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        New Message Board Archives >> 2005 Cluster Headache Specific Posts >> Hypothalimus
        
(Message started by: BMoneeTheMoneeMan on Sep 11^th, 2005, 12:36am)

Title: Hypothalimus
Post by BMoneeTheMoneeMan on Sep 11^th, 2005, 12:36am

I would like to know about the hypothalimus and how it affects us CHers. The thing is, i dont know any medical terminology at all, so i read shit and have no idea what it says.
Can yous either give me links to really basic lay-man info, or maybe just tell me about it in simple terms?

Thanks & PF wishes
BMonee

Title: Re: Hypothalimus
Post by nani on Sep 11^th, 2005, 1:36am

on 09/11/05 at 00:36:01, BMoneeTheMoneeMan wrote:

maybe just tell me about it in simple terms?

Our hypothalmus is fucked up. ;;D Sorry, I'm sure someone who can actually answer that will come along.
hugs, nani

Title: Re: Hypothalimus
Post by CHTom on Sep 11^th, 2005, 3:23am

It controls various muscular movements (hence its part in Parkinson's disease) and also some pain functions. When the pain functions get out of sync, we get our cluster pains. Tomorrow I am off to get mine operated on, so I'll be off the board for a few weeks, but will let you know the results. PFDANs to all and to all a good, long, long remission. I really do admire the courage and helpfulness of the members and read the posts every day, even if in the middle of an attack-the extra pain is worth it. Keep well everyone-Tom

Title: Re: Hypothalimus
Post by Jonny on Sep 11^th, 2005, 3:37am

on 09/11/05 at 03:23:52, CHTom wrote:

It controls various muscular movements (hence its part in Parkinson's disease) and also some pain functions. When the pain functions get out of sync, we get our cluster pains.

That is an idiotic statement...you have no idea what you are talking about.

Pain functions?

Title: Re: Hypothalimus
Post by LeLimey on Sep 11^th, 2005, 3:44am

Oh John, good luck with your DBS even though "Alaska" is a long way from Germany!
Or did you pick Alaska cos it'll be a cold day in hell when we don't recognise you??!!

Title: Re: Hypothalimus
Post by Kate in Oz on Sep 11^th, 2005, 4:42am

I thought the hypothalamus had something to do with regulating circadian rhythms (sleep/wake cycles - normally around 90 min each cycle from sleep to deep REM then briefly awake and start again) .... I guess this would explain why ha's often occur shortly after falling asleep or at least at regular times.... also coinciding with changes with light during the different seasons and effects on serotonin levels ?????

Kate

Title: Re: Hypothalimus
Post by Kim Y. on Sep 11^th, 2005, 8:06am

http://www.clusterheadaches.com/about.html

Go to the Pathophys. and the biological clock. It should provide you with what you are looking for

http://thalamus.wustl.edu/course/hypoANS.html

http://www.psycheducation.org/emotion/hypothalamus.htm

A couple of other sights that might help you out with questions.

PFDAN.....Kim

Title: Re: Hypothalimus
Post by AussieBrian on Sep 11^th, 2005, 8:10am

on 09/11/05 at 04:42:32, Kate in Oz wrote:

I thought the hypothalamus had something to do with regulating circadian rhythms (sleep/wake cycles ...

Dearest Kate, you are correct.

Please continue to question everything you read here as some of it doesn't necessarily represent the opinion of the majority, nor is backed up by science.

But then, what's a village without an idiot?

Title: Re: Hypothalimus
Post by vig on Sep 11^th, 2005, 8:34am

on 09/11/05 at 03:23:52, CHTom wrote:

that's a steaming heap right there...

10 seconds on google can give you better:

The hypothalamus is also the area of the brain that controls body temperature, hunger and thirst, and circadian cycles.

