Posted by KJ on September 21, 1998 at 07:24:18:
Hello all, I am new to this site, but very happy to have found it. I have been in a cluster cycle since August 13, 1998. I have been suffering from clusters for 5 years now. The first year was the worse because of the amount of time it took to diagnose. Since then, I would simply call my physician, tell him I am in a cycle, and he who would prescribe a 10 day prednisone/verapimal "blast" and the cluster would be gone. This time, I have been on two-ten day bouts with no results. My doctor then tried amitriptyline, lithium, and lidocaine, all with no results. If it weren't for my insurance carrier approving a couple of thousands of dollars of Imitrex over the last month (1-2 shots per day), I have no doubt that I would be dead by now. My employer has also been very understanding because I assure you that I would also be on the unemployment lines by now. I am supposed to go into the hospital on Wednesday for a 5-day intravenous "ergo" treatment. My neurologist called it pulling out the "big guns". Has anyone ever done this? With what results? I hope it works because I cannot take these headaches a day longer. As all of you know, I haven't slept well in weeks as a result of my fear of getting a cluster or actually getting one. I have been awakened every single night over the last 30+ days. Depression is also setting in as a result of not being able to go to the gym and work-out (A headache trigger for me). I just don't want to do anything for fear that the headache will return. I have become dependent on MY Imitrex. It goes everywhere with me. And all the other medication in my system cannot be good for me, but do I care at this point?
I don't know why this particular cluster is so much more persistent than others but I do know that it is ruining my life!!!