Posted by Margi on June 08, 1999 at 15:12:18:
In Reply to: What can I do to help her? posted by Ted on June 07, 1999 at 22:43:18:
Hi Ted,
Sorry to hear your wife is in such pain and I know you are too. My husband, Mike, has been a sufferer for 20+ years and I know exactly what you're going through.
We've had big success with the following:
1. Water treatment - type Water in the search button at the top of this page and read Dr. Jerry's post "READ THIS". Flood her, it broke Mike's cycle within two days and it was gone within a week. He is still CH free and he has been using for preventative. Water doesn't work for everyone but it is worth a try. Read the precautions though.
2. Oxygen - again type Oxygen in the search button above. Inhaling pure oxygen at the onset of an attack helps a lot of people too. Hopefully, you can get a doc to prescribe it. We couldn't so we use welding oxygen but you have to be really careful with that stuff. No regulator so you have to inhale slowly.
3. Ice - I keep 3 ice-filled gel packs in the freezer at all times. He lays them on the back of his neck or on his face and this seems to help.
4. Dramamine/Gravol - this promotes sleep and doesn't let her get into the REM phase of sleep which is when the CH will hit. If nothing else, it will give her a good night's rest so that she is stronger to fight the next day.
5. Patience. It is so hard as a supporter to know what to do. You have to let your wife tell you what she wants. Does she want to be left alone? Does she need you to rub her shoulders? She probably wants to be alone but I always listen for my cue when Mike has reached the point where he needs me. You'll know. He usually goes out into the garage - it is cooler out there - or downstairs. I just wait. I listen. Ready to help. And yes, Ted, I cry too. I would take his pain from him in a heartbeat but I can't. I have to accept that I can only help him by trying to understand what he is going through. I don't drag him to doctors anymore, we've had some pretty bad experiences that way. I hope you have found some good docs where you live.
Be there for her. Love her. That's what she needs the most. Unconditional love. Let her call the shots when she is under attack and respect her pain.
Please, please email me if I can help you or your wife. Also, I am on ICQ during the day at #37451395 and Mike and I both are on at night (nickname Barly) at #32178097. We are here to help.
Water Water Water
Margi