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        New Message Board Archives >> 2006-2007 Getting to Know Ya Posts >> Smokers?
        
(Message started by: Fig on Aug 21^st, 2007, 10:31pm)

Title: Smokers?
Post by Fig on Aug 21^st, 2007, 10:31pm

Hi. It's been a while since I've posted, but I think of you all the time. I have been wondering about something....how many of you smoke, or did smoke and quit? If you quit, did you notice any affect on your headaches? I know that for a lot of people smoke (the smell) can be a trigger. I'm just curious about actual smoking, itself--breathing in the smoke, injesting nicotine.........What do you think?

I used to grab a cigarette when I felt a headache coming on....? I quit smoking 3 weeks ago. No change. How is it for you?

Marion

Title: Re: Smokers?
Post by Metalcreature on Aug 21^st, 2007, 11:33pm

Hi Marion,

I think its probably different for everyone when it comes to smoking. Its not a trigger for me at all. I think if i quit, id still get CH's, and just as bad. For example, gasoline is a big time trigger for me, as soon as i get a wiff of it, my headaches kick in, and ten minutes later, im full blown with the beast. But it might not bother anyone else on this board. Gas, perfumes, or cologne, or anything else of the like also sets me off. But cig smoke, or smoking doesnt bother me.

Title: Re: Smokers?
Post by George_J on Aug 22^nd, 2007, 2:36am

It's not a trigger for me.

That said, many of us do smoke tobacco. Perhaps it's a chicken-and-egg issue. Does smoking have some influence on CH onset, or do we smoke because we're self-medicating in some respect? I don't know. I do know that nicotine is a potent vasoconstrictor, and it does seem to help to fray the edges of the thing. At least in my experience.

Not the best thing to do, though, certainly. It ain't good for you in any way, shape or form.

All the best,

George

Title: Re: Smokers?
Post by clusterwife on Aug 28^th, 2007, 12:49pm

it all depends on
"what!"
r u smokin"!
Leah.

Title: Re: Smokers?
Post by MvT on Aug 28^th, 2007, 2:12pm

I had one when I was around 12 my dad and many of his friends and my friends smoke....

Title: Re: Smokers?
Post by Bob_Johnson on Aug 28^th, 2007, 3:40pm

Medical literature has been fairly consistent in reporting a relationship between CH and smoking but the underlying mechanisms which are harmful--I've never seen discussed.

I assume that toxic compounds from smoking may lead to a hypersensitivity of blood vessels--I don't know--but folks here seldom report much/if any benefit from stopping.

But that's not an argument to stopping, as you know!

Title: Re: Smokers?
Post by Charlotte on Aug 28^th, 2007, 5:46pm

I think the smoking is a coincidence. If ch were related to smoking, wouldn't more smokers have it. I don't smoke but smoke never bothered me, and I never thought about it. I was shocked when ex-smokers got so militant.

Charlotte

Title: Re: Smokers?
Post by davyp on Aug 28^th, 2007, 6:47pm

on 08/21/07 at 22:31:02, Fig wrote:

I used to grab a cigarette when I felt a headache coming on....? I quit smoking 3 weeks ago. No change. How is it for you?

Ime on day 5 and its a phucking nightmare, what possessed me to give up when i am having to cut my med intake back to zero is beyond me.

I used to grad a cigarette when i felt the beast rumbling about and also after an attack as well and it seemed to help me calm down.

Now ime getting slammed and its making it worse that i want a smoke but after a couple of abnormal ECG`s i ain't gonna take the risk.

Hope that your are still smoke free.

Dape

Title: Re: Smokers?
Post by Saffy on Sep 7^th, 2007, 8:21am

I know that there is supposed to be a relationship between smoking, drinking and CH.

However I have never smoked and I have never liked the taste of alcohol, so I don't drink at all.

Having said this 157 years ago, (well it seems that long,) when I was a teenager I did drink once or twice and only a couple of drinks. Very shortly an invisible man with an invisible truck would run over my head SO maybe it was a kind of aversion thing.

Also the smell of petrol or coal tar soap gets me every time since I small child.

