So I went to the acupuncture guy.  He's an MD as well, which I guess you have to be if you're covered by major medical, which this is.  The first thing he did was examine the back of my neck, and as soon as he applied significant pressure to the right side of my neck, I almost jumped up screaming.  There was no such reaction on the left.  I could feel as he pressed and moved around something was not cool on that side.  Ok.  Some strength tests with my right arm, shoulder, showed they were significantly weaker than my left - even though I'm right handed. 

He ordered an MRI for ny neck, to rule out vertebrae/disk issues, but seemed to want to treat that area to try to relieve the headaches.  He said there might be a pinch or an inflammation of my occipital nerve.  The MRI might show any cause for that.  In the meantime, acupressure and acupuncture for 2 weeks to see if the headache cycle changes.

I did the first treatment of acupuncture.  It was painless and easy, just had to lay still for 20 minutes.

The office visit was one of the most comprehensive workups I've ever had.  Nerve conductivity tests (not entirely pleasant-but kinda cool) - some therapeutic massage, and acupuncture and a frank discussion about traditional treatments after the attempt at acupuncture/pressure.  While I've done the gabba/verapamil/topamax 1-2-3 - and had varying degrees of sucess - I'm still pretty miserable daily due to side effects.  I'm still on verap, nothing else anymore.  I use zomig nasal & imitrex injections to abort, and O2 at home.

I'm curious to see what the MRI shows - and what a few more visits bring.  As the headaches have gone chronic this year I'm going to be trying some new things. ;) 

For what it's worth..
Joshua

Hi Joshua,

Have you tried seeds yet? 

I had my usually cycle trying to break through the last 2 weeks, but with a dose of seeds last week, I have been having week shadows all week until I busted again last night.  Through the night and this morning, I have absolutely no pain, no shadows, nothing.  I'm hoping I scarred the beast away.  I took 25 seeds last week and 40 last night as the KO punch!  I don't want to get ahead of myself, but I have that feeling in my body that the beast has been defeated this time.

I swear by this.  It's my silver bullet.

Back to the subject, I hope you are PF from your
treatment.

Cheers,
Chad

Hey Chad - thanks for that.  It's great the seeds are working for you.  I did some research on them. They are not for me, only b/c you do (please correct me if I'm wrong) go on a trip, mild perhaps.  I'm someone who can't do that (anymore) - so I am steering clear. 
.
I am so pshyched when I hear someone making progress against the pain - I hope it continues for you!

JD./

Joshua wrote on Sep 4^th, 2009 at 7:55am:

Hey Chad - thanks for that.  It's great the seeds are working for you.  I did some research on them. They are not for me, only b/c you do (please correct me if I'm wrong) go on a trip, mild perhaps.  I'm someone who can't do that (anymore) - so I am steering clear.  . I am so pshyched when I hear someone making progress against the pain - I hope it continues for you! JD./

Josh, I have never had any kind of tripping effect from seeds.  That's why I like them so much.  I had my time using shrooms in the past recreationally and I don't care to revisit those effects.
Some people only need 12 seeds as a monthly preventative maintenance to be PF.  I have taken 80 in one shot and only had the side effects of being tired, the slightest body buzz and nausea.  Absolutely NO "tripping" effects though.  Just thought I'd give you the heads up on that.  Most people who I read about on here say the same.  No tripping effects what so ever.

Chad- hmm. Ok.  I will reopen the book on these little seeds then. More to come. :)

Thanks

Joshua wrote on Sep 4^th, 2009 at 8:07am:

Chad- hmm. Ok.  I will reopen the book on these little seeds then. More to come. :) Thanks

Best of luck my friend. 

Read clusterbusters site.

I'm sure the info you read on there gives you the absolute worst case scenarios when it comes to side effects, but as most have said, there are minimal effects.  The hardest part is getting them down the hatch  ;)

No tripping effects for me either.

Oliver

I've had success with acupuncture for various maladies, but it has yet to touch the CH.  Just lightened the load in my wallet.

Rgds,
Malcom

gizmo wrote on Sep 4^th, 2009 at 4:52pm:

No tripping effects for me either. Oliver

Same here, with doses well over 100 RC seeds. Just got sleepy.