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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Cluster Headache Specific >> Alcohol
        
(Message started by: spidey426 on Jun 20^th, 2006, 12:05am)

Title: Alcohol
Post by spidey426 on Jun 20^th, 2006, 12:05am

I was just curious about everyone's input on drinking during their cycle. I'm about 2 1/2 weeks into my cycle and have been dying for a drink the past few days. Do you guys have better luck with certain types of alcohol? I know beer is a definate no-no.. I had a beer 2 days into my cycle and jeesh, I would have rated it a Kip 11 :) Since then I've had a rum and coke without it inducing a CH, and I had a glass of white wine this evening with no CH.. I would like to try drinking a little more.. but I fear the beast..
It's funny, I rarely drink.. then my cycle hits and that's all I wanna do.. I guess just because I can't. I'm at the point in my cycle where I'm starting to realize how much I take my remission periods for granted : /
Anyways, again, what luck do you guys have with alcohol? Any suggestions for the people dying for a few drinks?

pfw from ny
spidey

Title: Re: Alcohol
Post by Barry_T_Coles on Jun 20^th, 2006, 12:50am

Follow this link, it may help.
For me beer is a definite NO NO, Stout,chardonay&scotch are fine in moderation.
Regards
Barry

http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=meds;action=display;num=1146013283

Title: Re: Alcohol
Post by Bob_Johnson on Jun 20^th, 2006, 8:20am

Barry's response shows how much individual variation we have to deal with. The only formal study I've seen on the topic came from Europe and concluded: red wine and distilled spirits were bad; white wine O.K. --but, of course, not for 100% of people.

All you can do is continue your "experiments" and see how your body responds.

Title: Re: Alcohol
Post by kcopelin on Jun 20^th, 2006, 11:46am

Or just quit drinking when in cycle. I gave it up 8 years ago-at least that's one less trigger.
kathy

Title: Re: Alcohol
Post by b0x on Jun 20^th, 2006, 1:41pm

I try to stay away from any alcohol. ALthough I have been getting headaches since I was 12 Im still uncertain about alot of things with the ch. Im not sure when my cycles begins are end. I have never gotten a ch from drinking any kinda of clear alcohol (cept vodka) but beer and wiskey usally put me into the corner by myslef

Title: Re: Alcohol
Post by BarbaraD on Jun 20^th, 2006, 3:45pm

Years before I was diagnosed - one day I was at a friends and we opened a beer -- two sips and I got hit with a Kip 10. Had to be driven home screaming. The next time I had a beer -- same thing, so I gave up beer totally for about 100 years - and I love beer.

Last year at my son's birthday party everyone was drinking beer and I decided to test it.... nada -- drank two beers and it was wonderful (wrong brand, but that's all he had). Since then I drink a beer occasionally, but don't push it too far.

Other alcohol doesn't seem to bother me (I don't drink red wine but I don't like red wine -- white wine is great).

But the same thing happened after eating Chinese food - one time and not since. Go figure.....

Hugs BD

Title: Re: Alcohol
Post by wip5150 on Jun 20^th, 2006, 9:05pm

For me, beer is generally okay (like one or two at most) but any sort of liquor sends me screaming in pain.

Title: Re: Alcohol
Post by marlinsfan on Jun 20^th, 2006, 9:18pm

While in cycle, I need to be alcohol free. I've tried wine (red, white, port), beer, scotch, rum and maybe others, and every one gave triggered a hit.

When not in cycle, I can drink anything and be PF.

Title: Re: Alcohol
Post by AussieBrian on Jun 20^th, 2006, 11:54pm

I once admitted publicly that I can drink what I want, when I want, in whatever quantities are available, but after the hate-mail I got in return I'm now keeping it a secret.

Cheers and beers,

Anon.

Title: Re: Alcohol
Post by MJ on Jun 21^st, 2006, 1:57am

I only drink when I'm sober.

Not really. Actually I never or very seldom drink alcohol of any kind due to an immediate CH reaction for me..

Title: Re: Alcohol
Post by MattNL on Jun 21^st, 2006, 4:41am

When in cycle I never drink. Every alcoholic drink provoces. it is not the ingredients, it is the alcohol.
However when cycle is over I have tendencie to drink excessive....

Title: Re: Alcohol
Post by TxBasslady on Jun 21^st, 2006, 6:51am

on 06/20/06 at 23:54:21, AussieBrian wrote:

I once admitted publicly that I can drink what I want, when I want, in whatever quantities are available, but after the hate-mail I got in return I'm now keeping it a secret.

LMAO ;;D You always make me smile!

Jean

Title: Re: Alcohol
Post by Kingjames1 on Jun 21^st, 2006, 4:03pm

Barbara-Watch out for the MSG...busts my ass every time I eat something that has it. I think I'm the top food label reader in the country, but they still sneak it in by calling it natural flavor, hydrolized soy protein, etc. You can google msg and find some good info if interested.

Title: Re: Alcohol
Post by Sandy_C on Jun 22^nd, 2006, 1:21pm

My very first cycle, I drank beer or vodka. I was getting hits every night, one after the other, but never put the two together. Second cycle (and reading through this place), I quit the beer because it triggered within minutes, but I could still drink vodka. Third cycle, ANY alcohol, beer, vodka, wine, even really low content spritzers - bang!. Now, when the cycle starts, no alcohol whatsoever for the duration of the cycle. I drink pretty much nothing but strong coffee and water, water, water. At parties, I'll have water with a lime in it and "make believe".

Sandy

Title: Re: Alcohol
Post by GuitarBill on Jun 23^rd, 2006, 3:23am

Let's just say (unfortunately) I drink generously. But the only time I ever had a real problem was when I drank "Icehouse" brand beer. All others was ok but that beer seemed to cause complete and unbearable agony. (for some reason).

