Author |
Topic: Smoking History and Cluster Headache (Read 583 times) |
|
kcoaster
New Board Newbie
Gender: 
Posts: 4
|
 |
Smoking History and Cluster Headache
« on: May 27th, 2003, 2:49pm » |
 Quote  Modify
|
This is my first post.
After looking at the CH survey which shows that 50% of CH's smoke, I think it important to pass on my experience:
I started getting clusters at 20 years old, I was a smoker and when I quit, at age 36, I was smoking 2+ packs a day. After years of trying to get relieve and after visiting the Diamond Headache Clinic in Chicago, I found that Oxygen almost always relieved the headache. I guessed, because Oxygen stopped the pain, that smoking could possibly cause the lack of Oxygen. One of the hardest things I ever did was to quit smoking but I did. Six months after quitting, my clusters ceased. I was 36. I thought I was "cured"
I had no headaches for 21 years and never thought about clusters when I started smoking a cigar some evenings. Two months after smoking 3-4 cigars a week the clusters returned. My first attack was about 2 hours and a day later, before I was able to get a script for Oxygen, I had a 6-hour bout, relieved for 20 minutes followed by another for an hour.
I my case it took no genius to conclude that I should never smoke again. I quit and within in a few days the clusters ceased again. It's now been one year without a headache.
Of course I don't know for sure if there was a, "smoking connection" or if the headaches will come back. I will keep this board informed of what happens.
I'm not a doctor and my experience my not benefit anyone but I know the pain and if this post can help just one person, I glad I took the time to submit it.
|
| « Last Edit: May 27th, 2003, 2:52pm by kcoaster » |
 IP Logged |
|
|
|
MarkHW
New Board Old Timer
Gender:
Posts: 348
|
|
Re: Smoking History and Cluster Headache
« Reply #1 on: May 27th, 2003, 3:24pm » |
Quote Modify
|
Maybe smoking was triggering yours in some way.
I've never smoked and mine come whether I'm around smokers or not.
But... if someone is smoking, sure can't hurt to try quitting.
Mark
|
|
IP Logged |
The clusterhead formerly known as williamsmh.
|
|
|
oringkid
Guest
|
|
Re: Smoking History and Cluster Headache
« Reply #2 on: May 27th, 2003, 4:17pm » |
Quote Modify
 Remove
|
Hi, I started getting mine at the age of 12... long before I started smoking.
Since there are others like me and some like Mark that never smoked, I have to conclude that smoking doesn't cause CH.
But, quitting certainly can't hurt!
By the way, Welcome to the board! Check out all the buttons to the left! Lots of great info and people here.
Sherry
|
|
IP Logged |
|
|
|
Charlie
CH.com Alumnus
New Board Hall of Famer
Happy to be here
   
Gender:
Posts: 14968
|
|
Re: Smoking History and Cluster Headache
« Reply #3 on: May 30th, 2003, 6:25am » |
Quote Modify
|
I was smoking 1-1/2 packs a day when my CH began. They have been gone for 12 years now. The thing is, I quit smoking 23 years ago. Glad I did too but in my case it doesn't seem to have made a difference as it hung on for 11 years. Starting, especially quitting, has a significant effect on our systems. My thinking is that sudden jolts like this, including childbirth for example, give our flawed systems something more serious to worry about, and CH is sometimes thankfully, put on a back burner. It would be nice if the gas would be shut off for good as well. Sometimes it is.
This is not a reason to smoke. It's a horrible thing to do to yourself, is horribly expensive (several thousands of dollars a year on average) makes you unwelcome at more and more places and most of all it stinks big time.
Not a good idea and there has to be something to the fact that board members smoke at twice the national average. I just don't know what it is.
Charlie
|
|
IP Logged |
There is nothing more satisfying than being shot at without result---Winston Churchill
|
|
|
kcoaster
New Board Newbie
Gender:
Posts: 4
|
|
Re: Smoking History and Cluster Headache
« Reply #4 on: May 30th, 2003, 7:16pm » |
Quote Modify
|
Thanks Mark, Sherie and Charlie for your comments, and Charlie---Sudden jolts?? That was certainly true when I started getting them at age 20. In college, I wanted to transfer to a better college to major in Physics, so I took calculus during my lunch break three days a week which meant, "snack on the run" and on days with a lab I was in school from 8AM to 7PM with no break. I got a "sinus infection" and the CHs started. Never thought about that until your comments.
Quite the opposite was true when they started again, now retired, "reaping in the soils" of working and saving for 30 years, I have it made, golf, tennis and travel when I want. A wonderful wife and three great children---not a care in the world.
Obviously none of us know what causes these terrible headaches YET.
PS. Why does this board substitute "”:" everytime I use an "
|
| « Last Edit: May 30th, 2003, 7:21pm by kcoaster » |
IP Logged |
|
|
|
cleon
Guest
|
|
Re: Smoking History and Cluster Headache
« Reply #5 on: May 31st, 2003, 6:49am » |
Quote Modify
Remove
|
Perhps the smoking thing isnt the problem, but perhaps the smoking thing, or 'what ever' causes a fucking little virus that sits 'in there; to come 'out', who the fuck knows???
|
|
IP Logged |
|
|
|
badfly
New Board Veteran
No matter where you are, thats where you're at!
