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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Cluster Headache Specific >> Question: Trends at the End of a Cycle
        
(Message started by: BC_Battler on Jan 21^st, 2006, 12:35pm)

Title: Question: Trends at the End of a Cycle
Post by BC_Battler on Jan 21^st, 2006, 12:35pm

Hey everyone;

This is my first CH cycle, and I pray that it is starting to wind down. I've done loads of reading but have not come across any mention of trends/symptoms that indicate a cycle is nearing completion.

I have had attacks for about 4 weeks now, but the last few days have really lightened up - no major attacks (nothing above a 6), and no attacks in the middle of the night for the past 2 days. Yesterday all I had was a mild shadow, and even that was interrupted with more PF time than not. I woke up this morning feeling great, no shadows. After the weeks of sleep deprivation and constant pain, I'm definitely feeling optimistic.

I guess my question is - has it been the experience of others on the board that their cycles wind down like this, or do they usually just stop? Or am I just being deceived and they might come screaming back? I know everyone is different, and I've certainly gauged from the info on the board that these things are incredibly hard to predict - I just wanted to get a feel from those who have been through it before.

Thank you for all of your support.

Title: Re: Question: Trends at the End of a Cycle
Post by marlinsfan on Jan 21^st, 2006, 2:19pm

When mine wind down, I go 2 or 3 weeks with one or two HA's one day, then one or two PF days, and so forth. Those HAs never get past Kip 5 or 6, however my last cycle ended with a Kip 9......

Title: Re: Question: Trends at the End of a Cycle
Post by E-Double on Jan 21^st, 2006, 2:26pm

I'll let you know if it ever happens

Title: Re: Question: Trends at the End of a Cycle
Post by Chonas on Jan 21^st, 2006, 4:41pm

Except for the Kip 9, my cycles end pretty much as Marlinsfan's. Slowly but surely with less pain, and then the beast takes a vacation.

Title: Re: Question: Trends at the End of a Cycle
Post by Guiseppi on Jan 21^st, 2006, 8:08pm

I don't know how mine end. I take lithium, when I go 4 weeks w/out any break thru headaches I taper off the lithium over a 1 week period. If I get bit I go back on the lithium. I keep trying to wean off until I don't get bit. Ususally around 8 to 12 weeks for me.

Guiseppi

Title: Re: Question: Trends at the End of a Cycle
Post by BC_Battler on Jan 21^st, 2006, 8:26pm

Thanks for the replies. Intensity is definitely ramping down for me right now...I'll keep my fingers crossed.

Title: Re: Question: Trends at the End of a Cycle
Post by TxBasslady on Jan 21^st, 2006, 11:30pm

Are you a beer drinker???? If so, then drink one...if the cycle is over, all will be ok. If the cycle is not over....hold on to your shorts....cause it'll surely be a trigger.

Good luck....hope your pf time is close.

Jean

Title: Mine usually end...
Post by Richr8 on Jan 22^nd, 2006, 1:53am

..first a drop in intensity, or pain level, and then a drop in frequency. This was taking up to twelve weeks in the first few years. Now, If I start prednisone tapers at the first sign, I can break the cycle in a couple of weeks though this can vary also. Fingers crossed.

Title: Re: Question: Trends at the End of a Cycle
Post by zwibbs/Scott on Jan 22^nd, 2006, 2:46am

I am no expert, but as an episode CH sufferer since 1977...I usually have a major bell-ringer--with residual pain for two days then it really tails off, and poof they're gone. I agree with the poster about having an alcoholic beverage--because if it isn't done with its nastiness--You'll know right away!!! I wish you PF!!!!!!!!!!

Title: Re: Question: Trends at the End of a Cycle
Post by upnover on Jan 22^nd, 2006, 9:56am

Mine seem to do the same as mentioned less intense and less frequently.. I'll go from about 5 aday at the peak and then they taper to 1 pf day then some shadows then couple days pf etc.. I don't do the beer test . I think If I don't give them enough time to go away I'm throwing myself under the train. Don't get me wrong I like my BEER... I try and wait about a week or so being pf before I start the 12oz curls. Hope you at the end of your cycle! Do some curls for me [smiley=laugh.gif]

Title: Re: Question: Trends at the End of a Cycle
Post by BC_Battler on Jan 22^nd, 2006, 2:12pm

on 01/22/06 at 09:56:57, upnover wrote:

I agree - I'm not sure I'm ready to do the beer test yet. I had one early on in my cycle (before I knew I was a CH sufferer) and it triggered a really ugly all night attack that put me in emerg. I think I'll wait for at least a week or two of PF time before I try the 12 oz curl test!

I'm still experiencing shadows, and had one minor lvl 5 attack in the middle of the night last night, so it's FAR better than it was.

Thanks for all of your thoughts.

