Welcome, Guest. Please Login or Register
Clusterheadaches.com
 
Search box updated Dec 3, 2011... Search ch.com with Google!
  HomeHelpSearchLoginRegisterEvent CalendarBirthday List  
 





Page Index Toggle Pages: 1
Send Topic Print
Wife of a sufferer (Read 1164 times)
urlilbrat
CH.com Newbie
*
Offline


I Love CH.com!


Posts: 3
abbotsford, bc, canada
Wife of a sufferer
Nov 21st, 2014 at 2:52pm
 
Hello everyone!

Okay so I'm new to the site... I'm hoping to find something to help my husband. okay so I guess some background info Smiley

My husband is the one who is suffering from the CH's. He's been experiencing them for about 7 years now. Within the last 3 years he has *FINALLY* been diagnosed as a CH sufferer. Our doctors where very hesitant it since they all said that none of them have ever experienced a person with the condition. Within the past two years they have upgraded his condition to Chronic Cluster Headaches.

He has tried pretty much every medication prescribed by his doctor and none of them have worked well. At the moment is he taking lithium and valporic acid, which seemed to kinda work for the first few months. He's headaches went from 10/day to 5/week. Now we're back up to 10/day. At the moment we are waiting to get the occitpal nerve block injection but the wait out here is a year on a waiting list.

And me... I am just a mum of two and a wife who is desperately looking for anything to help my husband.

<3 Mana
Back to top
  
 
IP Logged
 
Bob Johnson
CH.com Alumnus
***
Offline


"Only the educated are
free." -Epictetus


Posts: 5965
Kennett Square, PA (USA)
Gender: male
Re: Wife of a sufferer
Reply #1 - Nov 21st, 2014 at 4:10pm
 
It will help us to direct you to good sources of assistance if you will tell us where you live (city & state, if U.S. or country). At the Home page: Help button-->Edit & Profile --> Location. (This will add your location, just below your name, every time you post a message.
==================================

The complexity of Cluster requires, if at all possible, working wiwth a Headache Specialist. The average doc, even neourologists, have meager training/experience in this area.
--------
LOCATING HEADACHE SPECIALIST

1. Yellow Pages phone book: look for "Headache Clinics" in the M.D. section and look under "neurologist" where some docs will list speciality areas of practice.

2.  Call your hospital/medical center. They often have an office to assist in finding a physician. You may have to ask for the social worker/patient advocate.

3. Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to Login or Register; On-line screen to find a physician.

4. Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to Login or Register Look for "Physician Finder" search box. They will send a list of M.D.s for your state.I suggest using this source for several reasons: first, we have read several messages from people who, even seeing neurologists, are unhappy with the quality of care and ATTITUDES they have encountered; second, the clinical director of the Jefferson (Philadelphia) Headache Clinic said, in late 1999, that upwards of 40%+ of U.S. doctors have poor training in treating headache and/or hold attitudes about headache ("hysterical female disorder") which block them from sympathetic and effective work with the patient; third, it's necessary to find a doctor who has experience, skill, and a set of attitudes which give hope of success. This is the best method I know of to find such a physician.

5. Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to Login or Register NEW certification program for "Headache Medicine" by the United Council for Neurologic Subspecialties, an independent, non-profit, professional medical organization.
        Since this is a new program, the initial listing is limited and so it should be checked each time you have an interest in locating a headache doctor.
=====================================================================
WHY A HEADACHE SPECIALIST IS RECOMMENDED


Headache. 2012 Jan;52(1):99-113.
Cluster headache in the United States of America: demographics, clinical characteristics, triggers, suicidality, and personal burden.
Rozen TD, Fishman RS.

THERE REMAINS A SIGNIFICANT DIAGNOSTIC DELAY FOR CLUSTER HEADACHE PATIENTS ON AVERAGE 5+ YEARS WITH ONLY 21% RECEIVING A CORRECT DIAGNOSIS AT TIME OF INITIAL PRESENTATION.
=========
This recommendation has become more important as the recognition grows that there are a nulmber of disorders, some rahter serious, which mimic Cluster, but which are not headache disorders.

You will receive a number of suggestions for various treatments but it's unwise to self-diagnose or self-treat without having first received a solid diagnosis from a competent doctor.

As you seek a good doc, learn, learn!


These sites which are worth your attention: medical literature, films, plus the expected information
about CH.

Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to Login or Register
------

Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to Login or Register Search under "cluster headache"
-------
Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to Login or Register
  Full of articles, blogs, book: written by one of the best headache docs in the Chicago area.
  Worth exploring. The latest book is in e-book edition, $10; comprehensive and worth buying for
  a careful read.
=============

Of equal importance to working with a good doc is to learn to not panic or despair. Cluster is a troublesome but not serious/life threatening disorder. It's often confusing because the symptoms change over time adding to the tension/confusion. But the vast majority of us here bear witness to the real possibility of living good lives once we learn how to cope/treat our buddy.

Keep reading here and keep us informed.
Back to top
  

Bob Johnson
 
IP Logged
 
Mike NZ
CH.com Hall of Famer
*****
Offline


Oxygen rocks! D3 too!


Posts: 3785
Auckland, New Zealand
Gender: male
Re: Wife of a sufferer
Reply #2 - Nov 21st, 2014 at 5:43pm
 
Hi and welcome

It is essential that you work with a headache specialist with the right skills and experience with CH. Getting a correct diagnosis isn't simple, with many other conditions that can give very similar symptoms to CH.

If he has something other than CH then that could explain why medication isn't working. It's also possible that he has CH but the medication wasn't given at the correct doses. One example is verapamil where it has a standard use as a blood pressure medication but for CH we need it at a significantly higher dose. Often inexperienced doctors just don't use it at an effective dosage for CH.

Where in the world are you? If you post your approximate location it is likely that there will be someone in the same country or even the same state who can direct you to an experienced specialist plus fill you in on country specific info.

Keep reading all you can hear, knowledge is vital for learning how to manage with something like this.

People also understand what you're both going through as everyone here either has CH or supports someone with it.

Hoping something starts working for your husband soon.
Back to top
  
 
IP Logged
 
Page Index Toggle Pages: 1
Send Topic Print

DISCLAIMER: All information contained on this web site is for informational purposes only.  It is in no way intended to be used as a replacement for professional medical treatment.   clusterheadaches.com makes no claims as to the scientific/clinical validity of the information on this site OR to that of the information linked to from this site.  All information taken from the internet should be discussed with a medical professional!