Posted by Wesley (205.188.199.58) on February 09, 2001 at 13:19:48:
I can remember my first cluster like it was yesterday. That was 12 years ago. I was 15, and extremely into my health (for strength). I decided to start taking vitamins and took a milti-vitamin. Then I saw a bottle of B-12. I had heard that the B's were good for energy so I took 1. That night was the most painful night of my life. I thought I was going to die. I did not believe in taling pain killers because they cause the body's natural defense to become weak. I suffered clusters (I didn't know that that's what they were) for 5 years before I went to the doctor. Within the 5 years I had become very familiar with asprin and tylenol, and other home remidies. I had a perfect pattern knowing exactly what was to come and what to do to ease the pain. I started going to doctors for help and pills, pills, pills. Ever since I have been trying to find 'a cure', my clusters have gotten longer in both episodes and per cluster. I just had one that woke me at 2am. I took a dose of Imitrex nasal spray, and did my usual 'dance' which is pacing back and forth with an occasional punching walls and throwing things. The pain went down to a level 4 after 1 hour then bounced back to a 9. I was in hell for 5 hours. I wish I would have never took any prescription meds, cause before them the clusters lasted half an hour and for about two weeks. Now I deal with 3 hours average, for about two to three months, and the pain doesn't 'drain' like it use to, it just slowly fades.
very upset... Wesley