Posted by Dave L (63.24.243.95) on August 17, 2000 at 23:02:19:
I wanted to post a message of thanks. Thanks to this message board that listened to me during an attack and let me know that I wasn't crazy. Thanks could never be enough.
I am so lucky. I'm up late tonight, surfing the web without a headache. Two months ago was my last attack. It was an attack longer, more painful and more intense than any previous attack. It lasted for 14 weeks.
Everyday, 3-6 times a day, I endured agonizing headaches. The first two weeks I had them, I stayed home from work for two weeks. Then I sporadically missed work for another two weeks until I was able to return. My headaches had never prevented me from working in the past. I had always been able to cope with them at the workplace and make do.
What saved me was the support of my doctor. He believed in me completely. Although, he did ask me to have another MRI in the third month of the attack.
It was very difficult. I found great relief reading other people express what I was going through. Everybody around me could tell I was not well but had no idea of the pain. The pain was everpresent and very difficult to handle. I often felt as if I were losing my mind. I considered psychiatric help but never went. I would always feel better reading other messages and often receiving emails from people who supported me.
So here I am thinking about the attacks. I surprise myself that I can't remember most of the pain. Our bodies do a great job of protecting ourselves. I seem relatively calm and then I remember that in Fall I will most likely have another attack. I think it has something to do with the amount of daylight. My only theory.
How I forget the cluster headache is a miracle. My body won't let me remember the pain. How I hit myself with a shoe to take the pain away from my head. Sometimes, the increasing amount of Vicodin, which has always been the only thing separating me from death. I always used heat on my headaches; showers, hot packs, etc. It seemed to help. Sometimes I learned something from the message board that helped.
I just wanted to say thanks to all and hang in there. Life is great between attacks.
Dave