Posted by Annie (63.238.31.254) on July 24, 2001 at 00:11:22:
I just found this board after watching a show on Discovery. Tricky trying to read the computer screen off TV! It's wonderful to find this site at this time cause I really need some input.
I had cluster headaches for years but haven't had one since I was put on verapamil for blood pressure. That's the good news. The bad news is I mentioned them to my new doctor and he did not believe I had them. He said the pain was intense and could only be relived by 100 percent oxygen. Maybe that's true about the oxygen; I was never forunate enough to find anything that would relieve one and no one ever offered the oxygen treatment. And he is absolutely right that the pain is incredibly intense. (I used to sit with my head in a freezer, literally, during an attack.)
But when he expressed his disbelief, I saw a red flag. What if I get the headaches again and he doesn't believe I have them? Now I'm terrified. I keep midrin (duradrin) on hand because I am also blessed with classic migraine. And the midrin will help the cluster if I catch it soon enough. (Doesn't relieve it, but does help.)
What would you do to convince this doctor? I'm scared to death and would really appreciate any input from other victims of these nasty things.
Thanks a lot.
Annie