At the end of this post is a list of doctors other CHers have succesfully used. If you don't already have a knowledgeable doc, these would be a great place to start. Are you working with a headache specialist neuro yet? We have seen the best results from doing so. I’ve had CH for 35years, they haven’t killed me yet! You need an organized approach to managing them so they don’t manage your life. I use a 3 pronged approach, many use a similar approach:
1: A good prevent med. A med I take daily, while on cycle, to reduce the number and intensity of my attacks. I use lithium, it blocks 60-70% of my attack. Verapamil is the most common first line prevent, topomax also has a loyal following. Some have to combine lithium and verapamil together to get relief.
2: A transitional med. Most prevents will take up to 2 weeks to become effective. I go on a prednisone taper, from 80 mg to zero over a two week period to give me a break while my prevent builds up. Prednisone will provide up to 100% relief for many CH’ers but is harsh on the system and should only be used for short periods of time.
3: An abortive therapy, the attack starts, now what? Oxygen should be your first line abortive. Breathing pure 02 will abort an attack for me in less then 10 minutes, that’s completely pain free. Read this link as it must be used correctly or it will not work
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Imitrex nasal spray and injectables are very effective abortives. I use the injectables, they’re expensive, and I rarely use them, mostly just when I get caught away from the oxygen. The pill form generally works too slow to be effective for CH’ers.
Go to the medications section of this board and read the post " 123 pain free days and I think I know why” It’s a vitamin/mineral/fish oil supplement, all over the counter stuff, that’s providing a lot of relief for people who have tried it, it’s healthy for you even without CH!
For now, get some energy drinks. Rock Star, Monster, any containing the combo of caffeine and taurine, chug it down as fast as you can when you feel an attack starting. Many can abort or at least really reduce an attack using these.
Finally, visit our sister board for “alternative” treatment methods outside of mainstream medicine. As you’ll see from all the success stories on this board, there is something to it.
clusterbusters.com
Read everything you can on this board, if you are a CH’er, knowledge is your best ally. We’ll help you all we can. I'll be in The Big Band National park area of Texas starting on Friday, doing a bicycle camping tour through your national park.
Joe....what follows are the Texas Doctors other sufferers have used and recommended:
Abilene:
Dr. Rexford K. Anderson
Austin:
Dr. Robert M. Cain
Associated Neurological Specialties
Dr. Craig DuBois
Austin Pain Associates
Dr. Rajat Gupta
Headache & Pain Center
Dr. Marci A. Roy
Austin Headache Clinic
Dr. Sheila Shung
Conroe:
Dr. M. Vestal Caperton (PCP)
Dr. Gary Sharpless (PCP)
Sadler Clinic
Dallas:
Dr. Stuart B. Black
Dallas Headache Clinic
Dr. Steven P. Herzog
Texas Neurology
Dr. John Claude Krusz
Anodyne Headache and PainCare
Dr. Maureen Wooten Watts
Dallas Headache Clinic
Fort Worth:
Dr. John A. Sklar
Gladewater:
Dr. Warren H Hunt
Hugman-Kent Clinic
Houston:
Dr. Howard S. Derman
Methodist Neurological Institute
Dr. Herbert P. Edmundson, Jr.
Memorial Neurological Association
Dr. Leonard Hershkowitz
Houston Neurology Associates
Dr. Ninan T. Mathew
Houston Headache Clinic
Lori Meadors, PA
Houston Headache Clinic
Longview:
Dr. Richard Hamer
Diagnostic Clinic of Longview
Pasadeana:
Dr. Philip S. Blum
Houston Neurological Institute
Richardson:
Dr. John Harney
Dallas Neurological Associates
Tyler:
Dr. Preston E. Harrison
East Texas Neurology
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Newbie from Amarillo TX (Read 888 times)
