Click this link to read a post I like on the clusterheadaches.com message board...

May 12^th, 2024 at 8:41am

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

New CH.com Forum › Cluster Headache Help and Support › Getting to Know Ya › Newly Diagnosed in Auckland NZ

(Moderators: Mrs Deej, DJ)

‹ Previous Topic | Next Topic ›

Pages: 1

Newly Diagnosed in Auckland NZ (Read 1346 times)

SusieS

CH.com Newbie

Offline

I Love CH.com!

Posts: 2

Newly Diagnosed in Auckland NZ
Dec 25^th, 2015 at 9:55pm

Hi there,
I'm not sure what I really want to say...I've just received a diagnosis of cluster headaches a few days ago and I'm sort of trying to come to terms with it. I've been having daily headaches at between 2 and 3 am for the last 2 and a half weeks. I can't wait for this cluster to end! It's so scary to think that I don't know when that will be and it could come back again at any time. It's kind of a relief to know what's going on though! I've been taking Verapamil for two days but it hasn't really done anything yet. I've also been given Zomig nasal spray but it's really expensive because it's not funded in NZ and I tried it with my headache this morning but it didn't seem to do anything, I think because my nose was too blocked! I just feel so tired and like this has just stopped me from having a life for the last couple of weeks. I guess I'm looking for advice or reassurance!!!
Thanks
Susie

IP Logged

Click Here to visit the CH.com Facebook page!

Hoppy

CH.com Alumnus

Offline

LAUGHTER IS THE BEST MEDICINE

Posts: 1890
Perth WA
Gender: male

Re: Newly Diagnosed in Auckland NZ
Reply #1 - Dec 25^th, 2015 at 10:28pm

Hi Susie and welcome,
Who diagnosed you? If it was your GP or a Neuro best to check in with a headache specialist to get a firm diagnosis with scans and X rays to rule out any other nasties that could be lurking, it also concerns me he/she didn't give you a prednisone taper dose 7-10 days until the verapamil kicks in, what dosage a day of verapamil did he/she start you on?

Footnote, if you shoot MikeNZ, who also lives in Auckland a PM, he will guide you in the right direction to a good headache specialist.

Hoppy

« Last Edit: Dec 25^th, 2015 at 10:56pm by Hoppy »

IP Logged

SusieS CH.com Newbie Offline I Love CH.com! Posts: 2	Re: Newly Diagnosed in Auckland NZ Reply #2 - Dec 25^th, 2015 at 11:12pm Thanks Hoppy, It was my GP who diagnosed, but he said he's treated patients with cluster headaches before. I think you're right though and I'll try to get a referral to a headache specialist. He's prescribed me 80mg Verapamil per day (2 40mg tabs). Thanks Susie
Back to top	IP Logged

Mike NZ

CH.com Hall of Famer

Offline

Oxygen rocks! D3 too!

Posts: 3785
Auckland, New Zealand
Gender: male

Re: Newly Diagnosed in Auckland NZ
Reply #3 - Dec 26^th, 2015 at 1:03am

Hi Susie and welcome.

I'm just about to send you a PM with a load of NZ info.

For verapamil, 80mg a day is a very low dose, with most people needing between 360mg and 480mg a day, although some go up to about 1000mg. However what dose is right for you is dependent on your medical history, especially if you have low blood pressure.

Any more questions, just ask.

IP Logged

Hoppy CH.com Alumnus Offline LAUGHTER IS THE BEST MEDICINE Posts: 1890 Perth WA Gender:	Re: Newly Diagnosed in Auckland NZ Reply #4 - Dec 26^th, 2015 at 1:15am Susie, 80mg of verapamil is way to low a dosage, the majority of clusterheads need 360-480mg/day before getting any relief from the and in extreme cases folk go as high as 900-1000mg/ day. Good luck in finding a good headache specialist so as to become pain free. Hoppy
Back to top	IP Logged

jon019

CH.com Alumnus

Offline

"Ya gotta believe!"

Posts: 1656
USA
Gender: male

Re: Newly Diagnosed in Auckland NZ
Reply #5 - Dec 26^th, 2015 at 1:32am

Hi Susie...welcome home...

Hoppy and Mike are right...80 mg verapamil is WAY low. I used to take 1000/dy in divided doses for 70% effectiveness (reduced hits). That's a lot and you need to monitor blood pressure and have regular ekg's to monitor heart function any time when increasing dosage. The "sweet spot" for clusterheads seems to be about 480 mg/dy.... based on comments here over the years.

Zomig NS is expensive everywhere...and it's a crime in my opinion.... but has always been my favorite last resort abort...effective 99% of time for me.(when energy drink, and oxygen didn't work) Plugged nose is definite obstacle...and I can only say I learned to use it when my instincts/experience told me this was gonna be a real hit and not a shadow... and I better not wait too long. Part of that experience includes knowing when "regular" hit times are...so you know when to be proactive. I'm sorry to say only experience will teach you the proper timing...

Best

Jon

The LARGE print giveth....and the small print taketh away. Tom Waits

IP Logged

Pages: 1

‹ Previous Topic | Next Topic ›

« Home

‹ Board

Top of this page

©1998-2013 Web Vision Enterprises LLC All rights reserved. All information on this site is protected by international
copyright laws. You may not re-distribute any information from this site without written permission from
Web Vision Enterprises LLC and the webmaster of this site. Violators will be prosecuted.
You may view our privacy policy and financial disclosure statement here

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!