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        New Message Board Archives >> 2006-2007 Getting to Know Ya Posts >> Good News / Bad News
        
(Message started by: Kilowatt3 on Sep 1^st, 2007, 10:41pm)

Title: Good News / Bad News
Post by Kilowatt3 on Sep 1^st, 2007, 10:41pm

Hi All,

Jim here, in SW Louisiana. I'm new to the board, but have been a CH since the early 90's. I have been very fortunate to have been in total remission for about the last six years.

The bad news is that the party's over - the Beast is back.

The good news is that there sure seems to be a lot more ammo to use against him these days! I have been combining a number of 'therapies', and I'm having very good luck. My analytical side (I'm an engineer)cringes at this approach, 'cause I can't conclusively say what's doing the trick, but heck, a PF day is a triumph, whether you know the exact reason for it or not, right?

Here's my regimen:

Kudzu - 1000 mg, 2x per day (morning & night)
Magnesium - 250 mg, 2x per day (morning & night)
St. John's Wort - 300 mg, 2x per day (morning & night)
Skullcap - 425 mg at bedtime
Melatonin - 10 mg at bedtime

In addition, I keep Red Bull at hand, and slam one down at the first sign of a shadow, along with a couple of 500 mg Taurine tablets.

No wild claims of a "cure", but I'm kind of on cloud 9 right now, due to my success with this "program" - I've been on it for a little over a week, and have now been about six days with nothing worse than a vague shadow. It's been about 3 weeks since this period started, and from past experience, I would expect to be right about at the peak of a cycle right now. I'm still scared to try drinking a beer, but I just might try one before the holiday weekend is over! I'll let you all know how that pans out!

I've got an O2 tank & regulator on order, but at the rate I'm going, I just might not need them!

Many thanks to all who have contributed here, and GL to everybody!

Very best regards,
Jim

Title: Re: Good News / Bad News
Post by Ray on Sep 2^nd, 2007, 12:50am

Jim:

Glad things are working so well. My best to you!

Ray

Title: Re: Good News / Bad News
Post by sandie99 on Sep 2^nd, 2007, 10:28am

Jim,

that's brilliant! :)

I sure hope that your treatment will keep on working and that the beast will take a hike asap - for good! :)

PF days,
Sanna

Title: Re: Good News / Bad News
Post by Rosybabe on Sep 2^nd, 2007, 3:08pm

Best wishes for you Jim!! Hope the beast goes away for another six years or maybe..never return ;;D

Rosy.

Title: Re: Good News / Bad News
Post by DennisM1045 on Sep 2^nd, 2007, 6:08pm

Way to go Jim! Read up, build your arsenal and kick some beast but. I hope this plan works for your whole cycle. Wishing you PFDAN!

-Dennis-

Title: Re: Good News / Bad News
Post by George_J on Sep 3^rd, 2007, 3:42am

on 09/01/07 at 22:41:52, Kilowatt3 wrote:

Welcome, Jim.

Interesting to hear your regimen. I've gotten very conservative with treatments and supplements over the years, and your approach sounds familiar. Here's mine in cycle:

250 mg. magnesium, 2X daily.
1000 mg. calcium 1X daily.
9 mg. melatonin, 1/2 hour before bedtime, with 4 mg. chlorpheneramine maleate (an OTC antihistamine).
Energy drinks with taurine to kill shadows.

I also take 2 100 mg. aspirin each day to compensate for Factor V Leiden, (an unrelated condition that I have), as well as 500 mg. Vitamin C, and 400 mg. vitamin E. I doubt that any of those have much effect on CH.

I plan to try oxygen at either 10 to 15 lpm and a non-rebreather mask, or with a demand regulator during my next cycle to abort. We'll see how that works.

Glad to hear from you, and best wishes,

George

Title: Re: Good News / Bad News
Post by Kilowatt3 on Sep 3^rd, 2007, 1:49pm

on 09/01/07 at 22:41:52, Kilowatt3 wrote:

Here's my regimen:

Kudzu - 1000 mg, 2x per day (morning & night)
Magnesium - 250 mg, 2x per day (morning & night)
St. John's Wort - 300 mg, 2x per day (morning & night)
Skullcap - 425 mg at bedtime
Melatonin - 10 mg at bedtime

In addition, I keep Red Bull at hand, and slam one down at the first sign of a shadow, along with a couple of 500 mg Taurine tablets.

No wild claims of a "cure", but I'm kind of on cloud 9 right now, due to my success with this "program" - I've been on it for a little over a week, and have now been about six days with nothing worse than a vague shadow. It's been about 3 weeks since this period started, and from past experience, I would expect to be right about at the peak of a cycle right now. I'm still scared to try drinking a beer, but I just might try one before the holiday weekend is over! I'll let you all know how that pans out!

Very best regards,
Jim

Here's an update - More Good News / Bad News!

The bad news is that I spoke a little too soon - had an attack Saturday night around midnight.

The good news is that the attack was relatively minor - maybe Kip 4-5, and lasted only about 1/2 hour. My HA's are usually Kip 8-9, and last exactly an hour like clockwork!

More good news is that last night (Sunday) a neighbor and his wife came over to visit, and the guy got me in a head-lock and started pouring beer down my throat. By the time I was able to get free, I'd had four beers. NO HA AT ALL!!!

I'm pretty sure I'm on to something, at least for me! If anyone tries this, please let me know if/how it works!

Title: Re: Good News / Bad News
Post by DennisM1045 on Sep 3^rd, 2007, 4:20pm

Hey Jim! It seems there is always some bad news with the good. I'm glad you are finding a silver lining in all this. PFDAN to ya...

-Dennis-

Title: Re: Good News / Bad News
Post by Kilowatt3 on Sep 5^th, 2007, 9:38pm

on 09/03/07 at 13:49:46, Kilowatt3 wrote:

Thanks for everyone's feedback on my 'discovery'. Here's another update - more good news / no more bad!

With the exception of Saturday's minor HA, I remain pain-free going on two weeks, in spite of repeated exposure to known triggers:

- In past CH periods, I have NEVER been able to drink alcohol without setting off the Beast. As mentioned earlier, I drank four beers on Sunday with no problem. I have since had two beers with dinner last night (Tuesday) and two with dinner tonight - NO PROBLEM!

- I had also found air travel to be an almost inevitable trigger in the past, but I spent most of the day yesterday on planes (Total of 7 hours flight time, four flights) - NO PROBLEM!

Everything on my list was found either on this site, or OUCH. I just combined them in a way that seems to work, at least for me. I'm really excited about this. If whatever you're doing isn't working, and you're looking for something else to try, give it a shot, and let us know what happens! I feel like these meds are a whole lot gentler and safer than the doctor-prescribed stuff, not to mention a WHOLE lot cheaper! Everything on the list is available OTC at Wal-mart or GNC.

Sorry to babble, but (I hope) you can imagine how I feel right now! Best of luck and PFDAN to everyone!

Regards,
Jim

Title: Re: Good News / Bad News
Post by Garys_Girl on Sep 6^th, 2007, 8:58am

Jim,

I am so pleased you've found a combo that is working for you! Any time anyone wins a battle against the beast I just beam. !!!!!!!!!!!

When we first found this site, hubby tried basically that mix. His problem was that the kudzu and magnesium made his GI problems worse - and they're bad to begin with.

But I'm glad it's working SO WELL for you!

Laurie