Posted by Jackie on August 17, 1998 at 14:48:35:
In Reply to: My mother is having suicidal thoughts...Help! posted by Cassandra on August 17, 1998 at 00:33:16:
Cassandra:
Stories like this break my heart.
I'll give you some very specific suggustions for
your mother. (By the way, I've had clusters for
about 35 years. I'm episodic; I have them every
2 years, for 1 month.)
First, your mother needs to find an expert neurologist
who is familiar with clusters. Do you live in the
U.S.? Some clinics to call for appointments or
referrals in your area: Scripps Clinic (La Jolla, which
is close to San Diego); Mayo Clinic (Minnesota);
Diamond Headache Clinic (Chicago). Ask for the
Department of Neurology.
Second, here's a brief list of some drugs often
used successfully for cluster headaches:
--Prednisone (a preventive--I take 5 20 mg pills for
2 days, then 4 for 2, days, etc., down to 1 for
2 days; then I start once again.
--Verapamil (preventive)
--Ritalin (new--see Dr. Mellick's posting on this group
preventive and abortive)
--Lithium (preventive)
--Indocin (preventive)
--oxygen (inhale 7 liter flow for 15 min--abortive)
--Imitrex (injection, spray, or tablets. Injection
seems to be most effective --abortive)
--ice pack
--coffee, or even 2 Excedrin extra strength at onset
of headache (the caffeine does the trick).
This is just a list off the top of my head. If
your mother hasn't been given this stuff, she is
definitely not seeing the proper doctor!
It would be great for you to do some of the research
for her, while she's feeling so terrible. If she
knows there are options and treatments, she'll
start feeling more hopeful and less suicidal.
Best of luck,
Jackie