The hypothalamus links the nervous system to the endocrine system by synthesizing and secreting neurohormones often called releasing hormones because they function by stimulating the secretion of hormones from the anterior pituitary gland

from Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypothalamus

Title: Re: Hypothalimus
Post by E-Double on Sep 11^th, 2005, 8:59am

on 09/11/05 at 03:37:35, Jonny wrote:

That is an idiotic statement...you have no idea what you are talking about.

Pain functions?

Sorry Jonny,

Though very loosly speaking, CHTom is correct or not incorrect.....
The Hypothalamus has a direct effect on the ANS which does effect "pain"

http://thalamus.wustl.edu/course/hypoANS.html

http://216.109.125.130/search/cache?p=hypothalamus+pain&toggle=1&ei=UTF-8&u=ninr.nih.gov/ninr/research/dea/2001grants/neuro/holden.pdf&w=hypothalamus+pain&d=RQ3nucp5LYRE&icp=1&.intl=us

http://216.109.125.130/search/cache?p=hypothalamus+pain&toggle=1&ei=UTF-8&u=www.medscape.com/viewarticle/488336_print&w=hypothalamus+pain&d=CqkeZ8p5LX4h&icp=1&.intl=us

Sorry BMonee.....it comes down to chemical that are put out in our hypothalmus either in excess or decreased amounts.
Everything in our body is controlled essentially by the hypothalamus gland.

You read the mention of the "clock"
We need the body to be in homeostasis which is essentially balance.
When something is off...chemically everything gets out of whack.
Our rhythms thus the sleep problems which is directly due to melatonin, seratonin and other 'tonins ;)

Anyway we are just a mess!

Hope this was somewhat helpful, though I'm sure someone more articulate than I will come along.

E

Title: Re: Hypothalimus
Post by BMoneeTheMoneeMan on Sep 11^th, 2005, 1:15pm

Thanks for the help.

I have been seeing the endocrinologist at my hospital for a hyperthyroid. This quack says that the thyroid is the gland of the body that runs lots of the chemicals, keeps body temp, heartrate.......and oddly enough, when not running properly, can make one's eye(s) 'bug'. Look at barbara bush, she had a hyperactive thyroid, and that is why she has such pronounced 'bug eyes'. My 'bug eye' is the same side of my face that i get the CH on.

So anyway, back to the Firken Point:
Yous think its my hypothalimus that's fucked up and it messed with my thyroid........or yous think my thyroid is fucked up and it messed with my hypothalimus?

Statisically speaking, it is really rare for someone to 'get' 2 different diseases at the same time......im thinking one may have triggered the other.
BMonee

Title: Re: Hypothalimus
Post by LeLimey on Sep 11^th, 2005, 2:59pm

BMonee you'll be surprised to know how many of us DO have different diseases!
I've been trying to find some info for you that I know I can get when one of my clever friends is back at work tomorrow!
Not only is he extremely knowledgable he has a way of explaining things that even I can understand so you should have no problems.
I don't know enough to know if thyroid can affect hypothalamus or vice versa but I'm interested in finding out some of the same answers as you

Title: Re: Hypothalimus
Post by Gator on Sep 11^th, 2005, 8:14pm

on 09/11/05 at 01:36:23, nani wrote:

Our hypothalmus is fucked up.

When it is all said and done, this pretty much sums it up. (at least as far as they know so far)

Title: Re: Hypothalimus
Post by CHTom on Sep 11^th, 2005, 8:24pm

The surgeons will try to unfuck my hypothalamus this Thursday.

Title: Re: Hypothalimus
Post by Ree on Sep 11^th, 2005, 8:27pm

Well my hubby is asleep on the couch.... I am thinking I just might get out the plyers and my new french fry scoop and amputate his hypothalumus.....
They can put a man on the moon but they can't fix the hypothalumus..... ( or name it something easier to type)

CH sucks..... ree

Title: Re: Hypothalimus
Post by BMoneeTheMoneeMan on Sep 11^th, 2005, 10:12pm

CH DOES suck, man.
I had some pretty pesky shadows most of the day today. O2 didnt help much at all. O2 really doesnt help me for just shadows.

