Posted by Jackie M. on January 31, 1999 at 17:35:36:
In Reply to: Cluster's posted by Reima on January 30, 1999 at 19:59:53:
"It is also true that my headaches usually last 1-2 months and then disapear for about a year, so who knows, is it the medication or do they just go away naturally??"
Ah, Reima!! The million dollar question!! This is what I have asked myself throughout the 25 years of various drug therapies. I have come to the conclusion that (in my case) the clusters will take their pre-destined course regardless of drug therapies. I suffer sub-chronically (several per month, never longer than a few months without)and they have been that way always. In the past, I would try something new, happen into a brief remission, think I'd finally found the answer, and then BAM, there on again. This is why I now, to paraphrase a great Beatles tune, "get by with a little help from my friends." My friends being oxygen therapy and occasional pain killers like Darvocet N-100. Neither get rid of the clusters, they just sometimes keep them from getting completely unbearable. It's my personal opinion that until the medical community focus efforts toward finding the physcial origin of clusters, instead of finding bandaids to cover it, we'll keep going round the revolving door of drug therapies with no end in sight. I think that the poster "Gary G" has hit upon some plausible theories regarding physical causes of clusters, ie; the role of the hypothalmus. In short, I don't mean to sprinkle pessimism around here, but I think your suggestion regarding the clusters "natural" cycle is probably on target.
Wishing you pain free days ahead,
Jackie M.