Episodic turning into Chronic?
Episodic turning into Chronic?
My husband (who is 34) has suffered from headaches and migraines since he was a baby and whenever he was a teen his clusters were misdiagnosed as just bad migraines, it wasn't until his early 20s when he was diagnosed and he was given the sumatriptan injection which are they only things that stop them, (oxygen does nothing). He only ever got them once a year for a month, maybe 2 months which consisted of a few headaches throughout the day and night. This year he was given verapamil which halted them but as he finished the medication, the headaches came back again and we're coming up to the 5 month mark. He was given topiramate by the neurologist last week but after doing some research he's refusing to take them due to the side effects. Does anyone else have experience with topiramate? Also if it's possible for episodic to become chronic? Any advice would be amazing, thank you
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Hi Mel.
Episodal CH can progress to chronic, but your husband might just be having a bad ECH bout: I've been an episodal sufferer for just over 40 years, never been chronic, but my worst bout lasted 9 months: A lot longer than usual.
I've personally never used topiramate, and would need a lot of convincing should it be offered, for the same reasons, but the side effects aren't as bad as a long, heavy bout.
Hi,
I was an episodic sufferer for about 15 years however 2 years ago this changed to chronic. For me it was distinguishable from an extended episode as it has a very different pattern with multiple shadows every day and going days without these progressing into actual attacks then getting a group of attacks lasting for up to a few days before returning to 'just' shadows.
During bouts (I still get these as well) I almost never get a shadow that does not then progress into an attack and these occur every day for up to 3 months. I also used to never get shadows, or any symptoms, between bouts but now never get a day without at least shadows.
According to my neurologist it is not common for episodic to become chronic, but it can happen.
I also refused Topiramate and Gabapentin due to side effects however oxygen does work for me. Not sure if a GON block injection is an option for your husband but if he has not had one then that would be worth discussing with his doctor.
Hopefully your husband's haven't become chronic, but they can - mine have.
If the verapamil helped, and was safe to take, then it might be worth asking to go back on that.
I hope his attacks stop soon.