PF wishes to all
BMonee

Title: Re: Hypothalimus
Post by LeLimey on Sep 12^th, 2005, 5:07am

BMonee I hope this helps you and everyone, I got it from one of my clever friends!

The hypothalamus is at the base of the brain and is the shape of an almond. Its main function is to regulate such factors as blood pressure, body temperature, fluids and electrolyte balance, the metabolism of fats and carbohydrates, and sugar levels. Structurally, it is joined to the thalamus and the two work together to help generate the sleep/wake cycle.

It also regulates both the exocrine and endocrine glands. Endocrine glands include the gonads, pineal, pituitary, thyroid, parathyroid, thymus and adrenals. The hypothalamus controls thyroid output indirectly - it does this by influencing pituitary hormones which reach the thyroid.

Apart from daily regulation of the endocrine system, the hypo also controls the timing of the release of a variety of neurohormones and neurotransmitters involved in daily and seasonal rhythms. This is thought to be fuelled by the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) - known as the master body clock - which is believed to be malfunctioning amongst sufferers.

I don't know whether or not our dodgy hypo can cause a malfunctioning thyroid, but it wouldn't surprise me in the least.
Floridian has picked up some data on this, as follows:

"There is conflicting evidence as to whether clusterheads as a group have unusual thyroid activity. It is known that the Hypothalamus plays a role in regulating the thyroid, and the hypothalamus does not work normally in cluster headaches. Only two studies have been published on this topic, and both were relatively small and were conducted in the 1980s.

The first study found that T3 thyroid hormone (the active form) was lower in cluster headache patients. Levels of T4 and TSH (thyroid stimulating hormone) were also lower than normal, although this did not reach statistical significance (but might have in a larger study).

A second study found that there was no difference between clusterheads and normal people in terms of T3, T4, or TSH. They did, however, find an unusual pattern of the hormone prolactin and response to prolactin:

1) 24 hour average levels of prolactin are abnormally low in male (but not female) cluster headache patients when in remission and in cycle.

2) Prolactin levels are often abnormally high during a cluster attack.

3) Secretion of prolactin in response to TRH was lower in the female patients (not in the males)."

Title: Re: Hypothalimus
Post by JJA on Sep 12^th, 2005, 7:27am

To simplify LeLimey's post (great post by the way)... It's possible that your fucked-up hypothalamus caused your fucked-up thyroid (but not vise-versa). However, there is no good evidence to support this. It's probably just a coincidence.

Jesse

Title: Re: Hypothalimus
Post by Bob P on Sep 12^th, 2005, 8:53am

http://www.clusterheadaches.org/library/hypothalamus/index.htm

Title: Re: Hypothalimus
Post by seasonalboomer on Sep 12^th, 2005, 10:46am

on 09/11/05 at 03:23:52, CHTom wrote:

Tomorrow I am off to get mine operated on, so I'll be off the board for a few weeks, but will let you know the results.

You're getting your hypothalamus operated on? What for? By who? That's a pretty tricky place to have people poking around...

Title: Re: Hypothalimus
Post by Ueli on Sep 12^th, 2005, 1:13pm

on 09/11/05 at 03:23:52, CHTom wrote:

...., so I'll be off the board for a few weeks, ....

That's probably an empty promise, as this troll will soon be back with a new name, uttering more garbage.

>:(

Title: Re: Hypothalimus
Post by Frank_W on Sep 12^th, 2005, 1:27pm

Outstanding, Helen. Thank you for that reply.

I agree with Ueli: This troll will be back under a different moniker. ::)

Title: Re: Hypothalimus
Post by seasonalboomer on Sep 12^th, 2005, 1:51pm

So is it confirmed that CHTom is our troll (Hdido, PCMMK,etc...). If so, this guy is a real piece of work. What determination to do bad.

