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        New Message Board Archives >> 2003 Posts >> can eposodic turn to chronic
        
(Message started by: missie31 on Jan 7^th, 2003, 6:25pm)

Title: can eposodic turn to chronic
Post by missie31 on Jan 7^th, 2003, 6:25pm

I am 31 years old i have had clusters since 17. My ch usually come twice a year for a couple of weeks then go away, back in september I started a cycle that has never gone away I'm worried that they may not. Has anyone ever turned chronic from eposodic?

Title: Re: can eposodic turn to chronic
Post by eyes_afire on Jan 7^th, 2003, 6:49pm

Hi Missie31. Yes it is true, episodic can become chronic. It is also true that some people start off as chronic. And it is also true that chronic can become episodic. My most recent cycle started Sept 2001 (technically chronic), but I haven't had a painful CH attack in over 2 months (but now I get 'silent attacks'(?)). So now maybe I'm episodic again :-/. If it's any comfort, you are a long way away from becoming chronic. Welcome to the board. Hang around, there's lots of good info here.

Title: Re: can eposodic turn to chronic
Post by brain_cramps on Jan 7^th, 2003, 7:03pm

for what its worth...

http://www.asimcme.com/htmlfiles/articles/volume1/number11/446-448.pdf

<<
The International Headache Society recognizes 2 forms of cluster headache: epsodic, which affects 90% of patients and chronic, which affects the remaining 10%.
...
Transformation from episodic to chronic cluster headache may occur in 13% of the patients, while transformation from chronic to episodic cluster headache may occur in 33%.
>>

Title: Re: can eposodic turn to chronic
Post by Linda_Howell on Jan 7^th, 2003, 7:47pm

YES......but ya gotta wait a yr. to be certain.

Linda

Title: Re: can eposodic turn to chronic
Post by cootie on Jan 7^th, 2003, 8:15pm

Hi Missi........Brad started out chronic for over a year.....they slacked off to every 2 to 3 year episodes....some lastin 2 to 3 months but last one was 7 weeks with more shadows and shorter attacks but more per day verses the 2 hour or longer attacks at first years ago and havein 2 attacks a day back then same time each day clockwork. They didn't follow a specific time frame this past episode. This past episode was really different then the previous ones. Pam

Title: Re: can eposodic turn to chronic
Post by 9erfan on Jan 7^th, 2003, 8:22pm

Missi - absolutely, but you won't know for a year. :(

I started as episodic for the first 14 years and then went to chronic about 4 years ago.

Virginia

Title: Re: can eposodic turn to chronic
Post by Mastifflvr28 on Jan 8^th, 2003, 12:43am

Missy, my cycles used to be 2 weeks long, from 18 years old till 26 years old. Then 3 months long from 26 till 30. Now I'm 31 and my last cycle was 4 months long. So don't get down and think yer chronic yet. You might just have an unusually long cycle.
Good luck and hope you get a break soon.
Mast

Title: Re: can eposodic turn to chronic
Post by pimmony on Jan 8^th, 2003, 4:47am

I was wondering about this. The problem for me is that I am new clusterdom so I have no idea how it is between bouts or what signals the return of the next.

Since a text book bout ended for me in September I have been shadowed. This is in no way debilitating, rather more irritating, and I keep trying to brush it away like an annoying fly buzzing at my head. Every now and then it escalates into a distraction then settles back.

I had simply assumed this is how it is. I stopped to think about it only because I dont have the confidence in my ability to perceive the ongoing cluster picture. I was hesitant to even say anything but I figure more experienced and wiser heads than mine would know.

On a practical note, the neurologist had said if anything happens to immediately get in touch. I would hate not to tell her if I should about the shadows. I am about ready to send the design for the software to her so was going to sneak in a line about this in the covering letter (just in case I should tell her and not muck up anything she may need to do, or know)

Am I rambling? Okay I shall get back to work ... or at least file my nails, I hate it when they grow long so fast and affect my ability to type!

Title: Re: can eposodic turn to chronic
Post by Svenn on Jan 8^th, 2003, 4:54am

yess it definatly can.I`m a living proof of that.Was episodic for the first 5-6years then diagnosed as a cronic.But this do NOT happens to everybody,so dont worry about this.

Take care

Svenn

Title: Re: can eposodic turn to chronic
Post by Tim_w on Jan 8^th, 2003, 6:48am

Hi Missie
I was episodic for 19 years, cycles were 3 mounths in sping and fall , than went to 3 months in winter and summer.
I have been cronic for 3 1/2 years.
Ihope I go back to episodic!
Cluster cycles are like people they have there own personality!
Heres hopeing you have pfdan!!

Tim_w ;D

Title: Re: can eposodic turn to chronic
Post by fubar on Jan 8^th, 2003, 10:29am

"Instant Replay" of my conversation with my neuro yesterday...

Dr: "About 10% of CH sufferers will transition to a chronic state. Given the length of this latest cycle, I believe you are in this category now."

Me: "When will it end?"

Dr: "There is no way to know the answer to that question. CH comes and goes and we have no idea why some people are chronic and others are episodic. "

Me: "Yay! I'm in the top 10%!!! Where's my fuckin prize?"

He increased my dosage of Verapamil to 720mg/day, and asked me to start thinking about Lithium, Depakote or Topomax. I know they all have side effects, so I'm not anxious to change meds now. Oxygen is a godsend, but it's not always at hand, and it doesn't ever stop the attack from coming in the first place.

I guess I knew deep down that I was chronic, having been in a cycle since early last year. Having the neuro actually tell me so was a blow anyway. Doesn't seem like it should matter, but it bummed me out. It's like getting the results on a test that you know you failed, but seeing the score drives the reality home.

-Fu

Title: Re: can eposodic turn to chronic
Post by brain_cramps on Jan 8^th, 2003, 10:48am

Fubar:

So sorry to hear you're one of the unlucky ones.

Missie:

Didn't mean to scare you, bum you out, etc... (just posting what I had read) Like the others have said, you have a long way to go before you can be considered chronic.

Hope both of you get a break soon (and anyone else who is fighting this battle),
Grant

Title: Re: can eposodic turn to chronic
Post by 9erfan on Jan 8^th, 2003, 2:54pm

Fu-
Don't worry, you're in good company! ;D

V.