Post by Guiseppi on Feb 24th, 2011 at 3:54pm
START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!! You need to 
or 
END PRINTPAGE
START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!! You need to or END PRINTPAGE
Two links for you to read. The first describes the correct way to use oxygen. Most abort in under 10 minutes, I average 6-8 minutes. Has all but eliminated my use of imitrex injections. 33 year episodic sufferer here. The hospital will try to give you nasal canulas, re breather masks, all at a low flow rate. All guarantee failure and pain. :'(
The second describes various "non mainstream" methods to stop CH. They sound a little unusual, their success is impossible to argue with.
Back to mainstream meds, when you say you've tried everything, we've learned HOW you use the meds makes a huge difference in the level of their effectivemess. Are you working with a headache specialist neurologists? GP's know very little about CH, garden variety neuros aren't much better, we see the best chance of success using a headache specialist neurologist.
Verapamil is a very effective prevent for many, but at dosing higher then it's labeled use for Blood Pressure. Some go as high as 960 mg a day. Lithium has been very effective as aprevent for me, at 1200 mg a day you'd never know I was on anything and it blocks 60-70% of my attacks. Some really tough cases have found relief by combining the verapamil and the lithium, sometimes called the "chronic cocktail."
If you're getting slammed at night by the "wake up" attacks, look at an OTC sleep aid, melatonin. Start with 9 mg about 30 minutes before bedtime. Helps avoid the nite time terrors for many. May have to experiment with dosing, some go as high as 15 mg a nite, some blend the normal release with the extended release pills to get them thru the night.
Check out energy drinks. Rock Star, Monster, any containing caffiene and taurine. Chugged at the first sign of an attack many can abort or really reduce an attack. I use it with my oxygen, seems to speed the abort time and delay the comebacker attacks.
Push, really push for oxygen. It's cheap, fast, effective, no side effects, has totally changed my outlook towards the beast. Welcome home.
Joe
or END PRINTPAGESTART PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!! You need to
or END PRINTPAGETwo links for you to read. The first describes the correct way to use oxygen. Most abort in under 10 minutes, I average 6-8 minutes. Has all but eliminated my use of imitrex injections. 33 year episodic sufferer here. The hospital will try to give you nasal canulas, re breather masks, all at a low flow rate. All guarantee failure and pain. :'(
The second describes various "non mainstream" methods to stop CH. They sound a little unusual, their success is impossible to argue with.
Back to mainstream meds, when you say you've tried everything, we've learned HOW you use the meds makes a huge difference in the level of their effectivemess. Are you working with a headache specialist neurologists? GP's know very little about CH, garden variety neuros aren't much better, we see the best chance of success using a headache specialist neurologist.
Verapamil is a very effective prevent for many, but at dosing higher then it's labeled use for Blood Pressure. Some go as high as 960 mg a day. Lithium has been very effective as aprevent for me, at 1200 mg a day you'd never know I was on anything and it blocks 60-70% of my attacks. Some really tough cases have found relief by combining the verapamil and the lithium, sometimes called the "chronic cocktail."
If you're getting slammed at night by the "wake up" attacks, look at an OTC sleep aid, melatonin. Start with 9 mg about 30 minutes before bedtime. Helps avoid the nite time terrors for many. May have to experiment with dosing, some go as high as 15 mg a nite, some blend the normal release with the extended release pills to get them thru the night.
Check out energy drinks. Rock Star, Monster, any containing caffiene and taurine. Chugged at the first sign of an attack many can abort or really reduce an attack. I use it with my oxygen, seems to speed the abort time and delay the comebacker attacks.
Push, really push for oxygen. It's cheap, fast, effective, no side effects, has totally changed my outlook towards the beast. Welcome home.
Joe