Scott

Title: Re: Hypothalimus
Post by Kate in Oz on Sep 12^th, 2005, 11:30pm

on 09/11/05 at 03:23:52, CHTom wrote:

I read the posts every day, even if in the middle of an attack-the extra pain is worth it. Keep well everyone-Tom

I'm a newbie here and even I'm suss.... how can you do ANYTHING in the middle of an attack ?????

Kate

Title: Re: Hypothalimus
Post by aceserve on Sep 13^th, 2005, 11:57am

CHTom,

If you're an imposter (someone posing as a CH sufferer), why don't you go operate on your hypothalamus with a Texas toothpick (aka Deep-Throat prober).

Anyone who claims to browse the Internet while suffering an attack is not only bogus, but stupidly showed that he is a fraud.

Ace

Title: Re: Hypothalimus
Post by LeLimey on Sep 13^th, 2005, 11:59am

Hi Ace!
Long time no see.. how are you doing?
Helen

Title: Re: Hypothalimus
Post by aceserve on Sep 13^th, 2005, 3:05pm

Hello LeLimey (Helen),

Just fine, thank you for asking. I hope you are well, out there in the UK.

Warm wishes,
Ace

Title: Re: Hypothalimus
Post by burnt-toast on Sep 17^th, 2005, 6:24am

Here is a fairly simple description - The Hypothalamus helps control our bodily clocks i.e. sleep/wake/seasonal cycles. In addition it links our chemical/hormone and electrical/nervous systems.

It's obviously a short circuit caused by caustic body chemicals. We don't need no stinking Doctors - we need chemical engineers that sideline as electricians ;).

Tom

Title: Re: Hypothalimus
Post by Samiam on Sep 17^th, 2005, 4:08pm

I've had clusters for a long time I would cycle every year. In short I just posted my feelings on this on another tread. I've been on Levoxyl (thyroid meds) for 2 year now. I've had blood test done and the normal thyroid panels said I wasn't hypothryoid yet when they went on to do my Free T's it showed that I was very low on both. Since I was showing symptoms of thyroid for year I think they agreed to do a trial run with the drug. Well after being on the levoxyl I didn't cycle this time for what ever reason my cycle skipped and so far I remain in remission. I'm now on Armour which has T3 and T4 in it and so far I've been cluster free. I'm hoping that this may be my answer. I also saw where someone said about the prolatin well one year when I was cycling my breast began to leak for no reason when I had a blood test it showed a high prolactin level so maybe we are on to something. Now if Doctors would just think outside the box....Blessings Sami

Title: Re: Hypothalimus
Post by jon019 on Sep 17^th, 2005, 4:36pm

Posted by: JJA Posted on: Sep 12th, 2005, 7:27am
To simplify LeLimey's post (great post by the way)... It's possible that your fucked-up hypothalamus caused your fucked-up thyroid (but not vise-versa). However, there is no good evidence to support this. It's probably just a coincidence.

Jesse

Hmmm,

Coincidence or not I've also been told I am borderline hypothyroid (no symptoms though other than CH????)

regards

Jon019

Title: Re: Hypothalimus
Post by Samiam on Sep 17^th, 2005, 4:45pm

Are you sure you don't have any symptoms? There were ones on there that I didn't even know where thyroid related. Either way if the thyroid meds keep me from getting the beast so be it. Simple fix rather then taking all the drugs they wanted me to take.....Blessings Sami

Title: Re: Hypothalimus
Post by BMoneeTheMoneeMan on Sep 17^th, 2005, 8:37pm

Symptoms of hyperactive thyroid? oh, yes, i have almost all of them. Feel hot, shaking and tremors, one bug eye, goiter, weight loss.......the usual.

my father, sister and aunt are all hypo. I am hyper. No one has CH except me.
BMonee

Title: Re: Hypothalimus
Post by Samiam on Sep 18^th, 2005, 12:02pm

I'm Hypothyroid. Here is the check list: I didn't have any of the risk factors.

