Posted by Steve T on March 01, 1999 at 15:26:28:
Hello, I’m a new visitor to the forum since I’m a “lucky” CH sufferer, with 4-6 week clusters every 18 to 24 months. Unfortunately, after 20 clear months, a cluster began Friday. I’ve got a couple of questions which may or may not have been answered previously, but I’ll ask anyway. I’ve included my current meds arsenal and a brief history below
Although I don’t smoke between clusters, I find that the vaso constrictive effects of nicotine to be beneficial and although I’ve tried prescription nic, cigarettes defiantly are a more rapid way to introduce the drug and therefore much more desirable. Like many CHers, I often have a CH onset in the early AM hours or upon waking. I’ve read much material about the supposed reasons for the timing, but wonder if a nicotine deficiency could be suspect, and has anyone tried using nic patches during sleep? If so, what was the outcome? In past clusters, I’ve used sumatripten injections with positive results, and gladly pay the cost of the medicine for the relief it brings. However, the new nasal spay is available and I wonder if, for CH, it works as fast as the injections. Thanks for any insight.
History - I began to suffer from episodic cluster in my late teens after 2 years of juvenile migraine. (boy were those easy by comparison) My mother had migraine headaches her entire adult life and my brother also has CH, with his onset occurring at age 25. Early in my treatment, and after the usual tests, CATs etc., I was prescribed a regiment of vaso constrictors which didn’t seem to act fast enough and therefore discarded. I also tried acupuncture, O2 therapy and most of the other recommended measures often prescribed by docs who were still themselves learning about CH. I have all the common headache triggers, low blood sugar, food preservatives, alcohol, tannin aged cheese, barometric pressure changes, hard sausage to name a few, and my clusters often begin on vacation again, post stress onset being common.
My real breakthrough began about five years ago with the availability of sumatriptan. I also take 20mg/day of paxil at cluster onset which seems to reduce the number of headaches by as much as 80%-90% during a cluster. 20mg doses of valium, used very sporadically to ease the muscle tension in my neck and shoulders also seems to reduce the total number of occurrences. I stress sporadic use of the valium, I may take a max of 2 doses per week during cluster.
Well, I you stayed with me the whole way, thanks for reading, and here’s to a full night sleep for all of us.