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Topic: Women don't get cluster headaches??? (Read 1145 times) |
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maria9
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Women don't get cluster headaches???
« on: May 30th, 2003, 6:06pm » |
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Cluster headaches have been described as a disease that primarily affects men with the male to female ratio reported to range from 4.5:1 to 6.7:1. These researchers (see the following study) suggest that the male to female ratio is currently 2.1:1 and that the discrepancy between ratios reported today and those reported previously may be due to under-diagnosis of women. Other researchers have reported an increase in female cluster sufferers over the last few decades and suggested that this was due to lifestyle changes in females - increased smoking, boozing, and working outside the home. I don't buy into this theory and think that the recent increase in female cluster sufferers is directly related to more accurate diagnosis. Here is the article:: J Natl Med Assoc 2001 Jan;93(1):31-6 Related Articles, Links
Delayed diagnosis of cluster headache in African-American women.
Wheeler SD, Carrazana EJ.
Neurologic Center of South Florida, Miami, FL 33176, USA.
The male-to-female ratio has fallen in cluster headache over the last several decades and is now 2.1:1. Unfortunately, women still are not diagnosed accurately. This lack of appropriate diagnosis appears related to the misconception that cluster headache rarely occurs in women. Compounding this misconception, there seems to be an ethnic bias. We report cluster headache in five African-American women in whom diagnosis was delayed due to gender, ethnicity, and, most importantly, an inability to make a correct diagnosis of cluster headache. Cluster headache diagnostic criteria are no different in men or women and have no ethnic boundaries. Clinical features such as disordered chronobiology and abnormal behavior often suggest the diagnosis. Migrainous features occur commonly in cluster headache and, when present, should not exclude the diagnosis. Likewise, neither race nor sex should exclude the diagnosis. The diagnosis of cluster headache is easily made by considering unilateral orbital, supraorbital or temporal location; short duration (15-180 minutes, untreated), and ipsilateral autonomic dysfunction involving the eye or nose.
Maria (23 years of yearly episodic clusters, only one cluster cycle in the last 8 years)
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cleon
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Re: Women don't get cluster headaches???
« Reply #1 on: May 31st, 2003, 6:54am » |
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I've seen two females with 'that pain' and also confirmed by a Neuroligist.
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BobG
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Re: Women don't get cluster headaches???
« Reply #2 on: May 31st, 2003, 12:22pm » |
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This is from the OUCH site
Gender ratio of cluster headache over the years: a possible role of changes in lifestyle.
Manzoni GC
Headache Centre, Institute of Neurology, University of Parma, Italy.
Changes in the male-to-female (M/F) ratio of cluster headache (CH) over the years were investigated through a comparative analysis of the distribution of the disease by sex and decade of onset in 482 patients (374M and 108F). Variations over the last few decades were also investigated in the employment rate, level of school education, smoking habit, and coffee and alcohol intake of the population living in the same area as the CH patients. The M/F ratio has fallen from 6.2:1 for patients with CH onset before 1960, to 5.6:1, 4.3:1, 3.0:1, and 2.1:1 for patients with CH onset in the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, respectively. Correspondingly, in those same decades, the M/F ratio has fallen from 2.6:1 to 2.4:1, 2.2:1, and 1.7:1, respectively, for the employment rate, and from 8.6:1 to 7.8:1, 3.3:1, 2.5:1, and 1.9:1 for the smoking habit. Such a close correlation suggests that the significant changes that have occurred over the last few decades in the lifestyle of both sexes--and particularly that of women--may have played a major role in altering the gender ratio of CH.
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MarkHW
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Re: Women don't get cluster headaches???
« Reply #3 on: May 31st, 2003, 3:38pm » |
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I really think it's just better diagnosis.
I was misdiagnosed with migraine for awhile because I had migraine as a child - so the dr.s just assumed that's what it was. Since so many women have migraine (more than men - largely due to hormonal differences) I think they have just been misdiagnosed for a long time.
I have never smoked and I haven't drank more than a little bit in years and year, so not sure why the lifestyle change has anything to do with clusters.....
Mark
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maria9
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Re: Women don't get cluster headaches???
« Reply #5 on: May 31st, 2003, 7:26pm » |
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Hey Ueli,
I agree with you. When I first got these god awful headaches I was 16 years old. Before the days of smoking, boozing, and working outside the home. What I think is that the seratonin imbalance in cluster sufferers, related to the hypothalumus, makes us more likely to smoke and drink. How many of you have been told by your neurologist, if you would just quit smoking?
Maria
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oringkid
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Re: Women don't get cluster headaches???
« Reply #6 on: May 31st, 2003, 8:40pm » |
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I also agree. I started getting CH when I was around 12! Didn't smoke, drink or work.
I have been told by many docs that if I quit smoking I would probably find that the headaches would go away. (not all docs though.... there are some out there with a clue LOL)
Sherry
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pimmony
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Re: Women don't get cluster headaches???
