Posted by Ueli (212.28.158.184) on May 14, 2000 at 08:55:08:
In Reply to: first time post posted by Joe Fletcher on May 14, 2000 at 06:41:20:
Hi Joe,
Welcome to the clusterhead family, but sorry you qualify.
Even more sorry that you have such a 'strange' doctor, I almost believe she has won her degree in a lottery :(
As there are up to now no medicaments especially for CH, we must rely on meds developed for other diseases. True, CH is in a different league than migraine, but both are primary headaches involving the expansion of blood vessels. Therefore, many meds developed for migraines are useful to treat CH too, especially the ergot derivatives and the triptans.
Verapamil, a calcium channel blocker used to treat certain heart conditions, is a very potent preventive for CH and many have success with it. Breathing oxygen at a high flow rate is for many an excellent abortive for an attack.
Check out all the medical links at the left of the main page, print out useful stuff and try to educate your doctor.
If you haven't tried yet Verapamil as a preventative and oxygen as an abortive (both bring relieve for many and have minimal side effects), urge your doc to try them, and if she isn't willing, the best thing would be to look for a neurologist with experience in treating CH.
Stick around and read as many of the 50000+ messages as possible, there is great stuff for any aspect in the life of a clusterhead.
PFNAD's (Pain Free Nights And Days),
Ueli