Hello! My name's John & I've been lurking and reading this board off and on for a few years now, but I never got involved-I've never had anything to contribute(not that I do now LOL).
Anyhow, here's my story-
I've had to deal with CH's for the last 7 years. When I first got them, I had the usual-repeated trips to the dr, an MRI, even a referral to a 'pain dr'(1.who was worthless-prescribed Vicodin and percoset(sp)2.was arrested a year later.) Then, with the help of my boss, I hooked up with a homeopathic dr. He gave me a couple bottles of drops(Pleo UT) and I have been able to go the duration without dr visits,no bad headaches(nothing over a 5), and no prescriptions!
Until now. They came back with a vengeance. About a month and a half ago. I made the usual trip to the homeopath for what worked in the past, and a week later-the drops ran out, and the headaches persisted. Worse than the first time. I had 3 10's in a row-always at night(1 am) that would last til 2:30-6:00 before subsiding to a lower level so I could go back to sleep. I took so much Excedrin TH that it gave me acid reflux, so I went to my family doc.
1st try-Imatrix(9) and prednisone. 1 week later-CH day and night and no imatrix(I took no more than 2 in 24hrs, but they hit hard and often that week.)
2nd try-blood pressure pills and carbamazine. I never started the anti siezure meds because I went to a neurologist the next day.
3rd try-Dexamethasone(4 days then I had to stop due to acid reflux) & Trixamet. Which works funny for me.
1st pill I took gave me 6 PFDAN. The 2nd one did the same. But the 3rd pill got me through the night. The 4th gave me 2 days, and I just took the 5th.
Luckily, my insurance does cover it($50 copay), but they only allow 1 script(9pills) per 30 days.
I try to take as few meds as possible, but I'm not always given that option. When I get a little one, I tighten my hat a few sizes and cut the circulation off up top. It works most times, but it can't be healthy to do repeatedly and for long periods.
I also went back to the homeopath who told me my adrenaline & testosterone levels were out of whack.(I don't know how everyone feels about the 'herbal doc's', but like many-I will do anything to be rid of CH)So I'm taking some more stuff that he gave me as well as the Trixamet and BP pills(I don't think those are helping with the CH, but it is keeping my BP under control-but I'm only 30....

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...sorry for such a long winded post.