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I guess this is the week for T&P.
We could use some T&P over here too - not so much for me, but for DH. This is long, but I have no one to talk to and I feel so helpless.
DH suffers from episodic cluster headaches. Imagine the worst migraine you've ever had - and intensify it by 100. Except that most medications don't work, and the few that do don't work all the time. DH's cycles are anywhere from 5 to 21 months apart (we just finished a 21 month span cluster-free) and last about 8 weeks.
Cluster headaches are known as "alarm clock headaches" because most of the time, they strike at night, and are so painful that they're impossible to sleep through. DH started a cycle on Friday night and they've just intensified through the week. He can't sleep - last night he got 2, maybe 3 hours through the night. The problem is when they start attacking during the day. As I write this, he's in the middle of an attack, and I can't do ANYTHING to help him. He's in so much pain - from what I've read, women say it's worse than labor.
I'll eta more details later. I want to close the computer so he has complete darkness. Please send T&P his way.
RIP Dr. Irving Fishman - 10/1/19-7/25/10 - thank you for holding on for me.
You made my wedding day complete.
Re: I guess this is the week for T&P.
Ugh, I can't even imagine. I suffer from chronic migraines, and they can be wickedly painful. I have heard they are nothing compared to cluster headaches. I can't even imagine.
T&P - hope he feels better soon!!
my read shelf:
oh wow that is terrible. I know when I get a bad headache I pretty much can't function, I can't even imagine having something like that.
T&P are with you both.
That sounds awful.
He should really consider a diet change if he hasn't all ready. I suggest reading the book Food For Life by Dr Neal Barnard. I would be willing to bet that his migraines are diet related.
I feel for him, I have had migraines in the past and they are debilitating.
DH went to the doctor today. He was put on an anti-epilepsy medication - it's an aggressive move, but it's documented that this medication can help break a cycle - and we learned that he can use both migranal and imitrex in the same cycle, just not during the same day. We also learned that he's had the wrong type of oxygen mask, so the oxygen that he had been using was basically worthless, and we're getting the new mask so we can actually BENEFIT from having the tank in the house.
Labrnr - they're not diet related. Believe me, we've looked into this. He's been treated for these since he was 8 - they've tried every possible combination of foods. Most people's cycles are more regular. We're not sure why his aren't, but we're more concerned about how to treat them since we can't prevent them.
RIP Dr. Irving Fishman - 10/1/19-7/25/10 - thank you for holding on for me.
You made my wedding day complete.
Plus- cluster headaches have a different origin than migraines, and may have more of a genetic component. They occur more frequently in men than women (6 to 1 ratio or somethign like that). And they come and go.
I get migraines at this time of year (allergy related, air pressure related) and sometimes stress related, too. I know the triggers. I can avoid them, or treat it once it starts (most of them time excedrine is totally fine).
From my understanding of cluster headaches, you get multiple, intensely painful headaches in one day, that reoccur for multiple days. They don't quite know why or how or what makes them happen.
Info on Cluster headaches.
Hope the epilepsy drug works! One of the guest lecturers for my class talked about them briefly a few weeks ago (during the headache lecture).
Ellen - thanks for the link and for being so understanding! It's awful to watch him go through this. I made him eat dinner early tonight because last night's attack started so early he (we) never ate dinner, and I know that can't have helped the attack.
Thanks for the T&P - let's see how tonight goes.
RIP Dr. Irving Fishman - 10/1/19-7/25/10 - thank you for holding on for me.
You made my wedding day complete.