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        New Message Board Archives >> 2004 Cluster Headache Specific Posts >> Smoking?
        
(Message started by: lwalsh on Feb 24^th, 2004, 1:05pm)

Title: Smoking?
Post by lwalsh on Feb 24^th, 2004, 1:05pm

I have done a great deal of research on CH's (as I’m sure everyone here has) and I still don’t know if smoking plays a big part in the headaches. Some doctors say yes and others say no. Obviously, inhaling toxic chemicals on a regular basis is not helping my situation but what I want to know is if it is hurting my situation? I mean was smoking the initial cause of these headaches? Does anyone know for sure what the connection between smoking and CH’s are? Then again does anyone know for sure what the connection between anything and CH’s are? Is there any rhythm or reason behind these headaches from hell?
Any insight is greatly appreciated.

Laurie

Title: Re: Smoking?
Post by thomas on Feb 24^th, 2004, 1:08pm

There have been numerous posts on smoking, my personal belief is that most ch'ers have addictive personalities and that is why most of us smoke, but there are a lot of us who have never smoked but still have ch. If you can quit, it can't hurt...... ;;D

Title: Re: Smoking?
Post by Tiannia on Feb 24^th, 2004, 2:02pm

I smoked from the age of 16 to 25 and for the most part 1 - 2 packs a day during that time. I stopped as soon as I found out I was pregnant with my daughter. I have wanted to many times to tart again but I never have. My HA started at the age of 31, so I doubt for me that there is a tie between smoking and CH.

Maybe it acts as a trigger from some people.

Thomas I do very much agree with the idea that most Clusterheads are addictive personalities. Which is one reason why so many of us are addicted to this board, even with the pety arguments and such, this board gives us a high, ie we feel good.

PF wished to you.
Tiannia

Title: Re: Smoking?
Post by lauriew on Feb 24^th, 2004, 5:10pm

Thanks for the insight. I have read that a lot of people who suffer from CH’s are not smokers so, I assume my smoking is not a direct link. None the less, quitting is at the top of my priorities b/c like you said Thomas…it can’t hurt.

Title: Re: Smoking?
Post by BobG on Feb 24^th, 2004, 5:21pm

on 02/24/04 at 13:05:51, lwalsh wrote:

I still don’t know if smoking plays a big part in the headaches. Some doctors say yes and others say no.
IMHO (In My Humble Opinion) smoking plays no part in clusters. Some of us smoke, some of have quit and some have never smoked. And doctors say smoking causes any and all problems in the world.

Obviously, inhaling toxic chemicals on a regular basis is not helping my situation but what I want to know is if it is hurting my situation?
You're right about inhaling toxic chemicals and I plan to start thinking about quitting smoking sometime in the future. No, Idon't think it is hurting your cluster situation. Now your lungs on the other hand.......

I mean was smoking the initial cause of these headaches?
No.

does anyone know for sure what the connection between anything and CH’s are?
Yes, there is a connection between your de-formed hypothalmus gland and clusters. I'm not making fun of your deformity, we all have one.

Is there any rhythm or reason behind these headaches from hell?
Yes. You are a very special person and the Devil loves you and has chosen you for special blessings.

Laurie

Title: Re: Smoking?
Post by Charlie on Feb 24^th, 2004, 5:54pm

I used to smoke and they started when I was on about a pack and a half a day in 1969. I quit in 1980 but my clusters stuck around until I was 45 in 1991. It's hard to conclude much from this.

The last time I looked; something like 47% of the board members smoked which is more than twice the national average.

Beats me.

Charlie

Title: Re: Smoking?
Post by Mr.Happy on Feb 24^th, 2004, 6:48pm

I smoke and I vote. EOF. National averages are for Methodists and Democrats.

Fuck `em if they can't take a joke,
RJ

Title: Re: Smoking?
Post by pubgirl on Feb 24^th, 2004, 8:04pm

on 02/24/04 at 14:02:17, Tiannia wrote:

I have wanted to many times to tart again but I never have.

