chronicclusterheadaches.co.uk

hacker22 · Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 2:59 pm Post subject:

I have been diagnosed, but it was just a long time ago. Like I said in my previous post, my first hit was in high school. My parents took me to the hospital when the second one came around a couple of weeks later, and I got the MRI and some other tests and he told me that it was probably CH. He did give me some sort of Rx for awhile, but because I didn't know that I was only going to be getting them around 4-5 months during somewhere, I quit taking them. Ive just never gone back to get them I guess. I've always found that Oxygen works well, So I guess thats why I haven't tried any meds yet.
Also, I haven't been prescribed O2 either, I actually just go to the welder shop and swap out my K tank for about $40. It works just fine, same stuff.
_________________
--The end is near. The end is coming.

phil h · Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 9:33 pm Post subject:

Oxygen seems to be what works best for most . I'm
glad you're here . How do you manage your CH's now . Some of us have real trouble being able to work consistantly because of the CH's . Tell us about yourself . you know...... age/marital status / job / hobbies. that kind of stuff . The more we chat on here , the more we find we have many interests in common . We share how we deal with our hits , before , during and after . We all experience things a little differently . We are always looking to try something new to improve our CH condition........ We all seem to enjoy music from a wide variety artists ................ phil h
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"Suddenly a huge phantom bird sank three talons of its angry claws deeply into my head and face and tried to lift me. No warnings, no preliminary signs. Just wham! A massive, killing pain came over my right eye. " Frank Capra

hacker22 · Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 11:31 pm Post subject:

Well like i said earlier I only get 2-3 a year, so It doesnt really interfere with work too much. My employer (Best Buy) is fairly flexible with hours and stuff as well. My job is selling computers, and I also build websites and repair computers outside of Best Buy. I'm attempting to get my own business going, but finding the time for it is kind of hard with fulltime school and almost full time work. I am married to the best woman in the world. She gets CH's a couple times a year too, as well as her dad. I am in school for computer science and software development. As for hobbies, I love going to dinner and a movie with my wife, and I like doing basically anything that has to do with computers :)

I dont really have a specific genre of music I like. Mostly I like rock (classic, alternative, metal, whatever) But as long as the song Im listening to sounds good, I like it lol. It just has to give you that feeling you know? Just that feeling like your "into" the music.

_________________
--The end is near. The end is coming.

Annette · Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 11:37 pm Post subject:

Hey Hacker

Please introduce your wife and get her onto the board too. She is both a CHer and a supporter so she is most welcome here.

Ike · Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2008 4:37 pm Post subject:

I think i must come out and say what i feel a little here. I don't mean to be rude but i think you have migraines and not Ch. Please take the time to read both links im going to post. Some of the things you say just dont really fit Ch.
Have you seen the Ch video ? Please dont take this as me flaming you i just want you to be sure of what you have and as someone with Ch for 7 years id say you dont have Ch.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cluster_headache

now this one on migraine

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Migraine

Ike
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If you dance with the devil the devil don't change, The devil changes you

Email me, Admin@chronicclusterheadaches.co.uk

Sherri · Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2008 12:33 am Post subject:

Yes Hacker...

Ike and I discussed this, and it seems as if you may have migraines. Some of the things you describe aren't of CH origin and not possible...

As Ike said, in no way do we want to be nasty...we want you, your wife, to get the right help so you are well.

You really don't want to have to take some of the meds we do...esp. if not necessary. Please take care of yourself, and hopefully find pain relief.

Have you ever heard of or tried Maxalt sub-lingual tabs? They are for migraine relief and work very well for migraines.

You put the tab under your tongue when you feel the headache coming on. The tablet is very "crumbly" so you have to be careful you don't drop any of it or break it...

I peel the wrapper off right over my mouth...I put my head back a little and open my mouth...just in case I may break it.

Please feel free to ask us any questions...we may be able to answer some stuff. And Ike is great at finding informative links.

I have to ask you this out of curiousity....is that a picture of some type of detonator? I cannot figure out what it is..really I am curious.

Sherri

_________________
"Great spirits have always encountered VIOLENT opposition from the MEDIOCRITIES." -Einstein.

Annette · Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2008 10:18 pm Post subject:

Hi Hacker

Do come back and share some more. Ike and Sherri are not flaming you or trying to chase you off. They are genuinely concerned for you. Since they have both been chronic for years they really know CH inside out and they can help you so much.

hacker22 · Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2008 5:49 am Post subject:

You guys may be right about me having migraines and not CH. Like i said earlier, it was several years ago when the doctor told me i might have CH. Do they do any tests or anything to diagnose CH? Cuz the doctor simply went off of my verbal account of the experience.
And no, its not some type of detonator, its actually the end of the neck of my guitar. Its a fender strat.
Lastly, I don't think anyone is trying to flame me, so no worries. And thanks for the advice guys. Cuz like Sherri said, I don't want to take drugs I don't need.
_________________
--The end is near. The end is coming.

Annette · Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2008 6:06 am Post subject:

Well, the proper diagnosis should be given by a neurologist. Most GP dont have enough experience to diagnose CH I dont think. I hope you will be able to see a neurologist soon, who has experience in treating headaches so that you can get diagnosed properly. In the mean time if you only get 2 or 3 bad headaches per year and they seem to go quickly with oxygen I guess its not too bad. I have heard of some people using oxygen for migraine with some success too. In general you should be avoiding self diagnosis and self medicating though.

Unfortunately there isnt any definitite test like a blood test or scan that can confirm CH. It is a diagnosis based on the history and the clinical symptoms. It takes experience to diagnose properly though because the symptoms may overlap with other kinds of headaches.

I sincerely hope that you don have CH as it is a lifelong condition which can get really bad and it can turn your life upside down.

Why dont you describe your headaches in details and see of the experts here can have some suggestions for you ?