« Reply #7 on: Jun 1st, 2003, 4:21am » |
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The biggest problem with the old perception is how dangerous it is.
My doctor turned his back on me when I suggested clusters because I am female and he just cold shouldered me with `this is a male condition'. Without the benefit of this board I do not think I would have had the courage or information to pursue the diagnosis in spite of my doctor.
Hopefully, the information that he later received from my neurologist with adjust his thinking and if another woman approaches him he will be more open to considering a diagnosis.
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Bob P
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Re: Women don't get cluster headaches???
« Reply #8 on: Jun 2nd, 2003, 11:58am » |
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This is just another example of women trying to horn in on male territory. First they want to vote, then they want to join the Boys Scouts and the Military. Now they want to take our cluster headaches!
I say we send the women back to the migraine specialists where they belong!
Very truely yours,
Hub
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Mrs. Barlow, I never, and I repeat never, ever pissed in your steam iron.
"SHUT UP HUB!"
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BobG
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Re: Women don't get cluster headaches???
« Reply #9 on: Jun 2nd, 2003, 2:33pm » |
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You're right Bob Hub.
Next they'll want to go to bars and pick up men.
And wear see-thorugh blouses and hot pants and mini skirts and feel free to have sex when THEY want it
and
Never mind 
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maria9
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Re: Women don't get cluster headaches???
« Reply #10 on: Jun 2nd, 2003, 8:09pm » |
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Pimmony - thanks for the reply, I think the fallacy that this is a male preponderant disease continues to impede accurate diagnosis in women
BobP (Hub) - How did I know that this particlular topic was going to rattle your cage??  You have often repeated (joking I am sure) women don't get cluster headaches. How we women wish/hope that was the case.
BobG - tell us more about your fantasies, I am sure it bears (bares) further scrutiny from the women on the board.
Maria
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dougW
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Re: Women don't get cluster headaches???
« Reply #11 on: Jun 2nd, 2003, 9:49pm » |
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Bob & Bob: I thought the same as you, then I discovered...
The article was written by a women!!
LMAO.
Good article, really.
(In fact, I don't know anything about the author, but I couldn't let the Bobs go this one alone).
Doug Wright
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maria9
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Re: Women don't get cluster headaches???
« Reply #12 on: Jun 2nd, 2003, 11:32pm » |
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Hey DougW, you stay out of this one ;D, this is between the Bob's and me and the females on the board. Maria 
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pimmony
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Re: Women don't get cluster headaches???
« Reply #13 on: Jun 3rd, 2003, 2:43am » |
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Grin, the neurologist I went to said the same thing ie that she believed that there was no truth to the male orientation thing on clusters and that females are simply not correctly diagnosed.
I can wear see-through tops and shorts and have sex with anyone? Could I have that friends son model posted on the general board .... and about a hundred years of age taken off me? Hmm, and a libido... oh well, back to the knitting
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BobG
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Re: Women don't get cluster headaches???
« Reply #14 on: Jun 3rd, 2003, 2:30pm » |
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maria9..........ever see the Girls Gone Wild videos where the very *friendly* persons ladies are flashing their boobs? Not one of them has clusterheadaches.
I've been to many wet T-shirt contests and not even one of the ladies was a clusterhead.
I have never seen a clusterhead in a string bikini. Bet you haven't either.
My theory is if you do wet T-shirt contest, wear see through blouses, hot pants and mini skirts, hang out in bars getting men drunk just because YOU want to have sex then you probably do not have cluster headaches.
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Bob P
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Re: Women don't get cluster headaches???
« Reply #15 on: Jun 3rd, 2003, 2:36pm » |
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hub has clusters and wears string bikini's. Must be the exception.
Pardon me while I go menstruate.
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Mrs. Barlow, I never, and I repeat never, ever pissed in your steam iron.
"SHUT UP HUB!"
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maria9
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Re: Women don't get cluster headaches???
« Reply #16 on: Jun 3rd, 2003, 7:05pm » |
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BobG, apparently you were not able to attend the last convention due to your busy schedule. It was discussed at the convention about how we cluster sufferers are over-sexed as a result of or by-product of our condition. Statistically speaking, if only 1% of the population suffers from cluster headaches, what is the chance that one of your wet shirted gals is going to have CH? Bob P send us a picture of Hub in the string bikini. Maria
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"All you have to do is the best you can. A high wave comes, a crashing wave comes, a gentle swell follows. Whatever comes, stay in your boat. And enjoy the ride. And row." Peggy Noonan
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kim
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Re: Women don't get cluster headaches???
« Reply #17 on: Jun 3rd, 2003, 8:14pm » |
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women get clusters. just like men. Period.
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maria9
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Re: Women don't get cluster headaches???
« Reply #18 on: Jun 3rd, 2003, 11:18pm » |
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Hey Bobs and all, just to add a little substance to this thread, the first neurologist I consulted after being diagnosed with cluster headaches 25 years ago stated, "you have a classic case of cluster headaches with the exception of being a female, usually this only affects males." Maria
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"All you have to do is the best you can. A high wave comes, a crashing wave comes, a gentle swell follows. Whatever comes, stay in your boat. And enjoy the ride. And row." Peggy Noonan
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BobG
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Re: Women don't get cluster headaches???
