Posted by Loretta on October 13, 1998 at 15:24:40:
My husband has headaches since elementary school and when he starts the series (as I call them) during the fall and spring - I just panick! He's tried so many medications. Many times I'm the one that calls the neurologist because he's so sick that he can't talk on the phone. I've been in the neurologist's office speaking with the doctor and my husband will be in the bathroom vomiting profusely.
Just the number of pain killers alone is horrifying - he's even had shots given to him in the base of his skull. He's used everything from rubbing Ben Gay on his forehead to going outside when it's freezing in the middle of the night and standing for long periods of time just to ease the pain. Imitrex has helped him the most - but then it wears off or he gets rebound headaches. He's on prednisone now and will eventually end up on Lithium again I'm sure.
Some patients don't vomit - from what the doctors say - well I guess my husband must be out of the norm - sometimes vomiting can ease the pain.
He can be asleep and all of a sudden make a bee line to the bathroom and throw up until he's completely exhausted. I've seen him walk through the hallwall (holding onto the wall for dear life) with his head cocked to one side and walking like a 100-year man. I've seen him cry, pull out his hair, and beg me to take him to the emergency room.
On one occasion, I was driving the hospital - in the middle of the night - with 2 daughters in the back seat and he's practically pushing the dash of the car through the windshield because I'm not driving fast enough - and he's crying all the way. I know that he will do ANYTHING - ANYTHING to get rid of this pain. I can't believe that most doctors don't realize this - maybe they'd like to spend a couple of nights at my house and see what he goes through !!!
When he's having the series of headaches he won't sleep because he knows that he will wake with another one - what a terrible, scary feeling!
Thank God I don't suffer from these headaches - but I feel so helpless when it comes to comforting him. After a while it starts taking it's toll on me and our children. I dred for the night to come - since that's when most of his headaches reocurr and we start all over again!