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Dale

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I can't believe this
Aug 28^th, 2010 at 5:55pm

Hello everyone, My name is Dale. I am new here so if I make a mistake please let me know. Unfortunately technology left me at pong. This is a sad day for me. I started a new cycle of cluster Headaches about 3 days ago. The real sad part is that I am 60yrs old and my last encounter with these things was nine years ago. I thought they had left me for good buuut noooo. I found this site and read some of the things you guys do to make the demon go away for awhile and have tried them. They seem the work for awhile but they are like the Borg(yes I am a star trek fan) they seem to assimilate the procedure into their collective and the next time that will not work. The only thing I have not tried is a bullet but I am not ready for that as I am in the middle of building a workshop/mancave. I am sadden at the fact that this site is here because it means there are are more souls like me suffering the same fate and at the same time I am grateful for this site because I know I am not alone. I apologize beforehand if I offend anyone with my rants but if I do you just offend me right back.

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Linda_Howell

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Re: I can't believe this
Reply #1 - Aug 28^th, 2010 at 6:31pm

Hello Dale and welcome.

I don't know why you're apologizing. You said nothing offensive at all.

If it has been nine years, can you remember if you had oxygen as an abortive back then? There's a link to the left of here in yellow, please read it and ask your Dr. for a prescription for it. Make sure he writes it for a regulator that goes to 25 lpm. It is our most trusted abortive. If I can get to it at the first twinge ..I can abort in about 10 to 12 mins.

"live long and prosper" Dale Wink

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Hurt people.....hurt people. Think about it.

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AussieBrian CH.com Hall of Famer Offline CH - It's all in your head! Posts: 3851 Cairns, Qld, Australia Gender:	Re: I can't believe this Reply #2 - Aug 28^th, 2010 at 6:54pm G'day Dale, and welcome home.
Back to top	My name is Brian. I'm a ClusterHead and I'm here to help. Email me anytime at briandinkum@yahoo.com IP Logged

Guiseppi CH.com Moderator CH.com Alumnus Offline San Diego to Florida 05-16-2011 Posts: 12063 SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA USA Gender:	Re: I can't believe this Reply #3 - Aug 28^th, 2010 at 7:02pm Ouch......appearing after a 9 year remission...that bites. Oxygen....and how we use it, is still the biggest thing since sliced bread. If you haven't tried it, or even if you have previously used oxygen....please read the oxygen info tab on the left. It's made a real posistive difference in a lot of people's lives. JOe
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Dale

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Re: I can't believe this
Reply #4 - Aug 28^th, 2010 at 7:16pm

I am retired military and was close to a milatary hospital when an attack occured(I refuse to call these things a headache). I went to the E.R. and scared the hell out of everyone there. This first thing they did was shot me full of demerol and then put me on oxygen. That did not slow me up. Finally the attack was over as quick as it came and because of the Demerol I was left with a real warm fuzzy feeling. I had had these before and tried to explain what was happening but they could not believe a headache could cause that much pain so I was stuck into the hospital for 5 days where they just kept feeding me Demerol even though they could see it did not work. Cant say I minded the feeling when the attack was over but was not the answer. They finally sent me home with Imitrex injections with a good luck. About 3or 4 days later the attacks left me and resumed my normal operations. This leads to a question. When the attacks go into remission does anyone notice a large bruise on thier forehead.

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Brew CH.com Sponsor CH.com Alumnus Offline Posts: 14163	Re: I can't believe this Reply #5 - Aug 28^th, 2010 at 7:46pm Quote: When the attacks go into remission does anyone notice a large bruise on thier forehead. Not me.
Back to top	"I have been asked if I have changed in these past 25 years. No, I am the same. Only more so." --Ayn Rand IP Logged

Linda_Howell CH.com Moderator CH.com Alumnus Offline Do not feed the Moderators Posts: 11927 Santa Maria, Ca. Gender:	Re: I can't believe this Reply #6 - Aug 28^th, 2010 at 7:51pm What is remission? Also, the only time I have a bruise on my forehead is when I've been banging my head into the drywall.
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BarbaraD

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Re: I can't believe this
Reply #7 - Aug 29^th, 2010 at 4:55am

Dale,

Sorry you're here, but glad you found us.

In the past nine years, there have been a LOT of improvements in our treatments.

O2 is what MOST (nothing works for all of us) of us use as a first defense. On HIGH flow rates (15-25 liters per minute with a non-rebreater mask or better yet one you can order from the CH.com store - better fit. Or the demand valve with a higher flow rate). Then there are the preventatives - lithium, verapamil and topamax (others, but these are the most popular ones here). Imitrex or cafergot work for MOST if the O2 doesn't.

Red Bull (or an energy drink with at least 1000mg of taurine in it) sometimes works to abort an attack if you get it when you first feel it coming on.

Demerol is useless (as you've seen). Most of us see red when we hear of a doc giving that as an abort. A cup of coffee will work better.

