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        New Message Board Archives >> 2005 Cluster Headache Specific Posts >> Warning signs?
        
(Message started by: Yikes on Mar 10^th, 2005, 11:01am)

Title: Warning signs?
Post by Yikes on Mar 10^th, 2005, 11:01am

What are the warning signs for a new cycle for everyone?

Last night I felt my eye tearing and a very mild form of temple pressure in the spot where the clusters occur - but no headache really happened.

Since I've only suffered one cycle so far and I don't know my own cycle frequency yet, I thought to get some input on whether that is a valid warning sign of the start of one.

The first cycle happened a month and a half ago - does it seem like time for another? This is all new to me.

I looked through a few threads and didn't see any topics like this in my brief search. Sorry if the answers anyone gives are repeated information.

I'm so scared of going through that pain again.

Title: Re: Warning signs?
Post by Frank_W on Mar 10^th, 2005, 11:11am

I hope you aren't headed back into cycle. About a month before this present cycle hit, I was getting twinges and little mild hits... Now might be a really good time to give kudzu a try. Best wishes and PFDANs.

Title: Re: Warning signs?
Post by guesst on Mar 10^th, 2005, 11:12am

It is time to re-stock your arsenal..... :(

Title: Re: Warning signs?
Post by Yikes on Mar 10^th, 2005, 11:20am

arsenal...well I have subcutaneous imitrex to deal with it. But that's all. is Kudzu available anywhere, or do I need to go somewhere special? I don't even know what it is.

Another thread re-direct is fine.

Title: Re: Warning signs?
Post by vig on Mar 10^th, 2005, 11:22am

for me, it is eye twitCHes....
that makes me go ruh, roh!

Title: Re: Warning signs?
Post by pattik on Mar 10^th, 2005, 11:29am

For me its a few minor headaches at the same time each day or every other day which mimic sinus headaches around the eye. So it isn't until they rev up on the Kip scale that I can be certain it's CH.

Title: Re: Warning signs?
Post by Frank_W on Mar 10^th, 2005, 11:33am

Kudzu extract may be purchased from a health foods store, or else you can order it on-line:
http://www.herbsmd.com/shop/xq/asp/pid.1408/qx/productdetail.htm

Title: Re: Warning signs?
Post by Bob P on Mar 10^th, 2005, 11:35am

Yikes, a month and a half remission is pretty short. Not really the norm.

The "normal" model for clusters is a 4 to 6 week cluster, once or twice a year.

Just try to not get stressed over it but do make sure you are always stocked up on whatever meds you use just in case.

Title: Re: Warning signs?
Post by floridian on Mar 10^th, 2005, 11:42am

Eye twitches.

Less sleep, more energy. I go to bed late, wake up earlier and earlier, feel almost manic.

Weird twinges in leg and head - maybe a TIA or min-stroke, or poor blood flow in the legs and/or brain.

Title: Re: Warning signs?
Post by JJA on Mar 10^th, 2005, 12:06pm

Personally, I feel pain in my "cluster zone" randomly year round. It isn't until it gets constant and more intense that I know my time is at hand. Tearing is another story for me, but I wouldn't get too worked up about one shadow. It's life as a clusterhead...

Your answer should become crystal clear in the next week or so.

Jesse

Title: Re: Warning signs?
Post by nani on Mar 10^th, 2005, 12:11pm

If you'd like to see how kudzu is working for some of us, read this:
It's long, but you should read the whole thing and look at possible meds interactions. Pain free wishes, nani

http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=meds;action=display;num=1107368408

Title: Re: Warning signs?
Post by Kris_in_SJ on Mar 10^th, 2005, 8:29pm

Nani just gave you the thread link for Kudzu, Yikes. You'll find a number of brands and where to order from - but, you WILL have to read through it.

My cycles are pretty far apart (3-5 years), so I'm always taken by surprise. Mine also began with menopause, so I think some of the symptoms kind of overlap ... insomnia and/or waking in the middle of the night, dizziness, twitches in my muscles, including around my "cluster eye", etc. The only thing that's truly consistent with my cluster cycles is interruptions in my sleep cycle. An occasional "twinge" or mild shadow between cycles has just become part of my life. I only worry if I have a regular kip 8-10 visit 2 or 3 nights/week. That's when I know it's back and will soon only be worse.

Hoping you're just having the normal twinges ...

Kris

Title: Re: Warning signs?
Post by yikes-another-one on Mar 11^th, 2005, 10:14pm

Start a journal and be prepared.

Not one of us has had the same cycles twice, I'm willing to bet my non-existing ranch on that. the minute we think there is a pattern to the beast, he changes his tune and starts playing a different instrument. ;)

But a journal can help, if you do have patterns.

Weather pressure, blood pressure, alcohol....
all of these are seeming to be variables in someone's
cycle, and not in others.... so just pay attention to your head and see what happens.

It is rare to have a "lone" headache, but it does happen.

I used to write off minor headaches as normal, and only
track the majoy kip 7's or higher... but sometimes the
"shadows" will ramp up before and ramp down after a major attack....so track everything you can, and
use the journal to write down all you can.... if you take medicine, did it help... if it hurt on a new side, or if the pain lasted longer than usual....all of that can help
but only if you track it over time.....

best of luck for a PF life! :-*

Title: Re: Warning signs?
Post by TonyG1 on Mar 11^th, 2005, 10:39pm

on 03/10/05 at 11:42:59, floridian wrote:

Eye twitches.

Less sleep, more energy. I go to bed late, wake up earlier and earlier, feel almost manic.

Ditto floridian --- all of the above for me as well. I'll occassionally have a shadow or two out of cycle but CH is such a tricky beast that is not a guarantee of imminent onset of a cycle...