I've been asked to make a 30 minute presentation on CH for our Biology class at school.  Input on what you think should be included would be appreciated.  i don't want to come at it from only my own viewpoint and would like to include a wider perspective.

thanks!

Jerry

Contrary to popular belief among Dr's, women DO get cluster headaches.  

Info on 02 as an abortive!!

The one message I'd try to get across is that people with challenging health conditions can and should always make the most of every minute they can and LIVE life.

To live in fear is merely to exist.


Many of them will know someone with a challenging condition.

Some of them may have or may develop a challenging condition.

God help them, some of them may go on to have children with something like this themselves.

Life may not be the party we asked for, but while we're here let's dance.

Last word from me goes to Jasper. A year or so ago I was venting to a friend about how hard it is fearing it coming back each year for him and how bad I feel because of him having CH. I was in tears, it was that time of year and he heard me. He came up to me afterwards and gave me a cuddle and said "You were talking about the custard monster weren't you?" I said yes I had been, but he wasn't to worry, mummy was just being silly and he said "Well he's not eating my eye now is he mummy?"

That's what it's all about. Suffer we may, but LIVE in between. If a seven year old can do it, so can I.  :)

Helen,

Please kiss Jasper for me, would you?

Jeannie

With pleasure Jeannie ((HUG))

I think also discuss the role that supporters play. I recently printed the "letter to employers/associates" off here, plus the thing that Margi wrote that is also on the info tabs to share with a friend that is being troubled by headaches (not yet diagnosed). there was good info in both docs that would probably be helpful as talking points.

Probably want to mention that there seem to be different triggers, treatments, abortives and preventatives for different people.

What a great opportunity to be able to do this! Would it make sense to show the cluster video? I personally have not viewed it and perhaps it's too intense for HS kids? Maybe others can comment on that.

-Christy

(Edited - sorry I thought you said this was for a high school. Perhaps it's for a college???)

aw my wee pal jasper!!!!!

tell him we,ve still got the fish, and he can come see them anytime!!!!!

xx

Dr. Kudrow is one of the best.  I was fortunate to have him give me my diagnosis.   His writings, research and dealing with CH patients is almost as legendary as Peter Goadsbys.  There is a lot of info in this link by Kudrow you may want to use.

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I'd like it if you could talk about us chronics also and how being hit several times a day for years on end,  have such a profound affect on our quality of life.  Work suffers (if you can even keep a job) , spouses and friends leaving because they can't take it,  lack of sleep and all the residual effect that causes, etc.

Good luck with it Jerry


Linda

30 minutes just isn't enough time.

explain the difference between CH and a headache

However, that's a tall order to explain to anyone.

                        JPC

Just Plain Carl wrote on Jan 22^nd, 2009 at 7:35pm:

explain the difference between CH and a headache However, that's a tall order to explain to anyone.                         JPC

Nah, thats an easy one.  But you will need a visual for it to be effective.  :)

You put a pot of water on a stove and set it to simmer, then put an egg in and tell the students that "This is your brain with a regular headache".

Then you remove the pot and turn the burner on high, take the egg and smash it into the flames and say......

"Thats a cluster headache!" [smiley=crackup.gif]

wrote on Jan 22^nd, 2009 at 8:26pm:

Just Plain Carl wrote on Jan 22nd, 2009 at 7:35pm: explain the difference between CH and a headache However, that's a tall order to explain to anyone.                         JPC Nah, thats an easy one.  But you will need a visual for it to be effective.  :) You put a pot of water on a stove and set it to simmer, then put an egg in and tell the students that "This is your brain with a regular headache". Then you remove the pot and turn the burner on high, take the egg and smash it into the flames and say...... "Thats a cluster headache!" [smiley=crackup.gif]

ROFLMAO

Good one Jonny

Or you can copy and paste this very accurate artistic depiction of what it looks like.  Curtesy of JDH.


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Linda

wrote on Jan 22^nd, 2009 at 8:26pm:

Nah, thats an easy one.  But you will need a visual for it to be effective.  :) You put a pot of water on a stove and set it to simmer, then put an egg in and tell the students that "This is your brain with a regular headache". Then you remove the pot and turn the burner on high, take the egg and smash it into the flames and say...... "Thats a cluster headache!" [smiley=crackup.gif]

Or instead of the flames you can smash it with a tennis racket so it goes hurling across the room and lands on a bunch of students...

You might want to tell the students that people with CH have shown that sometimes when we are at our worst; we can be at our best.  By this I mean that CH has done a lot to change many of us and in a good way.  Careing for another human in pain has been brought to a new level.  There are few things in life that can make a person more human.

-P.

Linda_Howell wrote on Jan 22^nd, 2009 at 8:37pm:

Or you can copy and paste this very accurate artistic depiction of what it looks like.  Curtesy of J. D. Fletcher Linda

I fixed it for ya.  ;)

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J.D. Fletchers website.......Hes a clusterhead! ;)

Being biology, a picture of the involved trigeminal nerve can show the source of pain.

Kevin_M wrote on Jan 22^nd, 2009 at 9:25pm:

Being biology, a picture of the involved trigeminal nerve can show the source of pain.

Sorry, but shutterfly wont link in a pic, but a link will get you there.

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The orange nerve that turns yellow is the pain road for CH.

Thanks for the reminder, Kev! :-*

Thanks Kev and Jonny!  I knew I had forgotten something!  I had most of my presentation put together, but that was forgotten.

Jerry

That as scary as it looks, it is not terminal or life threatening. I don't think you should show the video. Lisa showed a few close friends in college and it was a little too intense for them. This can begin at any age of your life.

Charlotte

That no matter the remission time...there is always the fear of the return and the devistation it can cause to whatever life one has established in the interum.

Paul98 wrote on Jan 22^nd, 2009 at 8:42pm:

You might want to tell the students that people with CH have shown that sometimes when we are at our worst; we can be at our best.  By this I mean that CH has done a lot to change many of us and in a good way.  Careing for another human in pain has been brought to a new level.  There are few things in life that can make a person more human. -P.

[smiley=thumb.gif]

Well said, Paul.    

Best,

George

George wrote on Jan 23^rd, 2009 at 2:03am:

Paul98 wrote on Jan 22nd, 2009 at 8:42pm: You might want to tell the students that people with CH have shown that sometimes when we are at our worst; we can be at our best.  By this I mean that CH has done a lot to change many of us and in a good way.  Careing for another human in pain has been brought to a new level.  There are few things in life that can make a person more human. -P. [smiley=thumb.gif] Well said, Paul.     Best, George

Thank you George.  

-P.

Thanks all for the input.  I'm on the way.  Hope I'm somewhat lucid after 3 hrs of sleep last night.

Jerry

Thank you so much for the input.  I printed out some of the replies and passed them out to the kids along with the Kip Scale, Svenn's post concerning Morphine, and a couple of others that I thought would be helpful in their understanding.  Ended up taking the whole 50 min class and took questions for about 10 mins.  Got some really thoughtful questions.  Wish we could get that good of a response from most others that we talk with about it!

Thanks again for the responses.  You're the greatest.
Jerry