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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Cluster Headache Specific >> The END
        
(Message started by: Chrisjg23 on Dec 11^th, 2006, 7:05pm)

Title: The END
Post by Chrisjg23 on Dec 11^th, 2006, 7:05pm

Hi Everyone,

I'm a new "Clusterf*ck" and I've been battling my first CH experience for 3 weeks now. I was wondering a few things:

1. Is there a sign or some kind feeling of that signals the ending of the cycle?

2. Besides the O2, is there a quick acting fix when the pain spikes? (I'm a high school teacher so a quick fix is often necessary)

3. I've read that having a drink (alcohol) can trigger an attack during a CH cycle...is this true? What about when you are not dealing with a cycle? Can you drink?

Thanks,
CG

Title: Re: The END
Post by georgej on Dec 11^th, 2006, 7:18pm

on 12/11/06 at 19:05:09, Chrisjg23 wrote:

1. It isn't universal, but often they just fade away--becoming less frequent and less intense. I usually consider that a cycle is over when I've gone seven days without a hit or a shadow.

2. Imitrex injections can abort a hit quite quickly. I don't use them, so I will defer to others to answer this question more fully.

3. For the majority of episodics, alcohol will trigger a hit while in cycle. For me, it's an inevitable trigger. Chronics seem to be a bit different in this respect. When out of cycle, episodics can usually drink alcohol with no effect on CH.

Welcome to the board. Sorry you have to be here, but you've come to the best possible place for information and support on the internet.

Best wishes,

George

Title: Re: The END
Post by BigCoffinHunter on Dec 11^th, 2006, 7:31pm

1. With me they seem to last exactly 2 months. Towards the end I notice them becoming less frequent and intense.

2. In addition to triptans like Imitrex and Zomig nasal spray, caffeine can work very well. Pound a RedBull or a couple cups of coffee at the first sign of one.

3. Alcohol will trigger a CH when I am in cycle, although when on steroids, I seem to be able to get away with it. Your mileage may vary. Out of cycle, I like my alcohol.

Title: Re: The END
Post by Redd715 on Dec 11^th, 2006, 7:37pm

Imitrex injections ARE fast acting. You can usually excuse youself for a bathroom break and be back before anyone is the wiser. 2 or 3 mg shots also help lower the risks of the more bothersome side effects.

As far as drinking for Chronics, there are many for whom it does not trigger. Some for whom it still does, so drinking is a no no period.

Some take the occasional drink because they will get hit anyway...with or without it.

Title: Re: The END
Post by E-Double on Dec 11^th, 2006, 7:41pm

Get your A$$ to the New England Center for Headaches in Stamford.

I go there from NY.

Dr. Sheftell is a g-dsend!!!!!

Anyway, here's my rookie schpiel ;)

This is a great resource to know like the back of your hand...print it out and give it to the doc

http://www.brightok.net/~mnjday/chtherapy.pdf

It will present the appropriate treatments that you should seek and your doctor should know!!!

If you want an abortive with the least amount of side-effects O2 should not only be requested but demanded from your doctor!!!

http://www.maplefallswebdesign.com/misc/oxygen/oxygen.htm

I have used Zyprexa as an abortive and have found it to work (for me) as fast as Imitrex and without the "hangover"

http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=medsarchive2005;action=display;num=1120904753

If you do have the "typical" wake you up in the middle of the night horrors then.... Melatonin might be very helpful
Many of us (myself included) have found that taking 6-9mg (some take more) about a 1/2 hour to 45minutes prior to bed have Knocked out the night visits and can finally get sleep.

With the exception of 10-12 times.....I have slept through the night since August '04 (went chronic in March 05 now just awaken from a 6 month old haha).....Still get hit during the day but my overall quality of life is better because I am not as exhausted all the time.

Some people report that it seems to make them worse....The fact is that we are all different and respond differently to everything therefore it may or may not...

