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        New Message Board Archives >> 2004 Posts >> CH while NOT drinking alcohol..WTF
        
(Message started by: Reese on Jul 26^th, 2004, 9:49am)

Title: CH while NOT drinking alcohol..WTF
Post by Reese on Jul 26^th, 2004, 9:49am

Hi folks,this is gonna sound strange to you.Im a heavy drinker(8-10 beers a day),when out of cycle I can drink as much as I feel like but on days or weeks when Im not drinking I get nailed by cluster headaches(not "other" type headaches), oxygen can abort these CH's thankfully.It makes it hard for me to cut down on my drinking because like I said,out of cycle beer=no h/a and no beer=CH.In cycle headaches usually come either with drinking or not.This is baffling the shit out of me.When I go sober for some time I get CH and not regular h/a's like evrybody says goes with stopping alcohol(withdrawal thing).Ive been out of cycle for couple of months now after a long 6 month one.Anybody have any ideas about this strange problem?

Title: Re: CH while NOT drinking alcohol..WTF
Post by ave on Jul 26^th, 2004, 9:58am

Maybe I am dull 'cause of not drinking beer today, but...

You say you can drink all you want out of cycle.
Yet you seem to say that you can drink all you want in cycle too, because if you don't, you get hit?

Or are you saying you can you abstain from drink out of cycle and NOT get hit? Happens too most of us here - out of cycle.

I don't rightly understand.

I know heavy drinking can, for some people, prevent attacks. I have that experience myself. I would not recommend drinking as a preventative, though... The side effects leave something to be desired.

Title: Re: CH while NOT drinking alcohol..WTF
Post by ave on Jul 26^th, 2004, 9:59am

Or are you saying that if you abstain out of cycle you do get hit - I would not call that out of cycle, myself.

You need to clarify...

Title: Re: CH while NOT drinking alcohol..WTF
Post by Reese on Jul 26^th, 2004, 10:06am

Im a confusing little fuck,eh? What I mean is during a CH cycle,I get headaches almost everyday whether or not I drink(although drinking makes things even worse).When Im out of cycle(pf time),I only get headaches when I dont drink any beer.Better?

Title: Re: CH while NOT drinking alcohol..WTF
Post by floridian on Jul 26^th, 2004, 10:36am

You sound chronic. If I am not in cycle, I don't get clusters. Maybe you have some pattern that is not recognized ... semi-chronic, or chronic with cycles? Lithium, verapamil, melatonin, etc etc are better preventives than alcohol.

Title: Re: CH while NOT drinking alcohol..WTF
Post by Reese on Jul 26^th, 2004, 2:17pm

Can anybody else give some input? I really curious if Im like the only person that experiences this or at least give an opinion.Thanx

Title: Re: CH while NOT drinking alcohol..WTF
Post by JJA on Jul 26^th, 2004, 2:54pm

Wow!
Have to drink to prevent headaches... I'll use that one on the wife.

How long do you have to be sober before an "out of cycle" attack? Can you abort the headache with beer?
It sounds like you're backwards from most. I can drink when I'm out of cycle with no attacks, but sometimes alcohol will bring on a "out of season" shadow-type headache. I can't think of any logical reason to explain your siutuation.

Jesse

Title: Re: CH while NOT drinking alcohol..WTF
Post by Reese on Jul 27^th, 2004, 12:55pm

Maybe Im chronic? I did not drink sunday and got a h/a yesterday.I drank after the headache yesterday and will have some beer today and no headache and can almost guarantee no headache as long as I drink everyday(3-6 beers).But as soon as I stop for a day or two I get hammered with a CH(a textbook CH).Im out of cycle now because I cant safely drink while in cycle,if I drink in cycle its an almost immediate CH,a doozy too,but after my hour or less I could go back to drinking with no pain.I'm a fucked up CH'er I guess.

Title: Re: CH while NOT drinking alcohol..WTF
Post by BlueMeanie on Jul 27^th, 2004, 12:59pm

???????

Title: Re: CH while NOT drinking alcohol..WTF
Post by Reese on Jul 27^th, 2004, 1:11pm

Ave said:" I know heavy drinking can, for some people, prevent attacks. I have that experience myself."- Maybe you know what Im going through,who knows maybe Im still in a cycle and drinking is preventing my daily h/a. Or could this be a major coincidence with withdrawal from alcohol that replicates a in-cycle CH,they are a little different like no stuffed nostril,squinted eye from clenching my teeth,or radiating neck pain.

Title: Re: CH while NOT drinking alcohol..WTF
Post by BobG on Jul 27^th, 2004, 1:42pm

on 07/26/04 at 14:17:13, Reese wrote:

Can anybody else give some input? or at least give an opinion.

input? opinion?
OK, but, I'm surprized nobody as said it yet, and you're not going to like it.

Have you tried to sober up? Maybe seek help for your drinking problem?

You can not outdrink a cluster headache. It can't be done.

Title: Re: CH while NOT drinking alcohol..WTF
Post by Reese on Jul 27^th, 2004, 3:33pm

You were pretty open in this thread,Bob,huh? Well...well........ugh......well....Im scared as fuck,OK? I dont know any other kind of lifestyle. I drink during cluster cycles,can you feel my pain? (not directed at you Bob :)) I will drink "a substance" that guarantees me horrendous pain.....but for less than an hour,mind you,I can take it, with my oxygen.Yeah,my oxygen,the big tank sitting in the corner of my room,the one all my teenage son friends' ask about.I leave for vacation day after tomorrow,I will address my problem when I get home,not CH,but,drinking too much.Ill let you know if my CH changes.Dont totally "rip me apart" for posting and being here because I am alcoholic *with* cluster headaches.I will keep in touch.

Title: Re: CH while NOT drinking alcohol..WTF
Post by BobG on Jul 27^th, 2004, 3:55pm

In no way do I mean to rip you or criticize your lifestyle. I know where you are at this point. I've been there. I used to be a drunk. And not a very good one at that. I used to try to out-drink my clusters. I also only drank beer and told myself that I was not a drunk. I told myself that I needed the beer to help stop the cluster attacks.
I was lying to myself. After I hit rock bottom from the drinking I got sober. And it felt good, so good I have continued to stay sober.
I know this may sound like a "the only thing worse than a drunk is a re-formed drunk" speech. But it's not. It's just concern for a fellow clusterhead. Good luck to you.

Title: Re: CH while NOT drinking alcohol..WTF
Post by Reese on Jul 27^th, 2004, 4:04pm

Hey Bob,I actually came back to see if you replied.Dont mean shit,but,I cant go on drinking ,Im 34 ,2 kids,wife,job,and all that shit.I have more days with a headache than I dont.Hey,we'll talk when I get back,I hope.

Title: Re: CH while NOT drinking alcohol..WTF
Post by BobG on Jul 27^th, 2004, 4:34pm

What you have told us is not a new subject on the board. It might surprise you how many people here over do the drinks and drugs. Some people talk about it, some don't.
Have fun on your vacation. We'll all be here when you get back.