Monday 22 June 2009

Update on Namrita


I heard from Namrita in the afternoon.After the MRI and examination the neurologist diagnosed her as having hemicrania headaches. It is a rare but treatable disorder . Praise God it is not something worse than that.


I found some information about hemicrania on the web.



Hemicrania continua is considered a primary headache disorder, meaning that it's not caused by another condition. Fortunately, it is a rare but treatable disorder. According to the International Headache Society's (IHS) International Classification of Headache Disorders, 2nd Edition, hemicrania continua is a "persistent strictly unilateral headache responsive to indometh The IHS diagnostic criteria for hemicrania continua is: Headache for more than 3 months fulfilling criteria B–D All of the following characteristics: unilateral pain without side-shift daily and continuous, without pain-free periods moderate intensity, but with exacerbations of severe pain At least one of the following autonomic features occurs during exacerbations and ipsilateral to the side of pain: conjunctival injection and/or lacrimation nasal congestion and/or rhinorrhoea ptosis and/or miosis Complete response to therapeutic doses of indomethacin Not attributed to another disorder Hemicrania continua usually presents a mild to moderate daily headache. However, along with the daily, one-sided headache, it also causes exacerbations of more severe headache, which occurs on the same side as the daily headache and is characteristic of migraine pain. These more severe episodes can last from 45 minutes to days. During these exacerbations, symptoms of other disorders may be present: Migraine symptoms: throbbing pain nausea and/or vomiting phonophobia ( not able to stand noise) photophobia Cluster headache symptoms: conjunctival injection and/or lacrimation nasal congestion and/or rhinorrhoea ptosis and/or miosis The factor that allows hemicrania continua and its exacerbations to be differentiated from migraine attacks and cluster headaches is that hemicrania continua is completely responsive to indomethacin. Triptans and other abortive medications do not affect hemicrania continua. The cause of hemicrania continua is unknown. As with migraine disease and many other headache disorders, there is no definitive diagnostic test for hemicrania continua. Tests such as an MRI may be performed to rule out other causes for the headache. When a patient has the symptoms of hemicrania continua, it's considered "diagnostic" if they respond completely to indomethacin.
L-R Namrita, Anjali, Mama and Mahima (1996 summer)

Please continue to pray for Namrita. In His sovereignty God can heal her completely. We all have our "thorn in the flesh" something which God uses to keep us close to Himself.
If anyone reading this has more information about this disorder and its pain management please pass on your valuable information to me.

8 Fertilize my soul:

Gerry said...

I am sorry that your sister has to deal with these headaches, but maybe now she has been diagnosed she can get better medical relief. I remember my mother's blinding painful migraines. She would have to go to bed and keep the room dark. But at the time she was an unhappy woman and the migraines all but disappeared when she got older and was able to remove more stress from her life. Gerry

Felisol said...

Dear Amrita,
It's a good thing that your sister has been diagnosed.
Hopefully she responds well on medication treatment.
My brother has lived with migraine since he was 5 years old. We have prayed and prayed, but nothing but medicine and rest seems to be helping.
I hope for your sister that she can be totally healed.
Praying.
From Felisol

Donetta said...

hello Sweet Heart
My husband has had this for 30 years.
He has been given the grace to endure and the gift of great compassion for others.
I hope that for her.

madison said...

I'm glad they know what kind of headaches your sister is having and that they are not mirgaines. I don't wish that on anyone. I hope she gets relief from the meds for it.

Kathryn said...

What i read here includes migraines, which i have sometimes. Not easy to manage. There are natural remedies that have helped me a lot with them. If she's interested, email me.

Hope that she is able to get relief from these. It is not easy to function with this. It does help to have a Dx & know what is going on. Will continue to pray for her. :)

Sita said...

As Namrita's heart is towards God, I know He has all under His control...May you all be covered under the grace He has reserved for this..may Namrita discover a new 'leaning' on His sovereignty...and may God show His glory in her healing..
Love, Sita

Julie said...

Headaches are so miserable. I hope she finds a treatment works for her.

Annie K said...

I think it is great news that Namrita has a diagnosis AND it's treatable! Will continue to pray for her healing.