Beloved brothers and sisters in Christ,

I have already made a “pseudo-introduction” in another forum, one seeking, above all, support.  Now that I have more of my senses about me, I decided it is high time I enter a true introduction – one where it belongs.

My name is Joe (but you can call me Joseph, Jose, or Pepe).  I've been diagnosed with CH for more than 5 years now.  Before that, I suffered undiagnosed for three years.  In that time, I had seen every doctor I could find, be it dentist, optometrist, or m.d.  The first m.d. I saw tried to tell me it was a migraine due to my diet.  I changed, and still got the beast.  The dentist thought I needed my wisdom teeth out and a piece of plastic to put in my mouth when I slept.  The optometrist gave me a new prescription and allergy eye drops, neither of which worked.   It wasn't for another two years that I finally got a proper diagnosis.  In the meantime, I spent thousands of dollars. 

I am now on a regiment of prednisone and maxalt.  Sadly, the maxalt is a crap-shoot.  Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, and even if it does, it only reduces the intensity from a 10 to a 1, but the shadow is still there.

I am a student, and my episodic CH occurs at the worst times, namely, when I am in the middle of my semesters.  When I was studying to be an elementary school teacher, this was no big thing: Class usually consisted of coloring pictures or singing songs.  I am now in my first year of theological studies, discerning a vocation to the Catholic Priesthood (on my other main post, someone mentioned that I may be the first “priest” in this particular community.  If so, I gladly take on any pastoral or theological questions you may have).  My classes are now at a graduate level, and I am currently taking the equivalent of 26 credit hours.  It is difficult work and prayer, which is only made more difficult when the beast decides to invite all of his friends in my head and throw a kegger.  Another downside is that from time to time I could really just use a hug from a dear, sweet, friend telling me it will be alright.  Unfortunately, in a group of men, this just isn't acceptable.  Plus, damn few here understand our situation.  I even had one friend try to tell me that this wasn't an appropriate reason to receive the Sacrament of Anointing.  He is very, very wrong.

My weapons are three-fold (very trinitarian if you ask me); Prednisone to attack the cycle, Maxalt  to attack the headache, and Sacraments to attack Satan who would use this as a means to drive a wedge between me and the sweet Lord, Jesus Christ.

Now, after finding this community, I finally have a place to go to talk to others who genuinely understand my situation.  For that I give praise and thanks to God above.

I love you all, although I do not know you.  I will pray for you always, and I humbly ask you do the same.  The beast would have a much stronger hold on my spiritual life if it wasn't for you all and the love of some wonderful priests, deacons, and friends.

God Love you, God Keep you, God Bless you now and forever!

Joe

I have been in contact with Joe by PM thanking him for giving all of us a much easier name to call him by.   LOL

For those of you who aren't Catholic, we have a saints name for almost everything.  St. Jude, helper of lost causes, St. Francis, protector of animals, St. Anthony when yopu need to find something that is lost, etc.

I have been a Catholic all of my life.  I never knew there was a saint of headaches...hence Joes long screen name.   wow....wonder if he had clusters?

Anyway welcome  again Joe.   Stick around and we will help you deal with the beast.    We have lots of experience around here.  

Linda, who is now going to go "google"  "Saint of headaches and read up on him/her


P.S.  Quote:
   Consider yourself hugged by everyone here.   

It IS going to be all right.

dionysiusaeropagite wrote on Oct 11^th, 2008 at 7:54pm:


Have you met Chuck?.......Your in for a rude awakening.....LOL  

Welcome aboard, grab an oar and row......Nobody rides for free!  

  well, I looked him up and this is what I found.  The picture next to the text is VERY interesting.  How many times have all of us wanted to cut off our head?

   Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or

Welcome aboard, Joe.

Glad you found us, and thanks for the intro you made about yourself.  We don't play Dr here, but there is a lot of experience that can help you to find your own treatment.  If you wait for the Drs to find it for you it won't happen.  Few of them know enough about CH to know all the effective treatment methods.

Read the Oxygen info to the left carefully.  Many of us have gotten real relief with it.  Energy drinks such as Red Bull have been effective for some of us as well.  They are my weapon of choice, as I have to get to the O2 very early in the attack for it to be effective.  You need to read up on the various preventatives and make up your own mind which way you want to go with them.  Personally I would be sure the Prednisone is only a short term taper to break the cycle and allow the preventative to start working.  I hate the side effects of it.

As an independent Baptist, who also studied for the ministry, but am serving in a lay capacity I KNOW the power of prayer.  Doesn't mean we always get exactly what we ask for, but I have found that God does not give me more than I can bear, and when I get close to the limit (as I have) this place is here to give the support and encouragement to keep on for another day.

Find a meet and greet that you can get to, or the convention next summer.  I promise you will be hugged more than you can imagine.  There is nothing like it!

Jerry

Welcome Joe!  Glad you are here but sorry you need to be.   Thank you for your prayers and please know that I too will be praying for you as well! 

Here's another hug for when you need one! ,

Jeannie