Posted by MikePA (198.51.81.193) on August 27, 1999 at 08:50:42:
In Reply to: What is my diagnosis? posted by Cujo on August 27, 1999 at 07:33:39:
Disclaimer: This is not intended as medical Advice only anecdotal iformation."
Your clusters are very similiar to my experience (16years).
I will get ha's that last anywhere from 45 minutes to 4-6 hours during the peak of a cycle
cycle typically, 2x a year though I did have an 18 month remmission. This past spring I got them again
cycle lasting 3months or a little more.
I have not found an abortive that works for me. I am not an Imitrex candidate.
Verapamil believe it or not at a low dose 180 mg at night does the trick for me
after about a week I will begin to get relief (several days without a CH) however I will
also get a severe cluster at least 2x during week
3 and 4 after the Verapamil...these are severe 10+Kips and last up to 8 hours, with the pain
peaking and after 30 minutes lessening and then about each 45 minutes spiking again.
I have found that Ice, pressure and hot showers work for me as an
abortive as consistently as any med, without the rebounds. As soon as the
shadows are ending at the finish of the cycle I drop the Verapamil..my belief is that
it keeps the effectiveness up. But with the beast u never know. Prednisone worked once a few
years ago, but is completely ineffective for me.
Good luck, let me know.
PFD's