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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Cluster Headache Specific >> chronic and episodic
        
(Message started by: bruce802 on Aug 10^th, 2006, 3:12pm)

Title: chronic and episodic
Post by bruce802 on Aug 10^th, 2006, 3:12pm

Hello everyone, I was wondering, do episodic CH sufferers ever end up being chronic sufferers?

Bruce

Title: Re: chronic and episodic
Post by Jonny on Aug 10^th, 2006, 3:19pm

Yes, but not all.

Title: Re: chronic and episodic
Post by georgej on Aug 10^th, 2006, 3:30pm

on 08/10/06 at 15:19:43, Jonny wrote:

Yes, but not all.

They can, all right, but certainly not always. I've been reliably episodic, like a clock, since 1966. I've never become chronic.

The "good" news (if there's anything "good" about this stuff at all) is that the length of time between cycles may widen as time goes by. It's happened to me. I'm three years between cycles for the last three go-arounds. But we'll see. Nothing's written in stone.

Best wishes,

George

Title: Re: chronic and episodic
Post by Sandy_C on Aug 10^th, 2006, 5:46pm

Hi Bruce, and welcome.

Yes, some episodics do go chronic. But, like Jonny said, not all. Jonny started out at a very young age as chronic - right from the get-go. Now, he's PF (and we hope that's a forever!). Many episodics are still episodic. Like George said, nothing is written in stone.

My best advice, if you are worrying about going from episodic to chronic - don't. With CH, whether episodic or chronic, you have to learn to cherish the pain free time you have, whether it's minutes or years. It is what it is.

Sandy

Title: Re: chronic and episodic
Post by kcopelin on Aug 10^th, 2006, 6:21pm

Hey Bruce,
yes some of us have gone from episodic to chronic. I was episodic for 24 years-and thought I would die if I ever became chronic-not dead yet. One thing though, there are some (and I'm beginning to count myself in this group) who believe the more you medicate this condition, the more you mess with it, the more likely you are to prolong the cycle. This is the first time in 24 that I have asked for pain meds for clusters-and now I'm chronic. Hmmmm, I wonder what will happen once I taper all the way off the pain meds? Maybe go back to episodic?
PFDAN
kathy

Title: Re: chronic and episodic
Post by maffumatt on Aug 10^th, 2006, 6:23pm

Between 10 and 15 % do, also works the other way too.

Title: Re: chronic and episodic
Post by E-Double on Aug 10^th, 2006, 7:13pm

[smiley=wave.gif]

10 yrs episodic and now 2+ yrs chronic

Title: Re: chronic and episodic
Post by kevinpix on Aug 10^th, 2006, 8:07pm

I agree maffumatt. Can go either way or even go away on its own. Just do the best you can in the meantime. Good luck and wishes of painfree-dom!!!

Title: Re: chronic and episodic
Post by lashultz on Aug 10^th, 2006, 8:38pm

Yes they do. 7 years eposidic. 6 chronic.

Lee

Title: Re: chronic and episodic
Post by unsolved1 on Aug 10^th, 2006, 10:53pm

12 years episodic, 6 years chronic :-/

UNsolved

Title: Re: chronic and episodic
Post by sandie99 on Aug 11^th, 2006, 3:20am

Oh yes!

But, luckily for me, it's also possible to return to episodic. :)

PF time to all,
Sanna

Title: Re: chronic and episodic
Post by bruce802 on Aug 11^th, 2006, 8:58am

Wow,

Thats kind of scary to know. I almost wish I didn't ask that question. I guess I'll just be thankfull that I am episodic for now, and hopefully I will never turn chronic.

thank you everyone for your responses.

Bruce

Title: Re: chronic and episodic
Post by E-Double on Aug 11^th, 2006, 9:02am

Quite a few Chronics includiong myself will tell you that in a way it is easier.
We know what is going to happen.
We do not dread them coming back after a long reprieve.
There is much less anxiety.

Yes breaks are nice when we get them if we do at all.
Some develop high and low periods within a chronic state.

It is all good.

Like anything else some can manage better than others.

This place remains a g-dsend.

Don't worry just live regardless of episodic or chronic

Title: Re: chronic and episodic
Post by paul2006 on Aug 11^th, 2006, 11:41pm

I agree with e-double... its better in many ways to know whats going to happen and be prepared... in whatever way suits, because we're all different.

I'd rather know than live in fear of 'the day'. Going chronic helped me better understand, live with and try my best to beat the beast in my head.

I don't always win... but I never give in.

There's a lot of good reading on this site...

Good luck!