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        New Message Board Archives >> 2007 General Board Posts >> Mini Rant and ?
        
(Message started by: tanner on Aug 25^th, 2007, 2:51pm)

Title: Mini Rant and ?
Post by tanner on Aug 25^th, 2007, 2:51pm

I had to call in this morning for the first time since starting the new job >:(

Yesterday I went in at the usual 9:00am and immediately started running around putting the Green Room and backstage area in order for an 11:30 band arrival. The heat index here was 110, but that is not unusual for Gods country ::)

I was hydrating like crazy....water, gator ade, oj, and emergenC mixed in water. At about 1:00 I got hit out of left field with a solid K8 and slammed a couple redbulls but kept moving so as to hide the attack, again not that unusual.

By 3:00 I started cramping up something awful...hands, feet, calves, everywhere. I continued my routine of trying to out-play the Beast getting hit every hour with 20 min. attacks. By the time the band started at 10:15pm I had counted 7 with no little ones and was still fighting the cramping, Vitamin E, Calcium, Potassium and minerals.

At 12:30am I got hit with the biggest and longest attack of the night (about an hour) and could not hide it from several people including the Event M.O.D a young A type lady who semi freaked. With the help of the backstage sound and light guy's who have become friends we managed a very fast breakdown and I got out of there at 2:00am and I made it home with heavy shadows.

I got some sleep after winding down but fitful and with a wake-up. This morning when I went to roll out of bed a leg cramp dropped me to the floor and I made the call to the track right after.

Any suggestions re: the cramping and something else I could/should try?

Best Regards to all............Tim

Title: Re: Mini Rant and ?
Post by Rosybabe on Aug 25^th, 2007, 3:10pm

Tim are you taking ergotamines? cafergot gives me cramps and as soon I stop taking it , the cramps stop.

maybe you were overheating. My Hubby is mowing the yard right now and it is very hot and humid outside. I would not be surprised that you had heat exhaustion added to the CH hits.

http://www.medicinenet.com/heat_exhaustion/article.htm

take care Tim. :)

Title: Re: Mini Rant and ?
Post by sandie99 on Aug 25^th, 2007, 3:11pm

Tim... [smiley=hug.gif]

Caffeine caused tiny things with my body, but I don't know if it can cause that... sounds scary, though.

Lots of vibes & PF days,
Sanna

Title: Re: Mini Rant and ?
Post by tanner on Aug 25^th, 2007, 3:45pm

on 08/25/07 at 15:10:27, Rosybabe wrote:

Rosy, I am currently taking nothing specifically for the HA's. I do take a 20/12.5 mix of Lisinopril-HCTZ for the BP spikes that accompany the hits. This was perscribed by my last head Doc as something to offset the high numbers after having been way up on Verap for so long.

Thanks for the reply I am googling as much as I can :-*

Sanna, thank you for your reply also I will look into caffiene, but I really hope that I don't have to give up my last resort other then ice. "In RedBull I trust also" ;)

.......and BTW we have horse tracks here in Houston.....I work at one!....hint, hint [smiley=hug.gif]

Title: Re: Mini Rant and ?
Post by nani on Aug 25^th, 2007, 4:03pm

Tim, since you're on HCTZ, are you taking potassium supplements? Between the heat and the med, you may be losing way too many electrolytes. Caffeine dehydrates ya, too. :-/

Have your potassium checked next time you're at the doc... low potassium can cause your heart to stop.

I hope you feel better soon, boo.
hugs, nani

Title: Re: Mini Rant and ?
Post by tanner on Aug 25^th, 2007, 5:10pm

on 08/25/07 at 16:03:18, nani wrote:

Hi sweetie, I don't think I have remembered to Hug you lately so UMMMMMMM ahhh consider it done ;).

Thanks, I am only getting mini hits so far today so will spend some time trying to look for better sources of K. Having HepC as an added bonus ::) I need to keep track of metals to some degree (Catch 22). I am currently only taking a 3% daily along with the 1% from V8 and the small percentages in most foods. This seems like a very likely suspect re: the cramps. As soon as Lin and I get covered by health ins. again (soon)(keeping fingers crossed), I will be looking for a whole new batch of Doctors down here to tell my sordid tale to ;;D

Hugz and best back to school vibes to mooshie and thanks girlfriend for having always "been there" when I need.