The one thing I will tell you as far as my experience was that I had to stick with it...The first night I took melatonin, I was awoken with a doozy only I was too groggy to find my O2 .....It got a lot better for me....I then slept through the night but would get slammed about 1/2 hour after waking up....kinda like knocking the beast off schedule.....then again I was peaking and this cycle has been all over the place with no real pattern.
I stayed with melatonin and have had decent sleep overall. (Maybe I should start following my own advice again but then I might not wake up for the baby and wife will give me a real headache ;) )

It may help and it is natural with not too many sideeffects....also ask your doctor b/c if there are any side effects or contraindications...I think they have to do with mild depression.....

Like I said we are all different.

Best wishes, good luck & stay as positive as you can!!!!

Title: Re: The END
Post by Chrisjg23 on Dec 11^th, 2006, 7:42pm

Thanks, guys. I appreciate the help, suggestions, and information.

Looks like 2 months is a typically standard length? 5 more to go [smiley=huh.gif]

Title: Re: The END
Post by E-Double on Dec 11^th, 2006, 7:46pm

Try to just live an dnot worry about the time.....it'll drive ya mad.
I used to count the weeks.
That turned into months
That turned into yrs.

Gotta stop before the months ;)

The bitter truth is that some who are very accustomed to having very brief cycles just turn chronic out of the blue. You think that it is just another month of no sleep then it just never goes away.

This is not to scare you but to kick ya in the tush before the angst really does a number on you.

It will END when it is ready.
For now live the best you can and kick ass teaching!

We gotta stick together ;)

Title: Re: The END
Post by georgej on Dec 11^th, 2006, 8:00pm

on 12/11/06 at 19:46:15, E-Double wrote:

This is not to scare you but to kick ya in the tush before the angst really does a number on you.

It will END when it is ready.

Agreed, completely. You can't put a calendar to it. It does what it does. For some of us, it's been very predictable and seasonal--but it can morph, and it often does.

One day at a time, one hit at a time.

Regards,

George

Title: Re: The END
Post by Giovanni on Dec 12^th, 2006, 12:41am

on 12/11/06 at 19:42:32, Chrisjg23 wrote:

Looks like 2 months is a typically standard length? 5 more to go [smiley=huh.gif]

There is hardly anything typical with these things as they morph over time as to length and start times. I used to have fall/spring then winter now summer. I coming to an end with this one (hopefully) after almost 6 months.

John

Title: Re: The END
Post by chopmyheadoff on Dec 12^th, 2006, 9:51am

hiya mate, imitrex injections have saved me, they can abort a hit like said above, in a bathroom break.
I work on a busy helpdesk on the phone so its essential for me too.

im chronic and yes alcohol is my worst trigger.
funny though, although im chronic i still have say 2 days out of the week headache free. and on these days i can drink all i like. the only bad thing is that i dont know if its a headache day or not until i try >:(

hope you have a short one
chops

Title: Re: The END
Post by Chrisjg23 on Dec 12^th, 2006, 7:54pm

Hey Everyone,
Thanks for all the advice...I'll definitely be taking it one day at a time...those damn sophomores don't make life easy during a flare up....

Have you guys tried the caffeine fix? Does it work for you? Would something like NoDoze knock the devil out for a bit?

Title: Re: The END
Post by georgej on Dec 12^th, 2006, 8:26pm

on 12/12/06 at 19:54:38, Chrisjg23 wrote:

Have you guys tried the caffeine fix? Does it work for you? Would something like NoDoze knock the devil out for a bit?

Caffeine is our friend. Not sure NoDoze would do the trick, though--normally, pills take too long to take effect. Try something like Red Bull, slammed, not sipped. The taurine magnifies the effect of caffeine. It works well for some here, and anecdotal evidence indicates that it can sometimes abort a hit.

I drink a lot of coffee when I'm in cycle.

Best,

George

Title: Re: The END
Post by BigCoffinHunter on Dec 13^th, 2006, 8:28am

This last cycle I learned to use caffeine well. I kept a bunch of sugar-free Red Bull on hand until I was on Verapamil (which apparently amplifies too much when taken with RB). After that, I kept a big jug of iced coffee in the fridge, all made up with sweetener and cream. When I would wake up with a hit (90% of my hits were 1/2 hour after falling asleep), I'd slam two or three glasses as soon as I could. If I didn't start to feel it receding within a couple minutes, I'd fire a Zomig off up in my nose.

