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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Cluster Headache Specific >> Sticking My Head in the Freezer........
        
(Message started by: ElizabethFL on Jun 30^th, 2006, 9:34am)

Title: Sticking My Head in the Freezer........
Post by ElizabethFL on Jun 30^th, 2006, 9:34am

When I am in the middle of an attack I have found that sticking my head in the freezer ( I know, sounds funny) gives me temporary relief.

Something about breathing in the super cold air soothes my head....at least for 30 seconds or so at a time. :-/

Needless to say my husband knows when I am starting an attack as my head is in the freezer. [smiley=laugh.gif]

Could someone help me understand why this makes my head feel better?

Title: Re: Sticking My Head in the Freezer........
Post by Sean_C on Jun 30^th, 2006, 9:37am

LOL we've all done some funny things to make us feel better ;;D

I know some folks put ice in thier o2 bubbler, give that a shot, it'll be more comfortable [smiley=laugh.gif]

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

Title: Re: Sticking My Head in the Freezer........
Post by Guiseppi on Jun 30^th, 2006, 10:15am

There is something to that. I'll get in my car and turn on the air conditioner full blast, plug the nostril of my non head ache side and inhale the cold air on the affected side. I've heard of others who bury their face in a snow bank and breathe in, and bunches who use the stick their head in a freezer idea. Certainly not total relief but it does seem to help.

Guiseppi

Title: Re: Sticking My Head in the Freezer........
Post by BarbaraD on Jun 30^th, 2006, 11:02am

So what's wrong with sticking your head in the freezer -- have spent a lot of hours there. Don't know why it makes you feel better, but it does....

I've also sat on the front porch in 17degree weather in my nightgown - seemed to help, but the dog thought I was crazy (what does he know?).

Seriously, we all do what ever we can to make the pain easier. If it helps DO IT!

Hugs BD

Title: Re: Sticking My Head in the Freezer........
Post by seasonalboomer on Jun 30^th, 2006, 11:37am

That is the only kitchen appliance you are allowed to use in this fashion however! No ovens allowed. ;;D
Although I'm sure sure someone will one day arrive to say that they found their cure in the Amana Radar Range at Defrost level or something like that.

Keep on breathing that frosty air!

Scott

Title: Re: Sticking My Head in the Freezer........
Post by ElizabethFL on Jun 30^th, 2006, 11:50am

Is this a crazy theory? I think that when you breathe in the cold air, it is condensed air/condensed o2, once it hits your lungs/head it expands, so it is kinda like a rush of o2....does this make sense at all?

Title: Re: Sticking My Head in the Freezer........
Post by seasonalboomer on Jun 30^th, 2006, 11:54am

on 06/30/06 at 11:50:05, ElizabethFL wrote:

Crazy.......?........ hmmmm...... no, not crazy. It might just be that it feels good though.
;)

Title: Re: Sticking My Head in the Freezer........
Post by Mattrf on Jun 30^th, 2006, 12:35pm

I fill a small ice chest with ice and water then coil my o2 line in it to cool the o2, the more coils the colder the o2 gets.

Title: Re: Sticking My Head in the Freezer........
Post by Redd715 on Jun 30^th, 2006, 2:16pm

Ok...true confessions time.

Middle of a bitter WI winter and my head was raging. None of my usual coping tricks were working, the ice packs failed, then hot shower with the water beating on my head and face failed. I danced out of the bathroom into my bedroom, and threw open my window and there in the sill, soaking wet and nekkid as the day I was born, my arms crossed supporting my rocking head breathing in sub zero air....

Only thing that helped that particular attack.

Title: Re: Sticking My Head in the Freezer........
Post by spidey426 on Jul 1^st, 2006, 4:17am

Before I knew I suffered from CH, it was just a natural thing to want to be in the cold air. One year I had my cycle in the wintertime.. it was nice. My bed was flush with the window, several times in the middle of the night I would open up the window and literally sleep with my head outside in the freezing cold, lol. Crazy but it felt really good.

Next time my roommate is not around I'm going to try the freezer tactic: )

Title: Re: Sticking My Head in the Freezer........
Post by Linda_Howell on Jul 1^st, 2006, 12:06pm

My freezer is in plain veiw of the front door which was open one day and I had my head in the freezer and was practically banging my head in there when a UPS guy came to the door to deliver a pkg. He took one look at what was going on and slowly put the pkg at the doorstep and RAN back to his truck.

Moral of the story is yes, it does feel better, but be careful and close your front door before inserting head in freezer.

Linda

Title: Re: Sticking My Head in the Freezer........
Post by wildhaus on Jul 1^st, 2006, 12:25pm

next winter if I get hit I'll try the freezer system.....
it gets down to ≈ -20°F - -15°F (-20°C) its just
that if ill stand out there in the cold wind and take
Red's advice and stand there naked as the day I was born my head might do better..... but my "jewles" will be
on the frozen side and most likly hurting...... isnt that a great deal..........

on a more seroius note: I will try the freezing part - I'll just be dressed from the neck downwards.

Michael

Title: Re: Sticking My Head in the Freezer........
Post by floridian on Jul 1^st, 2006, 12:40pm

Cold is a vaso-constrictor ... it tightens up the blood vessels. Pure oxygen does the same thing, but it is more penetrating.

People have used frozen peas, ice-bongs, and other inventions. One thing I found by accident to really clamp down the blood vessels around the eyes and sinuses is the use of a Neti-pot (nasal irrigation) using COOL water. Don't use cold water!! Water pulls heat much faster than air - pouring water that is 10 degrees cooler than the body through your sinuses will remove heat as if it were air 50 to 70 degrees colder than body temp.

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

Title: Re: Sticking My Head in the Freezer........
Post by mynm156 on Jul 1^st, 2006, 2:27pm

I use Ice Packs all the time! I cant use Trex more than once a day because of my blood pressure and I have to also limit my usage of my Stadol NS so there are many many times that the only thing I have for relief is Ice or head pounding ya know all the fun stuff!