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        New Message Board Archives >> 2005 Cluster Headache Specific Posts >> altitude
        
(Message started by: travelingman on Dec 14^th, 2004, 6:15pm)

Title: altitude
Post by travelingman on Dec 14^th, 2004, 6:15pm

this is my first posting so overlook any goofs--just found you guys and boy am I glad!! Here is my question--does anyone have any experience with altitude on clusters--trigger? I have planned to climb Mt Kilimanjaro next summer and am working hard to get in shape but now reading your material about altitude affects on CH??

Title: Re: altitude
Post by Tetris-addict on Dec 14^th, 2004, 7:18pm

well, low pressure fronts sometimes trigger a cycle for me, and sometimes they do not.

I have flown with or without the CH
not really a factor. But the storms....hit with precision.

Whether you are in Montana or Siberia,
the Monster will come out when he wants to,
so just have the abortive stratgey in place...

O2 and a non-rebreather mask....
or the painkiller that works for you...

Imtrex, Zomig, ..... ....

and go and have a great time.

(Don't let the monster steal your life away.
go on and live it to the max...)

TJ

Title: Re: altitude
Post by vig on Dec 14^th, 2004, 8:25pm

I hike in the Blue Ridge mountains all summer, little bumps compared to Mt. Kilimanjaro... but I can get hit every trip up or down. Once acclimated, it's fine. It's the change in pressure.

Title: Re: altitude
Post by sdasprsrock on Dec 15^th, 2004, 12:07am

I've been living in the mountains at 7000 feet for 15 years and have been getting CH for about 10 of them. I'm moving to sea level soon, I can't wait to see if I rid of them. But I have only had CH in the winter, so yes, it might have something to do with the low presure. Hope your trip is pain free!
-Nick

Title: Re: altitude
Post by Redrum on Dec 15^th, 2004, 9:10am

I have lived at 8500 ft. for about 15 years and my job requires me to travel as high as 10,000 on a regular basis. prior to that I lived at sea level. I have never noticed any significant change in my HA's that I would attribute to changes in altitude.

PFDANs ~Andy

Title: Re: altitude
Post by sailpappy on Dec 28^th, 2004, 3:56pm

;;DI dont think altitude alone is the factor, its changing Barometric pressure, If your planning on flying an ultralight down or a sailkite you might pack your cold weather cap with snow or ice while at the top! Pappy

Title: Re: altitude
Post by Ruth on Dec 29^th, 2004, 9:11am

I have to agree with the others, altitude is not a factor for me, the beast finds me one way or another.
I hope you have a good and safe time on your climb.

Ruth

Title: Re: altitude
Post by floridian on Dec 29^th, 2004, 12:42pm

I don't have much experience changing altitude when I am in cycle, and from what people have written, individual responses vary. Being episodic and only getting hit in a 2-3 month window lets me plan a bit.

One thought - oxygen aborts, and a lack of oxygen can trigger or predispose one to clusters (sleep apnea, smoking, PFO and other heart conditions, etc). I would say go for it, but make sure an O2 tank is nearby.

Title: Re: altitude
Post by jdiggity on Dec 29^th, 2004, 5:30pm

I'm in about the 14th week of this attack of clusters.
I've already had 4 attacks today.
Instead of getting better, they seem to be getting worse.
Relpax and demerol aren't helping.
I've been out of work for over a week, and I just want this madness to end.

What works?
The pain is unbearable [smiley=huh.gif]

Title: Re: altitude
Post by Kirk on Dec 29^th, 2004, 10:01pm

I spent a few months at over 14,000 ft. on the Alta Plana in the Andes last winter. My home here is 47 ft. above sea level
No change, I'm still chronic.
Go enjoy [smiley=smokin.gif]

Title: Re: altitude
Post by aceserve on Jan 11^th, 2005, 12:08pm

For the past four and a half years I have lived at 7,700 feet. Altitude has not been a factor that I can tell. CH cycles have commenced without any travel from my home city, and also after traveling down to sea level. So whether I'm at altitude or not when a cycle begins seems to be only coincidental. Also, I have moved in past decades from low-altitude to the high mountains, where I did climbing and backcountry skiiing, with no headaches coming on. Hope that helps, and may you bag that African peak!