« Reply #19 on: Jun 4th, 2003, 1:37pm » |
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Maria, I wasn't at the last convention, not because of a busy schedule, my life is so dull and lonely that I have no use for a schedule, but because I'm very shy and discussion of girls in hot pants, wet T-shirt contests and over-sexed women with cluster headaches embarrasses me and I knew someone would start talking about it. 
But it does sound like you had a lot of fun.
At the first convention in Vegas there was some talk (I didn't listen, honest) about a hot-tub episode that had taken place. The people were SO RUDE talking out loud about that.
I could not be in the room with those nasty-talking clusterheads. I just walked out. Went to the bar and found a hooker to calm me down. 
And you're right that maybe, just maybe, a wet shirted gal could have clusters. There's a car show this weekend and, of course, there will be a contest. I'll go check it out. But only in the name of research. I WILL NOT ENJOY IT.
Bob P........send the Hub-in-the-string-bikini directly to Maria. Please DO NOT post it at this family-oriented, G-rated site. It’ll scare the children.
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maria9
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Re: Women don't get cluster headaches???
« Reply #20 on: Jun 4th, 2003, 5:45pm » |
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BobG,
Perhaps I should clarify, the concept of being over-sexed as a concomitant variant of CH was brought up by the Italians present at the last convention. The Americans and Canadians did not appear eager to concur, in fact dead silence, shock. The Europeans are much more open about their sexual proclivities. Good luck on your research projects, as we all know more research is needed on this poorly understood and rare disorder.
Maria
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"All you have to do is the best you can. A high wave comes, a crashing wave comes, a gentle swell follows. Whatever comes, stay in your boat. And enjoy the ride. And row." Peggy Noonan
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suzy617
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Re: Women don't get cluster headaches???
« Reply #21 on: Jun 4th, 2003, 8:39pm » |
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on Jun 3rd, 2003, 2:30pm, BobG wrote:maria9..........ever see the Girls Gone Wild videos where the very *friendly* persons ladies are flashing their boobs? Not one of them has clusterheadaches. |
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hmmmm, I've flashed and I have CH.
Quote:| I've been to many wet T-shirt contests and not even one of the ladies was a clusterhead. |
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I won one of them contests many years ago.
Quote:| I have never seen a clusterhead in a string bikini. Bet you haven't either. |
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Wore them too but not this year, LOL.
Quote:| My theory is if you do wet T-shirt contest, wear see through blouses, hot pants and mini skirts, hang out in bars getting men drunk just because YOU want to have sex then you probably do not have cluster headaches. |
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Ok guess I dont have CH afterall. 
suzy
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Margi
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Re: Women don't get cluster headaches???
« Reply #22 on: Jun 5th, 2003, 9:26am » |
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on Jun 4th, 2003, 5:45pm, maria9 wrote:BobG,
The Americans and Canadians did not appear eager to concur, in fact dead silence, shock.
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Respectfully disagree, Maria. MY Canadian clusterhead concurred wholeheartedly. I also heard a couple of conspiratory giggles coming from some Americans who shall remain nameless (Bob Pahlow, Linda Howell, Elaine Holloman, Jane Phillips (Bama), Daren Johnson (DJ), Michelle Adams (Mast), Bill Lovejoy, Bob Pahlow...wait, did I already mention him?). Kinda make Doc Robinson splutter a little, but I think everyone was proud of Sten and Davide for speaking up. Shock? No. Awe, maybe. Appreciation, DEFINATELY! LOL
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Roxy
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Re: Women don't get cluster headaches???
« Reply #23 on: Jun 5th, 2003, 9:40am » |
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on Jun 4th, 2003, 8:39pm, suzy617 wrote:
hmmmm, I've flashed and I have CH. |
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I believe my flashing was at Mardi Gras
on Jun 4th, 2003, 8:39pm, suzy617 wrote:| I won one of them contests many years ago. |
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It's been a few years.....but yeah....been there and done that too..... 
on Jun 4th, 2003, 8:39pm, suzy617 wrote:| Wore them too but not this year, LOL. |
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It's been a few years in this area too.....LOL
on Jun 4th, 2003, 8:39pm, suzy617 wrote:| Ok guess I dont have CH afterall. |
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suzy.....guess we need to get together and figure out what the hell is wrong with us...... ;D ;D
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Bob P
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Re: Women don't get cluster headaches???
« Reply #24 on: Jun 5th, 2003, 11:47am » |
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Just so everyone knows, the Italians where not claiming a size advantage. They just claimed a better knowledge of what it is for and how to use it.
Or maybe they were just saying that they were hornier!
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Mrs. Barlow, I never, and I repeat never, ever pissed in your steam iron.
"SHUT UP HUB!"
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