Hope this helps in a small way.

Miles of Smiles form Sunny ( it really is at this moment honest) Wales. :) :D ;;D [smiley=laugh.gif]
Saffy

Title: Re: Smokers?
Post by barry_sword on Sep 7^th, 2007, 6:42pm

on 08/28/07 at 18:47:06, davyp wrote:

Glad to hear you are smoke free. ;;D Hang in there! I do not relate smoking and CH's, had them before quitting smoking and have them now without smoking. But I sure do miss that one after a hit, I found some sort of "peace" from it.

Barry

Title: Re: Smokers?
Post by assaultme on Sep 7^th, 2007, 8:15pm

Doesn't act as a trigger for me at all Barry.
Cheers, Dave

Title: :DRe: Smokers?
Post by Goudlake on Sep 18^th, 2007, 1:29pm

I have been a CH sufferer for 20 years...smoker for 25. Never figured on the relationship between the two.

April 2nd, my neurologist sent me to a shrink to be hypnotized to quit smoking. PFDAN since and have not touched a smoke since. Fingers are crossed.
G

Title: Re: :DRe: Smokers?
Post by seasonalboomer on Sep 18^th, 2007, 1:38pm

on 09/18/07 at 13:29:37, Goudlake wrote:

Hey Goud, do you suffer from Cluster Headaches? You're the first person I have ever seen report that quitting smoking created an immediate cessation of clusterheadache. Good for you for quitting though.

Title: Re: Smokers?
Post by Brewcrew on Sep 18^th, 2007, 2:06pm

The hypothalmus is the supposed addiction center of the brain. According to one theory, we all have deformed hypothalmuses (as CH sufferers). This is why I believe you see a much higher nicotine addiction rate amongst CH'ers. The deformed hypothalmus causes both our CH and makes it much more difficult to quit. It's almost like we're uber-addicted.

Title: Re: Smokers?
Post by Goudlake on Sep 18^th, 2007, 4:45pm

HI Seasonal....Prior to quitting, I was down with Clusters for weeks, up to as many as 6 weeks straight between relief. Gradually getting worse as the years went on. Had pretty much given up hope on a cure or a break.

I found it hard to believe myself. No smoking is a good thing regardless. No pain is a huge plus. Like I said, fingers crossed.

Title: Re: Smokers?
Post by E-Double on Sep 18^th, 2007, 7:58pm

had it when I did had it when I didnt
still have them and do.
Shall we dosey doh? ;)

Title: Re: Smokers?
Post by GrandPotentate on Sep 18^th, 2007, 9:30pm

I used to smoke a couple cartons a week (there was only so much time in a day), but quit when I was well doped up by an incompetent neuro. I'm glad I did, and hope you can do the same.

Everybody is different, and this topic always gets a lot of action. For me, I skipped several years after I quit. I almost had myself convinced I had found the cure, but they're back now. So maybe it was partially responsible for a few PF years, maybe coincidence. Geez, I don't know. But I feel better for having one less burden to bear.

I hope your hits are tolerable and your cycle short!

Title: Re: Smokers?
Post by Beastfodder on Sep 19^th, 2007, 5:45am

Once a smoker it's damn hard to give up.

Thing is you don't enjoy every cigarette but the one you really enjoy makes up for the rest. That's the pleasure that hooks you and does distract when the beast's visiting.

Title: Re: Smokers?
Post by ski2k on Sep 20^th, 2007, 8:01am

Has anybody else read the article on choline deficiency(spelling?) in clusterheads? According to the article, we have a lack of choline in the brain, and nicotine mimics choline in the body. That particular article kinda asked if that was the reason so many CH'ers were heavy smokers. Just kinda thought it was interesting. If I can find the article again, I'll post the link.
Smoke 'em if ya got 'em ;) ,
Adam

Title: Re: Smokers?
Post by scootman on Sep 20^th, 2007, 2:31pm

I am a smoker also but find no correlation between smoking and CHs. I am also interested in the results of this post but would bet that you will find a lot of caffeine addicts here also.

