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Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies >> Finally officially diagnosed after all these years http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1296273753 Message started by Jangly Mark on Jan 28th, 2011 at 11:02pm |
Title: Finally officially diagnosed after all these years Post by Jangly Mark on Jan 28th, 2011 at 11:02pm
I got to see the Neuro this week - and CH has now finally been officially diagnosed.
Sadly, I won't be gettig O2. I am a smoker, and there are 2 other smokers in the house. I was told that this would put a stop on any chance I had of getting O2. Subject to ECG tests, I will be getting Verapamil....starting at a dose of 80mg daily, and increasing if need be (to a max of 960 mg daily), starting 1 month before my next expected cycle (July). Just wondering if this would have any bearing on my normal day to day activities... Also, while I tend not to drink AT ALL when in cycle (it tends not to be a trigger for me, but, I just don't feel like a drink knowing that the next hit could be hours away), if I did have a drink, would there be any weird side effects? The same goes for pot. I once got stoned right at the start of a cycle and if anything, being stoned made the pain even more intense - never again...it looks like I'll start my meds weeks before the next cycle so wanted to know answers i advance.... |
Title: Re: Finally officially diagnosed after all these years Post by Guiseppi on Jan 29th, 2011 at 12:21am
The smokers and 02 thing is bullsh%#! We have a number of smokers who still use 02.......sadly, we still have a long way to go in educating the medical community....sigh.....a few simple precautions, don't smoke while using 02, air your clothes out for 10 minutes before you light up.....it's as stupid as saying if you smoke you can't drive a car cuz when you gas your car up you'll blow yourself up! :o okay...rant over...
Pot is a vasodialator, most of what we use to halt CH attacks are vaso constrictors.....you can see while on cycle, pot is a big no no! Take you to some new pain heights you don't wanna attempt! ;) Verapamil will tend to plug up the old poop chute, really concentrate on adding fiber to your diet, it tends to put little elvis to sleep at the higher doses, (Like CH isn't bad enough they want to deprive you of sex too!) I do not know of any problems with drinking alcohol while on verapamil, I'll leave that to some of our more learned members. As you up the dosing on your verapamil, go sparingly on the energy drinks. The taurine in the energy drinks doesn't play well with the verapamil and can cause serious problems. Joe |
Title: Re: Finally officially diagnosed after all these years Post by wimsey1 on Jan 29th, 2011 at 9:15am
Everything Joe said...and, if you're serious about O2, research welder's O2 here. You can stick a tank in your garage. Others have gotten it for "aquarium" use to oxygenate water. For sure, where there's a will, there is a way. Also, in addition to all Joe lists, verapamil can make you feel tired. It beats the hits, though. God bless. lance
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Title: Re: Finally officially diagnosed after all these years Post by Bob Johnson on Jan 29th, 2011 at 10:08am
An encouraging report re. the doc: sounds like he knows how to deal with CH.
The nice thing about stepwise increases in Verap. is that it gives your body a change to adjust and gives you time to see if any side effects develop. At the higher doses, the regular EKG is recommended. |
Title: Re: Finally officially diagnosed after all these years Post by his wife on Jan 29th, 2011 at 12:33pm Jangly Mark wrote on Jan 28th, 2011 at 11:02pm:
Well there's an interesting theory I've never heard before. Any other episodics start verap before their cycle starts? I think this is worth mentioning to the doc. |
Title: Re: Finally officially diagnosed after all these years Post by Jeannie on Jan 29th, 2011 at 12:38pm
Yes.... I used to start my Verap before a cycle started. It was very effective for me. Once a cycle grabs hold of me I have a very hard time shaking it. The Verap would keep hits to a minimum.
As we know CH changes so I've had to adjust too. Jeannie |
Title: Re: Finally officially diagnosed after all these years Post by Bob Johnson on Jan 29th, 2011 at 1:43pm
There have been a very few people here whose cycles were so close together and/or so unstable re. timing, that their docs had them on Verap 100% of the time.
