Posted by LarryB (216.196.149.88) on January 05, 2001 at 15:51:45:
In Reply to: Depression posted by Joy on January 05, 2001 at 10:21:32:
During my last cycle 4 years ago, my Dr. at the pain clinic started me on verapamil and the anti-depressant, doxepin. He also had me take melatonin. The doxepin and melatonin block the re-uptake of seratonin which helps with the pain, (lack of) sleep and depression cycle. Because the three have no long term side effects (I thought the doxepin might make me goofy or at least feeling drugged, but it didn’t) he had me stay on them indefinitely.
I started a new cycle about 6 weeks ago and the pain is not as bad as past cycles for most of the CH’s. There are a few 8’s and 9’s on a scale of ten each week, but it isn’t everyday. I’m having about 4 CH’s a day but most are 5-7. The O2 helps a lot too.
Don’t ignore the cycle of pain , sleepless, depression cycle that goes with CH’s. Pain clinics use psychologists to help patients cope with the pain and use counseling, relaxation techniques, and meds to break the cycle.I highly reccomend this approach. It’s the best method I have found after 25 years of CH’s.
LarryB