Love to your whole Family........Tim

Title: Re: Mini Rant and ?
Post by chewy on Aug 25^th, 2007, 5:58pm

Combination of heat and excess fluids.

Title: Re: Mini Rant and ?
Post by tanner on Aug 25^th, 2007, 7:09pm

on 08/25/07 at 17:58:45, chewy wrote:

Combination of heat and excess fluids.

Thanks Chewy, Duly noted! I need to look at all the possibles as this is a new development and is fu#king with my new regimine of dealing with that which should not be named ;)

Stay cool up there on the real coast.......Tim

Title: Re: Mini Rant and ?
Post by deltadarlin on Aug 25^th, 2007, 8:42pm

Bananas, bananas, bananas. Excellent of source of potassium.

And I'm with nani here, get it checked out. I remember way back years ago, daddy thought he was having a heart attack. His potassium was completely out of whack.

If you're taking supplements, you might want to rethink *when* you take them. If you take over 600 mg of calcium at one time, you're wasting it, because you piss the excess out (calcium should always be taken in two seperate doses, one in the morning and one at night).

Title: Re: Mini Rant and ?
Post by Kirk on Aug 25^th, 2007, 9:16pm

I had a similiar prob a few years back when getting overheated while working. Potassium, Zinc and Magnesium turned out to be the culprits. Potassium was the one I had to really watch.
Get it checked out.

[smiley=smokin.gif]

Title: Re: Mini Rant and ?
Post by tanner on Aug 25^th, 2007, 9:34pm

thanks again folks :)

Caroline, I take all vitamins and minerals in baby doses spread throughout the day per my last hematologist. i know exactly what you mean about creating expensive piss ;;D

I have just put a pot of potassium and many other good things
soup on to cook. I don't have the option of getting to far into having things checked by Docs until insurance kicks back in.

For some odd reason as soon as I list my medical history or transfer my files to a new Doc. things get very expensive.hmmm [smiley=huh.gif]

Kirk thanks also for your response, zinc and magnesium are two of the other culprits that fall smack into my above mentioned "Catch 22". Ain't life grand ::).

I will very carefully try to manage with nutritional changes until I get covered again.

Oh and BTW: I always listen to nani....and jean....and helen...and linda...and well it would just be easier to say that Jeffie (when he is around >:() and zwibby are not on what is a very long list.

love ya Scott ;;D

PFDANS to all and positive vibes still coming out of South Texas........Tim

Title: Re: Mini Rant and ?
Post by Charlie on Aug 25^th, 2007, 10:05pm

Not fun Tim.

I wish I had something exciting but all I can say is to try my technique. It helped me when I got hit out and about. It just might work:

Dr. Wright’s Circulatory Technique:

I am not sure what mechanism is triggered by this but whatever it is, at least indirectly helps kill the pain. I do know that this technique has nothing to do with meditation, relaxation, or psychic ability. It is entirely physical and takes some work. It involves concentrating on trying to redirect a little circulation to the arms, hands, or legs. Think of feeling your pulse in your hand. Increased circulation will result in a reddening and warming of the hands. The important and difficult part is that it has to be done without interruption through the pain. Do not give up in frustration. It may not work on the first try. Every now and then it will work almost immediately. I lived for those moments. Try experimenting between attacks. You will find that it gets easier with practice.

I was given less than five minutes instruction in the use of method. The doctor, while placing his arm on his desk, showed me that he could slightly increase his arm and hand circulation. After several attempts, I was able to repeat this procedure and use it successfully. I have had about a 75% success rate shortening these attacks. My 20 minute attacks were often reduced to 10 minutes or less. Once proven that I had a chance to effectively deal with this horror, I always gave it a try as I had nothing to lose but pain.

I used to try to imagine I was pushing blood away from my neck into my arm. Use your imagination. There is one man who wrote that his standing barefoot on a concrete floor shortened his attacks. This may be similar as it draws some circulation away from the head. Cold water, exercise, or anything affecting circulation, seems to be worth a try. My suggestion is to not let up immediately when the pain goes. Waiting a minute is probably a good idea. So long as you do not slack off, this has a chance of working.

This technique is very useful while waiting for medication to take effect or when none is available. It costs nothing, is non-invasive, and can be used just about anywhere. It is not a miracle but it helped me deal with this horror. It can be a bit exhausting but the success rate was good enough for me and a cluster headache sufferer will do just about anything to end the pain. It gives us a fighting chance.

Charlie