There is no medical objection to this approach. |
Title: Re: Finally officially diagnosed after all these years Post by his wife on Jan 29th, 2011 at 4:58pm
Thank you Jeannie & Bob for the feedback. It really makes sense if you think about it. Out of 20 years of ch (with only 2 pf years) that always start by June, why put yourself through the total unpleasantness of prednisone waiting for verap to kick in if you could start it a month early to get it in your system. Then when cycle starts continue to work with doc tweaking the dosage. Hmmmm, once again I always learn something new everyday here. :)
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Title: Re: Finally officially diagnosed after all these years Post by wimsey1 on Jan 31st, 2011 at 7:51am
Great post, Batch! lance
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Title: Re: Finally officially diagnosed after all these years Post by Jangly Mark on Feb 1st, 2011 at 11:10pm
Thanks for all the replies :)
In response to the posts about O2, I live in a terraced house - I'm not rich...and such things as a garage or conservatory do not exist for me. As well as that, my Dad is a builder, and basically part demolished and rebuilt the house that I live in....the ground floor is open plan, so, a room for taking 02 is not an option... As far as tiredness goes, I can be a bit of an insomniac - so, that would really not be a problem (I bet that I'll say different 6 months from now...). As far as - ahem - 'manly' things go - I'm single. I tend to get on with girls/women much better than I do with blokes, but, that doesn't exactly help in the romance department. (If I could have a pound for every time I heard 'I really like you - as a friend', I'd be a wealthy bloke...). *The more sensitive, please stop reading here* But, also, I do have my needs...and, if one way or another (I'm trying to be as clean as possible here) they're not met (think male solo pillow talk), I can be a pain in the ass to be around... As well as the enjoyment factor.... Is there any way around this? |
Title: Re: Finally officially diagnosed after all these years Post by Brew on Feb 1st, 2011 at 11:51pm
Well, if you'd rather smoke in the house and go without the best abortive known to clusterheads, then I guess that's your choice.
Personally, I'd tell the doc to shove it, get your own welder's O2, and smoke outside. But that's just me. |
Title: Re: Finally officially diagnosed after all these years Post by Mike NZ on Feb 2nd, 2011 at 12:34am
If I couldn't have oxygen inside I'd be more than happy to sit outside with my oxygen be it sunny, pouring down or snowing just to abort my CHs.
Until you've tried oxygen and see just how effective it can be it's hard to understand why those who use it rave about it so much. |
Title: Re: Finally officially diagnosed after all these years Post by Brew on Feb 2nd, 2011 at 8:10am
I just figured this one out: If your dad is a builder, he should have no problem helping you obtain a big tank of welder's O2.
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Title: Re: Finally officially diagnosed after all these years Post by Linda_Howell on Feb 2nd, 2011 at 1:25pm
Just something I think I would say to that Doctor. My wife lights candles around the house and we have a gas stove as well as a fireplace. Would these things also prevent you from prescribing 02?
Please go the welders route. There is no reason you should suffer because ofa clueless physician. |
Title: Re: Finally officially diagnosed after all these years Post by Jangly Mark on Feb 2nd, 2011 at 4:15pm Brew wrote on Feb 1st, 2011 at 11:51pm:
Welders O2? Is that a serious suggestion? Surely not... |
Title: Re: Finally officially diagnosed after all these years Post by Guiseppi on Feb 2nd, 2011 at 4:48pm
For real. Welding oxygen, and medical oxygen, both come out of the same containers. Welders need pure oxygen as any contaminants will render the weld weak. Many on the board have been using welding oxygen for years. It requires you lie to the people at the welding shop, tell them you need it to oxygenate your bait tanks or your aquarium. Do not tell them it's for personal use or they won't sell it to you.
Joe |
Title: Re: Finally officially diagnosed after all these years Post by vietvet2tours on Feb 2nd, 2011 at 4:50pm Jangly Mark wrote on Feb 2nd, 2011 at 4:15pm:
You've been here for 183 days, have you read the O2 info? Potter |
Title: Re: Finally officially diagnosed after all these years Post by Linda_Howell on Feb 2nd, 2011 at 5:03pm It is definetly a serious suggestion. Many, many here use it. I have a welders tank in my garage as well as medical e-tanks, which are more portable. There is no differance in them except welders 02 are not as portable, they cost a lot less to refill and are a bit uglier to look at. I've used it for 24 yrs. now. |
Title: Re: Finally officially diagnosed after all these years Post by thebbz on Feb 7th, 2011 at 12:51am
;) ;) My tanks bigger than yours. 8-)
the bb |
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