Author |
Topic: Alcoholism and CH's (Read 1377 times) |
|
HypnoticFreddy
Guest
|
From all these stats I keep reading about CH's, it says that many CH sufferrers are alcoholics. That seems odd, because during a cycle, even the sight of alcohol triggers a headache. How can a serious alcoholic imbibe during the cycles? The headaches are so severe (for me) after drinking that I can't imagine someone who drinks everyday and suffers from CHs can possibly do this. While I enjoy an occasional drink, I am looking forward to the end of the cycle to test out the booze waters to see if the CHs are over. Having a drink is a sure way too determine if you are done with the cycle.
|
|
 IP Logged |
|
|
|
ChristineL
Guest
|
I don't know about stats but I sure as hell stay away from booze of any kind when I am having CH's. I just can't imagine anyone wanting to possibly bring on the pain if it can be avoided. (shudder)
Waiting for the day when I can have a Margarita again.
Chris L
|
|
IP Logged |
|
|
|
Bob P
New Board Hall of Famer
Shut up Bob!
Gender: 
Posts: 3436
|
 |
Re: Alcoholism and CH's
« Reply #2 on: Aug 22nd, 2002, 3:56pm » |
 Quote  Modify
|
I'm an alcoholic and a clustehead.
I just didn't drink during a cluster even though I thought about it every day.
When I thought the cluster may be over, after 4-6 weeks, I would try a beer to see if I got a headache. If I did, wait a couple more days and try again. No headache, straight to the liquor store for 1/2 gallon of Vodka and some serious celebrating.
|
|
IP Logged |
Mrs. Barlow, I never, and I repeat never, ever pissed in your steam iron.
"SHUT UP HUB!"
|
|
|
Drk^Angel
Guest
|
Mmmmmmmmmm... Beer.
PFDAN................ Drk^Angel
PS... Not everyone is effected by alcohol during their cycles.
DA
|
|
IP Logged |
|
|
|
ChristineL
Guest
|
Lucky them!!!! I know it is a trigger for me.
DAMN - I never get to have any fun.
Chris L
|
|
IP Logged |
|
|
|
Slammy
CH.com Alumnus
New Board Hall of Famer
Lust Without Remorse! Love Without Regret!
 
Gender:
Posts: 1418
|
|
Re: Alcoholism and CH's
« Reply #5 on: Aug 22nd, 2002, 4:20pm » |
Quote Modify
|
Amen Bob!
Actually I drink to kill millions of brain cells hoping to knock off the ones that give me the pain! ;D
I love to drink, especially vodka.... and I am tremendously affected during a cycle. I may not drink, but I think about it. Sometimes I'll get the CH at night, get pissed off, and drink. The logic being: " Hell, I'm going to get one anyway, might as well drink!"
The problem with that logic is that the CH is harder to abort with meds when I have alcohol in my system. I have yet been able to consume enough alcohol to mask the CH. Though the worse feeling is having a CH during a hangover! UGH! 
Slammy 
|
|
IP Logged |
That's it! Everyone out of the pool!
" Everytime I try to get out, they PULL me back in! "
|
|
|
SFChris
Guest
|
Slammy-dude,
I am with you - vodka is my drink of choice if and when I drink. I am a social drinker ( a couple to three times a month), and am damn lucky that alcohol doesn't trigger me (except for beer). Sucks, huh?
|
|
IP Logged |
|
|
|
don
Guest
|
Depends on what level of alcoholism you are at.
A Binge drinker drinks alcoholically but will cease for extended periods.
An alcoholic who drinks alcoholically every day is for the most part extremely stressed out 24/7. When are attacks least likely to occur? When your stressed out.
The mental compulsion, coupled with the physical need, for an alcoholic to drink will take precedant over everything, including the potential for an attack.
I dont believe you will find a lot of active alcoholics here. Alcohol abusers or those with boderline alcohol problems maybe, but clinically diagnosed active alcoholics? Probably not many.
|
| « Last Edit: Aug 22nd, 2002, 4:50pm by don » |
IP Logged |
|
|
|
Slammy
CH.com Alumnus
New Board Hall of Famer
Lust Without Remorse! Love Without Regret!
Gender:
Posts: 1418
|
|
Re: Alcoholism and CH's
« Reply #8 on: Aug 22nd, 2002, 5:15pm » |
Quote Modify
|
The only time I abuse alcohol is when I spill a drink!
The only time I abuse my body is when I don't spill a drink! 
Slammy
|
|
IP Logged |
That's it! Everyone out of the pool!
" Everytime I try to get out, they PULL me back in! "
|
|
|
jonny
Guest
|
The only time you abuse alcohol Slammy is when you spill it and im not laying on the ground catching it in my mouth.....ROTFF ;D
..........................jonny
|
|
IP Logged |
|
|
|
Bob P
New Board Hall of Famer
Shut up Bob!
Gender:
Posts: 3436
|
|
Re: Alcoholism and CH's
« Reply #10 on: Aug 22nd, 2002, 6:05pm » |
Quote Modify
|
To clarify my above post:
I'm a "Dry Drunk". At least that's what the programers like to call me. All I know is that I'm sober going on 12 years now.
