Posted by Paul (208.31.40.220) on March 10, 2000 at 21:22:59:
About three years ago I started taking melatonin. It was to help me get to sleep because I am a very light sleeper and have a hard time falling asleep. The following two springs I did not go into cycle. I have had CH since '88 and go into cycle every spring like clock work. Since taking the melatonin, I have skipped two years and last year was light compared to all other years. I only had one CH each day for two months and that I consider a blessing. This year I'm in cycle and they are worse than last year but not as bad as the years before I started taking melatonin. NOW, I just read that in the studies done on people with CH, their melatonin levels in their urine are lower than control groups. This is true throughout the year, not just in cycle. Further, I read that melatonin has been reported to have some success in the treatment of CH. I am not saying that melatonin will help everybody but it may help lessen the severity of the cycles in some people.
Now, here is my $0.02 about O.U.C.H. If it had been around 20 years ago perhaps I would not have had to go undiagnosed for so many years. Perhaps I could have escaped the pain of many attacks if the Dr. knew what types of treatments to suggest because he knew something about CH. So, my $25 isn't going to do me very much good tomorrow or the day after. Two, or twenty years from now it may. It may also save some poor sob the pain and anguish I went through. And like some others on the board have offered, I'll be glad to pay for someone who is going through tough times financially. BEAT THE BEAST!
-Paul