Posted by Jim on April 07, 1999 at 12:22:27:
I'm new to this site, but not to the demon.
I learned more about CH's on 4-6-99 here than I have over the past 20 plus years I've suffered through them. My son Dennis teaches computer classes but my knowledge about them ends at the power switch. So my kids turned me on to this website.
I've truly empathized with each of you while reading about everyone's experience with these CH's. Only those of us who have experienced this excruciating pain can truly understand just how bad it it. I tell my sons that it probably isn't inherited, but it still scares them to death.
I won't bore you with all of my rederick from past headaches; we all know how bad they are. But I would like to share a portion of what they've been like for me, and how I've managed to get through them. In one word, it's been "FAMILY". It's so easy to feel alone during an episode. I have truly been blessed with the support from my wife, sons, and daugthers-in-laws. We feel like we're taking on all the pain from the CH, but our families also suffer--a different kind of pain, but pain non-the-less.
I remember about ten years ago when I was having a bout with the CH's and I'd been awake for nearly 48 hrs.--seemed like I never had more than an hour break at a time from the constant pain. We have a ritual here at our house when I get one. The best medicine I've found for the pain is prescription Tylox once the pain starts. So I take a pill and my wife heads for the kitchen to prepare the hot towells. When we run out of hot water, she puts them in the microwave. One for my face, and one on my neck. She had to keep that up for 2-3 hours of pain with possibly an hour off over this two day period. I can't sit or lie down when I have a CH, so on this particularly bad episode, I was standing about 75% of that time. My legs and back got so tired that my oldest son Alan had to come home from college and literally hold me up part of the time.
I've tried push ups, sit ups, crying, screaming, and feeling sorry for myself...all to no avail. But my wife is always right beside me with her hand on my shoulder and a soft word of encouragement. When it seems like I just can't take it anymore, either she, or one of my boys gives me the strength to get through it.
Myself, I think we need to be more mentally prepared for these CH's. The physical part is nearly unbearable at times, but we know that it's going to happen. But if you're not mentally prepared, it's going to be much harder to endure.
I've been to the Diamond Headache Clinic in Chicago. I've had all of the allergy tests and seen many neurologists. I think we're just destined to have a certain number of headaches in a given time and we'd better prepare for it. God bless those of you who can lessen the length and severity of these episodes.
God promised us he wouldn't give us more than we can endure. I told my wife that he must be trying to tell me something--I just haven't figured it out yet. I sure wish he'd just email it!!!
I think I could write a book on these CH's, but I've taken up enough space for now. The only medicine I've found that works for me is 60 mg. of prednisone and a maximum of 6 prescription Tylox capsules per 24 hour period. What works for one may not work for another, but as long as YOU THINK it's working, you're mentally prepared. I've been there and done that!
My sympathy to each and everyone of you. Why did we get so lucky? We had a better chance of hitting the lottery than getting these headaches.
It's now approaching the dreaded 2:00 am hour on 4-7-99 that all we CH sufferers fear. I've got the Tylox in one hand and the towells on the sink. See you in the morning--I'll be there!!
I'm starting on O2 tomorrow.
Has anyone tried acupuncture?