Hi Patricia,

Welcome.   Yes, I also suffer from depression.  I am episodic and my depression worsens during my cycles.  I have often wondered if maybe it all ties in together.  It seems many of my medical problems are centered around Seretonin.  I have been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia along with CH and depression.    I don't like taking anti-depressants either.  I have on several occasions tried to stop them but realize now that it is a medical condition that requires treatment just like any other disease. 

You did not mention if you were chronic or episodic.  If you are episodic and do not suffer from depression when out of cycle, I'm sure you will be able to go off  of the anti-depressant when your cycle is over.  Just think of the Anti-D as another weapon in your arsenal to fight the beast.  If you are chronic, I'm sure one of the other brave souls that battles the beast daily will be along to offer their advice.

The best thing I can tell you is to try to enjoy every minute of PF time you have.  A wise Ch'er once told me that if I surrender my PF time to the beast then I have let him win! 

Hang tough!  We're here for you if you need us!

Hugs, 

Jeannie

Hi Tricia,

Glad you made it over here!  I think you will find a lot of good help from the family, and some great support as well. 

I think depression tends to run along with CH.  I was on anti depressants for a couple of years and weaned myself off with St John's Wort over about 6 months time.  NOTE, I am not recommending that!  I'm just telling you what I did.  I did it after I learned some things here that helped me get control of the CH, which helped with the depression, but I still needed a little help, especially weaning off the drugs.  You get very dependent on them.  Don't even think about quitting cold turkey! 

There is a lot of great info here, and please ask questions!  There is no such thing as a stupid question if it is an honest question.  You will find someone who has had experience with it I'm sure, and for the most part you will find folks here wanting to help and to answer.  As  you read print out anything you think might be pertinant to talk with your Dr about.  You may find some other avenues you want to go down with your treatment.  nothing works for everyone, and CH tends to change so that what works today may not tomorrow, so it is good to keep up with different ideas.

Jerry

Welcome to the board, you've mentioned a lot of abortives, meds you take to STOP a headache once it starts. But you haven't mentioned any preventatives. (other then topomax...aka dopeymax!) Have you tried lithium or verapamil as prevents? Everyone is different but for me, 1200 mg a day of lithium will block 80% of my attacks, really lessening my dependence on the oxygen. (I'm with you there, 02 has been a life saver!)

Glad you found us, wishing you some pain free time soon.

Guiseppi

I was diagnosed with CH some two years ago, after thankfully only a short period of misdiagnosis of sinus and other usual suspects. My doctor quickly understood the typical symptoms and put me on Ergotamine + Caffeine tablets which of course only ever started to kick in when the attack was coming to an end. Typical attack patterns of 30-45 min, 3-4 times a day for 6 weeks. Just finishing off my third cycle after 8 weeks. Although my second hot period has lasted longer I have learned through trial and error that, since the timings of my attacks are relatively consistent, I can take one Zomig tablet approx. 1 hour prior to the assumed next attack and in this way completely forego it. Managing the timings has allowed me to go for days without an attack (providing I didnt miss a bit that is). What complicates the process for me is the fact that I travel approx. 15-20 days per month and more importantly that I travel around the world and therefore have to deal with multiple timezones and jetlag. Since the biological clock and hypothalamus are directly linked to CH and since flying is a definite trigger for an attack I am still getting caught out on the timings occasionally. Notwithstanding, I am certain that for people who do not travel frequently and who feel that their attacks have consistent patterns, taking a Zomig (Zolmitriptan) an hour prior to the next "show" could work equally well and get them through days without pain. In essence, I believe that a "take one every 8 hours" approach can possibly allow for weeks of no pain. I am combining this treatment with a low histamine diet during hot periods and not only stay away from the famously known triggers alcohol, chocolate, tomatoes and others, but try to stay away completely from preserved and processed foods as well as sugar in any form. Regrettably the list of dont's is rather long and therefore it is not always easy to get a well balanced intake throughout the hot period (with the positive side effect being loss of weight!). I add lots of water to my daily intake and am adding magnesium and minerals to my fluid intake. I have recently been to see a neurologist in Germany who specialises in CH and have been told that a new therapy has shown promising results. A cortisone-steroid treatment is administered for two weeks at the start of the new cycle (I understand that 2 weeks are a manageable and relatively risk free duration for a cortisone treatment) and that, simultaneously, Vermapil is prescribed as prophylaxis. During the cortisone treatment, attacks can and should be reduced to zero. Thereafter, the Vermapil, which will have been taken for two weeks by then will have reached it potency to sustain the pain free periods after the cortisone treatment ends. It sounds promising and I will try next time. I hope that any of the above may help at least one of you. And even if it helps to cancel out only one single attack, its probably been worth the while.