Posted by Sorcerer (38.193.48.168) on June 16, 1999 at 12:42:52:
Just finishing up a 2½ month cluster, with nothing but
shadows for past two weeks. Keeping fingers crossed. Off
everything but Verapamil, at last.
This site is so much more than a bookmark in my browser.
When I think about the things I've learned from the folks on
"the Board," compared to what I've been told by my physician(s)
it boggles the mind.
1) Did the neuro tell me about O2? NOPE!
2) Water? NOPE!
3) Prednisone side effects? NOPE!
4) Drug interactions? NOPE!
5) Potentially dangerous therapies? NOPE!
6) Non-medical (non-prescription) alternatives? NOPE!
Well then...what the Hell did he tell me?
He DID make the correct diagnosis, for which I have to
somewhat respectful. Then, he followed that up by informing
me of all usual and erroneous crap that we have read in
various online medical references. You know...90% male,
eye color, personality, etc.
For five years I thought that I must be one of, maybe,
ten people in the World with CH. CH (and my ex wife's
alcoholism) destroyed a marriage (my ears still ring to
her drunken criminations that, "other people live with
headaches!) suspended a pilot's license, bankrupted a secure
retirement, and has periodically interfered with efforts to
build a comfortable, home-based business. CH has screwed-up
personal relationships (that probably weren't worth the
investment, anyway.)
During my "1998 fall cluster cycle" (every spring and every fall,
without fail)I found CLUSTERHEADACHES.COM. I haven't
contributed much over the months--I'm usually not very
"open" about personal/health problems--but I've visited this
board daily to learn more about us. And what an eye-opener this
has been!
What's next? Well, "the Beast" still lives behind my eye,
but business is picking up, and a relationship that I
feared would mirror previous experiences has, in fact,
matured to a closeness that I never dared hope for. A
wonderful woman, who also reads the Board, brings icy
towels for my head, and leaves me alone when I really
need to be left alone.
To DJ: You are KING! Have a blast, my newly single friend.
Because of you, we all anticipate a better future.
To Drummer, Margi, Linda, the Barbs, 1c, and all the rest...
I salute you!
I'm not very vocal, but I read you, I hear you, I cry for you,
and I love you, all.
....d