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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Cluster Headache Specific >> I like beer
        
(Message started by: ShaneM on Jul 16^th, 2006, 5:40pm)

Title: I like beer
Post by ShaneM on Jul 16^th, 2006, 5:40pm

I like beer. And from some of the postings that I have read, I know that I am not alone. I haven't really thought of this before (oh how I love this site ), but I am a fan of wheats. Most of the time though, I will be like any other average joe and get what everyone else has (no offense to any AB employees out there). When I do find myself drinking the average or light domestic I crash hard at the start or end of a cycle. (Of course, I know better than to drink during). But I am wondering if the heavy wheats, ales, stouts, etc. may be effecting you and I differently. Comments?

Shane

Title: Re: I like beer
Post by Sean_C on Jul 16^th, 2006, 8:02pm

We're all different in some trigger ways Shane, not everybody will get hit from drinking, even if thier in cycle.

Go with what ya know [smiley=me&mb.gif]

Cheers

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

Title: Re: I like beer
Post by TimJohnson on Jul 16^th, 2006, 11:54pm

I may get blasted for saying this, but I quit smoking and drinking several years ago. I loved my beer and my smokes but the headaches just weren't worth it. Alcohol is a big trigger and I stay away from it all together in cycle and out. I read somewhere that CH sufferers are usually people who used to be heavy drinkers and smokers. I can't remember where I read that, but I know thats true with me! :P

Title: Re: I like beer
Post by Barry_T_Coles on Jul 17^th, 2006, 2:36am

I like beer also but it dont like me any more.
I used to make my own brew, " a larger " but now 1 beer and wacko, but I can drink stout, white wine and scotch without a problem. ( go figure ? )

I now use my brew gear to make my own stout brewed with honey instead of sugar ( Ah nector ) :D

Regards
Barry

Title: Re: I like beer
Post by georgej on Jul 17^th, 2006, 2:55am

on 07/16/06 at 23:54:41, TimJohnson wrote:

Not blasting at all, but....

I started with CH long before I smoked and years before I ever drank alcohol. In cycle, I won't touch alcohol. In the past and now, I'm a very moderate drinker.

Yes, I do smoke tobacco. And yes, more clusterheads smoke than in the population at large, although not all, by any means, and many have never smoked at all. Could be the tobacco use perception is backwards, though--I wonder whether clusterheads smoke because nicotine is a vasoconstrictor and smoking makes them feel better?
Best,

George

Title: Re: I like beer
Post by E-Double on Jul 17^th, 2006, 5:10am

Eventhough I do not drink as much as I would like hahaha
I thank g-d that it is not a trigger for me.
That would be a bitch.
I have yet to find a trigger within this chronic "cycle"
MMMM good ;;D
http://www.aperitif.no/images/44837/Guinness-Stout-2-135b.jpghttp://www.euroricette.it/immagini/prodotti_upl/newcastle_brown_ale.jpg

Title: Re: I like beer
Post by sandie99 on Jul 17^th, 2006, 6:14am

Now, I'm not much of a drinker and I don't smoke. But ch has made me pretty much a non-drinker. If I have been brave enough to take a few sips of something, the beast sends signs immediately.

I don't know what beers would do, but bubbly is out. It triggers the beast, no question about it!

(But last night I had a bit of punch at the christening and my head was ok. I did take it sensibly; I only had the one glass and I drank it slowly.)

Sanna

Title: Re: I like beer
Post by BarbaraD on Jul 17^th, 2006, 7:04am

alcohol doesn't trigger mine, but I still don't drink much.

The "myth" about Chers being heavy drinkers and smokers has been "disproved". It was the rule for over 50 years or so. And hazel eyes were a must or you didn't have CH. And women get "migraines" not CH. OUR survey shoes that only about 50% of CHers drink and less than that smoke. About 25% of us are women and as far as hazel eyes go -- not many takers on that one.

Everyone has his/her own triggers and try as we may - we just can't find a common one among us. Alcohol is the closest we've come since 98.