My risk factors for hypothyroidism include:

____ I have a family history of thyroid disease
____ I have had my thyroid "monitored" in the past to watch for changes
____ I had a previous diagnosis of goiters/nodules
____ I currently have a goiter
____ I was treated for hypothyroidism in the past
____ I had post-partum thyroiditis in the past
____ I had a temporary thyroiditis in the past
____ I have another autoimmune disease
____ I have had a baby in the past nine months
____ I have a history of miscarriage
____ I have had part/all of my thyroid removed due to cancer
____ I have had part/all of my thyroid removed due to nodules
____ I have had part/all of my thyroid removed due to Graves' Disease/hyperthyroidism
____ I have had radioactive iodine due to Graves' Disease/hyperthyroidism
____ I have had anti-thyroid drugs due to Graves' Disease/hyperthyroidism

I have the following symptoms of hypothyroidism, as detailed by the Merck Manual, the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, and the Thyroid Foundation of America

____ I am gaining weight inappropriately
____ I'm unable to lose weight with diet/exercise
____ I am constipated, sometimes severely
____ I have hypothermia/low body temperature (I feel cold when others feel hot, I need extra sweaters, etc.)
____ I feel fatigued, exhausted
____ Feeling run down, sluggish, lethargic
____ My hair is coarse and dry, breaking, brittle, falling out
____ My skin is coarse, dry, scaly, and thick
____ I have a hoarse or gravely voice
____ I have puffiness and swelling around the eyes and face
____ I have pains, aches in joints, hands and feet
____ I have developed carpal-tunnel syndrome, or it's getting worse
____ I am having irregular menstrual cycles (longer, or heavier, or more frequent)
____ I am having trouble conceiving a baby
____ I feel depressed
____ I feel restless
____ My moods change easily
____ I have feelings of worthlessness
____ I have difficulty concentrating
____ I have more feelings of sadness
____ I seem to be losing interest in normal daily activities
____ I'm more forgetful lately

I also have the following additional symptoms, which have been reported more frequently in people with hypothyroidism:

____ My hair is falling out
____ I can't seem to remember things
____ I have no sex drive
____ I am getting more frequent infections, that last longer
____ I'm snoring more lately
____ I have/may have sleep apnea
____ I feel shortness of breath and tightness in the chest
____ I feel the need to yawn to get oxygen
____ My eyes feel gritty and dry
____ My eyes feel sensitive to light
____ My eyes get jumpy/tics in eyes, which makes me dizzy/vertigo and have headaches
____ I have strange feelings in neck or throat
____ I have tinnitus (ringing in ears)
____ I get recurrent sinus infections
____ I have vertigo
____ I feel some lightheadedness
____ I have severe menstrual cramps

Title: Re: Hypothalimus
Post by ExcedrinLady on Sep 19^th, 2005, 5:10pm

BMONEE

I also suffer with Hyperthyroidism. Maybe it's not that big of a coincidence huh? Ya never know.

Title: Re: Hypothalimus
Post by Kate in Oz on Sep 19^th, 2005, 9:18pm

Wow,

I'd never heard of hyperthyroidism...but I'm ticking off that list. :-/

I thought most of my symptoms where to do with suffering from fibromyalgia..(also linked to abnormalities with the hypothalamus I have recently discovered). I tend to just regard all ill health and poor condition with that.

Perhaps there is something in it??

Kate

Title: Re: Hypothalimus
Post by BMoneeTheMoneeMan on Sep 19^th, 2005, 9:51pm

Hey Sami, or anyone else that knows, where did you get that checklist from? The thing seems to be all about hypo, and doesnt talk much about hyper. But, i am hyper and i have many of the symptoms in that list.
Lots of the things on that list i do suffer from, had no idea it could be related to the Graves Disease (hypeRthyroidism).
Where did you get this? got a link to more info?
Thanks n PF wishes
BMonee

Title: Re: Hypothalimus
Post by Samiam on Sep 20^th, 2005, 3:48pm

Here is the check list for HyPERthyroidism. I have hypo and since I have been on meds I noticed that I have not cycled.

