Posted by Rachel M (63.225.201.107) on February 27, 2001 at 13:58:51:
In Reply to: New here and in need of help posted by Stacey on February 27, 2001 at 12:03:39:
Mine are twice a night for a week then get into full swing and get as bad as 10x a day. Towards the end of my cycle they diminish to twice a night for
about 45 minutes each.I take Verapamil, Lithium and Cafergot (Ergotamine, similiar to Ergomar). The Cafergot works great at the first signs of pain but
at night they sneak up on me. I also find myself panting when I wake up. Light hurts me and my headaches ocasionally switch sides. By the way my
headache cycles last anywheres from 3 weeks to 3 months a year. Always between January and April and always at 2am and 4am. You can set a clock by me.
Hot wet towels draped on my head helps me alot. I tried the hot shower but I was so shaky and dizzy that I fell and hurt myself once. I try not to wake
anyone, feel like I've already disrupted their lives too much so I can't ask them to help me in the shower. I hope you don't have them all year long, do
you? OOH, almost forgot, I get that feeling of euphoric relief and love of life afterwards too! By the way, I was told that quite a few Clusterheads have
a sensitivity to light. It doesn't mean that we can't see in bright light, only that it makes the pain worse. I was told that perhaps so many years of
strong pain killers may have made my eyes light sensitive. It took them 10 years to finally diagnose me correctly. Also it is possible that you're
suffering from a combination of CH and Migraines. Twice the symptoms for the same price! Ouch! Don't mean to be insensitive, gotta laugh or I'll
cry. Thought my cycle was over but my Prednisone interrupted my cycle for a few days and then they started up again. Gotta hold my breath a while
longer. Into week five, bad season.