I smoke about a pack a day and drink A LOT of Mt. Dew. If I avoid the soda I can gurantee that my goose is cooked.

Title: Re: Smokers?
Post by Brewcrew on Sep 21^st, 2007, 8:09am

on 09/18/07 at 19:58:56, E-Double wrote:

Shall we dosey
http://www.arar93.dsl.pipex.com/mds975/Images/homer_simpson_doh_02.gif

Title: Re: Smokers?
Post by Omer on Sep 21^st, 2007, 8:38pm

[td] I used to grab a cigarette when I felt a headache coming on...[/td]

Hi there Marion,
I still grab a cigarette, however not able to smoke it!... but it does seem to ease the pain.
right after it goes away I do smoke.
The neurologist that I saw did mentioned that most man with CH have history of smoking.

Omer

Title: Re: Smokers?
Post by Lonnie on Sep 29^th, 2007, 10:24pm

Hi, I stopped for a couple of days but noticed no diff. Per suggestion I switched to American Spirit cigs that have no aditives at all. Obviously you would be better off to stop but since they don't seem to effect it I haven't.

Title: Re: Smokers?
Post by SouthBronxSupreme on Oct 5^th, 2007, 12:30pm

To add on

I smoke newports, its never triggered a headache - I feel it calms my nerves and honestly marijuana helps me out alot - sitting alone in a dark room with a blunt and some low music helps me get thru a KIP7-9 - I havent had a 10 for two months, the pain is still there yet you can focus off of it easier and it really helps with the depression, My dad had CH early on and he became an alcoholic for a while (before diagnosed) they usta say someone put a curse on him. moreless tho smoking usually helps me out.

Title: Re: Smokers?
Post by Miz_D on Oct 11^th, 2007, 8:38pm

Interesting topic...here's my 2 cents.

I smoked for 31 years with the last 8 also having chronic CH. I quit just over 2 months ago and for the last 2 weeks have been in a severe CH crisis. My condition over the past 6 years has been fairly predictable and now its like a whole new ballgame with meds suddenly not working, etc.

Any correlation between this change and quitting smoking? Don't know...but I'm not sorry I did...like was already said on here, its one less burden to bear. Also, smoking used to aggravate me if I had a shadow already, it seemed almost to bring on an episode. But I have to admit...I really miss that one after an attack...to me it was even better than having one after sex...eek, did I say that out loud??!!

Title: Re: Smokers?
Post by UpTheDownwardSpiral on Oct 12^th, 2007, 3:08am

I've been a smoker for about 6 years now. I've quit a few times, twice for two months. I'm not sure exactly when my worst headaches started, probably about 99 or 2000, before I ever started. I've lived with smokers all my life though. I've been trying to keep my smoking to less than a pack a day and spacing cigarettes by at least an hour and have been mostly successful for the past few months. Cigarettes don't usually trigger them for me unless I smoke too much, usually if I go over a pack in a day. I am also a caffeine addict. I used to drink at least a couple energy drinks a day, but I usually have one only about every 3 or 4 days, but I drink about 3 Mt. Dews or Vaults on average a day. SouthBronxSupreme, I know what you mean about mary jane. It does help.

Title: Re: Smokers?
Post by sandie99 on Oct 13^th, 2007, 12:27pm

Nope. Never smoked and never will.

Sanna

Title: Re: :DRe: Smokers?
Post by VinceFromOhio on Oct 19^th, 2007, 2:54am

on 09/18/07 at 13:38:18, seasonalboomer wrote:

Actually, I've witnessed several similar stories on this board as well as the old one over the years. I'm listed as a "Newbie" here because this is a new screen name/account. However, I've been reading this message board from the very beginning. I've noticed that since so many of us smoke, this issue doesn't come up too much. Many of us simply take for granted that smoking...or quitting...won't make much of a difference.

