Posted by Stevens, Ann (207.183.37.230) on June 04, 2001 at 16:41:24:
Cluster Headaches have attacked me seasonally since I had an epideral for stomach surgery. I was 36 years old then and now I am 60.
They told me as I got older the attacks would be less and less. Now at age 60, I have not been to the hospital for four years but it was a long long wait from age 36.
I used to be hospitalized four times a year, each time for many days. Injections of Demerol were successful in destroying the attack after many hours. I was given narcotics to take at home in the form of Percodan if an attack came back but had to see a physologist to help me not become addicted to this medication.
I used to take the Percodan which is yellow in color, wait until it had effect, drink a glass of ginger ale which was the same color as the pill and purge myself because of the fear of becoming addicted. I no longer do this and realize this is a controlled substance and doctors are aware of the quantity I have.
I wish I could make you all headache free.