Posted by Dave W (12.10.85.65) on October 07, 1999 at 10:27:24:
In Reply to: Case Histories/Bios - an Idea posted by Jack Boyd on October 06, 1999 at 17:44:11:
Hey Group,
Here's my summary:
Cycles started in 1979, at age 22. They last anywhere from 3 to 4 months and always start in April. During a cycle, I'll get either 2, 3, or 4 headaches per day, and they'll occur on one of my regular clock-times: 0700, 1030, 1200, 1430, 1745, 2000, 2230, 0200. Most CH's during the cycle are 7 or 8 on the Kip scale, but about 5 or 6 of them will be 10's. They last 45 minutes to 2 hours each if I don't treat them.
For the first 12 years, the doctors told me I was having sinus headaches. I treated them with massive doses of ibuprofen, decongestants (actifed, sudafed), and antihistamines (benadryl). Needless to say, these meds did no good except the benadryl did make me sleepy.
In 1991 I actually had a headache in the doctor's office and he said it was a migraine. He put me on inderal, gave me midrin for the attacks. Inderal seemed to stop the cycle but it also made me very depressed and I had to give it up. Midrin seemed to lessen the severity of the headaches, or at least dulled my emotional response to them.
From 1991 to 1998 I continued the Midrin, and wound up with some good preventive success via sansert for a couple cycles, and via lithium for a couple cycles. Learned about imitrex, zomig, maxalt during this time as abortive meds too.
In August 1998 I found this site, and took the info to the doc. He agreed with the CH diagnosis I had made for myself. This year the only thing that worked was prednisone/verapamil as a preventive. Oxygen now stops about 80 percent of my attacks, and imitrex nasal spray handles the rest. Just finished my cycle and am looking forward to a pain free winter.
It's been a long road, but I'm happy with the abortive meds today. This summer I only had one out-of-control "10" that lasted a couple hours because I had let my med supply go to zero. That won't be happening again!!!
Good luck and PFD's to all!!!
Dave