Hello, an introduction.

[ixnax]

An old friend, long ago and far away once said, "I don't use drugs... I abuse them". That was 1970. Those were different times for sure. That came to mind because I was thinking, "what I once abused, I now use".. (or would if I could).

I have suffered from common migraines, classic migraines, tension headaches, and recently I discovered that I have suffered from cluster headaches that were misdiagnosed. A few years ago I was going to the doctor because I had a headache every day for over two years. Recently I was reading and I came across "cluster headaches". I read the symptoms and thought, "Dang... that is exactly what I have". Pain behind my right eye, my right temple (the blood vessels seem to get harder and pop out, then (I think in response to the pain) I tend to draw up a bit and the muscle at the base of my skull/top of my neck on the right side gets involved too and sometimes reaches down to my right shoulder blade. I think this caused me to be misdiagnosed with tension headaches but they are always only on the right side, so... maybe I should have been a doctor. LOL.

I have also been on several opiates over the last decade due to spine problems and just so you know, I have never run out of my meds, I always have some left over. Pill counting is something I never want to have to do. I know I am dependent but I try to not be addicted.

So, I was having these headaches every day. I was taking fioricet to try and fight them and they helped a little but not when the headaches really get bad.

My pharmacist suggested (everyone has their idea of my health based on their experience) that I was having rebound headaches, that was BS.

My wife had some Xanax for a stress problem, she is a CPA in private practice and had our daughter working for her. I tried the Xanax, with my doctor's permission and they seemed to help the afternoon headaches more than anything. I asked him for a scrip. He suggested that I should take Klonopin because "they have a bit of a muscle relaxing effect". They do not do the job but they help me sleep and they do seem to help me to not get so many headaches, until lately. Now I am back in a cycle of daily headaches, the Xanax is the only thing I have that helps relieve the pain but they only help a little.

So, I am taking meds I do not need, I have gotten off some meds (statins) and feel a bit better but frankly, I am getting desperate to find something to stop these daily headaches.

As I'm sure you WELL know, people who do not have chronic pain are completely unsympathetic and consider you a drug abuser. The government allows meds that kill your liver and kidneys in their effort to protect drug abusers at the expense of people with legitimate needs. Doing that, they push honest people into activity that "they" deem to be wrong. IDK... I guess I needed to vent, I apologize but it disgusts me for my government to care more about protecting people they can not change... at my expense.

I am 63 years old, have owned a business since 1989 but pain has brought me to the place where I can no longer do much work. Thankfully I have honest employees.

I am here to hopefully find a substance that will help me. In 1970 I would take pretty much anything and experienced some amazing things such as curing a cold TWICE with acid. I would be sick, stuffed up, etc. Drop.. the next day mucus would have a slight burned smell, next day it would be GONE. These substances need to be studied more. I am convinced that tryptamines are God's gift to man and I am a Christian.

I have noticed an availability of "so called" RCs from here and there. Many seem to be related to mushroom chemicals but there are so many, I don't know which ones might work well without putting too much stress on my body, heart in particular. I have read of several where people claimed to not even get an elevated heart rate but some of the vasoconstriction effects trouble me. I do have Cialis, Plavix, and 99% cacao that are all vasodialators, I think. I'm not really worried about that because if I find something that work I will be taking doses as low as possible.

I am glad to be here, happy to meet you. Besides being a husband, father, grand father, and businessman I am a blues guitarist and do some recording. I no longer "play out" but for my own enjoyment. I will be retiring soon and I am ready to do anything to get some quality of life back.

I really hope I have not violated the TOS in my first post, LOL. 

I will be reading and offering comments if I feel I can contribute. I'm sure I will have some questions. I don't want to get in trouble while trying to get help but I have never done anything like this and don't know where to go, who is good or bad or what questions I can ask or how to ask them.. so reading I will be,.

Again, nice to meet you. I go by ixnax or JB.

Thanks,

J

[spiny]

Welcome JB!

Those who really understand are those who have CH. Most doctors have very little knowledge of CH. Even Neuro's. A headache specialist is your best bet for traditional care. Many of us have run the gamut of 'possibly' this will help meds. Many have paid a high price for that too.

We try to keep busting info on the Share your Busting Stories Board. It is available for members only, not lurkers. It is great place to read and learn. So are The Clusterbuster Files. Also, a closed board.

Thank you for a great first post. History is a good start here. I think that a MRI is about the best thing a doctor can do for you. It rules out other bad stuff to make sure that you are dealing with CH, not something worse. Otherwise, there are currently no meds for CHer's. Hand me down Migraine meds are the norm. A firm diagnosis is a good idea so that you know what you actually have. Muscle relaxers can help with the neck pain. It can get pretty severe at times.

Opiates will not help CH. Go to the menu bar on the left and open the O2 page and read that. O2 will be your best friend. Caffeine or an Energy drink at the start of a hit can abort one too. Most of us tend to find that O2 becomes our very best friend!! 

Some members have found that Cialis or Viagra will bring on a hit. So, that might be a thought for you. There is a pinned post at the top of the Share You Busting Stories Board regarding that issue.

How long do your hits last? Do you have any other symptoms when you get a hit?

Read and ask away. 

ATB

spiny 

[ThatHurtsMyHead]

+++ Spiny's post.  I'm no doctor, but you might have something else other than CH (there are several headache conditions that are one sided).  I've never heard Kpin ever helping a CH attack.  (otherwise we'd all be on kpin. )

J