In my drinking days I averaged a 5th of Vodka a day, every day, except weekends when you could double that.
I have tried, as Slammy mentioned, trying to drink my way through a cluster attack. I figured that if I drank enough, fast enough, I would be too numb to feel the headache when it hit. Don't try this at home. Not only does it not work, it's something only a feakin' alky would ever be dumb enough to think it would work.
Any amount of any kind of alcohol would trigger a full blown 10 for me within 15 minutes, when is was in a cluster. So like I said, I just didn't drink during a cluster and went right back to my alky ways when it was over.
|
|
IP Logged |
Mrs. Barlow, I never, and I repeat never, ever pissed in your steam iron.
"SHUT UP HUB!"
|
|
|
NancyMcFree
Guest
|
So are you saying you have been chronic for 12 years and therefore have not had a drink ???? If this is too personal just let it slide. I'm just confused with the "when I go out of a cluster I start drinking again".
|
|
IP Logged |
|
|
|
don
Guest
|
So what criteria do the programmers use to determine that might I ask.
|
|
IP Logged |
|
|
|
NancyMcFree
Guest
|
I am a programmer and I just asked !!!!
|
|
IP Logged |
|
|
|
don
Guest
|
I am living the program and still advocate for it, but not for everybody.
In program lingo, recovery should make you "happy, joyous and free"
If you meet this criteria and alcohol no longer creates issues in your life, then IMHO, you are a recovered alcoholic
|
| « Last Edit: Aug 22nd, 2002, 6:28pm by don » |
IP Logged |
|
|
|
jonny
Guest
|
the programmers go by skid marks, a dry day is a good day ;D
......................jonny
|
|
IP Logged |
|
|
|
Slammy
CH.com Alumnus
New Board Hall of Famer
Lust Without Remorse! Love Without Regret!
Gender:
Posts: 1418
|
|
Re: Alcoholism and CH's
« Reply #16 on: Aug 22nd, 2002, 6:48pm » |
Quote Modify
|
on Aug 22nd, 2002, 6:24pm, don wrote:I am living the program and still advocate for it, but not for everybody.
In program lingo, recovery should make you "happy, joyous and free"
|
|
Abstainence makes me an irritable moody Slammy!
I am "happy, joyous, and free" only when I am Slammin or Drinkin'
Slammy
|
|
IP Logged |
That's it! Everyone out of the pool!
" Everytime I try to get out, they PULL me back in! "
|
|
|
don
Guest
|
Nancy,
My criteria for a dry drunk question wasn't directed at you. Your post slid in on top of mine so it appeared that way.
The question was for Bob. I'm curious what criteria someone is using to judge him.
|
|
IP Logged |
|
|
|
Bob P
New Board Hall of Famer
Shut up Bob!
Gender:
Posts: 3436
|
|
Re: Alcoholism and CH's
« Reply #18 on: Aug 22nd, 2002, 8:26pm » |
Quote Modify
|
When I mention that I've been sober for 12 years, a lot of "steppers" ask me about the program. when I tell them I've never been to a meeting they respond, "Oh, you're a dry drunk".
Their definition is someone who has stopped drinking but isn't working the program. I guess the real definition of a dry drunk is one who has stopped drinking but continues in the same lifestyle and actions they had while they were drinking, except of course the drinking.
To me it doesn't matter. Drinking was killing me and I couldn't stop. On my 40th birthday, after playing a round of golf with friends, I sat on a bar stool at the 19th hole with a beer in front of me. I asked the Lord to help me remove this from my life. He reached down, grabbed me by the scruff of the neck and jerked me out of that bar stool so fast and hard that I left every desire to drink sitting right there. I can honestly say tht I have not desired a drink since that moment, hench I've felt no need for the program.
Don't get me wrong. The program is a good thing. It's saved my dad and brother-in-law.
To answer Nancy, no, I'm episodic, for 32 years now. It's just that back in my drinking days, when I would enter a cluster period, the fear of the pain outweighed my desire to drink so I would abstain for those 5 or 6 weeks. Once the cluster period ended I would go back to drinking. I didn't quit drinking 12 years ago becasue of clusters. I quit because I couldn't control it, it controlled me and it was killing me. I had a physical and my doctor wound up checking me for hepititus because my liver enzymes were like 5 times normal. If I hadn't stopped, I wouldn't be here now.
There but by the grace of God, ......
|
| « Last Edit: Aug 22nd, 2002, 9:21pm by Bob P » |
IP Logged |
Mrs. Barlow, I never, and I repeat never, ever pissed in your steam iron.
"SHUT UP HUB!"
|
|
|
Bob P
New Board Hall of Famer
Shut up Bob!
Gender:
Posts: 3436
|
|
Re: Alcoholism and CH's
« Reply #19 on: Aug 22nd, 2002, 8:36pm » |
Quote Modify
|
When this subject comes up, here's a thought that always crosses my mind.
In web surfing one day, I came accross and article on treating alcoholism with a serotonin drug.
Obsessive compulsive disorder is also treated with 5HT drugs.
CH involves 5HT levels also.
