Posted by BEN BUSBEE (205.188.197.182) on January 21, 2001 at 13:26:32:
I'VE SUFFERED FROM CLUSTERS FOR OVER 10YRS.THEY COME AND GO.
I'VE LEARNED SEVERAL THINGS THAT CAN HELP YOU.
ANOTHER PROBLEM I HAVE IS THAT I SUFFER FROM SINUS
CONJESTION AND HAVE TAKEN CERTAIN SINUS MEDS AND THEY WOULD KICK OFF A CLUSTER HEADACHE.WHAT WAS STRANGE WAS THAT SOME OF THE MEDS CAUSE A CLUSTER AND SOME DID'NT.I COMPARED THE INGREDIENTS OF ONE AGAINST THE OTHER SINCE MOST SINUS MEDICINES HAVE THE SAME THING IN THEM.THE ONE ITEM THAT SEEMED TO VARY WERE THE DYE'S THAT MADE UP THE MEDS LOOK.YELLOW DYE NO.10 SEEMS TO BE SUSPECT.YOU CAN FIND MEDS THAT ARE DYE FREE.TYLENOL/SINUS IS ONE OF THE WORST.THE NEW ALEVE/SINUS DID'NT KICK OFF A HEADACHE.IT MUST BE THE TYPE DYE USED AND NOT DYE'S IN GENERAL.YOU CAN SEE WHERE I'M GOING WITH THIS.
THINGS THAT ALWAYS KICK OF A CLUSTER FOR ME ARE;
ANY BROWN LICQUORS
CHOCOLATE
MSG
BENADRYAL
SOME BEERS
CERTAIN MEDS
SOME PAIN KILLERS CAN CAUSE A CLUSTER.
THINGS THAT HELP ME ARE;
LITHIUM TAKES A DAY OR TWO TO BE EFFECTIVE BUT CAN STOP A CHRONIC CLUSTER PHASE.
IMITREX SHOTS HAVE KEPT ME OUT OF THE EMERGENCY ROOM
MANY TIMES BUT IMITREX USED TO OFTEN IN A ROW CAN CAUSE REBOUND HEADACHES AND YOU THINK YOUR NEVER GOING TO STOP THE PHASE.AT THAT POINT USUALLY ONLY STRON PAIN KILLERS FOR A FEW DAYS STOPS THE CLUSTER.I WISH WE COULD TALK THE DOCTORS INTO THIS.I HAD A DOCTOR WHO DID THIS FOR ME AND IT WORKS AND I'M NOT ADDICTED TO PAIN KILLERS.
BETA CAROTENE OR ANY OTHER ANTI-OXIDANT TAKEN ON A DAILY BASIS HELPED ME TREMENDOUSLY.
GOODY POWDERS TAKEN WITH A COKE OR COFFEE CAN GIVE YOU FAST RELEIVE IF TAKEN AT THE ONSET.
JUST CALMING DOWN CAN STOP A CLUSTER SOMETIMES.
TRY SELF HYPNOSIS
I ALSO FOUND THAT ASPIRIN WORKS BETTER THAN ANY OTHER
OVER THE COUNTER MEDICINE.TAKE THREE AT THE ONSET.
I HOPE THIS MAY HELP SOME OF YOU OUT THERE.
I CAN'T IMAGINE ANY WORST PAIN THAN A CLUSTER.
REMEMBER YOU ARE YOUR BEST DOCTOR.