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Title: Extended Shadow Period Post by TonyYZF on Nov 3rd, 2006, 2:29pm Hi everyone. Tony again. Does anyone have extended periods of shadows after their hit cycles? I am still learning the ropes. My understanding is that shadows can linger for a couple of months after a hit cycle. I also understand that everyone has different experiences with the beast. I started with my first known cycle back in mid July. I had what I now would call shadows for a week or two and then went into the typical hit cycle around the first of August. Ramped up to about 10 excruciating hits a day over a two week period and then more rapidly settled into shadowland. Guess it has been about 16 weeks now. Have shadows daily ranging from kip 2 to 5 and occasionally 6ish. They fluctuate up and down with 3 to 6 shadows a day. Some days I think it is finally settling down and then they pick back up again to stronger shadows. Have had strong shadows for about 4 days now. Hoping I am not ramping up. Usually the stronger hits only last for a couple of days, maybe 3 sometimes, but these don't seem to be settling out this time...will see I guess. Anyway does anyone tend to have shadows this long? If so are you episodic or chronic? If episodic, how often do you cycle? Thanks guys. I know I will learn way more from you than asking a doc that is not a clusterhead. Pain free wishes to all, and to all a good night. Tony |
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Title: Re: Extended Shadow Period Post by marlinsfan on Nov 3rd, 2006, 2:36pm Tony, I usually shadow for about a month after my last headache. They are never more than a K2, though, and I try to battle them with coffee. Many times the caffeine will get rid of them but they do come back. Usually leave after a month or so. I'm episodic, had these suckers for 24 years. |
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Title: Re: Extended Shadow Period Post by Richr8 on Nov 3rd, 2006, 2:51pm Hi Tony, Episodic here. My shadows ususally last for many weeks as well. I battle them fairly successfully with O2 and Excedrin Migraine. YMMV. |
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Title: Re: Extended Shadow Period Post by tanner on Nov 3rd, 2006, 3:16pm Hi Tony, I am a daily Chronic so am always in shadow in between hits, but a K5/6 shadow? That sounds more like a midrange HA to me. Are you on meds? O2? We need some more episodics in on this question. Best of luck....Tim |
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Title: Re: Extended Shadow Period Post by Richr8 on Nov 3rd, 2006, 3:21pm on 11/03/06 at 15:16:49, tanner wrote:
I have to agree, 5s and 6s sound like the real deal to me, ceratinly beyond the shadow range. |
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Title: Re: Extended Shadow Period Post by BarbaraD on Nov 3rd, 2006, 3:36pm Chronic here and I fight the shadows with Red Bull or coffee. If they get to a 7-8, I hit the cafergot. I take melatonin at night, but "always" wake up with a shadow (3-4). I have to get up immediately or it will reve up to a full blown hit. Be careful if you take Excedrin - it can cause rebounds if taken too regularly. Hugs BD |
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Title: Re: Extended Shadow Period Post by Sandy_C on Nov 3rd, 2006, 5:08pm Yes, I can get extended periods of shadowing both before and after a cycle, lasting from just a day or two, to a couple of weeks - either directrion. Shadows, I slam down some Red Bull, ice water, ice packs, and sometimes, if those don't seem to be working, I'll also take one Extra Strength Excedrin. BUT! - and please trust me - listen to Barbara - At one point during my last cycle, the Excedrin seemed to be working so well on my shadows so I was taking up to three with every shadow - rebound heaven! I ended up having more shadows, and more full blown hits. Be very, very careful. Sandy |
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Title: Re: Extended Shadow Period Post by starlight on Nov 3rd, 2006, 6:42pm Episodic. Never got shadows in between cycles until this last one ended. Now I have been getting shadows for weeks after cycle ended. I would not say they are high on the Kip scale though. They are annoying and I take taurine for them. I will say they make me nervous. But so far still out of cycle. Star |
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Title: Re: Extended Shadow Period Post by TonyYZF on Nov 4th, 2006, 1:33am Thank you all for your inputs. Yeah, I have been concerned that if this continues it may end up being chronic. Just can't get a definitive feel for it since everyone is so differrent. Currently I am not taking any CH meds. The doc wants me to start verap, but I have been putting it off until I really need it. Concerned about side effects and I already take meds for other issues daily. Trying not to stack on too many daily meds and if there is an eventual tolerance issue with the verap, I feel like the longer I put it off, I will have a better chance of it working for me when I really need it. I manage the shadows as far as functioning. The worst part for me is the constant reminder from them that today might be the day when it gets bad again. Like I am sure all of you feel, I just don't want to go there. Thanks again for the feedback. Everybody keep on keeping on. Tony |
