Cluster Headaches

Some of you may know that I have suffered for years from cluster headaches--suppose to be the worse form of migraines. They started in '84 when I fell off some wooden platforms at work and my head bounced on the concrete floor--rushed to the hospital--lots of different doctors poking and looking at me over the years--finally found a great one in Montgomery and he has been treating me for over nine years--the headaches are under control right now.



My reason for all this is to say that two years ago he took me off of Imitrex because of the amount of older women who were having heart attacks from the use of it--not young women--women over 50 or 55. Today he took me off the substitute that he put me on (Amerge) because research has shown that it does the same thing. I am now back on pain medication for my headaches instead of the new wonder drugs--I am not happy about this! I lived off pain medicine--either in pill or injection form--for the first ten years that I suffered from these headaches--and now I will have to go back to that in order to avoid a heart attack. Seems to me like I'm trading the devil for the witch!! I trust my doctor and I will abide by his diagnosis but I did tell him how I felt about the whole thing. He tried to assure me that at my age, being on pain medicine was not that much of a threat to my health. Just use good sense and not drive or operate machinery or make important decisions while taking it. How can I take care of my hubby if I am in that condition? At least with the Imitrex or Amerge I could do all that and never worry about a thing!



I don't think I have to tell you that at this point I am a little bit scared--there have been months that I have had as many as 4-5 headaches a day--hating to see light, or hear sounds, or smell food, or feel heat. The wonder drugs got me through all that--I felt like a normal human being. This will be something that my therapist will have to help me get through. It is also an alert to anyone over the age of 50-55--if you take either of these drugs--talk to your doctor about the side effects. Just had to get this off my chest and also to alert others to question their doctors.



Thanks for listening--I'll get it figured out--one way or other!

Oh, Laura... I'm sorry they're putting you back on those pain killers. But, Imitrex can be dangerous. My best friend/maid of honor is taking Imitrex. She said it speeds up her heart rate, and she's lost 15 pounds that I know of. She said it feels the same as when she was taking Ephedra, And anything that can cause a difference in heart rate can be dangerous.





Hope I've helped you a little, hon.

Shelia, I had all the information about the side effects of Imitrex and later about Amerge, but to be brutely honest, I was willing to take the risk rather than live my life in a fetal position in a dark room unable to do anything four to six days a week. The drugs gave me the freedom to do what I wanted and needed to do--and without the "dopey" feeling! That was twenty years ago--the "playing field" has changed sinced then.



The only reason I am agreeing with and abiding by the new changes is that I do have a small problem with my heart now and I do have to take a pill for that--otherwise I would be fighting "tooth and nail" to continue the use of the Amerge. I'm not ready to leave this world right now--so I will have to get it in my head that this is the best treatment for a stage of life and health. Once that fully sinks in--I will be satisified with it.



Thanks for feedback and the websites, Shelia! I hope your websites and my alert have helped others to the dangers of side effects from any medication--CHECK IT OUT--ASK QUESTIONS OF BOTH YOUR DOCTOR AND YOUR PHARMACIST--if they don't have the time, get a new one--it's your body and your future!!

I have always had bad headaches but the past few years they turned into migraines. I had a heart test called a persatine thallium and i know i spelled that P word wrong. I had a raction to one drug (thallium)within seconds and they had to give me the antidote then after the special xray tests on my heart that lasted the whole day on the way home my head started to hurt my sister wanted to take me back but i just cried that i wanted to come home. the pain was excruiating, any little noise , sunlight movement was terrible she got me home whihc as an hour from the test and my hubby got me to bed . dark towel over my head with sunglasses on and teh room in total darkness. good thing i have dark blinds and painted room. no noise in the house was allowed and i rocked and cried til the next morning. ever since i get migraines and the same thing happens. but now i dont fool around i take my med for it and it i take it soon enough it will ward it off. but took me along time to go to the dr to ask for something only becasue i was taking alot of pain medication for my arhtritis and back.

I know how you feel. It is hard to take a med knowing it will limit you. Also sometimes it is a hard choice choosing between living with pain or risking the damage it may do to our system in the long run.

Life can be challenging thats for sure.

