Folks,

I've been dealing with CH for just under 10 years (I'm 27). I'm a very positive person by nature but I am in the middle of one of the worst clusters of my life and it's really getting me down. My wife and I are starting to think about kids and without a doubt want them. I am so worried about managing my CH's around children and need some support/suggestions from the group.

These damn things are getting me down right now and I just need a little boost to get me going.

What are you using to treat your CH? Do you have oxygen? Imitrex injectables? Are you on a decent prevent med like Verapamil, Lithium or Topomax? Have you looked into Batch's daily vitamin regimen? It's under the meds section, "123 pain free days and I think I know why" He's well past 123 days, and it's working wonders for many on the board.

All that being said, I hear you. I'm 51, 33 year CH'er,  will have been married 29 years come September 11, 2 grown daughters, both of whom could rig a regulator onto an E-Tank by the time they were 12!!!,  so what I'm saying is it can be done. It requires you always be ready for the beast. If you're episodic, whether you're on or off cycle, your meds cabinet is FULL, and you always have a full oxygen E-Tank close by.

Dont let the beast rob you of the joys of fatherhood, 2 of the most beautiful things in my life are my little girls, now grown ladies but still my little girls. My suggestion is you do not hide it from your kids, they'll know something is up when beasty comes calling, and the unknown will scare them far more then an honest explanation. Our girls knew when the beast came daddy needed his oxygen, ice and to be left alone. If your wife is not already on the supporters board, send her there. My wife and many other great supporters are sympathetic ears for the trials the poor supporters endure when we're geting hit.

Good luck with the family. Single best decision I ever made! ;)

Joe

Thank you for your valuable insight, its greatly appreciated.

As for my own management of my ch i am episodic and am on verapamil and have oxygen.

again, thank you for your support. 

I'd just like to say DITTO to what Guiseppi has just said above. I have 7 kids and I've been chronic for 24 years.  Yes...when you're being hit you need to take care of yourself and most likely be alone, cluster headaches takes enough away from us, don't let it take the joy of fatherhood away too. 

I notice that my children recieved a valuable lessen from knowing about and seeing me in pain.  It's a life lessen called empathy.   You'll do fine and so with they.  Please do have your wife sign in her in the supporter section.  She'll be taught what she can do to not feel helpless not to mention other coping stratagies that our wonderful supporters there have learned over the years. 

Linda

This place usually chokes folks like you with information, suggestions, etc. But first, we need some basic info about you  and your history with Clusters.
---
Please tell us where you live. Follow the next line to a message which explains why knowing your location and your medical history will help us to help you.

Cluster Headache Help and Support › Getting to Know Ya › Newbies, Help us...help you

You can add your location by editing your profile. CP Member --> profile
=====
Handle this housekeeping chore and then tell us what we can do to help. What kinds of information, etc.

Best wishes.....

atagj wrote on Jun 28^th, 2011 at 2:21pm:

As for my own management of my ch i am episodic and am on verapamil and have oxygen.

We're going to need you to be a little more specific. How much verapamil? What is the flow rate of the O2 you use? Do you have a non-rebreather mask? That kind of stuff.

If we think you're trying to piss on a forest fire in order to put it out, you'll want us to let you know that.

I raised 3 boys with my husbands help.  I have chronic ch. They would get my ice packs, help me with o2, make sure I took my meds, etc.  They also understood and gave me the space I needed to be alone when I needed it.  My husband is a great supporter in raising the kids and helping out with ch.  It took a bit of communication to let them know just what I needed from them and expected but once that was done everything was spot on.  Kids are wonderful to have.  Dont let this rob you of that great joy.

Reading between the lines, here...I wonder if you are asking about a genetic predisposition to this awful disease, and whether or not you will pass it on to your children?  There may be some evidence for that, but i have 7 children (all grown now) and 13 grandchildren and I am the only one to have hit the lucky lotto of CHs. Not scientific but true nonetheless. Blessings. lance

Morning Atagj

I'm coming in a little late on this one, but woud like to give you my experience. My son was born two years before I started with CH. Unfortunately, there were times when he did see me at full steam, having a real monster. On the whole though, my then wife would steer him clear. This was before I was correctly diagnosed. Once I was diagnosed, and had decent treatment, he would see me start with an attack, I'd head out of the way to inject and ten minutes later I'd be back as if nothing had happened. All in all I think kids are much more resilient than we adults give them credit for, but it's still good to protect them where we can. My ex had a stroke when my son was 8, a severe one, so he witnessed a horrendous aftermath. It was that, or him not seeing his mum at all. I recognise it couldn't have been easy for him, but he got through. He's now sixteen and a typical lad for his age with no hangover from the things he's unfortunately witnessed in life.
Bottom line pal, if you n the missus are ready for kids then you're ready to deal with the hiccups that go with it, little and large. So get on with getting on n live your life to enjoy it n share it.

The very best of wishes

Andrew