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        New Message Board Archives >> 2004-2005 Getting to Know Ya Posts >> Just wanted to introduce myself
        
(Message started by: sharbare on Jan 31^st, 2004, 4:23pm)

Title: Just wanted to introduce myself
Post by sharbare on Jan 31^st, 2004, 4:23pm

I am brand new to this site and so thankful that I found it. My name is Sharon. I am 36 years old. I have been suffering from episodic clusters for 18 years now. (half of my life!) When I first started getting them I thought I was getting sinus infections to the 10th degree. I would take sinutab like candy and I thought it was helping because after an hour my pain would go away. This lasted for about 2 cycles (4years). Seeking out doctor after doctor after doctor with no relief and no diagnosis, I was devastated. At the age of 29 I was hospitalized for these terrible headaches. A nuerologist at the hopital finally correctly diagnosed me with episodic clusters. He then doped me up on several meds that didn't help at all. Just made me feel like I was in a fog. I heard about the Diamond Headache clinic from several people who said they had success with migranes. (of course no one I ever met had or even heard of clusters) so I thought I'd give them a try. I saw Dr. Merle Diamond, founder of the clinic and he put me on prednisone for 3 weeks, gave me a shot of some sort, along with oxygen therapy. For the first time in 18 years I found relief!! It is a miracle!! My last cycle lasted 7 weeks and I pretty much skated through it. If you live near the Chicago area please give the Diamond headace clinic a try. They are a God send to me and hopefully will be to others of you out there suffering.

Title: Re: Just wanted to introduce myself
Post by jonny on Jan 31^st, 2004, 4:35pm

Glad to hear you had a good experience at diamond......I bet the pocketbook is alittle lighter ;;D

..............................jony

Title: Re: Just wanted to introduce myself
Post by BlueMeanie on Jan 31^st, 2004, 5:01pm

Sharon,

Glad to hear you found relief for your Clusters. Most neuros nowadays will prescribe the same meds you received at Diamond. Just pointing that out because of the cost involved. Try Imitrex injections. You can get a script from your GP. O2 was a little harder to get for me through my GP, but I did get a script with no problems after seeing a neuro.

PF Vibes to you and hope your cycles are ALL short ones.

Title: Re: Just wanted to introduce myself
Post by BobG on Jan 31^st, 2004, 5:39pm

Wouldn't ya know it......

A new lady signs in and jonny's the first to jump her string. 8)

Welcome to the board Sharon.

Title: Re: Just wanted to introduce myself
Post by Callico_Kid on Jan 31^st, 2004, 10:59pm

Welcome aboard. Check you IMs. Sent you one, but I may have goofed it. :( Let me know if I did and I'll resend. Glad to meet another in Chicagoland.

Jerry

Title: Re: Just wanted to introduce myself
Post by TxBasslady on Jan 31^st, 2004, 11:13pm

Hi Sharon,

Welcome to the board.

Good to hear you have the meds to fight the beast.

Stick around and let us know how you are doing.

PF vibes,

Jean

Title: Re: Just wanted to introduce myself
Post by tiredofclusters on Jan 31^st, 2004, 11:29pm

Welcome to the board Sharon,

Glad you found the board, hang in there
The BEAST will never win!!!!!!!!!! [smiley=laugh.gif]

Neal

Title: Re: Just wanted to introduce myself
Post by Tiannia on Feb 1^st, 2004, 1:06am

Glad you found us, especially as you have been dealing witht he beast for so long. Hope you find help easire then by having to head to a speciliazed clinic.

Tiannia

Title: Re: Just wanted to introduce myself
Post by jonny on Feb 1^st, 2004, 1:15am

on 01/31/04 at 17:39:22, BobG wrote:

Wouldn't ya know it......

A new lady signs in and jonny's the first to jump her string. 8).