My main trigger is the barometer. I'm a better weatherman than the guy on TV. :D

Hugs BD

Title: Re: I like beer
Post by Melissa on Jul 17^th, 2006, 8:51am

Out of all of us at the convention this past weekend, there were about 6 of us who didn't smoke. Out of those 6, only 2 had NEVER smoked. Dr. Sewell (at the convention this past weekend) said that the ratio is at 97% of ch'ers being smokers. After this weekend, I'd say that figure is very near to being correct.

As for the alcohol, YMMV (your mileage may vary). There are a few who drink a lot, I've noticed that the majority really do not, or they drink only a few and then have to stop (myself being one of them, and I'm out of cycle). There are some who can only handle certain drinks, but I'll tell you right now that none of them I saw were falling down drunk. They know their limits. Also, there were many who could not touch it at all lest they get hit, so I believe that theory is definately disproved.

Only way you can find out is by testing the waters, or if you're episodic and it's a trigger, wait to drink until you're sure your cycle is finished.

As for myself, I am an episodic ex-smoker and I do not touch the stuff when in cycle.

mel

Title: Re: I like beer
Post by ShaneM on Jul 17^th, 2006, 9:14am

Unfortunatly, I am trying to kill the smoking beast right know. It has its ups and downs... It has always been somewhat of a pacifier while I am having a HA.

Sanna - Send all the KOFF that you cannot drink. Spent a year in Suomi (Tampere). Miss it with all my heart. Moi!

Shane

Title: Re: I like beer
Post by Guiseppi on Jul 17^th, 2006, 10:14am

I'm part of the 3% that never smoked, but like Barry, brew my own beer. When I'm on cycle, I have to stay away from alcohol or risk getting slammed. Off cycle I'm a moderate beer and whiskey man. Like Barbara said, it's trial and error, it's too bad those errors hurt so damned much!!!

Guiseppi

Title: Re: I like beer
Post by BobG on Jul 17^th, 2006, 11:50am

Habits and addictions are controlled by the hypothalmus. Cluster sufferers have a broken gland. We tend to have more than average habits and addictions.

Title: Re: I like beer
Post by Gena on Jul 17^th, 2006, 12:28pm

Quote:

Dr. Sewell (at the convention this past weekend) said that the ratio is at 97% of ch'ers being smokers. After this weekend, I'd say that figure is very near to being correct.

Maybe it was just me, but I took away the understanding that we don't have CH because we smoke, we smoke because we have CH. Did anyone else get that or was it just me?

Title: Re: I like beer
Post by sandie99 on Jul 17^th, 2006, 2:59pm

on 07/17/06 at 09:14:24, ShaneM wrote:

Sanna - Send all the KOFF that you cannot drink. Spent a year in Suomi (Tampere). Miss it with all my heart. Moi!

Shane, I just might do that... ;) Mum bought few Koff sixpacks for our summer cottage. Usually there's plenty of bottles left once the summer is over.

But it's nice to hear that you've been to Finland! I always try to tell everyone that they must come here for a visit. ;;D

Sanna

Title: Re: I like beer
Post by Charlotte on Jul 17^th, 2006, 3:38pm

Logically, smoking would be somewhat good in that it is a vasoconstrictor, and alcohol bad as it is a dilator.

I'm not going to start smoking but I do see how it might help.

I used to like stout ale and don't remember it being a trigger, and liked red wine and brandy, but don't indulge much.

Charlotte

Title: Re: I like beer
Post by JeffB on Jul 17^th, 2006, 6:13pm

Will not drink during a cycle, it just seems to make it worse. So I drink as much as I can in between! ;;D

Title: Re: I like beer
Post by Weatherman on Jul 17^th, 2006, 7:04pm

on 07/17/06 at 07:04:12, BarbaraD wrote:

My main trigger is the barometer. I'm a better weatherman than the guy on TV. :D

HEY!! Watch it!! ;)

Doug

Title: Re: I like beer
Post by Dissident on Jul 17^th, 2006, 9:20pm

LOL@ Weatherman.

