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(Message started by: stuey on Jul 10th, 2003, 8:06am)

Title: Does this Happen to Most?
Post by stuey on Jul 10th, 2003, 8:06am
My attacks started late April and were like clockwork for about a month and a half.  I could rely on them for 10:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m. for the most part.  For the next little more than a half month they didn't display the same accuracy and I couldn't depend on when they would show up.  The started to come whenever they wanted: 8:00 a.m., 5:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m., whatever.  They just weren't as clockworthy as the earlier ones.  The last one I had was on July 4 after eating potato salad.  It was after six and started during an interesting conversation which I had to of course stop.  Maybe it was the potatoe salad or Independence Day but I haven't had one since (thank God).  So I guess The question is does this happen to anyone?  Like clockwork in the beginning and then just fire away doing their own thing whenever they want during or near the end of the cycle?  Also, am I free to drink some alcohol without fear of some kind of relapse if they are truly gone?

Title: Re: Does this Happen to Most?
Post by jminmilwaukee on Jul 10th, 2003, 8:11am
Normal for me is sporatic the first week or two, then like clockwork - 6 AM, 9 AM, 12 noon, 3 PM, 6 PM, then one or two more depending on when I sleep.

At the end of my cycle they become worse and then taper off to constant shadows eventually to vanish.

BE 110% SURE you are done before a cocktail!

If not sure, have a glass of wine and pray!!!

For me, even one sip of red wine when not out of a cycle sets of a HIGH LEVEL KIP!!!

Good luck
Jmin

Title: Re: Does this Happen to Most?
Post by stuey on Jul 10th, 2003, 8:14am
Thanks Jmin I will wait a couple weeks before drinking.  I have wanted to try that Absolut Vanilla but will wait a while.  The wine headaches are the worst even if you're not in a cycle.  I like the wine but the headaches are hard to get rid of.  Thanks for your response it's appreciated.  Peace.  Stuey

Title: Re: Does this Happen to Most?
Post by sueellen83 on Jul 10th, 2003, 9:18am
My cycles start out with CH waking me up for 3 or 4 days at about 2:00 AM then increase in number of CH's from there.

Usually I still have the ones I can count on like clock work but, also have sporadic ones in between.

Here's hoping the beast has taken a vacation for you!!!

Title: Re: Does this Happen to Most?
Post by don on Jul 10th, 2003, 10:21am
I just ordered a 55 gallon drum of Red Bliss Potatoe Salad.

Hope your right!

Title: Re: Does this Happen to Most?
Post by stuey on Jul 10th, 2003, 10:23am
Don I hope it works too!!  Stuey

Title: Re: Does this Happen to Most?
Post by Patrick_A on Jul 10th, 2003, 10:30am
Mine are like clockwork until i start aborting them with meds. A soon as i start taking imitrex they become random at any time. I dont know why that is. I have a theory that i have often wondered if anybody else thinks the same. Its almost like my Ch's have a schedule, and i will get 60 Ch's in this so called schedule. If i abort one, it just comes back at another time. I have found that if i am able to deal with it, my schedule is shorter in duration, bit i still get the 60.
All hypothetical of course!
Patrick

Title: Re: Does this Happen to Most?
Post by stuey on Jul 10th, 2003, 10:48am
Patrick I don't know about getting 60 during the cycle but I do somehow feel like Imitrex which I have come to love keeps the cycle going longer than maybe it would have if I didn't use it.  But I guess I'll just have to have a longer cycle if so cause I aint giving up the Imitrex.  The Kip 10s which everybody talks about, are so painful that I would do about anything to not have them.  They aint no joke.  You know the feeling that you don't know how you survived something in your life, that's how I feel about these things.  The things that I thought.  This was my first real cycle this time cause 3 years ago the Prednisone stopped them early on.  I found myself asking and thanking God for the drugs to abort them.  I don't know how people got through these this before the triptans.  I guess some people didn't.

Title: Re: Does this Happen to Most?
Post by gene on Jul 11th, 2003, 2:44am
I get them every few hours day and night, when in cycle. interesting, that it's only the last two cycles (out of 15 or so) that I got them past bedtime. now I wake up withem 3/4/5 times a night!!

When out of cycle, I often get a bad migraine from drinking anything. My migraines are always in the right side of my head. The first left side shadow has never failed to be the beginning of a new CH cycle.

