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        New Message Board Archives >> 2004 Cluster Headache Specific Posts >> Unusual Stress when the Beast started
        
(Message started by: tpitts77 on Dec 10^th, 2004, 11:13am)

Title: Unusual Stress when the Beast started
Post by tpitts77 on Dec 10^th, 2004, 11:13am

Can anyone pin point the moment when the Beast invaded your life? How did they start?

I believe mine may have started from an extremely stressful time in my life. I was in the Marines. I just got to my first duty station and my boss was a serious prick. So the first 6 months at my new duty station was hell. It was during this time whenI got my first CH.

The rest of my time served in the Corp. was a great experience minus the CHs.

Title: Re: Unusual Stress when the Beast started
Post by sioux-z on Dec 10^th, 2004, 11:53am

This is very strange. I just logged on to ask almost the same question when I saw your post.

I have only had two episodes, each lasting about 3-4 months. I went 4 years between episodes. Both of my episodes were preceded by an unusually stressful event. I know "they" say that the CH's themselves aren't linked to stress but I wondered if extreme stress can somehow trigger an episode. I suppose it could just be coincidence.

Anyone else have this experience? What about just with the first episode?

-Susan

Title: Re: Unusual Stress when the Beast started
Post by Sylvan on Dec 10^th, 2004, 1:50pm

Oh boy can i pin-point it!

It was Nov 7th, 2004 at exactly 1:30 am. I woke with a unilateral headache worse than i could ever have imagined. Scared out of my wits that i was having a TIA or something. Got out of bed - took some feverfew and advil (which i keep around the house for my occassional migraines)

Tried to go lie down, but the pain got worse. Ended up variously pacing - while blowing my suddenly runny nose, sitting on the bed - rocking and holding my head and moaning. Then - about 30 minutes later - it stopped - as suddenly as it started.

Called my doc - first thing in the morning and she said - since it seems to have responded nicely to painkillers - see if it happens again before rushing in here.

Well it happened again - the next night - and every night after for 2 weeks. So i am now in the DX stage of trying various preventatives and working with a neuro. Averaging 1 major hit every 3-4 days with shadows inbetween.

Stress? I can't honestly say i feel any more stressed than normal. Although in the 2-3 weeks preceding my first attack - i did have to deal with some rather unpleasant management changes in the company i've been working for these past 20+ years. To the point where i am seriously considering a mid-life carreer change.

Ok - maybe stress is a trigger - just typing about it and i can feel my BP increasing and a shadow coming on...

Sylvan

Title: Re: Unusual Stress when the Beast started
Post by nani on Dec 10^th, 2004, 1:54pm

My first episode was at age 16, about 5 days after delivering my first child. Mom at 16- yep I'd say I was stressed...
Since then- couldn't say cause I'm chronically CH and chronically stressed.

Title: Re: Unusual Stress when the Beast started
Post by survivor13 on Dec 10^th, 2004, 2:03pm

MINE STARTED NOV. 1991. IN THE PROCESS OF CLOSING OPERATIONS IN MEMPHIS, TN. AND WAITING TO SEE IF I WOULD BE PICKED TO STAY WITH THE CO. AND TRANSFER TO GA.(VERY STRESSFUL). STARTED OUT ABOUT 4 P.M. EVERYDAY. SLOWLY GOT WORSE. DID'NT HAVE A CORRECT DIAG. FOR ANOTHER YEAR AND A HALF.

Title: Re: Unusual Stress when the Beast started
Post by Biker on Dec 10^th, 2004, 3:49pm

I ran a motorcycle into a stone wall. Emergency room, police questions, bills to pay, bike to fix, job loss, bills to pay, judge to see, bills to pay, no insurance, bills to pay, sugery for body damage, bills to pay, child support, judge to see, bills to pay, no job, unable to work, bills to pay. I hit my head real hard. I always figured it was from hitting my head, but ya know----I was under alot of stress at the time.

Title: Re: Unusual Stress when the Beast started
Post by sioux-z on Dec 10^th, 2004, 5:28pm

My first CH was New Years Eve 1999. What a way to start the new millennium!

Title: Re: Unusual Stress when the Beast started
Post by thudpucker on Dec 11^th, 2004, 2:11am

My first ch, three years ago, apparently came along for no good reason at all.

