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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Cluster Headache Specific >> What does the term CYCLE mean???
        
(Message started by: clusterdeb on May 14^th, 2006, 3:05pm)

Title: What does the term CYCLE mean???
Post by clusterdeb on May 14^th, 2006, 3:05pm

I keep seeing people say the end of my cycle? or my cycle begins?

Title: Re: What does the term CYCLE mean???
Post by Sean_C on May 14^th, 2006, 3:32pm

If your episodic "cycle begins" means when you first begin to feel your clusters, usually for a 6 to 12 week period of pain.

"Cycle ends" means when you are no longer feeling clusters, you went through your 6 to 12 week period and it has ended. You feel no pain anymore.

Chronics usually don't have a beginning nor an end, they're in an endless cycle of pain.

Sean................................

Title: Re: What does the term CYCLE mean???
Post by clusterdeb on May 14^th, 2006, 4:22pm

Then I wish I had cycles.
I saw were you fear to fall asleep, after I lay down within 1 hour it hits. I always look at the clock, when I get up to go hide.

Title: Re: What does the term CYCLE mean???
Post by BobG on May 14^th, 2006, 7:02pm

Cluster Headaches are named for the way the headaches come and go. They are in 'clusters' or bunches, or groups, or cycles. We get the headaches in 'clusters' (except the chronics, they have them for years but they are still known as Cluster Headaches). The 'cycle' as used by clusterheads means the time we are in a cluster. The words cycle and cluster can be used interchangably as in "I just started my cycle" or "I just started my cluster".

edit to add:
Dang, I hit the post button and then read what I had written and said to myself "Self, that's about as clear as mud" ;;D

Title: Re: What does the term CYCLE mean???
Post by clusterdeb on May 14^th, 2006, 7:30pm

BobG, I think ive got it , im not a cycler. I havent stopped since 2001. If you add up all the days it would probably equal 4-6 months. But never a month or week straight in a row.

Title: Re: What does the term CYCLE mean???
Post by BMoneeTheMoneeMan on May 14^th, 2006, 10:11pm

Some people also use the term " cluster" in the same way they use the word " cycle".
Because some people suffer from many headaches per day and then have no headaches for weeks or months, that is considered a cluster of headaches, aka a 'cycle'.

In textbook episodics, a cycle typically starts with infrequent minor headaches and then it gets more frequent and much more painful over weeks or even months, and then it goes away in the same way it started.

PF wishes to you
BMonee