Gender:
Posts: 141
|
|
Re: Smoking History and Cluster Headache
« Reply #6 on: Jun 9th, 2003, 7:14am » |
Quote Modify
|
Just curious about the 50% of CH'ers smoke statistic. When was that published? When were the records taken from? I seem to recall that when I was in my early 20's (about 10 years ago) 50% of white males smoked (round where I lived, Cape Town SA). I also read that 95% of clusterheads ate meat, 90% have sex on a regular basis and 80% watch more then 2 hours of television a day.
I dont think that people should smoke, dont get me wrong. I am a smoker and have been trying to quit for 2 years now. Smoking is VERY unhealthy and you dont need to be a rocket scientist to work that out. "What inhale smoke on purpose?"
But lame assed moronic percentages glibly thrown out by the medical profesion to quantify and qualify somthing they admit they dont understand really pisses me off.
|
|
IP Logged |
for (int i=0;i<infinity;i++)
{Shout("Get this BEAST off my back !!!");}
|
|
|
Nathan
New Board Veteran
mufon member looking for serious ufo/alien stories
Gender:
Posts: 111
|
|
Re: Smoking History and Cluster Headache
« Reply #7 on: Jun 9th, 2003, 10:45pm » |
Quote Modify
|
smoking never seems to bother my chs, been smoking a pack a day for 15 years. now DRINKING on the other hand... i would love to know just how many chs sufferers have or had drinking problems in their life. i was a major drunk for 10 years and about 1 year after i quit my chs kicked in. of course i was in the right age bracket for chs too so i guess its a "chicken or the egg" sort of thing. but i would like the stats on drinking and chs if anybody knows off hand.
|
|
IP Logged |
field investigator for mufon(mutiual ufo network) looking for serious people only to share their stories with me. total anominity promised. chs and alien abduction may be related.
|
|
|
Linda_Howell
CH.com Alumnus
New Board Hall of Famer
Hearing is one thing. Listening is another.
Gender: 
Posts: 6721
|
|
Re: Smoking History and Cluster Headache
« Reply #8 on: Jun 10th, 2003, 3:32pm » |
Quote Modify
|
Nathan,
As you can see from this thread smoking does NOT appear to be a factor or a trigger, no matter how bad it is for the rest of our body. HOWEVER........drinking is a definite No-No if you're in a cycle. It is a proven trigger, except in several of us chronics. I can have a glass of wine and get my usual 3 to 6 HA's per day. Or I can have no alcohol whatsoever and have my several HA's per day. no differance. LindaH
|
|
IP Logged |
Kindness, is gladdening the hearts of those who are traveling the dark journey with us.
|
|
|
Bob P
New Board Hall of Famer
Shut up Bob!
Gender:
Posts: 3436
|
|
Re: Smoking History and Cluster Headache
« Reply #9 on: Jun 10th, 2003, 4:09pm » |
Quote Modify
|
Quote:| Just curious about the 50% of CH'ers smoke statistic. When was that published? |
|
That's from the survey that is ongoing at this web site. Thousands of responses. Check the buttons on the left.
My observation from attending 3 OUCH conventions is that about 95% of clusterheads are smokers and the same percentage are drinkers.
|
|
IP Logged |
Mrs. Barlow, I never, and I repeat never, ever pissed in your steam iron.
"SHUT UP HUB!"
|
|
|
MarkHW
New Board Old Timer
Gender:
Posts: 348
|
|
Re: Smoking History and Cluster Headache
« Reply #10 on: Jun 11th, 2003, 9:55pm » |
Quote Modify
|
Hey Linda, I'm chronic too, but drinking definately triggers me.
I usually get 3 ch a day (when not medicated).... Mine come at the same time for periods... such as 6:00 AM, 2:00 PM & 5:00 PM... If I drink I'll get an extra, bonus cluster within 30 minutes of alcohol.
If I'm medicated and not having CH, alcohol will trigger me right away.
The only time it doesn't seem to work is if I've injected with imitrex within an hour or two of drinking - probably not the smartest thing to try, but .... I have.
1/2 a beer is enough to trigger me.
Mark
|
|
IP Logged |
The clusterhead formerly known as williamsmh.
|
|
|
iJun G4
New Board Junior
Gender:
Posts: 58
|
|
Re: Smoking History and Cluster Headache
« Reply #11 on: Jun 13th, 2003, 7:53am » |
Quote Modify
|
Well, I for one don't smoke at all; never been a smoker.
Personally, I don't think smoking is a necessary causal factor for CH at all. Maybe it's something like we tend to have more Type-A, driven personalities (according to surveys), and to cope with that, we are more likely to smoke to relieve stress. Just guessing...
When I'm off-cycle, I enjoy drinking in very reasonable moderation (3-4 drinks typical per week). I miss not drinking beer during cycle. Last time, I tried non-alcoholic beer in-cycle since taste has improved in recent years. However, the 0.5% alcohol content was enough to trigger an attack! Obviously, I am not going back that route...
|
|
IP Logged |
=====
Clusterheads are warriors who fight unbearable pain every day to stay alive.
|
|
|
BobG
New Board Hall of Famer
Gender:
Posts: 5747
|
|
Re: Smoking History and Cluster Headache
« Reply #12 on: Jun 13th, 2003, 8:28am » |
Quote Modify
|
ijunG4, I share your theory about the type A personalities. From what I've seen and read here for the last 4 years it seems that we have a high rate of habits and addictions. Some good and some not. We seem to be smokers and drinkers (not so good habits). We also have habits like checking this board every day almost to the point of being an addiction.
|
|
IP Logged |
Stay stressed. Never relax. Never sleep. Ever.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Home
Help
Search
Members
Member Map
Login
Register
Reply
Notify of replies
Send Topic
Print
test rss