I’ve been suffering with `cluster headaches’ (which seem to be a mostly male affliction, with migraines the ladies’ affliction) since last February. I smoked for years and my Dad suffered with them also. Three `lucky’ sufferers out of every thousand people, so I’m told.
Ice packs, Naproxin sodium (Ibuprofin), aspirin and acetamenophen, scalp massager give some relief ... but the only thing that really seems to knock one out is 50 mg of sumatriptan, and if taken soon enough after the onset of the attack. Zomig (zomiltriptan) works too but is more expensive.
Anyone with a bad insurance plan might try one of the Canadian pharmacies.
Some of the stuff I’ve read calls them “suicide headaches” because men suffering them have stated they would rather be dead. But not me: first of the year/at the onset I would just projectile vomit, bang my head against a wall and weep with pain ....
All right them.
I am also using a home oxygen condenser but again, it seems to aid the triptans while not giving much real stand-alone relief.
My doctors think I was using too many and cut back on my prescription. They seem timid about prescribing them, although the instructions say the risk of stroke is very slight.
The aches seem to come and go for 2-4 day periods every week, and lately have just been constant low-grade aching with occasional severe pain.
After a rough 2015 the headaches seem to finally be relenting. Maybe I’m close to being out of the woods.
Any thoughts or questions, feel free/I would appreciate hearing. I wouldn’t wish these headaches on my worst enemy.
Thanks for that, I’m glad you’ve found something that gives some relief.
:)
Until they come out with something better, I wish doctors wouldn’t be so stingy with the triptans. There are actually studies where people have taken them daily. I wouldn’t want to live if I didn’t have something that both relieves / prevents the agony AND allows me to just keep living my busy life with no time off. I could do an ad for Frovatriptan because I depend on it so much.