Hello folks,
I finally got diagnosed!  Had an MRI and my neurologist was just so calm about the whole thing after months of drama!  He prescribed prednisolone so cross fingers It'll end the cycle a little bit early. :)
Just wanted to have a little celebration here! yayay!  Thanks for all you guys advice and stuffs, so helpful!!

Emily

p.s. you'll never get rid of me now :p

Well commiserations and congratulations too I suppose!

What have they given you in addition to the pred as you will need to have something ready to hold the fort when that finishes!

Imigran, O2? Any abortives?

nosey aren't I?!!

Helen

She's beyond nosey!!! ;D

But seriously, prednisone will work one of two ways. For a small percentage of people, it will break a cycle completely. For a larger percentage, it works as a block against the ch for as long as you are on it. When you come off the pred, the CH comes back with a vengeance! I say that not to scare you, but just to warn you there is a better then even chance when you come off the pred the beast will pounce.

So why not just stay on the pred full time?? Well cuz the cure will kill ya! Pred is okay for short bursts like we use it but will really tear up your body long term.

Start talking to your doc now about a plan "B" in case the pred doesn't break the cycle. Having oxygen available would be my first choice!

Crossing my fingers for you that the pred breaks the cycle.

Joe

Lol, cheers for your advices.  :)  I won't try pursuade my GP then to keep me on it forever, tearing apart not on my list of things to do.

You're ok to be nosey! lol.  My doc (a lovely one, I moved GP practises lol) is supposed to be looking into O2 for me for tomorrow so hopefully as I wean off this they'll not come back but if they do I'll have oxygen to hand.
I cannot pursuade them that imitrex injections might work where nasal spray didn't but if the O2 works I don't suppose it matters.  :)  I might be underestiminating though, the time it takes to fix the oxygen?  Here's to hoping I'm done for a while! :)

Emily

That is great news but I can second the what everyone else has said. Get a plan B. Pred for a long period of time  is no good. Bad for your bones too. Coffee, red bill, o2, verapamil. There is allot of things that make this managable. But your off to a great start. Hopefully the pred will stop this cycle and give you some PFDAN.

best

jrcox 

You have gotten excellent advise here.  Pay attention to what they have said and you will do fine.  Do not count on your cycle being finished, although I hope it is!!!

The oxygen can be ordered, delivered and ready for use the same day if that's your question. As far as how fast it makes the pain stop, that varies. For me it's generally effective in 6-8 minutes. Some go a little longer.

If the pred doesn't "break" the cycle....and I'm crossing my fingers that it does.......you will also want to talk to your doctor about a good preventative medication.....a med you take daily while you are on cycle to reduce the number and intesnity of your hits. Verapamil, Lithium ans Topomax are 3 of the more popular prevents. I use lithium at 1200 mg a day. Blocks about 70% of my attacks.

Hoping the pred does the trick for you!

Joe