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        New Message Board Archives >> 2003 Posts >> Bizarre cycle this time
        
(Message started by: Pistol Pete on Jun 25^th, 2003, 5:37am)

Title: Bizarre cycle this time
Post by Pistol Pete on Jun 25^th, 2003, 5:37am

Hi all, first time poster, long time sufferer.

I am going through a cycle the likes of which I have never experienced and have not seen on this board.

Each time I get a cycle it is different, duration, frequency and severity all vary greatly, but up until now my headaches have never exceeded two hours and have all been very high on the Kip scale.

This time around I am experiencing what I am sure is a cluster (same time every day, nasal congestion, pain in same location), but the duration is much longer (as much as 4 hours) and the headaches are low on the Kip scale, never exceeding a 5, and the damn things will not go away. It is as if I will experience the same amount of pain no matter what, it is just spread out over a longer period of time.

I am not complaining, these things are just annoying as hell, but it beats my "normal" cycle. Has anyone else gone through a cycle like this?

Title: Re: Bizarre cycle this time
Post by ave on Jun 25^th, 2003, 7:56am

Sorry to hear about that. Have you thought of the possibility of there being a migraine mixed in with your clusters?

I have had this once or twice, cluster-migraine-cluster back to back. That took care of 6 hrs.

If you get the urge to rest in darkness, warring with the cluster urge to run about, it may very well be infiltration by a migraine.

Title: Re: Bizarre cycle this time
Post by Roxy on Jun 25^th, 2003, 9:05am

Welcom Pete, sorry you have these things, but you're at the right place.

What you're decribing just sound like normal shadows to me, but I consider anything under an eight to be a shadow. They are a big pain in the ass, and it's always a coin toss if they are going to just sit at the level and irritate the hell out of you for hours.......or if they are going to go ahead and crank up to head banging level.

I can usually beat some of the shadows back with the water treatment or some exercise. They might not go away totally, but it does help a little.

PFDAN,
Tracey

Title: Re: Bizarre cycle this time
Post by Pistol Pete on Jun 25^th, 2003, 10:04am

Hi Roxy and Ave,

Thanks for the replies.

Ave, I don't believe it is migranes, headache meds have no effect and the head is not really sensitive to light and noise as with a migrane.

The headaches are just like the shadows I've experienced in the past and it scared the hell out of me when it first started, but the pain never escalates.

This has been going on for several months which is longer than my cycles usually last.

I stumbled into Neurontin as a "cure", it was prescribed to me for "nervous legs" and I noticed it got rid of the shadows on the rare occasions that I took it.

My doc prescribed the same dose, but daily, and no shadows. But my memory was shot and I started experiencing what can best be described as attention deficit disorder.

Well, I do work for a living and had to quit the Neurontin and now the shadows are back, like I said, not painful, just annoying.

Roxy, you said you've experienced the long, drawn out shadows as well, up until now I haven't. In my past cycles, I would feel a shadow and within 15 minutes I was either fine or crying. I will try the water, it has never worked in the past, but this cycle is different.

Thanks again, I will let you know how it goes.

Title: Re: Bizarre cycle this time
Post by stevegeebe on Jun 25^th, 2003, 12:08pm

Hey Pete.

Man can I relate. This cycle has been different in many ways for me.

Onset was in April which was earlier. Sought and obtained variety of Meds at onset. Meds seemed to be effective. Meds became ineffective.

Started other meds (Prednisone) and have been somewhat effective. Fewer visits at night but making up for it during the day. Now, heading into July, I'm beginning to worry about the duration of this cycle. Normally six to eight weeks and it's over.

Similar to what you've expressed, half of my bouts are long and hovering just under 9's. Last night it started at 7:00 and did not let up until 10:30. It was like three in one with minimal relief between. Same last Friday except it went on from 3:30am to 10:30am. When they hit me like that I'm wasted for a long, long time afterward. I feel very old.

It's getting to the point that when I get one that lasts for a round or two, I'm glad!

I'm going insane.

Welcome.

Steve G

Title: Re: Bizarre cycle this time
Post by Pistol Pete on Jun 25^th, 2003, 1:14pm

Hi Steve,

Boy, your current cycle is much, much worse than mine. My headaches this time barely hit a 5 and usually are closer to a two or a three.

My theory was that since they didn't hit as hard, they were hitting longer and more often.

This is the first cycle I've had that I could treat with anything other than Stadol for which I am grateful. The stuff is effective, but in the long term the side effects really suck. Of course, I am becoming an alcoholic.

To tell the very bizarre truth, I almost miss my regular cycle. When it showed up it was like clockwork and I could easily plan my day around it. 3:00pm meeting? Sorry, I'm going to be stoned, how about 1:00pm?

Of course I would not have that attitude unless I had found a sympathetic, understanding doctor. For the first 10 years that I had these things, my doctors would prescribe preventatives (if I did the research and asked) and migrane meds, but never a painkiller.

Nothing like a good solid nine (let alone a 10) to make cutting your own head off seem like a good idea.