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        New Message Board Archives >> 2002 Posts >> CHs INCREASE PAIN TOLERANCE
        
(Message started by: 7upatnight on Nov 16^th, 2002, 12:12am)

Title: CHs INCREASE PAIN TOLERANCE
Post by 7upatnight on Nov 16^th, 2002, 12:12am

I hate taking meds. Recently found out that popping three extra strength tylenol every six hours during my cycle was not such a good idea. Something about toxins building up.

Currently I hope that I am at the end of a four week cycle of CHs. I typically get them once a year since my original in 95. The longest bought was 6 weeks. Text book left hemisphere with some of the worst pain imaginable. This time around I did set a new personnal record for volume when I threw up one night.

I hate going to doctors too because they never seem to understand CHs but like to guess at what is going on inside my head. I always, throughout the year, keep a bottle of extra strength Tylenol with me. Never know when my CHs will come to visit. Popping them doesn't prevent the headaches but at least helps them go away subside faster. So far, other meds seem to have to many side effects.

Any one else have any luck with Tylenol? The pain is still a 10 out of 10 but you get maybe a half hour less. This may sound strange, but somehow I think I am beginning to love the pain. Or that the CHs have given me a higher tolerance for pain. I have found that mental exercises during the pain does help to manage the pain.

I broke my finger last year and it swelled. I didn't see a doctor until the next day. Your comments are greatly appreciated.

7upatnight

Title: Re: CHs INCREASE PAIN TOLERANCE
Post by Lapsi_Harmaahapsi on Nov 16^th, 2002, 1:16am

I've wondered about the same thing lately. Could be that CH helps us tolerate pain better, but could also be that we are more "willing" to tolerate other kinds of pain than CH.?

I've noticed that I can somewhat "tune out" from things that would have caused considerable inconvenience(?) in the "old days".

Title: Re: CHs INCREASE PAIN TOLERANCE
Post by Georgia on Nov 16^th, 2002, 1:57am

Umm..not to sound gross, but I have a question. When you said this:

Quote:

This time around I did set a new personnal record for volume when I threw up one night.

were you talking about the liquid volume of how much you vomited or the volume of your screams? It's just bugging me, sorry.

As for pain tolerance....personally, I think my pain tolerance changes with what is going on with my head...ie, I am chronic, but I seem to go through cycles of tons of nasty fucking ch for a while and then periods of not so many and not so bad ch for a while...when I am in the midst of one nasty ch after another, any additional pain in between the ch seems to just throw me over the edge...and when I am not in such a bad place, pain doesn't hurt. But that's just me, and I hold no arguements about being a freak.

Title: Re: CHs INCREASE PAIN TOLERANCE
Post by Charlie on Nov 16^th, 2002, 5:48am

OTC pain stuff is useless and too slow anyway.

I don't know if it's tolerance but just knowing that you managed it before and that it will go away is something. Is that tolerance? Not sure.

Charlie

Title: Re: CHs INCREASE PAIN TOLERANCE
Post by Ann on Nov 16^th, 2002, 6:39am

I'm with Georgia on this. When I'm getting hit 3 or 4 times a day, don't touch me...don't step on my little toe, don't pull my hair..don't give me a love pat on the ass...I will turn around and smack you! LOL....when I'm not getting hit as bad or as often, I'm more tolerant...but not much. I hate pain in any form! Be gentle with me! :-/ Have pity and run away run away!!

hugs
Ann

ps. Tylenol, Motrin or any other OTC drug does nothing for me. Except aggravate my liver! It takes too long to take effect. Perhaps 7up, your ch is just ending and the Tylenol has nothing to do with it. Also, you'll probably end up with a rebound headache from the damn tylenol. Just my humble opinion.

Title: Re: CHs INCREASE PAIN TOLERANCE
Post by David Shea on Nov 16^th, 2002, 7:30am

For yrs. I heard sinus and stress HA from the medicial providers. I remember telling one doc. I guess I'm A whimp because the HA wakes me from A sound sleep
and I cannot bear the pain, Does strees HA hurt like this.
I ask him.

I just found out yesterday I ruputure A disk in my back
and will begin to have it treated monday, Doctor ask what I need for pain. I explain to him it did really hurt
just A nusance. He was in shock and ask me did I say
It does not hurt.

Maybe we are building A tolerence for pain, I do not know. But to me, I'm thinking the pain is so intense
because it is in the heard
David

Title: Re: CHs INCREASE PAIN TOLERANCE
Post by 2late on Nov 16^th, 2002, 9:03am

I think i manage pain better because nothin' else comes close to CH pain, since being diagnosed with ch I blew out 2 disks in my back that required immediate surgery. they gave me vicodin for pain but didn't need it. couple tylenol was enough to get me thru. ...........

Title: Re: CHs INCREASE PAIN TOLERANCE
Post by pjbgravely on Nov 16^th, 2002, 9:16am

Before my first kip 10. Sinus ha was horrible, Now I barely notice them. PJB

Title: Re: CHs INCREASE PAIN TOLERANCE
Post by 7upatnight on Nov 16^th, 2002, 10:48am

CHs have helped me reach new levels of stoicism. Forcing oneself to deal with doctors that don't understand CHs and not going off on people during a CH takes practice.

