Buster- my rescue dog.

About a month a stray dog wounded up on my lawn. My guess was a Shi Poo mix. Maybe miniature poodle. Poor little guy was skin and bones,starving,hair was matted. No collar, hair was about 6 months long of no haircut. He is friendly, and very hungry. We fed him with our dog food. I was unable to drive due to surgery but a friend of mine was over with her husband and they took him to animal control. He had been on my mind all that week thinking how could anyone not post pics, around neighbourhood, kijiji,London Free Press and leave this little guy out. I called Animal Control , they gave him shots, said he as neutered and about 9 years old.
Said chances of adoption were slim because he is a filthy stray and older.
I couldn't bear him being Euthanized.

Cluster Headache Videos

Hello and Good day fellow Cluster Heads, friends and families.

I wanted to post some videos on Cluster Headaches for reference for fellow survivors and people wanting to gain some information on the disease and also what us survivors endure daily if your chronic like me or episodic.

Here is is my YouTube channel "ClusterHeadSurvivor"-Please follow my channel. Add me as a friend and or message me

http://www.youtube.com/user/ClusterHeadSurvivor/videos?view=0&flow=grid

Now here is a collection of videos from YouTube.

Drive Sober

You have al heard the slogans "Arrive, Alive, Drive sober" and there is many more but why do people continually drink and drive? It will never cease to amaze me the shear stupidity in people drinking and driving.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas

To my family, friends,fellow cluster heads and anyone else reading this.
This time in the past for me traditionally has been horrible for me but each year I try to be positive, and not repeat history. This is my first Christmas with our rescue dog Buster.
Its an important time of year for us to celebrate the birth of Jesus while enjoying festivities of family time, exchanging gifts, as for me its better to give than receive. I have always been that way.
I love the food, festivities, lights, tree, Elvis music and church.
There is something so humbling and serene sitting in church singing Silent Night. I feel so at peace.

My decision and journey with brain surgery-DBS and ONS

As mentioned before I started these attacks July 25,2005. They have been relentless everyday non stop since then. Yes I am 100% Chronic. Even more rare because of migraines and tension headaches. All uniquely different. Pain is no comparison. Anyone with CH will attest to that and concur.

Bitterness and Resentment

Bitterness and Resentment.

These are 2 character defects I have and try to work on daily.
Holding onto this can cause an unhealthy life if you take it to the extreme. My wife reminds me and encourages me to"let go" or "move forward"
Whether your bitterness and resentment is because of....

Faith

Faith for me has been a blessing. No pun intended. I became a Christian about 7 years ago. I should remember the date when I became born again but I don't. I do not go to church every Sunday because of my health etc but thay has not steered me away from my relationship with God.
Faith for me has definitely helped in many ways

Adjusting Pacemaker/ Neurostimulator.

Today I see my neurosurgeon to adjust my nuerostimulator. In time I hope things will be better for me and I hope after today's adjustment that iam not so dizzy and nautious. I must try to remain positive and pray.

Helping Others

While having Cluster Headaches can be trying,debilitating and exhausting we should never stop the humanity in any of us despite our ailments to help others.

Smoking and Weight

Aug 22,2011 my wife and I quit smoking. I had smoked 2 packs a day for last 10years and had smoked since age 16.

Cars to Stars

Its quite a journey we been on so far.
I have been fortunate enough to have met many famous automotive icons.
George Barris-(famous for Batmobile), Chip Foose, Tim Allen , Jay Leno and many more.
I also met some famous movie stars who played parts in car movies like American Graffiti
I have also had the pleasure on working in the Steve Plunkett collection.
Worlds largest and rarest Cadillac Collection on the planet. He is a mentor and a friend. I can not say enough nice things about him. I also was able to see one of my hero's Michael J Fox speak in person.

Elvis Presley

At age 4, I remember my first Elvis record. I still have it to this very day.
I remember at age 5, Aug 16,1977. I remember seeing it on TV and going outside to my folks sitting on the patio and telling them that hot summer day. They were in disbelief.

