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        New Message Board Archives >> 2003 Posts >> Cluster Headaches and Bipolar Disorder
        
(Message started by: Jtate on May 26^th, 2003, 3:20pm)

Title: Cluster Headaches and Bipolar Disorder
Post by Jtate on May 26^th, 2003, 3:20pm

This is probally way off the issue, but last year I suffered my worst cluster in fifteen years. It started in September and lasted until Feburary. At its peek, I was suffering ten to fifteen headaches per day. To make a long story short, reaching 1200 mg of lithium and 340 mg virapimil daily subsided the headaches.

Then, In March, I suffered a sever depresive episode, which lead me to visit a psychiatrist, the first ever for me. After several visits, I was diagonsed with Bipolar disoder. By May, I was instutionalized (suicide attempt).

The doc in the hospital told me that Bipolars are more likely to have manic episodes and attempt suicide in the spring. What's interesting about this is this coinsides with my annual cluster, that run from March to early June.

I was wondering if anyone else has experenced this seasonal phenomena, cluster headaches and bipolar disoder in the spring. Since the medications used to treat each are the same (ie. lithium and virapimil), it appears, at least to me, logical that there is some connection.

Just any though on the mater would be helpful?

Title: Re: Cluster Headaches and Bipolar Disorder
Post by jonny on May 26^th, 2003, 3:32pm

Ive been chronic for nearly 28 years and have been taking Lithium and Verapamil every day for 12 years.

So far im pretty sane, depending on who you ask.

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

Title: Re: Cluster Headaches and Bipolar Disorder
Post by brain_cramps on May 26^th, 2003, 3:48pm

on 05/26/03 at 15:32:37, jonny wrote:

So far im pretty sane, depending on who you ask.

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

What color is the sky in your world, jonny?

http://uselessgraphics.com/alien42.gif

Title: Re: Cluster Headaches and Bipolar Disorder
Post by jonny on May 26^th, 2003, 3:59pm

on 05/26/03 at 15:48:48, brain_cramps wrote:

What color is the sky in your world, jonny?

http://uselessgraphics.com/alien42.gif

See what I mean?....I get no respect!!!.

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

Title: Re: Cluster Headaches and Bipolar Disorder
Post by cathy on May 26^th, 2003, 4:26pm

Jtate... Welcome to you....sorry to read your post, I don't know the answer to your question, but I guess being in cycle makes most sufferers feel depressed and in some cases suicidal... :'(

As for Jonny...I say respecccccttt ta dattttttt man ;D

http://www.uselessgraphics.com/superman11.gif

Cathy

Title: Re: Cluster Headaches and Bipolar Disorder
Post by brain_cramps on May 26^th, 2003, 4:48pm

Welcome Jtate

Sorry - kinda got side-tracked with jonny. Besides a lot of answers and support, we like to have our fun too! I didn't mean to hijack your thread - hopefully it doesn't get too bad! (Don't think it will)

Where are you? Maybe there is someone near you - it always helps to meet another clusterhead! It is an unbelievable experience meeting someone else that goes through the same thing and understands.

Start reading and ask away!

Once again - WELCOME. These people are the best bunch of people that you'll meet. helpful, knowledgeable, compassionate, selfless...

grant 8)

Title: Re: Cluster Headaches and Bipolar Disorder
Post by Not4Hire on May 26^th, 2003, 5:03pm

Quote:

the best bunch of people that you'll meet. helpful, knowledgeable, compassionate, selfless...

...cranky, smart, horny, funny, dumb-as-a-post, fuckin'weird, Italian, Belgian, higher-than-a-kite, lower-than-shark-shit, did -I-mention-jonny?, .....well, i could go on and on......

Jtate....welcome to clusteropolis, Population: growing ....

hope ya find yer *key*.....

Steve(N4H)

Title: Re: Cluster Headaches and Bipolar Disorder
Post by don on May 26^th, 2003, 8:35pm

Quote:

So far im pretty sane,

ROFLMMFYBO

Title: Re: Cluster Headaches and Bipolar Disorder
Post by oringkid on May 26^th, 2003, 10:25pm

Welcome!

Don't know much about bipolar, but many clusterheads have seasonal episodes.

I don't know, but have a feeling it might be coincidence.

Sherry

Title: Re: Cluster Headaches and Bipolar Disorder
Post by kim on May 26^th, 2003, 10:33pm

Try the archives - look under *5HT*. I thought it was purdy facinating!

Well wishes***

Title: Re: Cluster Headaches and Bipolar Disorder
Post by williamsmh on May 27^th, 2003, 8:02am

I've been wondering about a link between Bipoloar Disorder and cluster headaches.

I am not Bipolar, but my youngest son is. They keep telling me that Bipolar is hereditary and neither my ex-wife's family or mine has a history (that we know of).

The meds they have him on are the same meds they have tried with me and the description of biploar being cyclic and tied to the hypothalmus made me wonder if there is a link.

Mark

Title: Re: Cluster Headaches and Bipolar Disorder
Post by CJohnson on May 27^th, 2003, 3:54pm

Jtate, I managed to stumble across some information which may carry a measure of relavence. If we take for granted that serotonin levels are low in persons with CH (Waldenlind et al, (1985) found low whole blood serotonin levels among cluster patients both during an active bout and during remissions) then we can look at how low serotonin levels can possibly connect Bipolar disorder with CH. Some researchers hypothesize that a drop in serotonin levels causes the trigeminal nerve to release substances called neuropeptides, which travel to your brain's outer covering. There they cause blood vessels to become dilated and inflamed.
If we then look to studies which have shown increases in the levels of some neuropeptides in the hypothalamus of persons with Bipolar disorder, and findings which demonstrate that the hypothalamus plays some role in the mechanism of CH, then we have a possible reason to think the two may have some connection.
You may want to use google to search for information on neuropeptides, and whether the same neuropeptides are involved in both phenomenon.
Hoping you find yourself on the good side of this ordeal very soon.

PFDANs
-Curtis

Title: Re: Cluster Headaches and Bipolar Disorder
Post by Ree on May 27^th, 2003, 6:14pm

(((im with don.................. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA))) jonny you are our poster child for sane...........NOT!!!

ON THE MORE SERIOUS SIDE... CH is known to cause severe depression... sleep deprovation, weight loss, gain, etc...

Title: Re: Cluster Headaches and Bipolar Disorder
Post by jonny on May 27^th, 2003, 6:39pm

on 05/27/03 at 18:14:21, Ree wrote:

jonny you are our poster child for sane...........NOT!!!

So I guess thinking you are a hot chick goes out the window, huh? ;D................LOL

See you Dave at the convention!

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

Title: Re: Cluster Headaches and Bipolar Disorder
Post by Ree on May 27^th, 2003, 6:44pm

I told you you were nutz... (and you need glasses) love ya anyway lol Ree