Fibro many feel are symptoms of untreated thyroid. There are many case studies on this.

My risk factors for hyperthyroidism include:

____ I have a family history of thyroid disease

____ Parent(type of thyroid problem __________________)
____ Grandparent (type of thyroid problem ______________)
____ Sibling (type of thyroid problem __________________)
____ Child (type of thyroid problem __________________)

I have had my thyroid "monitored" in the past to watch for changes
____ I had a previous diagnosis of goiters/nodules
____ I currently have a goiter/enlargement in my thyroid and/or thyroid nodules
____ I was treated for hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism in the past
____ I had post-partum thyroiditis or hyperthyroidism during pregnancy in the past
____ I had a temporary thyroiditis in the past
____ I have another autoimmune disease
____ I am pregnant now, or I have had a baby in the past nine months
____ I have a history of miscarriage
____ I have had radioactive iodine in the past due to Graves' Disease/hyperthyroidism
____ I have taken anti-thyroid drugs in the past due to Graves' Disease or a diagnosis of hyperthyroidism

I have the following symptoms of hyperthyroidism, as detailed by the Merck Manual, the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, and the Thyroid Foundation of America

____ My heart feels like it's skipping a beat, racing and I feel like I'm having heart palpitations
____ My pulse is unusually fast
____ My pulse, even when resting or in bed, is high
____ My hands are shaking, I'm having hand tremors
____ I feel hot when others feel cold, I am feeling inappropriately hot or overheated
____ I'm having increased perspiration
____ I am losing weight inappropriately
____ I am losing weight but my appetite has increased
____ I feel like I have a lot of nervous energy that I need to burn off
____ I am having diarrhea or loose or more frequent bowel movements
____ I feel nervous or irritable
____ My skin looks or feels thinner
____ My muscles feel weak, particularly the upper arms and thighs
____ I am having difficulty getting to sleep, staying asleep, or going back to sleep after awakening in the middle of the night
____ I feel fatigued, exhausted
____ My hair is coarse and dry, breaking, brittle, falling out
____ My skin is coarse, dry, scaly, thin
____ I have a hoarse or gravely voice
____ I have pains, aches in joints, hands and feet
____ I am having irregular menstrual cycles (shorter, longer, or heavier, or more frequent, or not at all)
____ I am having trouble conceiving a baby
____ I have had one or more miscarriages
____ I feel depressed
____ I feel restless, or anxious
____ I have had panic attacks. Sponsored Links
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____ I've recently been diagnosed as having panic disorder, anxiety disorder, or panic attacks
____ I have puffiness and swelling around the eyes and face
____ My eyes seem to be enlarging, or getting more "bug-eyed" looking
____ My moods change easily
____ I have feelings of worthlessness
____ I have difficulty concentrating or focusing
____ I have more feelings of sadness
____ I seem to be losing interest in normal daily activities
____ I'm more forgetful lately

I also have the following additional symptoms, which have been reported more frequently in people with hyperthyroidism:

____ My hair is falling out
____ I can't seem to remember things
____ I have no sex drive, or am having sexual performance problems
____ I am getting more frequent infections, that last longer
____ I feel shortness of breath and tightness in the chest
____ My eyes feel gritty and dry
____ My eyes feel sensitive to light
____ My eyes get jumpy/tics in eyes, which makes me dizzy/vertigo and have headaches
____ I have strange feelings in neck or throat
____ I have tinnitus (ringing in ears)
____ I get recurrent sinus infections
____ I have vertigo
____ I feel some lightheadedness
____ I have severe menstrual cramps

Title: Re: Hypothalimus
Post by joey_the_grip on Sep 25^th, 2005, 4:05am

I have many symptoms of both hyper and hypo thyroid during my ch cycles. I call this an aura. It is sometimes more disturbing than the headaches themselves. My episodes are usually 1 or 2 a day for a half hour each. But the symptoms of thyroid malfunction last for the entire month or two of my cycle. Outside of the cycles I feel fine in all respects.