Posted by Sonya Banna on July 11, 1998 at 01:07:05:
Hi, I've been a cluster suffer since Age 15 and get
them every year or every other year at the same time -
July/August. Anyway, I can't take Imitrex due to
heart problems I suffered on the drug. I had to do
some research and found an easy combination based on
facts about cluster suffers. The veins that hurt us
so bad are swelling huge and becoming swollen shut.
So, I use a heat gel (never cold!) and it gets the
blood flowing thru and it keeps the vein from swelling
any more. The pain STOPS climbing. I also put some
on my nose. I read an article that suggested this -
that's how I heard of it. Also, I tried that Exedrin
Migrane stuff. And I go out in my backyard and breath
in fresh air in the cool shade. Our bodys are needing
Oxygen and studies show that 80% of clusters can be
broken by an oxygen tank. So, I did this yesterday
and today. I don't wait --- I move fast with the Flexall
on my forehead and nose and sometimes neck... then
I swallow 2 Exedrin Pills, and then go out in my
backyard and stand in the cool shade. After 5 minutes,
the pain STOPS CLIMBING, and starts slowly to subside.
Within 15 minutes. It's over. Later today, my clusters
started again... so I repeated. Within 15 minutes gone.
I use to suffer for hours and hours and hours! And
the meds were killing me. Anyway, feel free to write
me. whatever, this works for me. At least for now.
I know we can have "break throughs" and some meds help
only for awhile. I know next week I can be in BIG
trouble. Dapokote made my hair fall out. But it worked.
Geez, no easy answers, huh, my friends.