I'm sorry to hear that you suffer from migraines, Meg. I can understand your pain and what you go through. I'm feeling a little better tonight about the decision--I've talked about it with my therapist and aired my concerns--then wrote them down--somehow things seem to change when you put it down on paper. Anyhow it is easier for me today than yesterday and I hope it continues that way--until I am comfortable with the new situation. This weekend will be a big morale booster for me--with family and friends around. So I know I will make it through the fourth.

Hi, I know you posted this topic ages ago, but I'm new to this site and was browsing through when I sawe your post.

I hope you're managing to find some way of living your life effectively whilst dealing with the pain you feel.

I don't know if this fits in with your belief systems or not (if it doesn't, please don't take offence), but have you tried anything like hypnosis/visualisation/meditation? I know that for some, anything involving hypnosis is against their principles, but as a registered and very ethical hypnotherapist, I know that these techniques can often help with managing the pain. A good hypnotherpaist would not only treat the physical symptoms as you experience them, but would also teach you strategies and ways of dealing with these sytmptoms when you are just getting on with your life, and thereby reducing your need to see the therapist.

Anyway, If it's not something that fits in with your beliefs, as I said, please don't take offence, I merely offer my experience in the hope that it will help you, even if only a small amount.

Wishing you all the very best.

Hi mawmaw



I read your post on cluster headaches, and I know that you must suffer with them. I know how debilitating pain can be. In 1999 I had my gallbladder removed finally, took them 2 yrs before they would do anything for it, once it was removed I improved some but then I came down with shingles and they just got worse, the doctor had me on gabapentan very strong, it helped for awhile, but the pain eventually got worse and worsened as time went on, I had three different episodes in the emergency room because of it., The doctors did numerous tests and could not find the problem. My neighbour recommended I try a chiropractor, I've always been a little afraid of them frankly, but it got to a point where I was not going to be able to continue working, so I finally went to one. He did a family medical history and did some x-rays and guess what?! He said he could help me. My pelvis was twisted my spine was crooked and I had a rib out of place. Which was putting pressure on things that it shouldn't. Once he did the first treatment I felt an immediate difference. I saw him for 6 wks 3 days aweek and now I see him about once a month just to keep things corrected. I know that he can help with migraines colic asthma many many things. I have to admit that it is had to believe but true. If you could find a good chiropractor perhaps he could help you. Worth checking out anyways. Sorry that I wrote a book here but I thought it necessary to explain exactly. Thanks for listening

Thanks for all the advice, girls!



I read the information, Patricia, but don't think it will help me at this stage. Thanks for thinking of me!



Sally, I have considered hypnosis, but there is no qualified ones around that I know of in this area. I've asked my doctors and they tell me the nearest ones are in Birmingham or Atlanta. That is a long way for me to travel to see one. But it is not something that I have ruled out yet.



Smyrtle, I did try a chiropractor for three years, but it did not help the headaches. It helped my back and neck but my head continued to hurt. My insurance stopped paying for the treatments so I had to stop the visits. But a chiropractor is a wonderful person if you get the right one!



I am using less and less of the pain pills now--so that is one thing that is working for me. Maybe in a another year or two, the headaches will be gone forever!! I pray everyday for that!

Its a shame that you don't have a registerd hypnotherapist near you, and even more of a shame that I am over here in the UK otherwise, as a practising and registered Clinical Hypnotherapist, I would be more than happy to help.



However, all is not lost - there are some very simple yet very effective techniques that you can try at home to help alleviate the discomfort that you feel (I know you would call it pain - but reframing it as "discomfort" immediately makes it more manageable on a subconscious level).



I am a little reluctant to write pages and pages on this forum with advice/instructions on what to do, so if you are interested in me offering a little advice and a few suggestions which may help you, then please send me a private email (can you do that from here? I'm not sure?) I will be more than happy to email you back with the knowledge that I have. The one thing I can say is that, like most things in life, to gain effective results from either hypnosis or self-hypnosis is that it requires a certain degree of self-discipline, and although you may well notice an immediate benefit, it will be of greater longer-term benefit if it is something you commit yourself to on a medium-long term basis. That said, as you respond to this (or any other) form of treatment, you will discover that the immediate benefits have more longevity before you require a "top-up".



Whatever you decide, my best wishes go to you, and the offer of advice remains open.

oh mawmaw I am sorry. But I will pray that you find something that will truly help you.