Posted by Sam (209.122.226.54) on October 18, 1999 at 20:51:22:
In Reply to: Need your advice for my autistic son with cluster headaches posted by Bill DeBauche on October 18, 1999 at 13:54:44:
Bill, just a few thought from a 23-year CH sufferer. First, prednisone is used, often successfully, to try to break CH while other drugs that take longer have a chance to kick in. While I doubt your son needs more medications that can have nasty effects, might it be worth a try to see if the symptoms quickly abated, which might support a CH diagnosis? Two, this website contains information stating that CH can reliably brought on by sublingual nitrogylcerin, and to a lesser extent, by subcutaneous histamine. Many CH sufferers -- myself included -- know that alcohol consumption will bring it on when we're in the midst of a CH "cycle". Could any of these be tried to get your son a likely diagnosis at the possible expense of one more terrible episode? (I've attached the link.) And how fast does the relief come when he gets Imitrex and Percocet? I've never had any painkiller taken orally help me in less than half an hour. If Imitrex alone could be tried, and appeared to give him relief, wouldn't that point strongly to a cluster or migraine type of pain? There are also the physical symptoms of CH, which others have mentioned: tearing of, and often redness in, the eye on the affected side, and stuffed and running nose. Of course, the objective has to be to err on the side of getting him out of pain. I wish you the best of luck.