Posted by george petrie on September 25, 1998 at 18:17:01:
In Reply to: cluster headaches posted by FC on May 27, 1998 at 21:19:30:
I have suffered from chronic cluster headaches since 1978. I have tried every medication known to man to treat the things but nothing has ever been effective for me for any length of time, at least without serious side effects - i.e. predisone, which worked great, but almost killed me. I now take a regime of veraphamil and wigraine, 1 tablet each twice a day. It helps some, but not that much. The one thing that I have found that really helps me - pure oxygen! At the onset of a headache, I immediately put the mask on and turn the flow up full blast. Normally, within a minute or so, the headache is gone totally. Now, they will come back, oxygen is not a cure, but if you haven't tried it, do so. I do not go anywhere without an oxygen bottle somewhere close. It has certainly changed my life and now at least I can go somewhere without worrying about the pain!