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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Cluster Headache Specific >> New Trigger?  Flo...some insite?
        
(Message started by: Redd715 on Mar 14^th, 2006, 8:46pm)

Title: New Trigger? Flo...some insite?
Post by Redd715 on Mar 14^th, 2006, 8:46pm

I have some folks looking into this as I type, but since Sunday night when I got cut, got the stiches, and had a tetnus shot, my head has been going berzerk! 5 hits yesterday, 4 so far today, shadows are pretty much constant.

Anyone ever have, or hear of a tetnus shot triggering a cycle? The weather has been very rough too so it could be that, could be the two year cycle within a cycle thing..or a combination of it all....I can't be sure. I DO know for a fact that my heaqd was not this bad untill I got that shot Sunday night.

Any input welcome.

Pegg

Title: Re: New Trigger? Flo...some insite?
Post by floridian on Mar 14^th, 2006, 9:35pm

Could be immune activation - the shot is adding a little protein to your body, and the idea is that the immune system becomes familiar with those specific proteins, so if it encounters real tetanus bacteria, it will hit them hard and fast.

But with any vaccine, swelling, redness, and inflammation are common side effects, and usually minor. The immune system ramps up a bit to fight what it thinks is tetanus or influenza. And it produces things like IL-1, IL-6 and other immune hormones - which have been implicated in clusters.

Hopefully, the immune activation should soon fade, although the immune memory to tetanus should persist for several years. If I were in your shoes and by chance things get really bad, I would talk to the doctor about a brief one or two day prednisone treatment - for all its side effects with long term use, prednisone is very good for short term calming of the immune system.

Some background info:

http://www.med-owl.com/clusterheadaches/tiki-index.php?page=Neuroimmune%20Hypothesis

Title: Re: New Trigger? Flo...some insite?
Post by Ueli on Mar 14^th, 2006, 10:56pm

I had a tetanus short 3 weeks ago.
It didn't make a difference for CH, either way.

[smiley=smokin.gif]

Title: Re: New Trigger? Flo...some insite?
Post by Pinkfloyd on Mar 15^th, 2006, 12:53am

I think flo has described how it might be possible.
Just like Ueli though, I also had a shot a couple months ago and it had no effect on my clusters.
One possible complication though is this. There are now finally some recent reports pointing to the fact that triggers may have a sort of buildup or compilation needed before they might cause a headache.
This is most likely why its so difficult for some people to identify their triggers.
Migraines for example, may not be triggered in someone by simple flashing lights. View those flashing lights during a menstrual cycle and a migraine may be triggered. A cluster cycle may not be triggered by a change in seasons unless one or more other triggers are also present. This could also help explain people's cycles within a cycle. (A fairly stable chronic stage with a 3 week period of greatly increased activity) Maybe an added trigger during this period makes things much worse. A change in exposure to daily light, drastic change in temperatures/pressure systems, etc.

Could be this increase was partly caused by the shot only because of the recent weather changes, built upon the daylight changes or other added triggers. The shot at any other time may not have had any effect.

That said, it could have had nothing to do with the cycle upturn, and may just be weather/seasonal related, or related to the trauma of the injury itself, or....just another in a long list of cluster enigma.

Bobw
prince of supposition ;-)

Title: Re: New Trigger? Flo...some insite?
Post by sandie99 on Mar 15^th, 2006, 2:57am

I've had two vaccines (the first was tetanus if I recall right...) during my ch days. Neither one triggered the beast. But it was good that you mentioned it, Pegg. :)

Best wishes & PF days,
Sanna

Title: Re: New Trigger? Flo...some insite?
Post by Michael Trott on Mar 20^th, 2006, 11:04am

Hi all, first post for me, 16 years of hits and im still here, member since 2004 and thankyou...to you all & CH.com
The only thing i can relate to triggering my CHs is the seasonal changes or shifts in the high low pressure system and a RN pointed this out to me some time ago, could be wrong but its all worth sharing, I lived for 12 years on the tropical east coast of OZ my CHs were sometimes 6 monthly but mostly anually same time same chanel, twice in Bali when seasons changed and now after two years PFD from last Bali episode which cost me $4500aud in there hospital system and evacuation costs etc blah blah.. refered by insurance company who in the end didnt pay up when i claimed due to past problem..Anyway...Im back in Western Australia now and the seasons are crazy here, it finally got hot late in the season after unusual coldness in the normal hot and dry summer days and BANG..here i go again..shadows for 10 days with 3s and 4s, now two days in ..hittin 10s..its like clockwork and I aint coping to well in these early days after so long free from the devil...Im on caffergot sparingly and indicid 100mgs sups x3or4 daily..Help! .. i LOVE YAS ALL cause its the same same same story as you all and I give a shit too and so glad we are family...so for me i have no other answers apart from when they first started in 1990 which was after back surgery on lower lumbar... had a tough day today and hit 10 in front of my 78 yr old mum, and as you could imagine it wasnt pretty...kinda freakin out at the thought of sleeping. Ive got work tomorrow and i need some advice on meds, tried oxygen at hospital before but nothing changed so any suggestions please reply.
MIK