1st bout with CH

[kuhrnes]

It's been exactly two weeks since I started this terrible journey. Two weeks ago went to doctor with the worst pain I've ever felt in my right eye, tears occasionally dropped out of eye and the pain radiated into my jaw and ear. Was prescribed blood pressure meds due to my BP being so high, also prescribed propanlolo, ran out of the propranolol yesterday and have had the most intense episode for 8 hours straight now! Can anyone recommend another prescription to help me tone things down quickly, hoping to get into a specialist soon but nobody can see me for at least two weeks.

[spiny]

Hi kuhrnes,

 

There are a few things that you can do on your own for hits (headaches). The first thing, other than O2 is to grab some caffeine right quick. Energy drinks are a favorite. Everything from Monster to 5 Hour Energy, Cold is best for most sufferers. Drink it down as fast as possible at the first sign of a hit. O2 will be the best abortive out there unless you are taking triptan shots for the pain. 

 

You don't mention O2. Perhaps it was not prescribed!! O2 at 25LPM breathed using a non-rebreather mask is the best abortive. When you see your doctor, getting a prescription for O2 should be a priority!!

 

 

If you go to the Clusterbuster Files, read the D3  regimen. It is a daily course of vitamins that has helped a lot of people stop or reduce the severity of their hits. Very easy and cheap medicine. Something that you can do on your own.

 

Verapamil is the most commonly prescribed preventative in the States. It is for lowering BP. Cluster heads can usually take a lot of it. In addition to O2 and Verap, a doctor will often prescribe a 'bridging' medicine like Prednisone to take while the Verapamil builds up in your system. Pred is not to be taken over a long term, but short term it can be a big help.

 

You can put your feet in screaming hot water at the first sign too. Chug your caffeine and pop your feet into a few inches of really hot water. Some will take an ice cube and use their tongue to hold it on the roof of their mouth on the CH side as well. Small things to get you thru.

 

I hope that you get into that Specialist very soon and get some proper treatment!!! Pain meds are not very successful in treating CH.

 

What were you put on for your Blood Pressure?

[kuhrnes]

Propanolol for the Bp

[CHfather]

You've got the crucial core information from spiny. It's nice that you got the CH diagnosis so quickly, but the prescription is disappointing.  You should have received (as spiny says) both injectable sumatriptan and oxygen.  And maybe a steroid taper.

 

In addition to the advice spiny has given you about possible short-run abortive strategies (energy shots/energy drinks; feet in hot water; ice cube in mouth) and the very important longer-term one, the D3 regimen, you might try melatonin at night starting at 6-9mg and working up from there (some people get up into the 20mg range).

 

You should at least know about "busting" as an option.  Look over the numbered files in the ClusterBuster Files section of this board. 

[kuhrnes]

Thanks guys, back at my family doc today to ask for more meds until my appointment with headache institute of San Antonio in a few weeks

[mit12]

Kuhnrs

I was one who thought o2 did not work for me after CHfather pushed my to try it again with high flow and proper mask it worked and it works fast. If your doctor will not prescribe o2 go to a welding supply and get an oxygen bottle and purchase a regulator and mask. It is not very expensive but it is worth it's weight in gold.

[Dane]

Careful with pain meds if you have pulsating severe headache pain with eye and jaw, and high bp,kuhrnes. Any opiate is like dropping a nuclear bomb in a volcano for me. These docs push high rev dope. Just one eye? Did it get like petrified wood hard or tender?