I'm not much of a drinker. I only drink on occasion and the few occasions that I have drank during cycle caused major hits!
About tobacco...I quit in 1998 after smoking for about 8 years. EVERY cycle since quitting tobacco has been way WAY less painful. It may be a coincidence but hey...I'm not about to start back up to see if it is indeed a coincidence!
About weed. I was a CHRONIC smoker of high quality ganja (since age 16) until about 3 months ago. I haven't been in cycle since quitting pot. I'll let you guys know if my future cycles get "better" now that I'm completely smoke/drug-alcohol free.

Title: Re: I like beer
Post by Melissa on Jul 17^th, 2006, 11:06pm

on 07/17/06 at 12:28:00, Gena wrote:

Maybe it was just me, but I took away the understanding that we don't have CH because we smoke, we smoke because we have CH. Did anyone else get that or was it just me?

Nope, I got that too! ;;D

Title: Re: I like beer
Post by earnhardtjr_fan on Jul 19^th, 2006, 2:13am

Shane, I like beer also, and it is a BIG trigger for me. Most of the time 1/2 a beer and it hits. I try to think that I am tuff and drink anyway but never fails, when I am in cycle WHAM at kip 10. What I have found out is that I either have to give up the beer or deal with the pain. Imitrex helps a lot but I do not like taking it while I am drinking. So I suffer. Sucks for guys like me who like to unwind with a beer or two after work.

Lape

Title: Re: I like beer
Post by toonzboss on Jul 19^th, 2006, 3:11am

Well the last time I drank any alcohol was about 2 to 3 years before I had the first ch, I was a smoker before and am today. I've always had a steady coffee habit as well, go figure?

But if alcohol is a dilator then thats a consideration I suppose but I'm just happy to finally be getting some info about ch in general.

Title: Re: I like beer
Post by zwibbs/Scott on Jul 19^th, 2006, 7:06am

I got into the habit of having Rum/Coke and a beer at the same time. For all the cycles I have had throughout the years it never bothered me----however my last cycle it was impossible to drink anything but water. A couple of times I got cocky and had a drink and minues later I was in my own private screaming room !!! When I had gone a month with good sleep and no pain, I was a nervous wreck, but I was clearly out of the cycle and it didn't cause any problems.

Title: Re: I like beer
Post by StressFree on Jul 20^th, 2006, 1:52pm

Pale Ale for me! I like stouts and other ales, and will drink American Pilsners if I must. Mostly when out of cycle only. Any alcohol used to be an instant trigger. Last cycle, toward end, I was able to test the waters and didn't seem to get hit with moderate drinking. Maxalt made me more brave than usual. Usually I won't go near any drink until weeks after cluster cycle has completely ended.

I also love to homebrew, though rarely have time in recent years.

Rich

Title: Re: I like beer
Post by Charlotte on Jul 20^th, 2006, 3:21pm

I didn't win the argument with my husband Joe, but now he thinks we talk about headaches, motorcycles, and beer. And he feels for anyone who can't have one.

Charlotte

Title: Re: I like beer
Post by Sandy_C on Jul 20^th, 2006, 5:14pm

on 07/17/06 at 12:28:00, Gena wrote:

Maybe it was just me, but I took away the understanding that we don't have CH because we smoke, we smoke because we have CH. Did anyone else get that or was it just me?

Yeah, that's what I understood him to say.

Sandy

Title: Re: I like beer
Post by thomas on Jul 20^th, 2006, 5:28pm

on 07/17/06 at 12:28:00, Gena wrote:

Maybe it was just me, but I took away the understanding that we don't have CH because we smoke, we smoke because we have CH. Did anyone else get that or was it just me?

That's what I thought he was saying too.

Title: Re: I like beer
Post by brewcrew on Jul 21^st, 2006, 12:46pm

Yes, I believe you are all correct about what Dr. Sewell said. Smoking causes the hypothalmus to secrete higher levels of something like 4 different chemicals/hormones which produce a feeling of mild euphoria. In CH sufferers, the hypothalmus is defective, and it produces more of those chemicals than in the general population. It's the euphoria to which we become addicted, and the level of euphoria is greater in us.

We become more deeply addicted, and it's harder for us to quit.