Perediablo
38 years old
Diagnosis: I was diagnosed with Episodic Cluster Headache in 2007. Became Chronic in 2008, when that 07 cycle never ended. It's been going since.
Clusters started: Got what I now know as my first cluster at age 8. Then I was told it was an allergy to the anhydrous ammonia on the corn crops. pffft
I am a father of 3 children, 2 sons ages 11, and 3, and a 5 month old daughter. I am married to one awesome supporter! I am a Navy veteran. I've had so many different jobs over the years, that I couldn't even name them all. I am currently a full-time student at Texas Tech University. I am a graphic design major and plan to graduate in May of 2013.
A Little About Me
I was born in the early 1970's in a very small mid-western town. I have always been an artist of sorts. From piano at age 5 to drawing cool cars at age 8, I've been interested in producing things from my imagination since early childhood.
Cluster Headaches have been around for nearly that long as well. I got my first attack at the tender young age of 8. Then for 3 years I had Episodic spring time hits only until that one day when they didn't come back. Fast forward to the age of 20. I had forgotten all about the headaches for the most part, and wasn't prepared when the kip 10 smashed me in the face. I was screaming and thrashing around and losing my mind. Then no more. The next step in the cycle happened at the age of 26. I began to get daily and nightly hits at the same time everyday during the spring and autumn. That's when I began to lose my mind for good. I am now 39 years old and am a Chronic Cluster sufferer. I have been chronic for the last 4 years. It is controlled for the most part by medication, but not so effectively anymore. This chronic daily, and mega-intense pain is what I am all about. I use it as a break from reality to remind me how good I have it when I am not in pain.
Timeline
Date | Event |
---|---|
Mar 2007 | official diagnosis |
Apr 2007 | Topomax trial |
May 2007 | got oxygen script |
Jul 2007 | suicidal/topomax fail |
Aug 2007 | Depakote trial |
Sep 2007 | emotional wreck Depakote fail |
Nov 2007 | Verapamil trial (it worked) |
Mar 2008 | Added Lithium |
Mar 2008 | next day lithium toxicity |
Mar2008 - now | still just verapamil |