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        New Message Board Archives >> 2006-2007 Getting to Know Ya Posts >> First time poster with a question
        
(Message started by: jack8417 on Apr 18^th, 2007, 11:41am)

Title: First time poster with a question
Post by jack8417 on Apr 18^th, 2007, 11:41am

Hi, Several years ago I came here, but I did not post.
Having had these headaches I sympathize with all of you especially the people that have them often.

I thought I would introduce myself and see if I could get some feedback for my latest episode.

My name is Jack and I am 62. I do not smoke, but I have a glass or two of red wine almost every night. I have only had two episodes of these headaches in maybe the last 8 years. The last episode was maybe 5 years ago. Each episode lasted about one month, and was always on the left side of my face. I would get maybe two attacks a day and they were usually around the same time of day.

This latest episode seems a little different. Three weeks from this coming Saturday I just had finished playing racquetball when I noticed some familiar symptoms. At 1st I had some pain in a left molar and my eye hurt and I had some pain (slight) in the temple. Each day since then I have had similar symptoms, but only on a scale of 1 or 2. I thought maybe that this time it will be different and I will only get these small headaches for a month and I would be done with it.

Last night around 10 in the evening I got another attack, but this time it was maybe a 5 or 6. I guess I will find out tonight, but I was just curious whether these episodes always ultimately result in the 9 and 10 pain threshold attacks before they go away. I was hoping (of course) that I was just going to have these mild headaches for a month and that would be it, but that is probably wishful thinking.

I have a vacation scheduled for May 11th and I am nervous that I will still have these at that time.

Thanks in advance for any feedback that you can give me.
jack

Title: Re: First time poster with a question
Post by George_J on Apr 18^th, 2007, 3:05pm

Welcome, Jack.

It's really impossible to answer whether the attacks will inevitably ramp up and become stronger in any given cycle. So many people are different, symptomatically, and their cycles present in so many different ways. I don't know whether anyone could answer your question definitively.

In my particular case, whenever a cycle begins, the headaches will invariably increase in intensity and frequency before they again subside. But I'm a seasonal episodic whose cycles really have not changed, significantly, for many years--although they have become more infrequent.

From what I've seen here, however, this clockwork behavior of episodic CH is as much an exception as a rule--although it's mentioned, often, as a diagnostic criterion. There are a great many people here whose CH does not follow a discernable pattern.

Wish I could give you a better answer, but I'm not sure there is one.

Again, welcome. A pleasure to meet you.

Best wishes,

George

Title: Re: First time poster with a question
Post by Guiseppi on Apr 18^th, 2007, 3:20pm

What George said. ;) For me it's the most frustrating aspect of the condition. As soon as I get "comfortable" with a routine it dramatically changes. Went from the same time...almost to the day....every year to start a perfect 3 month cycle....to bouncing all over the calendar, from never getting nite hits to frequent slams right after falling asleep. Now if I start getting any of the inditia that the cycle is coming back, I race to the neuro and make sure I'm stocked with the basics. Like George said, sorry the answers are of no help, it's the nature of the beast! Welcome to the board.

Guiseppi

Title: Re: First time poster with a question
Post by jack8417 on Apr 18^th, 2007, 3:37pm

Thanks Guys,
I guess time will tell. I hope I am outgrowing these. I hear they diminish as you get older. Glad to read about the oxygen and Red Bull, etc.. The wife is picking me up some Red Bull on the way home. I will check on the oxygen soon and Imitrex injections sound like they are preferred by many.
thanks again,
jack

Title: Re: First time poster with a question
Post by Yorky on Apr 18^th, 2007, 5:07pm

good luck buddy

Title: Re: First time poster with a question
Post by chrisw on Apr 19^th, 2007, 3:18pm

Jack,
Its impossible to know for sure how long your cycle will last. I always had a two to three month cycle, until this time around it is going to be eight months soon.

I had a cruise planned in february that my husband and I saved for a yr. to go on, and when the time was getting close and my ch werent going away like they should have, I had to go during a cycle.

I packed tons of imitrex, tablets and injections. I started a round of prednisone, and I upped my verapimil dosage. I was able to have a very good time on the cruise. (of course it would have been better without the beast following me) I just popped a lot of pills,and stabbed alot of imitrex, and stayed away from the "drink of the day" (boy that sucked)

It seemd the moreI wished for the ha to end before my vacation, the worse they got. Maybe if you try to put the trip out of your mind, and stop worrying they will end in time. If not, there are portable o2 tanks, an dothere meds you could bring along and still have a great time.

Good luck,
chrisw

Title: Re: First time poster with a question
Post by jack8417 on Apr 19^th, 2007, 3:31pm

Thanks Chris,
I was near the end of a cycle when we went on an Alaska cruise. I did not stay away from the drink of the day and luckily there was only one bad day.

Since this is only the 3rd cycle in about 8 years I was trying to find out if you can have a cycle where you do not get the 9s and 10s. Last night around 9pm I felt about a 2 or 3, but I had taken some Advil earlier. I have only had maybe one 4 or 5 and that had been it. The 1st time I noticed the cycle starting will be 3 weeks from this coming Sat.
I am waiting for the other shoe to drop, but hoping that it does not.
Yikes 8 months. Sorry.
Thank you,
jack

Title: Re: First time poster with a question
Post by Rosybabe on Apr 19^th, 2007, 6:47pm

HI Jack!

I really hope your cycle stays that way, with only mild hits and of a very short duration. Have you notice if when you have red wine do you get a hit? red wine is a sure trigger for me...well hope you get out of cycle very soon.

Title: Re: First time poster with a question
Post by jack8417 on Apr 19^th, 2007, 8:08pm

I skipped the red wine for a couple of days and still got the mild ones around the same time. If I get an 8, or 9 I will probably drop the red wine altogether. I have heard red wine mentioned many times as a trigger so I will pay attention. I think I am having two episodes a day at this point. Around 10 am and between 9 and 10 pm or so. It does seem like I start a headache when I get done playing racquetball, but that also happens to be around 10 am on Sat.
Thanks,
jack