Posted by Benjamin Gray on September 13, 1998 at 13:28:47:
I have been having CH's for about 15 years, they started back about 1983, and then I was in remission until 1989. I had, had surgery, and had been sedated, when I woke up and the anesthesia was wearing off, my CH's came back in the recovery room. The doctor sent me to a psychiatrist because he thought that the pain was in my head. (It was, but not as he thought!).
They come every year and lasts about 6 months and then the other 6 months its okay. I usually get about 3 or 4 a day and each one last for hours. It starts on my left temple and my eye starts to water and my nose runs just like a faucet. The pain is so intense that I want to take a bullet to my head, in fact, I thought about it the other night, taking a shot gun to my head. But then that woud cause grief and suffering to my wife and kids. I do not know how we make it. I have been to so many doctors, had CAT-skan that have all come up negative and have taken everything from Cafergot, Darvocet, Verampil, and so many others, my new Dr. gave me Lithium and Imitrex, but nothing really seems to work except for the oxygen, and now that does not always work. Sometimes it feels like my head is bleeding, doctors say that is not possible, but that is how it feels. I am a stay at home dad because of this, (and many think it is because I do not want to work or lazy, but they cannot EVEN begin to understand) I cannot very well at any job for only 6 months out of the year, that is why I am starting my own home based business, that way, I cannot be fired. My family is supportive, but they feel for me because it is not much that they can do. The pain sometimes is so severe that I cannot even think straight or anything. I cannot plan to do things or go places as well for fearing that they will (an usually do) come at any given moment, I cannot drive sometimes too. It is very frustrating to those who do not understand our plight, they do not think it is that serious. I am so glad that that there are others who feel (first hand) as I do, that can offer hope and support which is truly an inspiration. I had no idea there were so many of us suffering this way . Each day I dread getting out of bed because I know that I will have an attack soon. Hopefully something will be made available for us all. It's funny that if they can clone human beings, and send people into space, why can't they cure this???