Posted by Torri (209.240.200.32) on July 08, 1999 at 20:11:43:
Had my appointment Tue.7/6. Good thing I drove into Encino on Monday because I again awoke with a #10 ++++ HA. Thank GOD it was just a few minutes to Dr. Kudrow's office from the hotel. I somehow held it together untill I got there and asked if I could try their oxygen. IT WORKED!! After about 10 minutes the pain went from a 10+++ to about a 3 ++ . By the way - Dr. Kudrow said the oxygen works best when you hold your head down to your knees - something about allowing the blood vessels around the eyes to absorb the oxygen better. (It worked for me.) He also said that the reason I wake up with the headaches is because when I reach Rem sleep I'm not getting enough oxygen - thus breathing oxygen should abort them.
Testing was pretty thorough:
1. Ruled out stress headaches by hooking you up to a machine similar to an EKG - but the leads were attached to your face. neck and shoulder muscles.
2. Psy. exam ruled out need for a psy.
3 Neuroligical exam ruled out that as a
problem.
4. Interview and extensive questions by
first his technicial/associate and then
Dr. Kudrow.
5. Dr. Kudrow confirmed I had Cluster
Headaches and gave me prescriptions for:
A. CAFEGOT
B. Veraframil 60 mg.x 4
C. Oxygen - 7 setting
Although the oxygen helped in his office - by the time I got back to the hotel I again was up to a 10+++++. This time I took the
Imitrex and packed my head in ice!! After about 30 minutes I fell asleep and awoke at 9 PM - the pain was now a shadow - about a
2 - but my head felt like someone had given me several shots of novicane directly into my brain - sure glad I didn't have to drive untill tomorrow.(This reaction is why he took me off of it.)
Drove home Wednesday afternoon - still having an Imitrex hangover but no great pain. Now Murphy's Law took place - at the pharmacy. After waiting the obligatory 30 minutes - I was told they were waiting for a call back from the Dr.- they couldn't
read his writing as to the quantity & frequency. To make a long story shorter-
I still havn't picked up the @X@@X prescriptions. Guess they should be ready by now!!! MY head is still in a fog from the Imitrex and the pain is back to a #7 -
I'll leave when I finish this leter and
pick up the pres. Hopefully the new medication will work without the zombie side effects of Imitrex. ( Has anyone had a similar reaction to Imitrex?????)(Sleepy - lethargy - brain freeze?????)
Also - anyone using Cafegot? Any side effects" PLMK - Thanks
I'll check into getting the oxygen tomorrow - one day at a time- right???
TTYL. Vicki (Please email
comments/questions and I'll write back tonight - promise!!!