We're NOT doctors, but you'll find more information on this site than in most medical schools and probably more knowledge about CH. We're the ones who SUFFER and we've got years of research (since '97 when this site was put online). We can only say what works for US and remember what works for one may not work for someone else... finding what works for YOU may take some trail and error till you find your magic bullet.

But we're here and on "call" for ya..

Welcome to Clusterville and a family who UNDERSTANDS....

Hugs BD Kiss

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What don't kill ya, Makes ya stronger!

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Dale CH.com Newbie Offline I Love CH.com! Posts: 3	Re: I can't believe this Reply #8 - Aug 29^th, 2010 at 6:56pm Thank you Barbara. I will be getting some RedBull tomorrow. A friend of mine who does not know about ch ask if I thought some happy smoke might work. Since I have not seen any post on this I assume it does not. Has anybody tried this. I dont smoke but willing to try anything that does not kill me.
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Charlie CH.com Alumnus Offline Happy to be here Posts: 18971 Jamestown, NY Gender:	Re: I can't believe this Reply #9 - Aug 29^th, 2010 at 7:08pm It's good to meet you Dale but I'm sorry it has to be in response to this horror. Lots of good info here and yours was a good post. Good luck and let us know how things are going. Charlie
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Brew CH.com Sponsor CH.com Alumnus Offline Posts: 14163	Re: I can't believe this Reply #10 - Aug 29^th, 2010 at 7:12pm Pot will have the opposite effect you seek. THC is a vasodilator, and we all need a vasoconstrictor - like caffeine.
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Batch

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Re: I can't believe this
Reply #11 - Aug 29^th, 2010 at 8:29pm

Hey Dale,

Welcome aboard. I'm retired military as well.

Assuming you've a diagnosis for cluster headache, you're going to need a prescription for oxygen therapy. It's covered under TriCare as an abortive for cluster headaches and the following link will give you the "How To" gouge:

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If you can get to a military doc, have him check with a flight surgeon if he's unsure about your request and don't settle for an Rx written for anything less than an oxygen flow rate of 15 liters/minute with a non-rebreathing mask.

Physicians trained in aerospace medicine understand aviation physiology so aren't spooked by higher oxygen flow rates... If at all possible push for one written for 25 liters/minute.

If the doc still looks at you like you have two heads when you ask for the higher oxygen flow rates, give him or her the info in the above link.

Take care, hang in there, and check your PM. I've left you some additional info.

V/R, Batch

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You love lots of things if you live around them. But there isn't any woman and there isn't any horse, that’s as lovely as a great airplane. If it's a beautiful fighter, your heart will be ever there

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+Danny Boy+ CH.com Newbie Offline I love morels Posts: 19 Minnesota Gender:	Re: I can't believe this Reply #12 - Aug 29^th, 2010 at 9:30pm Hey Dale Sorry tohear that. Noone at 60 should have to deal with these. Im 35 and it is too much for me. Hang in there man any CH that doesn't kill you just makes you tougher. Dan
Back to top	The great thing about cluster headaches is..... uh....uhh... IP Logged

LadyLuv CH.com Alumnus Offline I love YaBB 1G - SP1! Posts: 1495 Champaign, IL Gender:	Re: I can't believe this Reply #13 - Aug 30^th, 2010 at 11:46am Welcome Dale... I can't give you any more info than have already been given... O2 Peace & Blessings LadyLuv
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Agostino Leyre

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Re: I can't believe this
Reply #14 - Aug 30^th, 2010 at 11:49am

Dale wrote on Aug 29^th, 2010 at 6:56pm:

Thank you Barbara. I will be getting some RedBull tomorrow. A friend of mine who does not know about ch ask if I thought some happy smoke might work. Since I have not seen any post on this I assume it does not. Has anybody tried this. I dont smoke but willing to try anything that does not kill me.

It is about the worst thing ever for me, I will never try that again. It just made the pain worse, and I was to "out of it" to know what to do. Misery.

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« Last Edit: Aug 30^th, 2010 at 11:50am by Agostino Leyre »

Triptans cause increased number of hits and increased intensity. Learn it, believe it, live it. I use triptans as the absolute LAST RESORT when treating my CH.&&

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Kate in Oz CH.com Hall of Famer Offline Posts: 633 Australia Gender:	Re: I can't believe this Reply #15 - Aug 30^th, 2010 at 7:38pm Yeah I tried that once or twice - not a great idea
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sandie99

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Re: I can't believe this
Reply #16 - Aug 31^st, 2010 at 4:54am

Warm welcome, Dale!

I'm so sorry that ch found you again - but the good news is that you already know that it's possible to have a long remission. That can happen again - and soon, I hope.

And I'm glad that you found your way here. This is the best site for clusterheads, you can always find support, tips and advices right here.

Welcome & lots pain free (PF) time!

Sanna

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