Posted by Linda B on March 01, 1999 at 15:36:17:
I am a 37 year old woman that has suffered from Cluster Headache`s for 25 year`s.
My doctor`s have me on verapamil 240 mg`s a day, Naprosyn 550 mg`s 4 x a day and Evail 75 mg`s once a day.
I have shadow`s of CH all the time. When I have a seaver Cluster Headache attack this is what I go through. I have constant pain. I try to sleep with it. I wake up with it. The presure build`s behind one eye or the other, sometime`s both. It goes through my whole head. Into my sinue`s which make`s my nose run contstantly. It make`s my jaw`s tighten so I can not eat. I cant handle light of any kind or noise. They have been known to put me down in bed for week`s at a time. My body get`s so tense all I want to do is climb out of my own skin.
I have been to countless of doctor`s. Tryed countless number of pill`s shot`s and much more. I have taken so many test I feel like a lab rat.
The finacial burden this put`s on my family is unreal.
I have 2 small children and a husband that is in a wheelchair. So you can just imagin the strain this put`s on a person.
Some of us suffer`s die by their own hand. They cant handle the pain anymore. Some of us cant work for the pain is to much.
All we ask is to be heard. We are real people with nightmarish story`s to tell about how CH has changed are live`s.
Sincerly Mrs.Linda Bucklew
To my CH family this is what I wrote to 48 Hour`s and many many other`s. I just hope they hear are plea`s are cry`s to be heard.
Hug`s to you all Hope your day is a PAIN FREE one
Linda B