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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Cluster Headache Specific >> Name your triggers?
        
(Message started by: frizzle on Jun 25^th, 2006, 12:55pm)

Title: Name your triggers?
Post by frizzle on Jun 25^th, 2006, 12:55pm

If you have any? I guess this is the million dollar question though - if you knew WHAT triggered them then I know for damn sure I'd avoid that completely!!

I'm just looking for things to look at as possible triggers - are they the same as a migraine list of triggers? Choc, MSG, alcohol, etc.?

Thanks - Glad the site is back up too
Frizzle

Title: Re: Name your triggers?
Post by E-Double on Jun 25^th, 2006, 1:27pm

You will only find a small percentage of CHers with triggers other than alcohol, sleep, relaxation and nitroglycerine.

Unlike migraine which has many

Title: Re: Name your triggers?
Post by frizzle on Jun 25^th, 2006, 2:05pm

Yeah, that's what I was afraid of.

But I seem to be noticing something with sugar - as in ice cream or something sweetened and CH's. Don't know if it really IS something or if I've just now accepted that this is another cycle beginning and that's why I'm getting hit so often - or if it really IS triggering a headache.

Obviously I've been avoiding it but I still woke with a kip 4-5 this morning.....

Title: Re: Name your triggers?
Post by marlinsfan on Jun 25^th, 2006, 2:29pm

Aspartame (equal) will always trigger an attack for me. So will nuts & citrics sometimes.

Title: Re: Name your triggers?
Post by vietvet2tours on Jun 25^th, 2006, 2:42pm

When I am in cycle(two years pain free) Beer,reefer,steam,hot weather. Otherwise they just came every four hours and lasted one hour each, almost to the minute, and the cycle lasted thirty days The whole cycle would take around ninety days with a thirty day ramp up and a thirty day wind down.

Title: Re: Name your triggers?
Post by BobG on Jun 25^th, 2006, 2:45pm

I haven't had a true cycle for years but back during my active periods alcohol was trigger #1. Relaxing was #2 and strong smells were #3.
Nowadays it’s relaxing and naps.
And I often feel shadows start if I spend more than a few minutes in the stinky places like the perfume aisles in the big department stores, the soap/detergent aisles in supermarkets or those odiferous damn candle shops.
Oh yeah, and the restroom on a Greyhound Bus.

on 06/25/06 at 14:05:24, frizzle wrote:

Obviously I've been avoiding it but I still woke with a kip 4-5 this morning.....

I'd say that relaxing is a trigger for you. Can you take an afternoon nap with out getting hit?

Title: Re: Name your triggers?
Post by MJ on Jun 25^th, 2006, 3:12pm

Definate triggers for me are the same as bobs

Alcohol, perfumes, misc. cleaning solutions, and relaxation.

Things I avoid are grocery store detergent aisles, department stores, walmart, chinese restaurants.

Many other things I associate with triggers but I think the reality is that these things for me were mostly coincidental as during a hard cycle I get hit at least every hour.
There were times I felt it was dairy products or citrus etc.., other times I felt it was due to the fact I was exhaling after inhaling.

Title: Re: Name your triggers?
Post by frizzle on Jun 25^th, 2006, 4:46pm

Well, I just woke from a nap and had a shadow of a headache - enough to put me on the o2 tank for 10 minutes

Apparently sleep is it too - how cruel is that. As if anything about these headaches ISN'T cruel?!

Title: Re: Name your triggers?
Post by Katherinecm on Jun 25^th, 2006, 11:40pm

For me:

1) Relaxation
2) Blood sugar issues (too high, too low, or rapid falling)
3) Heat (working or exercising outside when it's hot)
4) Falling barometer (during or before a storm)
5) Strong smells (I walked into a gourmet spice store recently and it hit me so hard & fast I thought I might pass out).

Title: Re: Name your triggers?
Post by BarbaraD on Jun 26^th, 2006, 6:07am

Barometric pressure changing is about the only thing I can put my finger on.

Nothing else seems to bother me that I can pinpoint. Looks like when they get ready to hit - they just do.

Hugs BD

Title: Re: Name your triggers?
Post by shady on Jun 26^th, 2006, 9:26am

sleep muggy heat relaxing and airplane cabin pressure went to spain for a week a few years back and on the plane my face suddenly cracked loudly and bang i got to spend a week in spain with clusters decided since then im only holidaying in the sunny uk :)

Title: Re: Name your triggers?
Post by seasonalboomer on Jun 27^th, 2006, 9:08am

When in cycle:
1.) Alcohol
2.) Vigorous cardiovascular exercise for more than 30 min. (or less, in heat)
3.) Certain floral scents from flowering shrubs and vines (Jasmine, Honeysuckle for example)
4.) Too much sleep or too little sleep
5.) Too much stress or too little stress
6.) The musty smell of a beer splashed bar room and cigarettes
7.) My mother-in-law when she sits in the back seat behind my head in the car.
;)
Scott

Title: Re: Name your triggers?
Post by Margi on Jun 27^th, 2006, 10:38am

on 06/27/06 at 09:08:26, seasonalboomer wrote:

7.) My mother-in-law when she sits in the back seat behind my head in the car.
;)
Scott

Man, that would give me a cluster and I'm not even a clusterhead!! (I mean my beast-in-law, not yours Scott. ;))

Title: Re: Name your triggers?
Post by BlueMeanie on Jun 27^th, 2006, 7:43pm

I used to think just about everything was a trigger. ;)

Now, after all these years, I believe it's only alcohol and aromas.