Does it hurt? and a hundred other questions. Even voices become irritating. I takes practice to block this out.

After having to unavoidably deal with CHs perhaps I am willing to tolerate much more as nothing else compares. I asked myself once if I would skew the doctors pain scale. "On a scale of 1 to 10 what is the pain level you experience?"

Out of the having managed the pain and distaste for medications (including side effects) has grown a preference to deal with the pain directly, nothing else works.

You know the feeling you get when you go out and run 5 miles. The invigorating feeling of energy in your body even when you didn't want to run but did so out of integrity to physical training. Feel the burn. The pain experienced during a CH has become somewhat of a mental burn. Something to be achieved. I relish achieving that point. Because then, its all downhill from there and the pain can't get any worst.

7upatnight

Title: Re: CHs INCREASE PAIN TOLERANCE
Post by Frank on Nov 16^th, 2002, 4:53pm

I don't know about CH increasing my pain tolerance, but having them has taught me to classify or describe different levels of pain more accurately...
Absolute worst - Touching 1920 volt power line
Really, really bad - Cluster headache, Kip 8-10
Really Bad - Shooting myself in the foot with a CO2 BB gun
Bad - Car accident at 30mph
Not so bad - Cutting off the end of my finger with a butcher knife
Ehhh - Migraine or tension headache

Title: Re: CHs INCREASE PAIN TOLERANCE
Post by epic2002 on Nov 16^th, 2002, 4:54pm

speaking of running and pain tolerance.....is there anyone else out there who has used their CH pain experience to advantage in a marathon or other physically demanding event?

I ran a marathon in May (CH free at the time) and at around mile 18, was experiencing some serious discomfort. however, in my mind I realized that what I felt was not as bad as a kip8 HA. so I just decided that pain or no pain I would just gut it out and I actually ran a faster pace for the last eight miles of the race.

I believe my experience with CH helped me run through pain that would stop or seriously impair most others.

I am new to the board so hope this topic has not already been overkilled....

kevin

Title: Re: CHs INCREASE PAIN TOLERANCE
Post by Charlie on Nov 16^th, 2002, 5:50pm

There are so many more things in this world that would do a better job letting me know I am alive other than cluster pain.

Whoever designed us did a shitty job when it comes to pain. I understand the reason but once I become aware that something is wrong, it's time for a "volume" control.

Charlie

Title: Re: CHs INCREASE PAIN TOLERANCE
Post by Bob P on Nov 16^th, 2002, 8:22pm

I still get the white knuckle death grip on the arms of the dentist chair when he fires up the drill.

CHs hurt so bad because of the large release of substance P as part of the attack. Substance P makes us more sesitive to the pain.

I don't think CH has effected my pain tolerence at all.

Title: Re: CHs INCREASE PAIN TOLERANCE
Post by kim on Nov 16^th, 2002, 8:29pm

Bugga! Yu TU? My dentist wears Glasses.......I get a clear view of peering at him RIGHT in the EYEBALL the second that whirrin sound whips up, (let us not mention that fresh faced idiot who i would like to knock out giving me the lil "pin up BIB")..............she is lucky to get out alive..........
what is with that lil thing we are supposed to spit in? ??? Plus it is altotogether much TOO costly............ ;D

Luv my cavities.......... ::)

Title: Re: CHs INCREASE PAIN TOLERANCE
Post by Mark C on Nov 16^th, 2002, 10:03pm

on 11/16/02 at 16:53:59, Frank wrote:

Ehhh - Migraine or tension headache

LOL........yep. Hell I enjoy a "regular" HA.

Title: Re: CHs INCREASE PAIN TOLERANCE
Post by paul_b on Nov 16^th, 2002, 11:44pm

Pain is pain. Some of us tolerate it better than others, but getting to love the pain? isn't that what masochism is all about? Count me out---you can have my pain if it gives you pleasure but I wouldn't wish it on anybody.

Title: Re: CHs INCREASE PAIN TOLERANCE
Post by Elaine on Nov 17^th, 2002, 4:31pm

I am with BobP on this one. I am WAS chronic and I kind of got us to the pain. Now that I have had months pain free I notice that when they come The pain seems much worst and I think its because my body is no longer use to the pain. I to grab the arms of that chair when they fool with what teeth I have left :-)!

Title: Re: CHs INCREASE PAIN TOLERANCE
Post by jonny on Nov 17^th, 2002, 4:55pm

LOL....Elaine

Come Tuesday I'll have no reason to grab arms of chairs, my face will be store bought......LMMFYBO ;D

Pain?......Whats that?

...........................jonny

Title: Re: CHs INCREASE PAIN TOLERANCE
Post by echo on Nov 18^th, 2002, 10:22am

I tend to agree that a "seasoned" high KIP CH'er will be able to tolerate a higher presence of pain. My wife is always amazed with my lack of expressed pain when I do something to hurt myself. And the lack of pain meds I take when injured.

OTC painkillers are useless anyway.

Title: Re: CHs INCREASE PAIN TOLERANCE
Post by echo on Nov 18^th, 2002, 10:23am