Wow...that's truly going the extra mile...and mile...and mile. Glad you're safe and away from the border wars. How often do you have to make that trip? Blessings. lance

Hey Uncontrollable, and welcome back. No cure since 2009, but as you're finding, we have learned a lot about how to tweak the prevents and aborts. I came here looking for a way to deal with the Beast and I found several. I would encourage you to make an exhaustive list of everything that someone has said has helped, whether or not you have already tried that, noting specifically doses and frequencies. Then, compare that list exhaustive list against your own experience, again noting anything different from when you tried it. Pay particular attention to the O2 links. Many of us are finding that we started with 8-15lpm and a general nonrebreather mask, and found that flows up to 40lpm with a specialized clustermask helped tremendously. And coupled with an energy drink, brought my abort times down to 3-5 minutes. Same with verapamil. On it forever, but at the label max of 240mg/day. Now, at 640mg/day I have some control over the hits. Let us know how you are doing and don't hesitate to ask questions. God bless. lance

Welcome back uncontrollable. Don't sweat the staying away while out of cycle, everyone deals with their cycles differently. The Batch regimen has been working wonders for many, hope it gives you the edge you're looking for.

Joe

Quote:


Gregg, thanks for the reminders that we need to check drug interactions even when using OTC products. I have to say I have not heard of, or experienced, any interactions between verapamil and melatonin that would scare me off. My neurologists (I have two!) both are aware of what I take, and have not had a problem. Nor have I. The energy drinks are another matter. I limit myself to one a day, at most 2 but almost always 1 works fine. Too much could be worrisome with the level of verapamil I take daily. We have issued warnings about this from time to time, so it's good to be cautious. God bless. lance

Jeannie wrote on Oct 28^th, 2011 at 2:05pm:


O2 in car and Imitrex sounds good in theory, but the reality is...

I could purchase a small tank and another mask and another high flow regulator and a 670 connection customized to fit the smaller o2 tank, etc., etc but O2 only works 1/2 the time for me and those 50% times when I can abort with o2 requires 20 to 30 minutes to completely abort.  Reason being is one of my lungs is only 70% at best due to past injury (hemopneumothorax) so requires me to be on o2 longer than "ideal studies of abort times". 

Just had a 2 hour phone call with Batch who says my o2 therapy is spot on, so I know I am doing everything I properly can.

So my work productivity level would be minimal as much of my workday would be attached to an o2 tank and mentally preparing for the next appointment while being exhausted from my last attack.  Using o2 while out and about on sales calls to 30+ businesses daily would be an exhausting, time consuming and very painful challenge.

Without a doctor, health insurance nor prescription...Imitrex is extremely limited supply, but does exist thanks to donations and minimal cash purchases in Mexico.  Even if I had an unlimited supply of Imitrex, we all know the rebounds are common and the side effects of too much trex is harmful. 

So with an avg of 3x/day attacks btw 8am to 5pm "work hours", I am truly restricted from a productive work day.  Bottom line is until I am out of high cycle, I am limited on my productivity with any aspect of my life, specifically my job.

I am in a very high cycle getting hit every hour of the night and absolutely exhausted during the day while enduring addtl 3x/day hits.  Feel like I am going out on a limb on the rare occasion that I am able to leave the house for a quick grocery run or get my son to school, so have minimal confidence I could survive 1 full work day without consequences.  I am sincerely not well.

Just got off the phone w/ my boss who told me I need to make a decision if I can return to work next week and go full force or if I need to part ways and get healthy.  Once healthy enough to work to call him and ask for my job back but no guarantees.  I am no where near ready to go back to work in the same capacity and have no idea if my cycle is ending, if I am going chronic, or when my high cycle will end.

I don't want to quit and my boss says he doesn't want to can me.  But my boss says I have to make a decision on Monday if I am well enough to work without more time taken off or he will have to hire somebody else and can not afford a replacement and me.

Unfortunately this is not my decision if I am able to get out of cycle by Monday, it is the Beasts decision, as I truly have no control over when I am going to be attacked, how long I am to remain in cycle, etc.

Feeling much pain physically, emotionally and financially.  I am truly stuck btw a rock and a hard place w/ decision to give my boss on Monday. 

I don't feel so isolated now that i've read this new report...

"Cluster Headache Personal Burden.—In the USA, 17% of the surveyed population had lost a full-time job due to their cluster headaches. A total of 8% were currently out of work or were on work-related dis- ability secondary too their headaches. Full lost days of work per year secondary to cluster headache were 1 to 10 days in 47%, 11 or more days in 21%, while 32% had never lost a single day of work. A total of 38% were unable to leave their homes between 1 and 12 days per year because of their cluster headaches, while 11% stated they were literally bed-bound for 31 days or more per year because of headaches, while 28% had never lost a single day because of head pain."