Tiannia

Does tart mean the same thing there as over here? ;;D

Wendy

Title: Re: Smoking?
Post by Mastifflvr28 on Feb 25^th, 2004, 10:02am

For all of ya's that are thinking of Quitting...this is the BEST SITE!!!!

http://www.whyquit.com/

Mast,
One day, 1 hour, 14 minutes and 53 seconds. 42 cigarettes not smoked, saving $8.41. Life saved: 3 hours, 30 minutes.

Title: Re: Smoking?
Post by thomas on Feb 25^th, 2004, 10:07am

Way to go Michelle, keep it up! ;;D

Title: Re: Smoking?
Post by floridian on Feb 25^th, 2004, 10:20am

Quote:

Does tart mean the same thing there as over here? Grin

I don't think most people here are aware of that Britishism. And one of the national pizza chains here advertises 'hand tossed' pizza - don't know how well that would sell in the UK.

Title: Re: Smoking?
Post by pubgirl on Feb 25^th, 2004, 1:33pm

Floridian

Now that DID make me laugh.
I'd buy one just to see what the topping looked like! [smiley=laugh.gif]

Wendy

Title: Re: Smoking?
Post by randal on Feb 29^th, 2004, 11:14pm

I Have been smoking for 25 years now about the same time as the clusters s but what I dont understand and I will most likely get shit from people for this remark but I have not had a drink of alcohol since I was 21 when these clusters started and it is the MAIN Trigger for a Cluster.Even if you drink out of cycle you are asking for trouble and its just real fucking stupid to swallow a demon when you have one with Clusters.Alcohol and clusters do not mix and that is fact just plain fucking Stupid Sorry!!!! Anyone who says they dont get a cluster from a drink of that demon is just kidding them selves--so with that said have a smoke... ;;D

Title: Re: Smoking?
Post by thebbz on Feb 29^th, 2004, 11:25pm

LOL After years of prednipoison,Caferpuk,Lithiyumy,Imetrex, topomax, Beta blockers, no relief, guenie piggy for all the docs whats a smoke going to do !! Just watch out for the o2!!LMOL the bbz

Title: Re: Smoking?
Post by FZfan on Feb 29^th, 2004, 11:44pm

Quit smoking? Hey, I'm a lot of things, but I ain't no quitter! ;;D

Title: Re: Smoking?
Post by daven on Mar 2^nd, 2004, 7:32pm

on 02/29/04 at 23:25:53, thebbz wrote:

LOL After years of prednipoison,Caferpuk,Lithiyumy,Imetrex, topomax, Beta blockers, no relief, guenie piggy for all the docs whats a smoke going to do !! Just watch out for the o2!!LMOL the bbz

[smiley=laugh.gif]ROFLBTC .....Now thats for sure .... O2 and any kind of open flame DO NOT MIX! ;)

Title: Re: Smoking?
Post by Belle on Mar 2^nd, 2004, 7:39pm

LMAO...........You guys sure no how to make someone laugh.

Belle
::)

P.S. Smoker for 14 and CH for 14 hhmmmm

Title: Re: Smoking?
Post by ave on Mar 3^rd, 2004, 7:17am

Not giving you any shit, Randal, but I and some others I know about can and dro drink in cycle. I even know somebody who used to take a glass of wine when for social reasons an imitrex shot seemed too difficult.

And kidding myself? How am I kidding myself when I take a few drinks on board and DON'T get hit during the night (as in every other hourt on the hour...) and the next morning am but slightly hung over?

Not a method I would sincerely recommend, but nothing to do with kidding either.