Surgeries 1 through 4

It took a long time to get where I am today. I waited long for appointments and finally got in touch with a great neurologist whom got me in touch with my neurosurgeon.
Aug 23,2011. The day I quit smoking after 25 years. Was also my 1st brain surgery called " Occipital Nerve Stimulation". I was knocked out for this one. The surgeon implanted two electrodes in the back of my head to an external pacemaker. If it worked they would install the pacemaker in my chest. It did not.

Feb 23,2012. Deep Brain Stimulation. I was awake. Surgeon drilled about a 3/4 inch hole on front part of my skull, implanted an electrode in my hypothalamus. Cut an incision in the rear of my head and fed the wires through my head and now into my chest where they implanted a pacemaker inside me. 2 weeks later  turned it on.

April 1,2011. The pacemaker and lead wires were removed due to an infection in my chest. I woke up on Sunday morning to find puss dripping from my scar on my chest. Went to hospital, kept me over night and then told me I had to have surgery next day to have it removed and re installed about a month later. I was asleep for surgery #3. Months went by and the secretary forgot to contact me so when I finally saw my neurosurgeon and asked for next surgery I asked it be held off until September and mentally and physically was worn out from 3 surgeries. I wanted to enjoy my summer with my family as anyone knows it not just the person whom is sick, its the whole family. My next surgery was booked for Sept 6

November 13,2012 I had my 4th Surgery. I did not have it Sept 6 as planned because I went into the hospital with a slight cold and cough. I never get sick. I had not had a cold or flu in 4 years as I am a strong supporter of Cold FX. I stopped using it because of cost and couldn't afford it. And voila I got sick. They sent me home from the hospital and thank god they did because that night I got violently ill for 6 weeks. I could not believe how sick I was and how long it lasted. They rescheduled when I felt better for November 13,2012. Day after my sons birthday. The week prior I had an abscess tooth and had a root canal. Dentist said it was bad. Should be...was almost a $1000.

So I had surgery. Re installed pacemaker, and lead wires. I am home recovering now. After a week the neurosurgeon turned it on and at present I have 0.6 volts firing to my brain. My headaches are still coming strong with no relief . I see my neurosurgeon every month for re programming. DBS is ONLY a 50% chance at pain reduction it is not a cure. I am the 2nd person in Canada to have this. First in Ontario, and the 17 th person on the planet to have DBS for Cluster Headaches.

I am still very nauseous and dizzy. Sometimes the dizziness is bad. Bending,kneeling over is hard. I have a lot of pain in my chest and arm where the pacemaker is. I am not complaining. It is what it is.

We shall see what the future holds. Godspeed.

My Family

My son was born

Passions and Hobbies

We are must have hobbies and passions in life aside from our loved ones and pets.

For me, mine is cars.

Introduction to a Cluster Headache Survivor

I have a rare neurological disease called "Cluster Headaches" or more commonly known as "Suicide Headaches" for obvious reasons. I am starting this blog to connect, help and provide assistance to others in need to help educate others who know, be related to or possibly work with someone with this condition.

Cluster Headaches affect less than 0.01% of the worlds population. There is Chronic like me and Episodic.I have been chronic for over 7+ years.

The disease is life altering, and been clinically noted as 'The Worlds Most Pain full Disease On the Planet Known to Medical Science" quoted by Dr.Peter Goadsby.

The attacks range from 30 min to 3 hours long every attack. The intensity is different for each attack. I get anywhere from 1 to 15 per day everyday.

I have had 4 brain surgeries thus far.

Sufferer VS Survivor

Cluster Headache

Good day, you will notice throughout my blogs I will rarely and try not to put "Sufferer" as terminology as I feel we are "Survivors".  Its a testament to the fact we are still here surviving this horrible dreaded disease. Although it is unfair we have this. We must survive each day and persevere and continue to survive each day. Whether you are chronic like me or episodic.
We are survivors

Blessings.

ClusterHeadSurvivor video page from my YouTube

I have my own You Tube page and some of you may have seen my videos.

Here is from my first video to most recent on my page "ClusterHeadSurvivor"
The videos were posted as I made them. I apologise for some quality and watermarks etc
I am not computer savvy. I am even surprised I got this far on my blog, LOL
So bare with me throughout the blog of a Cluster Head Survivor

***Please do NOT Pitty me throughout these videos, made for educational knowledge,support of others with this disease and to hep others to know of someone surviving****