Hello,
Is there anyone out there using gammaCore? Can't find any mention of it.
Thanks,
Peter.

Hi Mike,

Thanks for the reply. The link was interesting. I have been using gammCore since early 2012 and was interested in other people's views on it.

I'll write about my experience with it. Maybe it will do someone some good.

When I was first diagnosed (after 10 years of living in the wilderness) I saw a Headache Specialist who did all the usual scans and concurred with my Doctor the It was Ch. I went through the usual cocktail of nerve blockers, verapamil, triptans and so on, for about 6 months.. Home oxygen is the only thing that did any good, but you can't carry that around with you.

Incidentally, I had also tried acuptuncture in the past.

The neurologist then suggested a brain implant, but I would not hear of it, especially when he told me it had to be inserted through the roof of my mouth.

He then got me on a trial programme with the gammaCore device being run out of London (I live in Ireland).
As an abortive, it is brilliant, with most attacks clearing within 6-12 minutes, except the really heavy ones.

The trial programme ended and I could not get the device for about a year (eating painkillers like M&Ms in the meantime). Then my daughter made contact with someone in ElectrCore, the manufacturers in England and I've been buying the units directly from him since. Thank you God.

Having read the messages on this site about gammaCore, I think there is some misunderstanding about the device and how to use it.

It is a non- invasive Vagus nerve stimulator, about the size of a mobile phone and is applied to the neck at the carotid artery.  You buy a device with either 50 or 150 pre-programmed treatments. Each treatment lasts 2 minutes, the first 30 seconds being ineffective to allow the user to position the device correctly. It is difficult to use at first because you have to hit a very particular spot on the neck to get the electrical impulse to travel up the vagus nerve, but you get to learn pretty fast. It has made a huge difference to my life and I go nowhere without it.

Admittedly it is not cheap but I would not be without it. It also has the great advantage of being very portable and does not require the use of meds.

As I say, I use it as an abortive only. I'm not convinced it it very useful as a preventative.

It is expensive to buy, at €300 for 150 treatments, but what prescribed treatment is'nt?
Hope my ramblings are of use to someone.

On the prevention side I tried the D3 with no result, but having read Batch's piece I don't think I was doing it right, so I'm going to start that again tomorrow. Here's hoping I'm in the 70/80% who benefit from it.

By the way, I was episodic for 11 years, chronic for the last two. In truth, I have not had a single PF 24 hour period in two years, so I hope the D3 can improve that.

Thanks for reading... Peter.

Merle,

I wish you the best with the device.

Please let us know how you get on.

Peter.

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Anthony,

I had the nerve block too, but it only lasted 4 weeks. GammaCore is more successful if you can use it T the first sign of an attack.

O2 is my go to if woken at night with a kip 6 upwards.

D3 is my savior.

I learned a long time ago that the best way for me to deal with the beast is to have a varied arsenal of weapons to hand.

Peter.

Anthony,

Only if I get to it early. If it’s already racked up by the time I wake, O2 is what I need.

The big advantage of gammaCore, for me, is it’s portability. I found it really saved a few embarrassing moments when I was working. I could use it at my desk and it was very discreet.

I always take it with me when flying too. You can use it sitting in your seat, without any fuss.

Peter.

wsnurse,

Great to hear the insurance companies cover it. I assume you have O2 as well?

Peter.

Maz,

Thankfully, since I started the D3 Regimen, I rarely need it. In the main I only have to deal with daily shadows, sometimes heavy shadows admittedly, but nothing like the bad old days.

Peter.