Just expressing my hate for clinics that suck us dry of cash we dont have, Bob

................................jonny

Title: Re: Just wanted to introduce myself
Post by tsayswhy on Feb 1^st, 2004, 1:37am

welcome sharon

glad to here you are doing well :D
wishing you PF days

tsays

Title: Re: Just wanted to introduce myself
Post by Pinkfloyd on Feb 1^st, 2004, 1:52am

on 01/31/04 at 16:23:33, sharbare wrote:

I saw Dr. Merle Diamond, founder of the clinic and he put me on prednisone for 3 weeks, gave me a shot of some sort, along with oxygen therapy.

Glad they helped you out. I'm sure that after 18 years of no relief, I imagine you're not complaining about the cost after finally finding someone to help. How many thousands $$ and hours of pain had you spent until finding Diamond?

Anyway, if it was a Mr. Diamond you saw, it was Seymour Diamond, the founder. If you saw Merle Diamond, that was his daughter. Didn't want to nit-pick but you'll want the correct name when you call to speak to your doc or make future appointments.

Good luck
PF

Title: Re: Just wanted to introduce myself
Post by thomas on Feb 1^st, 2004, 2:12am

welcome aboard. :) I don't need diamond though, but if they can help someone more power to 'em.

Title: Re: Just wanted to introduce myself
Post by BobG on Feb 1^st, 2004, 7:21am

on 02/01/04 at 01:15:25, jonny wrote:

Just expressing my hate for clinics that suck us dry of cash we dont have, Bob

................................jonny

That's what I was referring to. The Diamond Clinic has had a lot of negative remarks aimed at it here. Too bad the elder Diamond isn't there anymore. I think he actually cared about his ch sufferers. The young Diamond is interested in money.
But Sharon had good results and that is what counts.

Title: Re: Just wanted to introduce myself
Post by Kirk on Feb 1^st, 2004, 7:38am

Welcome to the Maelstrom. So glad you found some relief.
Stick around.

TTFN 8)

Title: Re: Just wanted to introduce myself
Post by stevegeebe on Feb 1^st, 2004, 8:15am

Hey Sharon.

Welcome to Clusterville.

Steve G

Title: Re: Just wanted to introduce myself
Post by sharbare on Feb 1^st, 2004, 5:11pm

Hi pf and everyone else out there,
Thank you for the name correction. You are absolutely right, I saw Seymour, not Merle. As for the cost only a $20.00 copay cuz they are in my insurance plan. If they weren't I would still be SUFFERING!!!!

Sharbare

Title: Re: Just wanted to introduce myself
Post by sharbare on Feb 1^st, 2004, 5:17pm

Jerry,
Forgive me, but being new to this sight and the internet I'm not sure what the heck an IM is or how to receive it. Sorry if I sound like an idiot, Please help.

sharbare

Title: Re: Just wanted to introduce myself
Post by Little Deb on Feb 1^st, 2004, 8:50pm

Welcome!

Little Deb
Raleigh, NC

Title: Re: Just wanted to introduce myself
Post by Callico_Kid on Feb 2^nd, 2004, 12:40am

Hi Sharbare,

Apologies not needed. I didn't know what an IM was till I came here either. It's and instant message. If you scroll up to the top of this page where it says Message Board to the right of the header it will say, "Hello Sharbare, you have ___ messages, ____ are new." Click on "messages" and it will take you to the IMs page.

Give it just a little bit of time and you will be doing it without thinking about it, kind of like we post without thinking about it! ;;D

jc

Title: Re: Just wanted to introduce myself
Post by BarbaraD on Feb 6^th, 2004, 7:15am

Welcome to Clusterville Sharebare

Read all the stuff and see that you're n ot alone anymore. We're a great support group.

Go to the OUCH website and join up. We need all the help we can get - (Organization for Understanding Cluster Headaches). We're making a lot of progress in getting our disease out in the public.

Hugs BD

Title: Re: Just wanted to introduce myself
Post by aprilbee on Feb 6^th, 2004, 8:58am

Welcome! :)