Title: Re: Name your triggers?
Post by georgej on Jul 5^th, 2006, 12:39pm

1. Photoperiod.

2. Alcohol (in cycle).

3. REM sleep.

4. When it's time for them to come, they come.

That's it.

Best,

George

Title: Re: Name your triggers?
Post by Karla on Jul 5^th, 2006, 8:27pm

barometric pressure changes. (Every time it rains or snows.) Heat. both trigger kip10s for me.

Aspartame triggers migraines for me.

Title: Re: Name your triggers?
Post by Charlotte on Jul 6^th, 2006, 6:59pm

Triggers for migraine, but the clusters just come or don't come.

Title: Re: Name your triggers?
Post by dissident on Jul 7^th, 2006, 2:12am

Extreme hot or cold weather and naps during the day (the basics).
I have noticed that every cycle I've had since quitting cigarettes (1998) are alot less painful. The pain is still severe but not quite as bad.

Title: Re: Name your triggers?
Post by mynm156 on Jul 7^th, 2006, 10:23pm

I sometimes get hit when I am shaking and tumbling, If my wife takes a bath in her perfume, I can not be around when she is using her hairspray, beer, brown alcohol, red wine, Hazel Nuts I use to love those things or any of the hazelnut coffee just the smell kills.

Good Vibes

MYNM156

Title: Re: Name your triggers?
Post by Sandy_C on Jul 8^th, 2006, 3:29pm

Alcohol of any kind (when in cycle)

Perfumes/ scented candles, etc (I do not go through the perfume aisles in department store or in to candle shops at all any more - even when out of cycle.

Napping during the day (not that I ever have time anyway

:-/, or really relaxing in the evening after dinner (big hit time for me - I do laundry or something fun, like that instead)

Sometimes, but not always, red meat.

Sandy

Title: Re: Name your triggers?
Post by Guiseppi on Jul 8^th, 2006, 4:44pm

When off cycle, I'm immune. When I'm on cycle, alcohol, especially grain alcohols, dramatically changing sleep cycle, going from days to graves, and stress. But like everyone else said, I can religously avoid every trigger and still get hit 2X a day!

Guiseppi

Title: Re: Name your triggers?
Post by kcopelin on Jul 8^th, 2006, 6:13pm

#1 relaxation-
#2 relaxation
#3 sleeping too long
#4 1:30-3:00 p.m.
#5 stuff air-need fresh air
#6 relaxation

MYNM, what's shaking and tumbling?

Alot of you seem to react to smells-hmm..never noticed that myself.

kathy

Title: Re: Name your triggers?
Post by chopmyheadoff on Jul 10^th, 2006, 7:19am

Alcohol while on cycle ( when not on, im immune too)
and taking a nap in the day after work,

this is annoying because the lack of sleep from the night before makes me really need to charge my batteries.

musty air
when its "close" ie humid
when its hot

i too havent noticed anything about strong smells - i might watch out for that one !!

Title: Re: Name your triggers?
Post by JeffB on Jul 12^th, 2006, 3:14pm

seasons, relaxation (always got hit when I got off work), beer,

Title: Re: Name your triggers?
Post by brady713 on Jul 15^th, 2006, 1:08am

1. Going to sleep.
2. Alcohol.
3. Half burnt jet fuel.
Maybe some others but I'm not seeing them anymore...

Title: Re: Name your triggers?
Post by sandie99 on Jul 15^th, 2006, 2:47am

Let's see now:

Alcohol
some scents
travelling
heat
cold
salty foods (pop corn/pringles/steak with french fries & bacon)

These days I do not drink fizzy drink, eat candy/cookies/ice cream and I belive that it has helped mw with ch. So I take it that sugar and aspartame are triggers for me.

And one specific herb sauce gives me ch sometimes. I get hit within an hour from eating it. But the funny part is that it doesn't trigger ch always... Strange.

Best wishes & PFdays,
Sanna

Title: Re: Name your triggers?
Post by calderos on Jul 15^th, 2006, 3:53pm

Appears Alchohol is #1 trigger on here... i myself have quit drinking since new years.. other than 1 really bad binge.. and 2 beers.. but my headaches just started since i quit smoking weed.. when i was drinking.. i could drink 4 beers.. and spend the next 24 hrs in bed.. or doign a rooster... so i think i will never touch another beer or glass again... i drank myself into alachohol poisining so many times i cant count.. but going clean and sobriety seems to have its downside too.. least when your stoned you cant thinka bout it.. and weed hangovers seem to help mellow it a little... .. but right now im clean and the headaches are at thier worse.. but also maybe lots of starign at ac omputer screen.. anyone else sit on the compy all day? have triggers?.. im trying to quit smoking but god help me.. to drop all my addictions at once :\

Title: Re: Name your triggers?
Post by Thomas_Martin on Jul 15^th, 2006, 4:45pm

Hmmm.. hard to say. There are days that I'm more weak towards the triggers than others, meaning its not a 100% that they will trigger an attack.