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Title: Re: Extended Shadow Period Post by keithr1024 on Nov 4th, 2006, 9:32am I've been eposodic for 15 years and from my observation the shadows and the phantoms never go away it seems sometimes the more i battle these things the harder they hit back i think i,m almost done with this cycle(I HOPE).....but if i get hit again i really think i'm taking it dry like i used too, probaly stick with the o2 but no meds........I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THESE DAMN THINGS CYCLES VARY HITS VARY THE ONLY CONSTENT IS THAT THEY COME AND THEY HURT LIKE A JADED BITC* JUST KEEP ON KEEPING ON STAY STRONG PFDAN |
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Title: Re: Extended Shadow Period Post by sailpappy on Nov 4th, 2006, 11:17am ;;D It took me a long time to figure out what your calling "Shadows", I thought I was missing something, I have discovered that my "Shadows" are from the time I realize I'm starting to get hit until I actually make it to the shower! by then its full blown, If I had to endure constant shadows like your talking about, well I just might stop teetering on the edge of the abyss and dive in head first with a big Smile! Pappy http://home.comcast.net/~jhallahan2/wsb/media/299782/site1270.gif |
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Title: Re: Extended Shadow Period Post by G on Nov 4th, 2006, 12:47pm Hi,I get shadows(aura's with pain?)all year long,A little twinge in my head ,thoughts all jumbled,almost like i can feel the chemicals moving,they range from a small twinge on my left side to about a normal headache ( pre-cluster),they can happen at any time,I guess just to let me know they are still there.I am new to this site and not up on all the lingo.hard for me to think straight now,well ..I hope this helps a little |
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Title: Re: Extended Shadow Period Post by yikes-another-one on Nov 4th, 2006, 9:40pm :) from August 2004until June of 2005 I was getting at least 4 shadows/lowhits every day..... I'd wake up to one at 6:30every am, and go to sleep with one at 10:30 at night... usually a level 2 or 3... not usually a stuffy nose, or swollen eye.... but I also ramped up into cycles.... a few lasting a week...with hits between 5 and 7 at least 10 a day.... and a few lasting months.... hits from a 7 and 8 up to a ten... and even a few seeming "stuck" clusters where i'd get hit on the right side (abnormal) for about 50 minutes, then one would start up on the left... the higher hits always affected the eyelid and nose... so were "normal" cycles to me... but the low level headaches seemed to last 40 minutes-120... and then also "disappear" completely.... In june all the daily things disappeared... and I got a normal cycle....several more that year... sometimes we get off easy, other times we pay the piper.... but each time I pray it stays away....winks. I just hope you have the strategies in place to manage it....be it abortives, oxygen...what ever it takes. You and only you can decide what is happening, so keep the journal, keep track and wait and see... just when you peg the beast at his game, he'll side-step and change the rules.... so don't worry too much... just keep moving forward. Hugs, TJ |
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Title: Re: Extended Shadow Period Post by georgej on Nov 4th, 2006, 10:00pm Episodic for forty years. I don't get extensive shadowing after a cycle. Once they start ramping down and their vigor starts to fade, they don't stick around long--at most a couple-three weeks after they have peaked. When they're over, they're over. Kip 5's and 6's sound (as Tanner said) like middling hits, not shadows--although after the 8's and 9's I've just gone through in the center of a cycle, they don't seem too bad in comparison. Little ones like 2's and 3's I can usually ignore, pretty much. Two aspirin, a pot of coffee, and 4 mg. chlorpheneramine maleate helps me with the tiddler 2's and 3's. Best, George |
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Title: Re: Extended Shadow Period Post by TonyYZF on Nov 5th, 2006, 4:27pm It is kind of funny and sad at the same time, but even with how annoying and frightening these shadows are, just not having the big hits is a relief. I will take these every day over a week of hits. It is amazing how the beast changes your tolerance to what you will and won't accept. Even 4 months later, the scar that the bad hits left, makes me thankful that I am not at that level now. The down side is the shadows tease me all the time. They keep me guessing when it is going to start again. Thanks for everyones inputs. PF2U Tony |
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Title: Re: Extended Shadow Period Post by catfish 47 on Nov 6th, 2006, 7:37pm I never had clusters until last year. My cycle lasted for 4 months then daily shadows went for another 3 months. My shadows were short bursts of pain associated with lots of pressure. They would leave just long enough for me to figure out they were gone then slap me again. Right now I'm on Verapamil and Melatonin. The shadows have left and I'm even off all the OTC meds. catfish47 |
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