Title: Re: Alcohol
Post by Bob P on Jun 23^rd, 2006, 9:49am

Quote:

I was just curious about everyone's input on drinking during their cycle.

Just don't!

Title: Re: Alcohol
Post by MattNL on Jun 23^rd, 2006, 10:08am

I know that in the population CH sufferers are majority smokers and drink more alcohol than average. (please do not drink any alcohol within cycle, it is the alcohol that provoces not the kind of alcoholic drink) Why is it we tend to drink too much and smoke? (according to statistics)
I myself have sometimes problems not drinking too much. I believe (speak for myself), because life is so stressfull and (again formyself) have very uncommon life with more than average stress. I always must think about future and changes in life for instance, new job and what will happen when CH comes again?
This is i think for me reason why high intake.
I dont believe high intake causes CH, I believe stress in life induced by CH causes the intake.
regards

Title: Re: Alcohol
Post by Katherinecm on Jun 23^rd, 2006, 12:17pm

on 06/23/06 at 10:08:47, MattNL wrote:

I know that in the population CH sufferers are majority smokers and drink more alcohol than average.
regards

I don't remember the source of this as I read it shortly after diagnosis, but I think I read once that problems in the hypothalmus also create problems with dopamine, one of the primary inflences on addiction AND the chemical that creates pain relief from narcotics.

One CH medication, Topamax, is currently in trials to see if it relieves addiction drives by rebalancing brain chemistry.

My theory is that the gene that makes you susceptible to addiction may also make you susceptible to CH, given the right circumstances. Just a theory, but as both addictions and CH seem to be centered in the hypothalamus, I'd like to see some research on it.

Title: Re: Alcohol
Post by shipo on Jun 24^th, 2006, 2:35pm

It's been a long time since I posted here but I always drop in to check out the threads.
I've been PF for about 5 years now...51 yrs old did I grow out of it??? Who knows.
One thing I'm certain of in my case any alcohol would trigger a Ch when I was in a cycle..God knows I love a drink and I tortured myself for years.
Alcohol and Ch don't make a good cocktail :-[
Enjoy those drinks when your out of cycle....I have been for 5 years ;)
PF Days to all
Cheers Paul

Title: Re: Alcohol
Post by georgej on Jun 25^th, 2006, 10:58am

Out of cycle, I'll have a couple of beers, maybe, or a mixed drink. Don't normally drink very much. In a cycle, you couldn't get me to touch any alcohol for a thousand bucks.

Best,

George

Title: Re: Alcohol
Post by BobG on Jun 25^th, 2006, 11:18am

on 06/23/06 at 12:17:59, Katherinecm wrote:

Katherine is right on with her theory, IMHO. I've been reading this site for many years and have noticed that clusterheads seem to have a lot of habits and/or addictions, good and bad. One of those habits/addictions is having to check this website 2,3,7 times a day, everyday. Is that a good or bad habit? Hell, I don't know. I just go ahead and do it.
Back to subject of alcohol, back in my drinking days (I haven't had a drink since 1985) I was a heavy beer drinker. When in cycle one beeer would trigger big time. 2, 3, 7 more would not help to calm it down. I soon learned that you CANNOT out-drink a clusterheadache. If you get into that contest you WILL loose every time!

Title: Re: Alcohol
Post by danm on Jun 26^th, 2006, 3:16pm

Unfortunately I have the CH problem and a moderate drinking problem. I have tortured myself a few times while in cycle but I have learned my lesson. CH and any alcohol just don't mix. My latest cycle ended in May and I've been making up for the 4 months of missed drinks ever since.

Title: Re: Alcohol
Post by seasonalboomer on Jun 26^th, 2006, 3:48pm

on 06/25/06 at 11:18:47, BobG wrote:

.... you CANNOT out-drink a clusterheadache. If you get into that contest you WILL loose every time!

I hate to admit that I've tried and can vouch for this claim. :-X
The results of such a test are none too pretty.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
dan,
the word "moderate" is generally not combined with "drinking problem". kind of an oxymoron really. it's generally either a problem drinking or moderate drinking.

scott

Title: Re: Alcohol
Post by maffumatt on Jun 26^th, 2006, 3:49pm

I'm no prude but when I figured out drinking caused me to beat my head against the floor I quit and never looked back. I've never figured out why people will continue to drink even when they know its going to hurt them, but I guess thats a whole other beast.........

Title: Re: Alcohol
Post by Charlotte on Jun 26^th, 2006, 3:52pm

I don't smoke and rarely drink, but I want a drink and a ciggie when I'm getting hit. I've asked people to exhale in my direction - and you know, they can't.

My big drinking now is that my kudzu is liquid in a grain based alcohol. I use about an ounce of liquid kudzu extract a week.

Charlotte

Title: Re: Alcohol
Post by unsolved1 on Jun 26^th, 2006, 7:53pm

I can't drink at all >:( Haven't drank since ... [smiley=huh.gif]. If it weren't for CH, I think I would drink everyday ;;D [smiley=beer.gif]

UNsolved

Title: Re: Alcohol
Post by E-Double on Jun 26^th, 2006, 8:30pm

doesn't effect my chronic ass......just the belly ;)

Title: Re: Alcohol
Post by Skyhawk5 on Jun 26^th, 2006, 10:03pm

Had to learn the hard way but not a drop during cycle. Even just the smell has sent me to the O2 pronto. Some of the worst hits I can recall came during times when I managed to get a bit wasted, then payed the price.

We're all different but this is a pretty common trigger for a large percentage. Sometimes refraining can be easier said than done but in the end we do what we have to do. Good Luck, Skyhawk5

Title: Re: Alcohol
Post by Richr8 on Jun 26^th, 2006, 10:32pm

Can't do any alcohol in cycle, unless i want a HA.