1. Chocolate
2. Changes in sleep patterns
3. Strong/powerful smells
4. Heat
5. Changes in the pressure outside
6. Relaxation

Title: Re: Name your triggers?
Post by rickyshot on Jul 20^th, 2006, 10:03am

Barometric pressure and change of seasons. When in cycle alcohol. I pretty much do not drink anymore. And what is up with marijuana. Everyone I know who quits it gets headaches. I think they are rebound. Even those who do not suffer ch or migraines get ha when they quit. Makes me think that MJ is not so benign.

Title: Re: Name your triggers?
Post by mr.c on Jul 21^st, 2006, 11:12am

I find that for me the actual cycle starts (mine are usually every two years) just as a rather stressful time barely starts to lighten up AND weather changes...

When I am in a cycle, I avoid aged cheeses, nuts and chocolate (I don't know if they really trigger any CHs, but I am too darn paranoid to chance it). It seems that they might have an influence.

I too find certain scents irritating; Mostly they cause shadows and not full blown CHs.

Afternoons (sometimes) and within a couple hours after going to bed are pretty reliable at giving me pain.

This particular cycle, naps haven't aggravated the beast too much... unless they decide to visit me a few hours after a nap, just to throw me off.

Also, this particular go around, going on vacations seemed to have lessoned the number (although this cycle has been an odd duck). Vacations have just enough stress and just enough easy going to keep them at bay (?). At home I am relaxed enough to get as many as four in a 24hr period. One of my plane trips did cause to shoot up some imitrex.

Title: Re: Name your triggers?
Post by Dave_W on Jul 25^th, 2006, 3:21pm

Hi team,

I used to test whether a cycle was over or not by eating an entire pack of cheesy jumbo hot dogs with a coupla king size hershey bars for dessert, then kick back and relax, with some unlit aromatherapy candles around my head.... If I didn't cluster up, I could say "remission" for a few months.

When I used to drink, it only took half a beer to conjure up the beast.

This was a fun thread -- my triggers are kinda mixed between those for a migraine (processed meats, cheeses, chocolate) and those more commonly associated with clusters (aromas, relaxation).

PFD's all. And don't try the test above. Not only is it likely to set the beast loose on some of us, I'm thinking it's not the healthiest of meals either.

Dave

Title: Re: Name your triggers?
Post by mynm156 on Jul 27^th, 2006, 10:00pm

I have also found that the act of BREATHING seems to trigger me!

Title: Re: Name your triggers?
Post by serendipity on Jul 31^st, 2006, 12:23pm

Alcohol and sleep are the only triggers I've noticed, although after reading through this thread I'm wondering whether strong smells might be a trigger and I just never noticed it before.

I'm not gonna test it out, though! ;;D

Title: Re: Name your triggers?
Post by Bond007 on Jul 31^st, 2006, 3:00pm

Aspartame can trigger CH?! DAMN! I just took one hard look into my trash can and counted the empty diet soda cans and then also counted the CH's I've had so far today. Hmmmmmmmm? Is there a connection? Time for an experiment I suppose. I'm switching to water for the next several days/weeks to see if I can't calm the beast down.

Otherwise, I'm pretty sure my triggers are:

1) stress, but not through physical activity. If I can concentrate enough to workout at the gym, I can beat back the beast for at least 2-3 hours, but it comes right back at me swinging 3x as hard. At least I got a break!

2) sleep, not necessarily relaxation -- the beast has been at bay when I'm on vacation.

3) pressure change (barometric & airplane)

I've only got one migraine trigger that I know of. Get this. It's RELAXATION! UGH! I'm so screwed.

Title: Re: Name your triggers?
Post by The mad viking on Jul 31^st, 2006, 3:06pm

oil based paint OIL BASED PAINT OILBASED PAINT!!!!!!!

Title: Re: Name your triggers?
Post by kevinpix on Jul 31^st, 2006, 10:11pm

Anything that is fun and bad for you. I can just sit and get one.

Title: Re: Name your triggers?
Post by drivin_blind on Aug 1^st, 2006, 11:44am

I couldn't figure out for years why, when it was a weekend, no work, no stress I'd get hit. Didn't realize so many other people don't dare relax. Reminds me of when I started getting treated for high triglicerydes. I asked how to tell if I should eat something or not. He said, If it tastes good, spit it out! Gotta love him.

Title: Re: Name your triggers?
Post by kevinpix on Aug 1^st, 2006, 12:23pm

I know REM sleep and after sex are big triggers, but don't tell my wife. She'd hate to think sex causes hits.

Title: Re: Name your triggers?
Post by BobG on Aug 1^st, 2006, 10:04pm

on 08/01/06 at 11:44:04, drivin_blind wrote:

If it tastes good, spit it out!

LMAO [smiley=laugh.gif]

Good one! Sounds like something my mother would say.