Welcome Back Sami!

Sorry you are going through a rough time right now.

Up your O2 to at least 25 ltrs and see about getting the imitrex injections, pills just take to damned long to work.  The nasal works but take longer than the shot of imitrex does.

Good Luck and PF Wishes!

Thank you both your unbelievable with how fast you jumped in and are there to support me.  I could just sit down and cry right now.

First I guess I should tell you I have hypothyroidism and I'm T2 diabetic.  I take thyroid meds which have T3 in it so I have to watch the heart palps.  I take 2000 mgs of Metformin and 2 shots a day of Byetta.  The imitrex pills are as a preventable not an abortive.  I take the nasal spray only because I'm so shot up with needles already that it just seemed to work OK for me.

I'm under a tremendous amount of stress more then normal.  I'm not belly aching just a fact.  I'm really blessed to only have these 6-8 weeks and not like some that have to live with these all the time.  It just seems that when they do come back you are kicked hard because you got a tasted of normal life. 

I was running 5 miles a day 5 days a week.  I had lost 40 lbs and I was eating right and making sure my levels were good. 

My husband has been living with 15 yrs of chronic pain that the doctors kept telling him that there was nothing wrong until the most unlikely source found that he had the same injury that Utley had from the Philadelphia Phillies.  He had surgery yesterday and now will be out of work for 3-4 months without pay.  That's OK because we will be OK but a lot of stress non the less. 

I have to go to court next Wednesday because my son was in an accident 2 yrs ago Thank God he wasn't hurt just a minor incident but the women feels the need to sue him and we have to appear in court. (She ran into the side of his car....I really mean she ran into his car....On two feet)  Insurance feels it's a scam and we have witness but non the less we have to appear.  So all this just isn't at the best time but I still need to believe that I will get through this.

Thank you for just letting me vent and helping me through this very hard time.  I always try to be there for others and they are there for me but just don't understand my headaches accept my husband who has held me many of nights when I thought I couldn't take one more day of it.  He now needs me.  I had to do a cluster today with nothing.  Dr. has not called me back yet so I'm hoping before the next one hits I have something.  Doing these without help really takes a lot out of you.

Sami

And no one doubts stress can be a trigger. It sounds like there's enough of that in your life. Good luck in court, try and make your priorities the most important things in your life, and fuss with your dr to get you what you need. Not sure if imitrex as a preventative is the best route to go. Discuss alternatives with your dr and maybe there is something else you can try that won't conflict with what you're already using. God bless! lance

Thanks so much.  Today I afraid I'm drifting into depression.  Not like me and I'm sure I'm asking why me and why now.  This will pass because it has to but in the beginning it just seems so long and your out of the loop.

Dr. fought all day for the O2.  I never heard such bullsh** excuses from the health care supply as I did today.  First they told me I never got O2 from them.  Then when I produced a receipt they then changed their answer to the don't accept "Cluster Headaches" as a condition that requires O2 there for they would not supply me with any.  I could not believe that they even said this.  I told them who are they to decide if I need O2 or not.  No good they just repeated their answer.  Even the Doctor called and they told him the same thing.

They did find another place but nothing will happen until Monday so we wait.

I got the Imitrex pills and nasal spray.  9 pills 6 sprays we need to see what my max is and go from there.  I also got 100 Foricet  (sp?)  I know I know not a good mixture but you do what you need to to get you through the day.

I have tried everything out there and nothing works so I use the group of things that work and mix them together.

I gotta start reading and catching up.

Sami

Please, Please, Please be careful with the Fioricet!  I've been down that road, and it is not One that I would want to go down again!  It is to easy to think I'll take just one more and it will all go away until one more says I'll take you.  I went through three months of sheer misery trying to kick that stuff almost 30 yrs ago, and I won't even let it in my house because I'm afraid I'll want "just one more.  If all else fails, go to a welding shop and get a tank, buy a regulator on EBAY and get an O2ptimask from the CH.com store.  You'll be set up then for whenever you need it, and you don't have to worry about a script.  The O2 comes from the same tank as the medical grade.  The only difference is the tank.  See the oxygen info tab on the left or ask questions and someone will walk you through it.

As to the stress, and I agree you have your fair share and a couple of other people's too, stop and ask yourself what difference it will make in 100 yrs and go on and enjoy life.  Think of the 3-4 months with your hubby as a second honeymoon and make the most of it!  Have fun!

I've got T2 diabetes too, so I can understand where you are coming from there.  That can be a real drag, esp with the stress, but it is not something you can't handle.  You are a clusterhead!  When you get stressed and need to vent we are here.  We won't let you whine, but venting is good.

Jerry

I feel for you Sam, I had a freaking  WAREHOUSE FOREMAN tell me a demand valve was not effective for the treatment of clusterWe still have so far to go in education! headaches. 

Joe

Has any of you did the Steroid thing?  I did this about 10 yrs ago I believe at that time it was Predisone with a rapid taper to try to break the cycle.  I remember it not working.  I'm doing this again but not using the predisone but the Medrol dose pack the 6,5,4,3,2,1 Instead of taking it as prescribed where you take 2 before breakfast 2 before lunch and 2 before dinner he told me to take all of them first thing in the morning and follow this for the next 5 days.  I'm willing to try anything right now and I'm sure it will screw up my sugar so I will have to really watch.  And to top it off of course it's snowing here which really screws my head up with the pressure but I'm starting my count down and I gotta remember that this to shall pass.....or at least I'm hoping this cycle will. Between the clusters and my husbands surgery we both should be good somewhere in March....LOL  Talk about feeling old....

Sami

Well even though your doc doesn't sound knowledgeable about treating CH, he at least sounds like a good guy, the way he fought for you with the unbelievably INSANE O2 supply place, 

If you reconsider the injectible form of imitrex, one thing to factor in is that many have found they can abort 3 hits with one injectors worth by following the imitrex tip: Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or

Steroids will cause your sugars to fluctuate.  You are right, you will have to watch them. 

I don't know if it will stop the CH or not.  For some it works, for others, not.  It's basically a crap shoot sometimes, but I'm with you in that I probably would try them.  You know the dangers and know what to look for.  I wish you the best.

Jerry