Posted by Jackie M. on January 24, 1999 at 15:30:23:
In Reply to: new to this message board posted by sally on January 23, 1999 at 23:13:04:
Dear Sally,
Of course I'm sorry for the impetus which brought you here, but glad you've found this friendly and supportive place. It's a shame that you are forced to find a new neurologist, as the one you have sounds knowledgable and helpful. Just another example of how our health insurance companies are failing us miserably.
I am about the same age as yourself and have been suffering with cluster h/a's for 25 years. I've taken about every medication available and now simply rely on oxygen therapy, a little help from darvon every now and then, and my old stand-by through all these many years; running in circles, hyperventilating and moaning. I've only just recently discovered the oxygen therapy and now keep tanks at my home. The oxygen helps a great deal, and although it does not abort the cluster attack, it seems to lessen the severity of pain. I have had to use darvon once along with the oxygen to help during a particularly intense cluster attack. I think it may simply be a matter of learning when to start the oxygen and how to breath through it, so I may get better results with the oxygen in time.
Wishing you a very long remission from the clusters.
Jackie