Posted by Toni Beeson (209.254.110.38) on August 09, 1999 at 08:25:50:
I don't know how long you have been here, cause I just
got my first at home computer about a month ago. However,
I am so glad I found this site. I have been a CH
sufferer since I was 13. (50 now). And since I was a
teenage "girl" at the time, you can imagine the things
the doctors put me through then. The best I could get
was.....you have migraine headaches. Then they gave me
all kinds of tranquilizers and pain killers, that did
nothing more than build up my resistance to any kind of
helpful drug, when I really did need it. Of course none
of the stuff they gave me worked. Then I went through
the bit about epilepsy, where they thought I was getting
the headaches after an epileptic attack, so they put me
on Dilantin for awhile. Hmmmm. Didn't work either.
When I was about 30 or so (can't remember exactly when),
but it was when the nighttime soap "Dallas" was on, I
read in the tabloids about Jim Davis, the father, and
how he suffered from CHs. He said in his interview that
oxygen was his only relief.
Now, from reading in the message board, I'm sure you won't
be suprised to hear that it took me another 5 years just
to get a doctor to try this for me. I was in the Air
Force and stationed in the Azores when it finally happened.
I rushed into the ER on the base and they called the
doctor who had agreed to use the oxygen. He had them put
me on at 12 Lpm. Was in a full blown 9 when I went in.
10 minutes after going on the oxygen, headache completely
gone. Been using it since (however doesn't always
work, and not always that fast either.)
Imitrex........Read about all the doctors who don't know
to use it for CHs. I was given Imitrex a year and a
half ago for the first time. Believe it or not, it was
a physicians assistant that I usually see for acute
illnesses (like flu, etc) that first prescribed it for
me. No regular doctors have gone that far. I am fully
covered by the VA hospital, but try to get it there.
Ha! But then it wouldn't cost me anything if THEY gave
it to me.
Ok. So I'm getting carried away. But really glad to
know you all are here. Been in the empty space between
clusters for about 4 months now (thank God) but know
the Devil comes knocking just about the time you let your
guard down. Nice to know there is someone to turn to.