few nights, although it’s hard to compare to what would have happened if I hadn’t taken it. However since I rarely drink coffee or caffeine drinks (it was my first ever Red Bull), once the CH was over, I spent just about the rest of the night wide awake, which seemed a good improvement. From all the posts raving about oxygen, this is something I need to investigate about its availability here in NZ. So thank you for all the amazing info here, which is so much more than I've got from doctors. |
Title: Re: Hi from New Zealand Post by Racer1_NC on Jun 14th, 2010 at 1:03am
Welcome!
Quote:
That it is. If it works for you, you will never be without it. If you haven't done so already, take a look at the O2 link on the left hand side of the page. Plenty of good info there. Bill |
Title: Re: Hi from New Zealand Post by Kat on Jun 14th, 2010 at 1:20am
Welcome to the site Mike. There are a lot of great ppl here who are always willing and ready to lend advice, share experiences, or give a word of encouragement. I am sorry you must endure the dreaded beast, but I am so glad you have doctors that were able to diagnosis you as quickly as they did. (althogh in my opinion, not quick enough, but better than two months or a year) Best wishes to you Mike!
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Title: Re: Hi from New Zealand Post by bejeeber on Jun 14th, 2010 at 2:37am Mike NZ wrote on Jun 13th, 2010 at 11:55pm:
Yep, that pretty much sums up the typical experience. So glad you're really researching this CH thing. If you haven't tried this yet, reading through several of the other Getting To Know Ya topics can quickly give you a good idea of the treatments that the veteran CHers around here favor the most as you read their responses. |
Title: Re: Hi from New Zealand Post by Guiseppi on Jun 14th, 2010 at 3:19pm
Welcome to the board...damned sorry for WHY you had to come here. Take as gospel anything Bob tells you to print out for your docs. It'll be the latest and greatest research.
Another strong vote for oxygen here. My wife has named my e-tanks Olivia as she knows I have a deep seated love affair with them! ;D Knowing you can knock an attack out in less then 10 minutes takes most of the scary outta the beast. My only other advice is don't RELY on the doc's to cure you on this. Most know very little about CH and the tremendous advances recently made in its treatment. It sometimes require you leave your comfort zone and challenge your docs a little when they tell you how they're going to treat you. We'll walk with you every step! Joe |
Title: Re: Hi from New Zealand Post by Mike NZ on Jun 14th, 2010 at 11:02pm
Thank you for all the responses. It's great to see such a strong community here.
The articles Bob linked / uploaded make really interesting reading and will certainly make excellent material for when I discuss this with doctors. Being prepared with such a good understanding will make the consultations so much more effective. I can be quite persuasive with doctors when I know enough, especially as it's my life I want to get back on track here. For the oxygen, is there any simple way to tell if it's likely to help me that I can use as justification, other than the roughly 70% figure where it helps? Whilst in hospital they did try high flow rate (not sure the exact rate) oxygen once one attack had started, however it was just using a normal face mask and not a re-breather one, which I understand from the oxygen page here is nothing like as effective. Whilst that attack wasn't too severe at all, my scientific training makes me uncertain of anything where I only have a single data point. I've still lots of reading to do, so I'll no doubt have more questions later. |
Title: Re: Hi from New Zealand Post by Guiseppi on Jun 14th, 2010 at 11:19pm
Used correctly you'll know in very short order if it works. The earlier it's started, the more effective it is for most. As I mentioned earlier, 6-10 minutes is all it takes for me. Hope it does as well for you!
The critical point is for your lungs to get ONLY 02, no outside air, no exhaled air. That's why the Non Re Breather is so critical. Good luck with the doc! Joe |
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