Cluster Day 30

I had my first headache since Sunday today.  Of course, it started just as I was getting ready to leave at 9:00 am for a funeral honors detail in Decatur.  I took a Zomig and headed off, and it was gone in about 30 minutes.  It didn't get too bad, but I've felt the residuals most of the day.  According to my tracking, this is the 50th headache of this cluster cycle.

I found out today that Aetna wants me to go through the whole process of seeing a neurologist again in order to up the quantity of Zomig to what I need during a cluster cycle.  Apparently the neurologist consult and MRI that I had 6 years ago isn't current enough for them to approve it.

Cluster Days 25 & 26

Saturday was pretty much pain-free.  I had a mild headache most of the day, but nothing major.  I was able to remove the window air conditioners and mow the lawn without any trouble.

Sunday started at 7:15 am with a headache beginning.  I tried to just go back to sleep, but had to get up at 7:25 to take Zomig and get started on the hot washcloth routine.  By 7:30 it was one of the worst headaches I've had, but the Zomig kicked in and it was completely gone by 8:00.  I was drained, so I went back to bed until 11:00.  The rest of the day I had a mild headache, but no more clusters.

This is pretty typical of the end of my cluster headache cycle.  I'll have a few more every couple of days, and some will be pretty bad, but then they'll be gone until the next cycle starts either in the late spring/early summer or late summer/early fall.  Maybe I'll get another 3 year reprieve.  I'll take whatever I can get.

One blessing is our 95 year old next door neighbor, Elvira, who is currently at Christian Village nursing home, gave Aliscia a check to pay for my medicine.  Aliscia visits her several days a week, and went to Springfield to see her when she was admitted for pneumonia the week before last.  Thank you, Elvira!

Cluster Days 23 & 24

Well, Thursday was okay until about 10:00 pm, when I started getting another headache while going to bed.  This one didn't really progress, though, so I was able to get to sleep at a reasonable hour.  I woke up at 1:40 am with a moderate headache, and used the hot washcloth for about 30 minutes until it subsided enough for me to get back to sleep.  I woke up again at 5:20 am with a bad headache that lasted almost an hour with the hot washcloths.

Aliscia went to pick up my Zomig from Wal Mart after noon, and they informed her that it was not quite ready and that the insurance said I wasn't eligible to refill it until the 19th, but could pay $180 to get it now.  I called the doctor's office, then Aetna, to try to get it straightened out.  Aetna told me that although the medication was pre-authorized, the quantity was rejected.  They will only allow me 6 pills every 19 days.  I go through 6 pills in 3 days easily.  I will probably be done with the cycle by then!  They said the doctor's office would have to resubmit.  I called the nurse again, and she apologized.  She had been so happy that the pre-auth was approved the second time, she neglected to notice that the quantity was not.

I told Aliscia to go ahead and get the script filled so I'll have something for the weekend.  I'll figure out how to pay for it later.

Cluster Days 21 & 22

Tuesday, I woke up with some stuffiness and head pain, but not really a cluster.  Around lunch time, I started thought I felt a headache starting, but it never really took hold.  By 2 pm I started having problems with a rapid pulse, a mild headache, light-headedness, and some nausea.  I suppose that was a migraine.  By 4 pm I was feeling a lot better, but not 100%.  I started another headache about 9 pm, but Zomig took care of it.  I had trouble getting to sleep and was up until almost 3 am.

Wednesday was better.  I was tired, but no real headache problems until 9:15 pm.  Took my last Zomig and started the hot towel.  It didn't get real intense, and was gone by 10:00.  I had trouble getting to sleep again, but wasn't up past midnight.  I also went by the church at 6:30 pm to have the elders pray for me.

I forgot to call in my prescription refill on Wednesday, so now I won't be able to pick it up until Friday afternoon.  I hope things go well.

Cluster Day 20

I started off with a headache at 5 am this morning that lasted about 15 minutes.  I just used the hot washcloth and then went back to bed.  I woke up again at 8 am with another headache.  This one was a bit more persistent, and the washcloth took about an hour to completely get rid of it.  I've had several "normal" headaches throughout the day and have felt the threat of a cluster headache, but nothing much else.  I fell like there might be one trying to poke through now, but I hope it goes away as I go to bed.

Cluster Day 19

I actually had a good night's sleep last night after a headache quickly aborted with Zomig at 7:30 pm.  I woke up with a headache starting at 7 am, but Zomig took care of it pretty quickly.  I had another attack at 3 pm after a memorial service for a Navy Lieutenant from Matoon who passed away from colon cancer.  I'm glad it waited until after the service where CDR Theresa Gulley and I presented the flag to his family.  Another Zomig took care of it after about 15 minutes so the two-hour drive back home was uneventful.  I had another attack tonight at 10 pm after feeling miserable most of the evening.  The Zomig knocked this one down, but not out.  It's been going on for an hour, but has been pretty low-level.

If this cluster follows my normal cycle, I should be finishing them up pretty soon.  Judy Horn, a nurse from church, mentioned using magnesium citrate or magnesium lactate to combat the headaches.  I'll have to look into that.

I've got to get my final project for class done tomorrow, so hopefully I won't feel all doped up.  I'm glad to have a day off of work to take care of it.  Thanks for discovering America, Christopher Columbus!

Cluster Day 18

Last night was bad. I was awakened by a headache at midnight, but couldn't take anything for it (I already maxed out the Zomig dose for the day). I used a hot towel for some relief and was able to get back to bed by 12:45. I woke up again at 2:45 am with another one that lasted about 30 minutes, and then another one at 5 am about the same. I've had a mild throbbing in my head ever since. I suspect today is going to be a bad day.

