Posted by Richard on November 20, 1998 at 09:28:35:
In Reply to: Anyone Had This Happen? posted by Jackie on November 19, 1998 at 11:53:15:
Jackie,
I too, unlike most, only have had Clusters every TWO years for about 6 weeks. I had a terrible cycle over the summer and was so thankful when they ended. Then I got a bad cold....turned sinus infection that I didn't treat. Within two weeks, I began feeling like I was having shadows of clusters. Sure enough, they started again. This cycle had been the worse ever! I have finally resorted to narcotics (Stadol nasal) and Depakote. I've endured them for 5 weeks and still have them every night. After beginning the Depakote, the severe ones stopped but still use the oxygen and Stadol everynight when I awake. I have never had a cycle to return so quickly and got VERY depressed! My doctor told me my untreated sinus infection, being on the same side as my clusters, attacked the week part of my head and caused the clusters to return. I want to believe him and not that my episodic clusters are becoming chronic. Last weekend I went the whole weekend without a headache. Thought they were ending but Monday, they were back. I KNOW alcohol triggers mine immediately and have just realized that WHITE cheeses do too. I smoke and can't do anything about that right now but don't see a connection there. My life stops while I am in a cycle. All I do is work and stay home ALONE. I never socialize for fear of having an attack. I ENJOY ALCOHOL AND IT'S VERY HARD FOR ME TO BE AROUND IT WHEN I CAN'T PARTICIPATE. I've prayed for these things to stop and questioned why I have been cursed with them twice in one year. Good luck to you and I hope we are over this before the holidays