Posted by Dale (207.175.214.135) on February 25, 2000 at 00:23:03:
I've been an episodic CH sufferer for 24 years. 10 years ago my wife tried massaging by abdomen (suggestion from a message therapist friend) during an attack and it just fizzled, gone. She was able to stop 4 out of 5 in that 6 week episode. There was a price to pay however. I think she was about to ask for a divorce when the episode ended. Waking up everyday pre-dawn to massage me lost it's charm I guess. She actually got really mad at me. LOL.
We've had similiar luck with the 3 episodes since then. During the last one I used O2 and Imitrex with pretty good results, but, during the last half of the cycle it seemed that those weren't cutting it on their own. Although they did seem to slow the onset of the pain, which was very helpful by giving me time to negotiate a massage. During that 5 week episode only 2 or 3 attacks reached full intensity. I have to give the stomach massages most of the credit. Although I believe that it took all 3 in last part of the cycle when the headaches seem to get their most intense and insistant.
I know there are probably quite a few of you out there that favor holistic type of treatments, but, I'm still a little embarrassed to talk about this one.
My last episode was almost 2 years ago. I felt an obligation to share this info when I checked in and read postings from those that are still suffering even though they have a full arsenal of scripts to choose from.
Many thanks to the guys who posted this site. I was really excited when found it in '98 and realized how not alone I was. My heart goes out to all suffering out there, hope that this technique can help someone.