Gene

Title: Re: Does this Happen to Most?
Post by stevegeebe on Jul 11th, 2003, 6:08am
Stuey and Patrick,

I too have experienced some of the same in regard to going from clockwork to random.  The thinking that the beast has a specific number of bullets for you (no matter what) has crossed my mind as well.  

This cycle for me has been unlike the others.  Started in April and began taking the recomended meds.  Events were on schedule but oddly not as many at night.  Next phase involved a series of random bangers one lasting from 3:30 till 10:30.  That one made me start Prednisone.  Predinsone had little effect.  Continued with meds and o2.  Randomness continued.

I now feel the end comming on.  Two to three mild ones a day which I kill with o2 and if not near o2, than just gut it out.  I've also noticed lately that I wake up PF and within ten minutes I get a little visit.?

This has been my longest cycle in 26 years.  I've used the most meds (quantity and variety) this cycle. Does this mean that the beast has a specific number of rounds to spend on you?  Too strange.  But it has crossed my mind.

Steve G

Title: Re: Does this Happen to Most?
Post by Pushkin on Jul 11th, 2003, 1:49pm

The torturer for me always has  a pattern, or cycle, which is always a little different. Sometimes they will start at a definite time for perhaps a week, then the cycle changes - new clockwork. For years I got them only in late fall and early spring, but for the last 7 years only in the summer. Anyway, for me, there are always patterns, but they always change.

I never cease to be amazed by the ability of the torturer to surprise and fool me. I sometimes believe there is an evil intelligence playing some sick game.

Title: Re: Does this Happen to Most?
Post by stuey on Jul 11th, 2003, 1:56pm
Stupid me thought they were over.  Just had another one.  Do they ever stop?

Title: Re: Does this Happen to Most?
Post by MarkHW on Jul 11th, 2003, 5:17pm
I'm chronic and mine vary.

I will go a week or two with them every day at 5 AM, 1 PM, & 4 PM (or something similar) and then I'll have a few days where I'll only have 1 or 2 at weird times, then I'll go back into a week or two of regularity.  Some of the changes could be drugs, but I think it is the "cycles" I am having within my chronicness (is that a word).

I believe that there are little cycles within bigger cycles & so on.  For instance... In the Spring (even though I'm chronic) I have more headaches and they are more intense.

Mark

Title: Re: Does this Happen to Most?
Post by Gofishgriff on Jul 11th, 2003, 6:31pm
A few years ago, mine were pretty consistent coming on in the early evening (7-10PM).  This latest cycle has them coming at all hours of the day.

Title: Re: Does this Happen to Most?
Post by Bob_Hendry on Jul 11th, 2003, 7:06pm
Sounds like my aches.  Set a clock at the beginning of cycle and anyones guess towards the end.  I think your cycles are over when you had a drink and didn't get the monster back.  I waited 2 days with out the monster before I had my first drink.  I was at a golf outing and it was hot and the beer was flowing.  They didn't come back.  Good luck!

Title: Re: Does this Happen to Most?
Post by smfaison on Jul 11th, 2003, 7:20pm
URLI am episodic, and my headaches can occur at any time of the day or night.  I think they become more frequent, but less severe towards the end of a cycle, which always lasts 4 months.  I'm never sure when they are gone because I am going through Prednisone withdrawal for the last few weeks and have the shadows every day until I've gone from 40mg down to nothing.  I usually do this over several weeks time. TEXT

Title: Re: Does this Happen to Most?
Post by Dpactech on Jul 12th, 2003, 6:28pm
They seem to know how to tell time.

I get them once a year for one month for 2 hours every day.
The time of year is not always the same.  Once they start it is the same time every day that they strike.

And just to be inconsistant I did not get any attacks last year but they are back now as usual.

Fortunatly after the first few attacks I can get my perscription for 360mg of Verapimil which will successfully prevent them.

If  I don't time taking the medication just right then I do end up with a less severe attacks that still know what time it is.

Title: Re: Does this Happen to Most?
Post by Big_Dan on Jul 12th, 2003, 10:04pm
... My last cycle was 100% random.  Every other has been a clockwork deal, but this one was weird in it's own right.  It didn't last nearly as long as the others either....

-Big Dan



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