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Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Getting to Know Ya >> back after all these years!
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Message started by colinn on Feb 15th, 2011 at 1:43pm

Title: back after all these years!
Post by colinn on Feb 15th, 2011 at 1:43pm
hi all,

newbie here - not a newbie to clusters

went years seeking treatment for upper teeth infections and sinus infections until I finally diagnosed myself through the web - the term "headache" threw me off the scent several times but I got there in the end - then I just had to convince my doctor - although he insisted on treating me for trigeminal neuralgia first!

got myself referred to a specialist who confirmed the diagnosis, started on verapamil, clusters disappeared and have been pain free for over six years

until now - shadows started a month ago - several low-level bouts in the last few weeks - mid-level bouts the last three evenings - so yep - I guess I'm back on the rollercoaster for a while

need to catch up on what's been happening on the scene during that last half-decade and get med'd up with the drugs de jour

be seeing you around...

Title: Re: back after all these years!
Post by Bob Johnson on Feb 15th, 2011 at 2:11pm
See PDF file, below.
==
First title, below, is a good non-technical read which gives a nice overview.
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START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to Login or RegisterEND PRINTPAGE
This outfit offers a number of titles, each covering a separate medical condition.  Good, Written in non-technical language. Broad coverage of CH--causes, treatments, etc. Worth exploring the sample pages.
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MANAGEMENT OF HEADACHE AND HEADACHE MEDICATIONS, 2nd ed. Lawrence D. Robbins, M.D.; pub. by Springer. $50 at Amazon.Com.  It covers all types of headache and is primarily focused on medications. While the two chapters on CH total 42-pages, the actual relevant material is longer because of multiple references to material in chapters on migraine, reflecting the overlap in drugs used to treat. I'd suggest reading the chapters on migraine for three reasons: he makes references to CH & medications which are not in the index; there are "clinical pearls" about how to approach the treatment of headache; and, you gain better perspective on the nature of headache, in general, and the complexities of treatment (which need to be considered when we create expectations about what is possible). Finally, women will appreciate & benefit from his running information on hormones/menstrual cycles as they affect headache. Chapter on headache following head trauma, also. Obviously, I'm impressed with Robbins' work (even if the book needs the touch of a good editor!) (Somewhat longer review/content statement at 3/22/00, "Good book....")


HEADACHE HELP, Revised edition, 2000; Lawrence Robbins, M.D., Houghton Mifflin, $15. Written for a nonprofessional audience, it contains almost all the material in the preceding volume but it's much easier reading. Highly recommended.
==
Quick read:



Cluster headache.
From: START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to Login or RegisterEND PRINTPAGE (Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases)
[Easy to read; one of the better overview articles I've seen. Suggest printing the full length article--link, line above--if you are serious about keeping a good medical library on the subject.]

Leroux E, Ducros A.

ABSTRACT: Cluster headache (CH) is a primary headache disease characterized by recurrent short-lasting attacks (15 to 180 minutes) of excruciating unilateral periorbital pain accompanied by ipsilateral autonomic signs (lacrimation, nasal congestion, ptosis, miosis, lid edema, redness of the eye). It affects young adults, predominantly males. Prevalence is estimated at 0.5-1.0/1,000. CH has a circannual and circadian periodicity, attacks being clustered (hence the name) in bouts that can occur during specific months of the year. ALCOHOL IS THE ONLY DIETARY TRIGGER OF CH, STRONG ODORS (MAINLY SOLVENTS AND CIGARETTE SMOKE) AND NAPPING MAY ALSO TRIGGER CH ATTACKS. During bouts, attacks may happen at precise hours, especially during the night. During the attacks, patients tend to be restless. CH may be episodic or chronic, depending on the presence of remission periods. CH IS ASSOCIATED WITH TRIGEMINOVASCULAR ACTIVATION AND NEUROENDOCRINE AND VEGETATIVE DISTURBANCES, HOWEVER, THE PRECISE CAUSATIVE MECHANISMS REMAIN UNKNOWN. Involvement of the hypothalamus (a structure regulating endocrine function and sleep-wake rhythms) has been confirmed, explaining, at least in part, the cyclic aspects of CH. The disease is familial in about 10% of cases. Genetic factors play a role in CH susceptibility, and a causative role has been suggested for the hypocretin receptor gene. Diagnosis is clinical. Differential diagnoses include other primary headache diseases such as migraine, paroxysmal hemicrania and SUNCT syndrome. At present, there is no curative treatment. There are efficient treatments to shorten the painful attacks (acute treatments) and to reduce the number of daily attacks (prophylactic treatments). Acute treatment is based on subcutaneous administration of sumatriptan and high-flow oxygen. Verapamil, lithium, methysergide, prednisone, greater occipital nerve blocks and topiramate may be used for prophylaxis. In refractory cases, deep-brain stimulation of the hypothalamus and greater occipital nerve stimulators have been tried in experimental settings.THE DISEASE COURSE OVER A LIFETIME IS UNPREDICTABLE. Some patients have only one period of attacks, while in others the disease evolves from episodic to chronic form.

PMID: 18651939 [PubMed]
===
And explore the buttons, left, starting with the OUCH site and the multiple internal links.
http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?action=downloadfile;file=Mgt_of_Cluster_Headache___Amer_Family_Physician.pdf (144 KB | 27 )

Title: Re: back after all these years!
Post by Guiseppi on Feb 15th, 2011 at 2:33pm
Welcome to the club, the people are cool but the dues totally suck! :D

Bob's given you some great reading, I'll add 2 suggestions.

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02 is really changing the way people treat their CH. From 2 hour rock and rollers to 6-8 minute abort times just by huffing pure oxygen. Cheap, fast, effective, no side effects, it's realy hard to find a down side!

Then check out

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They can help you with more location specific advice for obtaining what you need. Glad you found us, wishing you a short cycle this go round.

Joe

Title: Re: back after all these years!
Post by colinn on Feb 16th, 2011 at 6:54am
thanks for the welcome and the info guys although regarding "welcome to the club" this is one club I would gladly leave if I could!

Title: Re: back after all these years!
Post by Guiseppi on Feb 16th, 2011 at 9:48am

colinn wrote on Feb 16th, 2011 at 6:54am:
thanks for the welcome and the info guys although regarding "welcome to the club" this is one club I would gladly leave if I could!


Oh you and me both! Been looking for a way to quite this gym. Been told I can check out any time I'd like....but I can NEVER leave! ;D

Joe

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