Cluster Day 17

Didn't sleep well last night, and woke up at 5:08 am with another headache. Took a Zomig and laid back down, but it didn't get too bad and lasted about 30 minutes.

Talked to the doctor's office to follow up. He wants me to take amitriptyline before bed to try to keep the headaches away at night. I then proceeded to get another headache at 3:15 pm. Took a Zomig & pain killer and started hot towels. This one was bad for a few minutes but then subsided to a low level by 4:00. I hope I'm done for the day. A couple more hours and I'll take the last prednisone of the day and the amitriptyline and hope for a good night.

Cluster Day 16

Yesterday began with a mild headache while driving to work about 7:30 am. I took a Zomig and prednisone and the headache was gone by the time I got to Springfield. While I was sniffling from the nasal drainage that happens during the headaches, I sneezed twice and pulled a muscle in my back.

The next one started at 6:05 pm and quickly got bad. I took a Zomig and prednisone and started the hot towels. The intensity was high for two hours and dropped off a bit for the next hour. It's now just past the four hour mark and the headache is almost gone. I was able to sleep a bit despite the back and headache.

Cluster Day 15

I don't know if it's the prednisone or what, but I could not get to sleep until after 3 am last night. Started feeling precursors on the drive in to work. Took a prednisone and Zomig once there, which effectively killed it.

I actually began to feel normal today without residual headaches, although I was tired from lack of sleep. Of course, another headache started at 11:45 pm. Took another Zomig and used the washcloth. Took almost an hour to dissipate, although this one wasn't too bad.

I'm beginning to think they may be tapering off (knock on wood).

Cluster Day 14

Well, I was wrong about the sleeping part.  I wound up not getting to sleep until 2 am.  When I woke up at 6:30 am, I started feeling a headache coming, but was too tired to do anything.  It hit me hard about 7:15 and lasted over an hour.  I spent the day with a residual headache, took a 3 hour nap that was supposed to be an hour, and thought I was getting another one about 3 pm.  That was overruled by a mouse in the kitchen.  I had the dang thing by the tail and it tried to bite me.  I dropped it, startled, and it ran into the oven vent before the cats could get it.  I took the Zomig as I was leaving to pick up Rebecca from school.  The residual headache I have had all day disappeared about midnight.  Now maybe I can sleep!

Cluster Headaches Days 12 & 13

Sunday began with a cluster headache at 12:30 am that only lasted 30 minutes or so. After getting of to church for praise team warmup/rehearsal, I started another one about 8:20. I headed for the water fountain to take a Zomig, and that seemed to kill it, but I had a residual headache the rest of the day. I took a nap when I got home, and another headache started about 4 pm. Went through the usual routine, and it was gone by 5.

Monday at 12:15 am the beast returned with a vengeance. This was one of the worst ones I've had, and it stuck around until almost 1:30. I set my alarm for 6 to get ready for work, but wound up hitting the snooze a couple of times until the next bad one hit about 6:15. I called in sick and made an appointment to see my doctor. Just before leaving for the 3:15 appointment, I got a phone call that Aetna approved the medicine. I went to talk to the doc about other treatments, and he gave me some prednisone to try and kill the inflammation as well as hydrocodone. He also noticed that the script in the system for the Zomig was only 2.5 mg instead of 5, so he fixed that. When I went to pick it up at Wal Mart, they told me they wouldn't have the Zomig until tomorrow (which is what I expected).

At Rachel's basketball game, I started another one at 6:15 pm, and no medicine with me!  I sat in the lobby and started praying. As I prayed I could feel the pain subsiding, and it was gone in about 30 seconds!  Praise the Lord!  I've still got a little residual pain, but it's on the left side, while my clusters are on the right. That's really curious, but I'll take it!

At 9:15, the headache hit really hard as if to make up for the relief at the game.  This one lasted over two hours--very unusual for me.  I don't know if the prednisone & hydrocodone helped or made it worse.  It's now been almost three hours and it still hurts, although I don't think it's bad enough to keep me from sleeping.

Cluster saga continues

Friday was a better day.  I had a full night's sleep for a change, and had my first headache at 10:30 am.  I thought I had one coming on the drive home from work, but it held off until 6:00 pm.  I went to the Lincoln Community High School homecoming football game, and the headache was gone shortly after kickoff.  Had another one at 1:00 am, but it only lasted about 15 minutes.

Today, I felt one coming as I was driving to Pana for the funeral honors, but the Zomig seemed to knock it out pretty quickly.  I got another "real" one about 6:30 pm, but it became manageable shortly after the Florida-Alabama kickoff.  I'm still feeling the effects.  I think it might be a long night.

I also received the pre-authorization rejection notice from Aetna today, a week after it was submitted.  Apparently there's a generic medicine that is in the same family that I have to try first.  I guess I'll have to wait until Monday to get it ordered.

As I was driving to the funeral, a song came on the radio: "Blessings" by Laura Story.  The chorus says:

'Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
And what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

Another side effect to these headaches is that they have caused me to rely on God a lot more. While I cannot completely claim Paul's ability in Philippians 4:11-13 to be content in every situation, I do know that without Jesus Christ I would have an extremely difficult time getting through these headaches.  I definitely know why they are sometimes called "suicide headaches" and can lead to that despair in someone with no hope.

I am truly thankful for the prayers of my family and friends, and especially for the support and understanding of my wife, Aliscia, in the midst of my suffering--she suffers right along with me.

As for now, I can only dream of the day when all things will be made new and we won't have to deal with physical infirmities any longer.  Lord Jesus, come soon!