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strykerjim41
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Feb 7th, 2009 at 8:27am
 
Hi im jim im 43 and have had clusters on and off for 20 yrs.I have tried all kinds of meds and most dont work.I am going to my DR monday and asking for 02 sounds like it could help.I am geting many attacks each day and night for last month.I have been taking maxalt and sometimes relaplex only works sometimes. Cry
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Bob Johnson
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Re: new here
Reply #1 - Feb 7th, 2009 at 9:26am
 
A broad discussion of treatment options would be helpful with, I hope, a doctor who has experience treating complex headache disorders.

Suggest you print out this whole article and use it as a tool for such a discussion. (Link on second line.)
---------------

 
Cluster headache.
From: Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to Login or Register (Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases)
[Easy to read; one of the better overview articles I've seen. Suggest printing the full length article if you are serious about keeping a good medical library on the subject.]

Leroux E, Ducros A.

ABSTRACT: Cluster headache (CH) is a primary headache disease characterized by recurrent short-lasting attacks (15 to 180 minutes) of excruciating unilateral periorbital pain accompanied by ipsilateral autonomic signs (lacrimation, nasal congestion, ptosis, miosis, lid edema, redness of the eye). It affects young adults, predominantly males. Prevalence is estimated at 0.5-1.0/1,000. CH has a circannual and circadian periodicity, attacks being clustered (hence the name) in bouts that can occur during specific months of the year. ALCOHOL IS THE ONLY DIETARY TRIGGER OF CH, STRONG ODORS (MAINLY SOLVENTS AND CIGARETTE SMOKE) AND NAPPING MAY ALSO TRIGGER CH ATTACKS. During bouts, attacks may happen at precise hours, especially during the night. During the attacks, patients tend to be restless. CH may be episodic or chronic, depending on the presence of remission periods. CH IS ASSOCIATED WITH TRIGEMINOVASCULAR ACTIVATION AND NEUROENDOCRINE AND VEGETATIVE DISTURBANCES, HOWEVER, THE PRECISE CAUSATIVE MECHANISMS REMAIN UNKNOWN. Involvement of the hypothalamus (a structure regulating endocrine function and sleep-wake rhythms) has been confirmed, explaining, at least in part, the cyclic aspects of CH. The disease is familial in about 10% of cases. Genetic factors play a role in CH susceptibility, and a causative role has been suggested for the hypocretin receptor gene. Diagnosis is clinical. Differential diagnoses include other primary headache diseases such as migraine, paroxysmal hemicrania and SUNCT syndrome. At present, there is no curative treatment. There are efficient treatments to shorten the painful attacks (acute treatments) and to reduce the number of daily attacks (prophylactic treatments). Acute treatment is based on subcutaneous administration of sumatriptan and high-flow oxygen. Verapamil, lithium, methysergide, prednisone, greater occipital nerve blocks and topiramate may be used for prophylaxis. In refractory cases, deep-brain stimulation of the hypothalamus and greater occipital nerve stimulators have been tried in experimental settings.THE DISEASE COURSE OVER A LIFETIME IS UNPREDICTABLE. Some patients have only one period of attacks, while in others the disease evolves from episodic to chronic form.

PMID: 18651939 [PubMed]
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Bob Johnson
 
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Guiseppi
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Re: new here
Reply #2 - Feb 7th, 2009 at 11:53pm
 
Welcome Stryker, the only thing worse then suffering these damned things is suffering alone!

Bob's given you the latest and greatest for your first reading assignment. Educate yourself, and find a doctor who will work with you. Read the 02 link on the left. 02 has to be used correctly or it's next to worthless. Glad you found us, hope we can help you. Welcome home.

joe
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Just Plain Carl
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Re: new here
Reply #3 - Feb 8th, 2009 at 9:51am
 
Welcome to the club Jim.

Good luck with your Doc Monday.  Read all you can here before you go. 

O2 is the way to go.  You might ask him about a Prednisone taper along with Verapamil or Lithium.  Seems to work for alot of us.

                                                  PFD's
                                                    JPC
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