Real Talk!

It's been a long couple of months. We've been dealing with losing Fabe's dad, Alphie... which has profoundly affected the entire family and our community... maple syrup season was difficult... we really missed him. Perhaps it is the stress, but Fabian has been going through a series of his cluster migraines.

They started when he was 19 and he had them every day for three years. Cluster migraines are nothing like regular migraines. Studies tell us that they are 20 times more painful than childbirth. They can last from 1/2 an hour to several hours. They lead to serious agitation and fear. They have been nicknamed the "suicide headache".

Fabian has tried all of the "so-called" pre-emptive remedies... and went through all kinds of experiments, nothing helps.

This morning, Fabian did a "you tube" search and found a few interesting videos of people with similar problems. If you've never known anyone who had them, it's interesting to check them out. We found it interesting that the sufferers seem to grab the same side of their heads... they complain about their eyes and nose... Fabian says his hair and skin hurt.

Check these out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNouKvGCqIM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzpcPeoPnW0&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAf_QFmTPkw&feature=related

Clusterhead by J.D. Fletcher

It's very difficult when someone you love goes through cluster headaches. You feel absolutely useless. There is nothing that can relieve the pain. There is no sleep. The disease affects approximately 0.1% of the population, and men are more commonly affected than women.

The pain of cluster headaches is markedly greater than in other headache conditions, including severe migraines; experts have suggested that it may be the most painful condition known to medical science.

There is an organization called OUCH (organization for understanding cluster headaches)...

Some people have said it's like that cold ice cream headache that you sometimes get... only it lasts for three hours without relief!

Attacks usually are severe and unilateral and typically are located at the temple and periorbital region. Some people get stuffy nose... flushing... sick stomach.

There is currently no cure for CH and treatment is hit and miss at best. What works for one sufferer may or may not work for another. Treatments that worked last cycle may not work during the next. Treatments that have not worked in the past, may work during future cycles.

We have a motorcycle trip planned, leaving the 5th of May... Route 66... I haven't started packing... I have a feeling that there may be a delay.