5HT, 5HT, 5HT. The common denominator.
No matter what clusterheads tell you, they drink and smoke more than the rest of the population. I've been to 2 OUCH conventions and seen it in person.
What if! What if the same screwed up brain thing that gives us CH also plays a part in our desire to drink and smoke? What if?
|
|
IP Logged |
Mrs. Barlow, I never, and I repeat never, ever pissed in your steam iron.
"SHUT UP HUB!"
|
|
|
maria
Guest
|
Hey BobP,
The same thing that caused the CH's also caused the problems with alcohol and nicotine addiction, Pinksharkmark said it first. And it all has something to do with our 5HT receptors, which are probably the root of this disorder. Will you figure it out so we can find a cure for this frigging thing? Maria
|
|
IP Logged |
|
|
|
sailpappy
New Board Old Timer
 
Gender:
Posts: 349
|
|
Re: Alcoholism and CH's
« Reply #21 on: Aug 22nd, 2002, 9:14pm » |
Quote Modify
|
;D ;D BobP,
First and foremostHugh Kudo's My Friend, 12 years is a lifetime looking ahead!
I applaud you honesty for even mentioning it here in a public fourm for all to relish, as I do I, hope! I have never drank alcohol but Heroin was my first "Drug of Choice", it started out as a treatment for the clusters and then took over my entire being!
I have been blessed in my life time to have the foresight to face demons headon and create the false crisis before an actual one occured, this is the advice I give to those whom ask for my help, not only for alcohol,drugs and smoking Ciggs. Also issues of the heart can be confronted and worked out in this manner!
I suffered a daily Bloody Beating everyday of my life at the hands of my alcoholic Father, My mother became an alcoholic to deal with the trap she felt she was in, I swore that alcohol would never touch my lips as I never wanted to treat the people that I was supposed to Love the most in the same manner that I had been treated.
Early on when I first joined the ARMY I tried a little bit of near beer and even then I could not bear the taste of the swill.
For you to stand Tall and Proud of your commitment and your Magnificant Achievment makes me even prouder to have you on the side of Friendship and I hope some day to shake your hand. My Best friend Old Bob that died in the car accident last year had made 14 years, It was without doubt the Crowning Glory on his list of Achievements as I feel this should be for you, My Friend
I stayed off of heroin for the past 33 years and the closest that I have ever come it now taking the Oxy Contin for the pain of my Severe Chronic Syndrome and I fight every day to keep it under controll and in check, Of course I have to be totally honest with my doctor so there is no cheating on this, he is a brilliant Man and can see right into your soul, just as I.
So to cut to the chase as the saying goes, when I met everyone in Englewood I was absolutely dumbfounded by the consumption of the amount of alcoholic drink by all with the exception of Me, Terri(My wife) and Ms. Donna I never saw with a drink, I can only compare my issues with alcohol with my own experiences and I know If I ever started drinking I would be an alcoholic within 2 weeks. Same with smoking, If I ever started back again it would be 1 week and I would be back to 1 to 2 packs a day, and miserable! I am happy for those of you that can drink when you want to but for me it is absolutely out of the question, never an option!
BobP, your a hero of mine from the begining but after reading this post you have just climbed up 5 knotches closer to the top! A brave man faces his demons head on and fights the good fight, a fool pretends that it is justifiable at any cost! Love Ya Bro! Pappy ;D ;D
|
| « Last Edit: Aug 22nd, 2002, 9:19pm by sailpappy » |
IP Logged |
|
|
|
Bob P
New Board Hall of Famer
Shut up Bob!
Gender:
Posts: 3436
|
|
Re: Alcoholism and CH's
« Reply #22 on: Aug 22nd, 2002, 9:16pm » |
Quote Modify
|
Naw. I ain't gonna let Pinky take my credit. I said it first at the first OUCH convnetion in Las Vegas 2 years ago and I've mentioned it a lot of times since.
BUT, I will let Pinky figure it out for us. He has a lot more training in it than I.
|
|
IP Logged |
Mrs. Barlow, I never, and I repeat never, ever pissed in your steam iron.
"SHUT UP HUB!"
|
|
|
Bob P
New Board Hall of Famer
Shut up Bob!
Gender:
Posts: 3436
|
|
Re: Alcoholism and CH's
« Reply #23 on: Aug 22nd, 2002, 9:23pm » |
Quote Modify
|
Pappy,
One day soon, you and I are going to sit down and trade war stories, both foreign and domestic.
I'm sure it's a day we'll both remember.
Looking forward to that day my friend.
|
|
IP Logged |
Mrs. Barlow, I never, and I repeat never, ever pissed in your steam iron.
"SHUT UP HUB!"
|
|
|
NancyMcFree
Guest
|
Ah drummer ... I think you are on to something and Maria knows it (from previous posts). Throw in the fact that some of us (??at least me) were treated for another disorder .... with meds that screw around with the seotonin level ..... and I will kiss your butt in person !!!!!!!
|
|
IP Logged |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Home
Help
Search
Members
Member Map
Login
Register
Reply
Notify of replies
Send Topic
Print
Remove
test rss