In my own personal experience, I quit smoking for 3 years back in 1992. I quit in the middle of a cycle. I noticed that every time I lit a cigarette I started getting hit. So I actually quit cold turkey. The cycle ended prematurely....inside of 3 weeks. When it was time to return (I'm usually 3 months with headaches - 18 months in remission) it never arrived. During my non-smoking phase I did have one TERRIBLE Kip10 out of nowhere which lasted a couple days and was apparently triggered by a bad sinus infection. Although there was no actual "cluster" of headaches that particular time, it was still the old familiar beast - who decided to stop by for a two-day visit. After that - nothing.....no shadows, no headaches.

Due to some very stressful personal situations and pure stupidity/ignorance, I started smoking again toward the end of 1995. Within a year the beast returned and my regular cycle returned. I recently filled a prescription for Chantix and I'm ready to try again. I'll post the results to this board if I can manage to quit again.

I have my own theory as to why I experienced a change in my headache pattern when I quit smoking. First of all, I don't think smoking "causes" the headaches - it's obviously been well documented that we have some sort of brain abnormality - too much gray matter or something. What I think makes quitting smoking an abortive tool for us is that it changes our metabolism. Like psychadelics, it tricks the clock that seems to control our cycles. Similarly, the meds that seem to work for people...and the O2 that helps abort attacks...are all things that seem to change the body chemistry - however temporary the changes are. Quitting smoking represents a far more drastic change in body chemistry, particularly if you've been smoking for many years.

Lastly, my Mom was a diagnosed CH sufferer for many years as well as heavy smoker. When she quit smoking, her headaches never returned. It should be noted that she had reached the age where they have been known to go away...she was in her 50's at the time. But there's still no denying that the disappearance of her cluster condition was directly related to her quitting smoking. Unlike me, she never returned to cigarettes, nor did her headaches ever return.

From what I've experienced myself as well as things I've read on this board, I'm fairly convinced quitting smoking can AT LEAST shorten your cycles and lengthen your remissions. I'm hanging a few select hopes on that as I attempt to quit once again.

Good luck!

Best Always, Vince

Title: Re: Smokers?
Post by lexi919 on Oct 20^th, 2007, 12:08am

i usually wake up in the middle of the night with my head on fire and my first reaction is to smush my head back into the pillow. but then i finally stop the fight and go get my free icepack the t-shirt go to the garage and bash it on the ground giggle a little and fire up a cig. when i first got these i did not smoke my nero told me that it triggers them and that it can make them worse but i did not see a difference so i smoke.

Title: Re: Smokers?
Post by VinceFromOhio on Oct 20^th, 2007, 8:57am

I would love to do a volunteer "Smoke Out", where 10 or so of us Clusterheads agreed to quit smoking for at least one week just to find out if our CH's are affected in any way. The participants, of course, would have to be actively experiencing headaches - not in remission. We would also need to make note of our regular meds, as well as any alternative treatments we were using in addition to giving up cigarettes - including Chantix, which could very well affect CH's because it's a medication that sends signals directly to areas of the brain. I'd be VERY curious to find out the results of this. It would take some very dedicated quitters who could get through a week without cheating!

Anyone wanna?

Vince

Title: Re: Smokers?
Post by TomM on Oct 22^nd, 2007, 3:38pm

I am not a heavy smoker since a pack will last 4 - 5 days but I still can not quit. I look forward to, and crave, that cigarette when I get home from work.
I give up a lot of things when I am in cycle: booze, cigs, processed meat, cheese, and spices to name a few.
I have noticed that many of us CHers are smokers but many are not. Contradictory, eh?
I would love to quit, and have for several months at a time over the years, but can not hold out permanenttly.
EDIT: I also give up Caffeine.
TomM

Title: Re: Smokers?
Post by MvT on Oct 22^nd, 2007, 10:25pm

hundreds of people smoke and do not have ch I don't think that smoking has anything to do with ch

but if caffein withdrawl can cause painfull "normal" headaches in some I'm sure people who stop may experience something similar

nothing we can't handle [smiley=laugh.gif] but why add to your pain.....

Title: Re: Smokers?
Post by voc417 on Nov 4^th, 2007, 12:39am

I've smoked for 20 years and have had ch for 17 years. I did quit smoking about 7 years ago for 3 years and it didn't make a darn bit of difference.