The season opener this year, hands-down the worst ch I've ever had, came the night following the memorial service for my father. The six weeks preceding that, which included my father's final decline and death, were nothing but stress.

But, given all the givens, I'm not prepared to say that stress by itself can be singled out as a trigger.

Title: Re: Unusual Stress when the Beast started
Post by toolong on Dec 11^th, 2004, 6:01am

Know when they started to the very day, July 4th 1986.Didn't turn chronic untill about 5 years ago. As for the stress..I'm sure it was a factor.I had two young children and a wife with Huntingtons Disease.My CH hit about once a week then a dull pain with spikes all the time.Stress is a factor in my case. I know a lot of docs. claim it is mostly chemical,but are the chemicals brought on by stress?And then then the CH create more stress.(More chemicals?)Been prescribed every anti-depressent in the friggin' book and they don't help a bit,maybe with a little praying someone will come up with a magic pill to cure all the pain we have to deal with.Don't you love it when people say "just relax,don't let things bother you"....just makes you want to choke the shit out of them!!!! :PDavid

Title: Re: Unusual Stress when the Beast started
Post by Smartin on Dec 11^th, 2004, 10:29am

mine started when I turned 18 and had my first beer. I never really associated it to alcohol for a couple of years. Just a little dense I guess.

Title: Re: Unusual Stress when the Beast started
Post by BobG on Dec 11^th, 2004, 12:14pm

on 12/10/04 at 14:03:43, survivor13 wrote:

TRANSFER TO GA.(VERY STRESSFUL).

LMAO [smiley=laugh.gif] Yep, moving to Georgia would stress anyone.

Quote:

quote Biker
I ran a motorcycle into a stone wall.

I don't think you're supposed to do that. [smiley=laugh.gif]

My opinion on stress.............see my tag line.

Title: Re: Unusual Stress when the Beast started
Post by survivor13 on Dec 11^th, 2004, 12:29pm

hey, ga. ain't that bad! we've got world record bass swimmin', great tasteing deer and were next door to fla.. ;;D

Title: Re: Unusual Stress when the Beast started
Post by marlin on Dec 11^th, 2004, 1:15pm

It's really tough to figure whether CHs are tied in some was to stress. Stress IS linked to tension HAs. CHs are related to hormonal/chemical imbalances -- brain chemistry. But, unusal stress responses may be a cycle trigger as it may affect brain chemistry?

I've always felt it wasn't the stressful period that contributed to my cycle kicking off but the down period afterwards - great REM sleep for days after going without.

Tough to really say. I have plenty of stressful periods with letups afterwards yet not CHs. I think it's an impossible-to-predict combination of events, part of them natural body rythms, that kick mine off. I have completely ruled out weather though and I DON'T GET PMS so that's not it either.

Title: Re: Unusual Stress when the Beast started
Post by jillybean on Dec 11^th, 2004, 6:33pm

My husband had been under extreme stress also. About the same as the major management change post.

And then his sister died unexpectantly. Another recurring theme I read above.

But I too believe it is a combination of triggers. Not enough sleep, incoming low front, stress, not taking care of self/ keeping balance. He doesn't get PMS either, but he has to live with it!

Jill

Title: Re: Unusual Stress when the Beast started
Post by 21yrs on Dec 12^th, 2004, 3:00am

a telephone pole jumped out in front of me june 83'
got thrown from my car about 8am. did not wake
up until the next day at 10 am in the hospital.
had a good wack to the right side of my head.
that august was the first time. i have always believed
that the beast found me that day in june.
i have been in manegement positions with stress
everyday. odd hours, eating habits sucked, no sleep
deadlines etc. i was never convinced that stress
played a role in my ch's. still not. could be the fact
that i am episodic, the stress may be pulling the
trigger for someone chronic. but we are all different,
looking for the same solution.
only the shadow knows
pf days for everyone
21

Title: Re: Unusual Stress when the Beast started
Post by allan_r on Dec 12^th, 2004, 8:53am

Mine was 9 or 10 years old on a late October camping trip -- with a severe cold front moving in. Thereafter remeber occasional headaches in my teens, also associated as "sinus" with the weather. Next major bout was 4 day stretch in June when i was 21 - alone in a 20 dollar a night room Sydney.

no stress there.

allan r.