Posted by Luke Cichon (216.1.2.132) on February 19, 2000 at 16:14:50:
Hi. My name is Luke, and I'm 19 years old. I've been suffering from clusters since the age of 16. The attacks usually come in two several-month periods during each year. I am currently being treated with 240mgs of Verapamil daily as a preventive, and Lidocaine to stop the attacks. They are fairly effective, with exceptions. My headaches last an hour and ten minutes on the average. They are at "Level 8" according to key provided at this site. The pain is excruciating, unbearable, way beyond human tolerance, but I'm sure all you of you already know that, or you wouldn't be here. I do not smoke or drink(I make an exception every so often and expect pain as a result). I'm real glad I found this site. At least here I don't have to try to figure out how to verbally explain how terrible my pain is to a non-sufferer, and that I have no control over pacing, groaning, sometimes whimpering...etc...
Luke.