Title: Re: Smoking?
Post by kissmyglass on Mar 3^rd, 2004, 11:49am

Ave Dear...you forget to tell em you were washing down a handful of shrooms with that wine... ;;D

Title: Re: Smoking?
Post by JDH on Mar 3^rd, 2004, 12:07pm

on 02/29/04 at 23:14:18, randal wrote:

Even if you drink out of cycle you are asking for trouble and its just real fucking stupid to swallow a demon when you have one with Clusters.Alcohol and clusters do not mix and that is fact just plain fucking Stupid Sorry!!!! Anyone who says they dont get a cluster from a drink of that demon is just kidding them selves--so with that said have a smoke... ;;D

Kinda casting a wide net there aren't you Randal?
I'm episodic and I can drink with no problems when I'm not in a cycle. Drinking while in a cycle is definitely out for me but I know for a fact there are others here, mostly chronics, that can drink without triggering a h/a.

Jim

Title: Re: Smoking?
Post by ChrisUhl on Mar 8^th, 2004, 7:33am

Hey Laurie

I've had CH for a little over 3 years. When I first god the attacks, my father (who's suffered from CH for some +30 years) told me that smoking could easy the pain. Well, maybe not during the peak of the attacks but just before and definately after. So that's when my smoking carreer started.

Some months later I went to see a neurologist. When he asked my about my smoking habits I was preparing myself for the speach. But then the guy actually said: Well, as a doctor I can't recommend that you start smoking. But now since you already do I'll let you in on a little secret. Some clusterheads actually find relief in smoking. So you just keep on doing it.

Delightfully political incorrect, right ;-)

Anyway, I've found a way to easy the pain. And smoking certainly did not trigger my CH.

Hope this can be useful to you.

Cheers,

Chris

Title: Re: Smoking?
Post by pubgirl on Mar 8^th, 2004, 8:21am

Here come the unpopular answer (unpopular with me anyway as I smoke a lot)

We were told yesterday that although smoking is not a cause, nor will giving up be a cure, we should all stop as the long term effects of smoking on the heart may mean that in later age, many Ch treatment options may be closed to us and we will be harder to treat.

The message was very clearly that CH sufferers should give up.

I know I should but............ :-[

Wendy

Title: Re: Smoking?
Post by genss on Mar 8^th, 2004, 10:14am

I started smoking at the age of seventeen. The same age my cluster headaches started. Over 2 years ago I changed my lifestyle. No smoking or drinking or even being around people who smoke. No more smoky bars. I had no cluster headaches during this period. Early this year in February I spent a lot of time at my sisters house (I hadn't for 2 years) and they all smoke. My headaches came back that same week.

Title: Re: Smoking?
Post by KarynG on Mar 8^th, 2004, 3:40pm

I smoked for twenty years and finally quit two years ago (March 1). I have had clusters for seven years so I have experienced cycles both as a smoker and non-smoker. I have not noticed any differences in cycles with the exception that the last two cycles were longer. I doubt that had anything to do with quitting though; clusters just change sometimes.
I agree with Thomas that maybe Clusterheads tend to have addictive personalities. These days I am addicted to the gym, but years ago... [smiley=laugh.gif]
I also drink when not in cycle without any problems, but can't even take one drink during a cycle without bringing on a CH.

Title: Re: Smoking?
Post by thomas on Mar 8^th, 2004, 6:11pm

on 02/24/04 at 13:08:18, thomas wrote:

If you can quit, it can't hurt...... ;;D

Don't know about this anymore. Since I quit smoking, have been having shadows and heavy shadows, daily. Actually went and got more zomig yesterday, just incase. lol. We'll see how it goes.

Title: Re: Smoking?
Post by J.ten_Dam on Mar 9^th, 2004, 9:40am

on 03/03/04 at 07:17:55, ave wrote:

It must be the air in Holland because I am one of these mentiond by Ave or mabe it is because we are cronics.

Title: Re: Smoking?
Post by PAMan on Mar 21^st, 2004, 6:48pm

I started smoking at the age of 23. These headaches began when I was 12 and nobody at home smoked then. I quite smoking for awhile and I did not see any relief from the chronic ha's.