I am at the end of week two of the worst cycle I have ever had.  Getting 3 to 4 headaches a day and very little sleep.  02 is not working well either.  I have been on 900 MG of Lithium for about a week and a half now and the doc has prescribed me a 120 MG 15 day taper of the prednisone.  Has any one every used that much?  Am I going to go insane? 

I am a 230 LB 33 Y/O Male.  Drug facts say I should have 100 MG based on weight.   

I am going to start it for the first time in about an hour so we will see.  My neuro is one of them listed on OUCH's web site so he has seen this before. 

Thanks,

Eric

I am on 120 MG for three days then taper by 10 MG each day. 

Oxy works only for about an hour and then the beast returns with a vengance and O2 will then no longer work.   I do not have the correct mask so I am breathing o2 from a large plastic bag for 10 mins or so.  Basically untill I am too dizzy to breethe any more. 

2 hours after my first dose of Pred I got hit again.   I am averaging 3 to 4 4mg trex injects per 24 hours and am basically going nuts.

Eric,

a Non-rebreather mask is required to effectively abort a CH attack, you can purchase one here on this website for about $28 bucks.  Go to the left side of your screen and click on the yellow tab titled "Ch.com store" to order.

Also, a regulator that will provide high flow rates of 02 is essential so that you can hyperventilate the o2.  Rates should be at least 15 lpm, ideally 25 to 40 lpm.  In a pinch, you could pick up a welders tank and welders regulator, same day, if you can't get the proper tank and regulator prescribed from your doc.  Are you using high flow rates?

Until then, as suggested above, only inhale o2 from the bag you are using.  Do NOT exhale into the bag you are using as the co2 you expel from your lungs at exhalation is the culprit of the pain and if you inhale the co2 that you've already exhaled, you are essentially not using o2 therapy correctly.

Might want to talk with your doc about adjusting your preventative meds in case the Pred does not break the cycle.  Don't wait!  The Pred is awesome relief for a week or so at the dosages you are taking, but prepare for the worst when the Pred taper is at lower mg dosages/complete.

Pred is prescribed as a transitional med to provide CH pain releif while the preventative med is titrating to effective therapeutic blood levels.

Not sure about Lithium dosages and/or how long it takes to reach therapeutic blood levels, but might talk to your doc 1st thing in the am.

Hope this info helps, Good Luck!

-Gregg in Las Vegas

I use lithium as my prevent.  At 900 mg a day, it used to block up to 90% of my hits, over many years it's lost some of its effectiveness, I'm at 1200 mg a day now when on cycle and it blocks about 60-70% of my attacks.

Yes you can combine verapamil and lithium, we used to call it the "Chronic Cocktail". It's worked for many when nothing else was working.

Joe

This is only my 3rd diagnosed bout.  And my first time trying lithium this early in the cycle.  As well as the first time trying the pred at all. 

I have not noticed a reduction in HA's as a result of the lithium.  Should I? 

I am concerned about the lithium levels and am going to contact the Neuro first thing in the morning.  I dont want to end up with a ton of HA's after the taper. 

I would rather be a drugged zombie that get another visit from the beast.  I know you all know what I mean. 

I have been following this as well as all of the CH related sites for years now.  This is just the first time I have really tried to be more active in searching for a sollution that works for me. 

I also have been doing the D3 and fish oil treatment and have had chiropractic adjustments to my cervical vertibrate for the last 3 years hoping that it was a nerve bone alignment problem. 

SkyHawk5 I would very much like recomendations for regulators.  I am an active e Bayer and also have years of experience working with welding equipment and gasses as I used to be a professional fabricator by trade.  I currently only have a small tank of o2 that was given to me.  It really doesnt have what it takes and I clearly need more that 15 LPM.  I did a quick search on E bay and was suprised to see how inexpensive they are.  I already have a scrip for o2 bulk tank but they really dont feel good about giving out a reg that goes up that high.  I dont remember if the medical o2 tanks use the same connection as the welding tanks. 

I cant thank every one enough for all of the information you are shareing to help me through this bout. 

Thanks again,

Eric