Title: Re: Question: Trends at the End of a Cycle
Post by Kris_in_SJ on Jan 22^nd, 2006, 7:46pm

I never consider my cycle over until the shadows are completely gone. Those generally linger for a couple of weeks after my last true hit. So, my cycles are alot like those who've already responded. Gradually decreasing in intensity and duration until nothing but shadow pain. Then a couple more weeks, then over ... begin weaning off the Verapamil.

Kris

Title: Re: Question: Trends at the End of a Cycle
Post by ArCane on Jan 23^rd, 2006, 2:04pm

My cycles always ramp up in intensity and frequency untill they hit a "climax" in which I am getting hit multiple times everyday, at high kip levels. Once the climax is over (about 1-2 weeks) it ramps down in intensity and frequency. The cycle is done when I dont have a hit or a shadow for 2 weeks straight. At which time I usually have a beer and celebrate ;;D.

Title: Re: Question: Trends at the End of a Cycle
Post by marlinsfan on Jan 23^rd, 2006, 3:24pm

on 01/22/06 at 14:12:00, BC_Battler wrote:

I think I'll wait for at least a week or two of PF time before I try the 12 oz curl test!

Call me a wimp, but after my last cycle, I waited one full month before I indulged in a cold one. Two weeks into my PF time I went to Club Med in the Bahamas, where everything was included. Open bar all week long, and all I drank was coconut water or regular coke (the aspartame in the diet coke is also a trigger).

Title: Re: Question: Trends at the End of a Cycle
Post by wip5150 on Jan 24^th, 2006, 12:53pm

Mine usually tail off as descirbed above - 1 or 2 a day but the pain level is much more "tolerable". Then I'll have shadows for a week or two. There is no way to describe the elation after finally sleeping the night through without waking up with an ice pick in your eye.

Best of luck.

Title: Re: Question: Trends at the End of a Cycle
Post by djsound on Jan 25^th, 2006, 10:39pm

I just have one big bang at the end. In fact, the last time during a 9, there was a severe burning inside the head and then peace. No residue. I took a large dose of melatonin that night before the kamikaze hit and I swear it had a major effect. I would guess that each time would be different though depending on the weather, food, drugs and age.

Title: Re: Question: Trends at the End of a Cycle
Post by agonymum on Jan 28^th, 2006, 4:30am

i think or hope im getting to the end of this cycle , it started in september.
my hits were every 4 hours day and night at the peak of it .
at the moment im getting 2 smaller hits one at 5pm and one at 5/6am.
2 nights ive slept through till 7 and got a smaller hit at 9am, then 5 again .
last night was hit at 4am ,only lasted half hour , so basically i think its a mixture of less hits and lower pain levels over the tailoring period .

hope so anyway , it seems such a long time ive been suffering ! also have shadows most of the day but they are bearable and do respond to co-codamol but this makes me drowsy .

its took the whole of this cycle to get the docs to listen to me and i have ct scan on tuesday , and neurology apt at last .
ive had no meds or abortives , only hot water bottle ,its been hell , fingers crossed it is on its way out never to return .

pf days to all xx

Title: Re: Question: Trends at the End of a Cycle
Post by RDubois on Jan 29^th, 2006, 2:34pm

[smiley=laugh.gif] [smiley=laugh.gif] [smiley=laugh.gif] Hi BC,

I'm reaching the end of a cycle, (I hope), and it's pretty much the way the others have outlined. I thought I had finished this cycle but I had a moderate CH last night (exactly 2 hours after I went lights out). During the past week, I've only had 2 weak ones during the night.

I think my cycles, over the years, have pretty much followed
the norm,i.e. they build up to a crescendo when you want to die, then they tail off and hopefully go away. The interesting thing is that I think some of the actions we take to avoid them, leads us to believe that these things can be brought to a conclusion by something we do. It seems that when all is said & done, thay come & go of their own volition & I don't know if we can do anything about it. Certainly, we can mitigate the pain by avoiding the triggers (Beer, beer, beer anyone?), Stress etc. but I say again, everytime I have a headache, I have a new theory as to it's cause. Cheer up, I'm only 75 and in my 21st CF year. They do diminish with age. (See, there's another theory whose veracity is still only a "theory").

Good luck. You don't need to use the beer test. They hurt too much to stretch your luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

RED

Title: Re: Question: Trends at the End of a Cycle
Post by RDubois on Jan 29^th, 2006, 2:40pm

Hey BC,

I meant CH not CF. I hope to be PF soon, and I hope you will be too.

RED

Title: Re: Question: Trends at the End of a Cycle
Post by CHater on Jan 29^th, 2006, 3:33pm

I am out of a cycle for 8 weeks now, that cycle lasted for 14 weeks...grrr/terrible.

I eat, drink, party anything I want.

Sorry to hear you can't get tthrough!!

My cycles always end sudden, from 1 day to another. I wait 5 days and then I do the alcohol test, a few beers or wine and.... YES it's over.

I keep my oxygen bottle a few weeks before returning and then normal life 'till next cluster.

I hope it stays away for a few years (or ever) ...

I wish all of you the best and lotsa PF periods.

BR
Herwig