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        New Message Board Archives >> 2005 Cluster Headache Specific Posts >> Can you go from EPISODIC to CHRONIC/
        
(Message started by: Tim_T on Dec 7^th, 2005, 5:43pm)

Title: Can you go from EPISODIC to CHRONIC/
Post by Tim_T on Dec 7^th, 2005, 5:43pm

Please tell me NO!!! I have suffered from Episodic CHs for over 30 years. Its been 28 months since my last episode(the longest pain free time ever.) My Bouts usually last for about 8 weeks and although i"m just at 8 weeks, it feels like they are just starting. I can"t really explain but after 30 years this episode has been very different. The PAIN is the same(Still UNBEARABLE at times) Still getting 2 to 5 CHs per day. But they seem to be getting worse not better as they usually do by now!!!!Not sure how much more I can take!!!!!

Title: Re: Can you go from EPISODIC to CHRONIC/
Post by Svenn on Dec 7^th, 2005, 5:47pm

MOST DEFINATLY YESS

So sorry but there it is.

Your story tells me that you are far,far away from tipping over to be cronic so you try relaxe

Svenn

Title: Re: Can you go from EPISODIC to CHRONIC/
Post by E-Double on Dec 7^th, 2005, 6:38pm

You have another 10 months to go so don't sweat it.
Deal the best you can.
I was episodic for 10 yrs.
Went chronic last march.
Haven't had a full blown hit in over 2 weeks, just a couple of shadows.

Ya never know.

Stay positive

Title: Re: Can you go from EPISODIC to CHRONIC/
Post by bnfreeman on Dec 7^th, 2005, 7:21pm

Sure can. Went chronic in October and still going.

Hey E- good to hear you are doing better. Is it the Lithium or did you come off? I remember you were toxic not long ago.

Brandi

Title: Re: Can you go from EPISODIC to CHRONIC/
Post by E-Double on Dec 7^th, 2005, 8:03pm

on 12/07/05 at 19:21:41, bnfreeman wrote:

Sure can. Went chronic in October and still going.

Hey E- good to hear you are doing better. Is it the Lithium or did you come off? I remember you were toxic not long ago.

Brandi

off lith & trying to come off verap. slowlyyyyyyyyyyy

Title: Re: Can you go from EPISODIC to CHRONIC/
Post by unsolved1 on Dec 7^th, 2005, 8:55pm

12 years episodic then been chronic since Oct 2000.

So....YES you can !

UNsolved

Title: Re: Can you go from EPISODIC to CHRONIC/
Post by MJ on Dec 7^th, 2005, 10:37pm

Yes and back again to episodic

Title: Re: Can you go from EPISODIC to CHRONIC/
Post by zwibbs/Scott on Dec 8^th, 2005, 1:48am

Hi Tim. I am in the same boat as you. I hadn't had an attack for the past two years, then in Mid-October they started up. I have been suffering through this nonsense for twenty eight years, and My present cycle is different from the others that I suffered through. I agree with the other posters----calm down. When I get stressed out the attack intensifies. My mind wanders all over the place and it frustrates the heck out of me. Be strong and hopefully our present situation will only stay as an episode.

Title: Re: Can you go from EPISODIC to CHRONIC/
Post by Bob_Johnson on Dec 8^th, 2005, 3:43am

Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2002 Feb;6(1):65-70.

What predicts evolution from episodic to chronic cluster headache?

Torelli P, Manzoni GC.

Headache Centre, Institute of Neurology, Strada del Quartiere, 4, Parma 43100, Italy. paolatorelli@libero.it

Over the last few years, attention has increasingly been focused on the evolution of cluster headache over time. Predictive factors have been identified that are correlated with an increased risk of unfavorable evolution from the episodic form to the chronic form of cluster headache. Late onset, the presence of sporadic attacks, a high frequency of cluster periods, and short-lived duration of remission periods when the headache is still in its episodic form all correlate with a possible worsening of the clinical picture over time. The reasons for evolution of episodic cluster headache to chronic are still unknown, but some factors, such as head trauma and other lifestyle factors--eg, cigarette smoking and alcohol intake--have been suggested as having a negative influence on the course of cluster headache over time.

PMID: 11749880 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Title: Re: Can you go from EPISODIC to CHRONIC/
Post by BarbaraD on Dec 8^th, 2005, 7:08am

Yes, you can go from episodic to chronic, but there are several stories of chronics going back to episodic again after years of chronic.

Just hang in there - this may just be a long cycle. These things are unpredictibale at best. Don't panic = that just makes them worse.

Hugs BD

Title: Re: Can you go from EPISODIC to CHRONIC/
Post by burnt-toast on Dec 8^th, 2005, 8:47am

From what I've read there are cases where episodic sufferers turned chronic.

I'm waiting to go from chronic to episodic, I understand that happens as well... But I'm still waiting.

Best Wishes

Tom

Title: Re: Can you go from EPISODIC to CHRONIC/
Post by Karla on Dec 8^th, 2005, 1:24pm

Yes you can and you can go from chronic to eposodic.
It is early yet to be worring about it. You have a long ways to go 50 weeks of it before becomming chronic. If you are having changes in your ha's also you may want to mention it to your dr and ask for an MRI to rule out anything bad. Good luck and I hope they stop soon.

Title: Re: Can you go from EPISODIC to CHRONIC/
Post by BlueMeanie on Dec 8^th, 2005, 10:16pm

My last cycle was twice as long as normal over the last 29 years. They did finally end and I'm still episodic thank God. Try not to worry as you do have a long way to go before the "C" stage.

Vibes that the cycle ends soon. PFDAN

Title: Re: Can you go from EPISODIC to CHRONIC/
Post by CHTom on Dec 9^th, 2005, 2:00am

Unfortunately, you can go from epidsodic to chronic, though I sincerely hope that that is not what is happening to you. I had my first attact in 1980, then nothing until 1988 and after that the frequency of attacks increased from 1 a year, lasting 2-4 weeks, to twice a year, then 3x, then 4x, etc. until 1995 when I got hit in September and did not have a break until a spontaneous, one year remission from Feb. 2001 to April 2002 (no one knows why these remissions occur and sometimes they can last more than a year or one can return to episodic or chronic again). My April 2002 attack was the return of my chronic phase again and the longest that I have been pain free since then was 3 days (after undergoing DBS implant surgery in September of this year); the pain returned after another 2 day pain free period. Had the voltage in my DBS device increased from 2.5 to 3 volts a couple of weeks ago and had a 2 1/2 day pain free period last week, now back to chronic, usually hitting 10 on the pain scale (mornings tend to be pain free for a few hours; driving will always set off an attack and bright lights and working on the computer at work make things worse. I will usually get a 2-3 hours relatively pain free period during some days, but then rapidly return to a 8-10 level attack lasting until I go to bed-take Dilaudid, Fentanyl and sometimes sleep meds so that I can get some rest). We chronics are a rather exclusive club and I willl vote that you not be allowed to become a member-really, the dues you have to pay are not worth the "benefits". I sincerely hope that you are just having an extra long episodic attack and that the pain will leave soon. I read that you have been suffering for 30 years; I don't know your age, but I have read and been told that as one ages the frequency of attacks decreases and that chronics can return to being episodic and that episodics can become pain free, my wish for you. I am in my mid 50's and things have not gotten better, despite increasing age and the DBS surgery (going back t the hospital in January to have the voltage jacked up again, unless the damn pain decreases-right!). Perhaps if I live as long as Noah (900 years, I think), I'll return to being episodic. Good luck, my friend and, once again, I sincerely hope that you are just having an extended episode of pain that will vanish soon and your life can get back to normal. PFDANs!