Title: Re: altitude
Post by pattik on Jan 30^th, 2005, 12:26pm

I believe that altitude was a factor for me last summer, when after a two year remission, I had an unusual summer episode after spending 10 days at 11,000 feet in Colorado. My episodic clusters usually occur late fall to winter, and since O2 works well for me, I am thinking that the thinner air might have played a role. Perhaps living full time at high altitude would be different once you have adjusted, but it seems more than a coincidence to me. Good luck with your trip, and take along a Rx for oxygen.

Title: Re: altitude
Post by Renee on Jan 30^th, 2005, 8:12pm

I've always found relief when going from the 500 ft above sea level at home to high elevations, about 7000 ft., until this past summer. Then, what I thought was a good ch escape turned into a hospital stay while on vacation due to the ch. It finally took several days of DHE via IV just to stop some of the most severe ch's I've ever had.

I don't know if it was the altitude or all the storms/rain in the mountains on that trip. I guess I'll know more this coming summer.

good luck

Title: Re: altitude
Post by K-9 on Jan 31^st, 2005, 3:10am

It might be in my head, but, the last two times I have flown I got hit and the hit didn't begin until about 26,000 feet. The HA didn't stop, both times, until descending back down through the same altitude. I guess I gotta stay below that. Bring the O2 and try to have a good time!!!

Chuck

Title: Re: altitude
Post by Frank_W on Feb 3^rd, 2005, 12:30am

I'm an ultralight pilot, and have flown several other types of aircraft, and I am now a scuba diver, as well. None of it seems to make much difference. As an episodic, I am either in cycle or out of cycle. I'm either getting hit or not getting hit, and I haven't been able to identify anything as a personal trigger.

-Frank

Title: Re: altitude
Post by Bob P on Feb 3^rd, 2005, 10:35am

3 years ago I went to the Sierra to hike Mt. Whitney while in cycle. My attacks maintained their normal frequency although I decided against the hike.

The following year, while not in cycle, we made the hike, 14,497 ft. It didn't trigger anything ch related.

I agree, I'm in cycle or I'm not. Altitude doesn't make a difference to me.

Title: Re: altitude
Post by sandie99 on Feb 4^th, 2005, 1:12pm

Hmm... I have not climbed mountains, so hard to say, but flights have not had any impact on my CH. I have had attacks before and after flights, but so far, never during one.

Good luck in taking that mountain! Don't let CH stop you from making your dreams come true! :)

Best wishes,
Sandie

Title: Re: altitude
Post by Frank_W on Feb 4^th, 2005, 1:18pm

That's exactly it, Sandie! We are human beings with full lives, who happen to have a disorder, but we are NOT this pain. We are so much more, and the more we can marginalize it and keep it from consuming us and taking over our lives, the better our quality of life is going to be. I just refuse to let CH become the focal point of my existence. Screw that... When I'm in pain, I take a break and deal with it, and then get on with it. If I'm not having an attack at that very moment, I've got shit to do, and by god, I'm going to get it done and live my life to the fullest.

Title: Re: altitude
Post by Sylvan on Feb 4^th, 2005, 1:55pm

on 02/04/05 at 13:18:47, Frank_W wrote:

Amen

Title: Re: altitude
Post by Mr.YL on Feb 8^th, 2005, 1:12am

B4 my teen years I was in a 727 flying over colorada ... the plane started goin shake , shake, shake, my guess is it was looosing altitude drastically, low an behold 600 miles later and remembering all the children screaming I ended up at my destination with one ^%*&&* pain in my head. This lasted for SEVERAL hours, I was to young to know about pain. YES barometer readings is something to look close at. Why? were? who? and treatment? Relationship unknown for me, though I know my canine hurts when the barometer changes.
Mr.YL

Title: Re: altitude
Post by TonyG1 on Feb 13^th, 2005, 8:44pm

on 02/04/05 at 13:18:47, Frank_W wrote:

I just refuse to let CH become the focal point of my existence. Screw that... When I'm in pain, I take a break and deal with it, and then get on with it. If I'm not having an attack at that very moment, I've got shit to do, and by god, I'm going to get it done and live my life to the fullest.

Ditto Frank! Well spoken!!

Title: Re: altitude
Post by Frank_W on Feb 14^th, 2005, 7:54am

Thanks... :)