Title: Re: The END
Post by Sandy_C on Dec 13^th, 2006, 5:16pm

Hi Chris, and welcome.

I'm sorry that you have found us, but with CH, this is the only place to be.

I am an episodic, one of the more fortunate ones here, with cycles that have lasted anywhere from 8 to 16 weeks. But, I have 18 to 24 months between cycles (that's why I'm fortunate). To give some answers to your questions:

# 1 I know I'm getting toward the end of a cycle by the less intensity of the hits, and by the shorter duration of the hits.

# 2 From most information on these boards, the Imitrex injections seem to be the quickest abortive. I have never tried them (only pills, which work, but slowly). I can see where having an 02 tank in your classroom and huffing away might not be the thing to do, so the quick bathroom break with the injection might be just the trick for you.

#3 Alcohol - while in cycle - not a drop can pass my lips - instant trigger! Out of cycle - no problems.

Please read all the info in the buttons to your left, and talk with your doctor. Ask any questions you might have here, someone is always on the boards here.

Sandy

Title: Re: The END
Post by BarbaraD on Dec 13^th, 2006, 6:03pm

Red Bull and O2 are the best for getting a hit stopped in its tracks. I take cafergot (ergotomine) if I get up to about a 7-8 - it does the trick.

Melatonin at night (I take 12mg), but stick with it -- takes a couple of weeks to start working right. I'm chronic and it helps me gt some much needed rest to fight the beast during the daylight hours.

Alcohol doesn't bother me one way or the other. I don't drink much, but if I want a drink I take it without any reprecussions. Beer at one time was a trigger, but doesn't bother me any more.

Sorry you had to find us, but welcome to Clusterville. Nice folks (for the most part) and LOTs of good advice.

Hugs BD

Title: Re: The END
Post by Chrisjg23 on Dec 14^th, 2006, 4:41pm

Hi Everyone,

I've found caffeine to be quite helpful while at work (I'm a high school teacher).

On a normal basis, I generally had minimal amounts of caffeine--maybe 1-2 cups of coffee per week and not much more via soda/chocolate etc.

After reading some of the posts, I went out and bought some energy drinks (Monster Khaos) and Vivarin caffeine pills. Whether it was all in my head (literally) or not, I've been able to fight off my daily attacks with one 200mg caffeine supplement ...Since my insurance only covers so much Imitrex, this is a pleasant surprise. I'd say it took about 15 mins to kick in (or the headache was short...who knows!)

CG

Title: Re: The END
Post by Kevin_M on Dec 15^th, 2006, 8:06am

on 12/11/06 at 19:05:09, Chrisjg23 wrote:

I'm a new "Clusterf*ck" and I've been battling my first CH experience for 3 weeks now. I was wondering a few things:

In a first cycle ever I was relieved to just find anything that would help but WISH I would have started on a preventative at that time. These are so unpredictable and what may work one time as a makeshift abortive may not work when it is important that it does, my first cycle's start was a hellova surprise but wasn't as bad as it eventually got, in frequency and intensity.
E Double linked in some info and it could be helpful to begin with, stay curious for a treatment or method of prevention.

Title: Re: The END
Post by Chrisjg23 on Dec 28^th, 2006, 9:12pm

Hi All,
Doc started me on Verapamil...about a week in so far and it seemed to help when I went from 120 to 240...now I'm down to one HA a day (knock on wood)...at least this has been the case for the last few days.

I will say, though, I am a huge fan of Monster Energy Drink--Khaos tastes best. It has literally saved me 12 times from the beast. As soon as I feel it really start coming on, I chug an ice cold half can or so. It works wonders within 5-10 minutes.

Have any of you guys tried this stuff? I guess it has similar ingredients to the Red Bull.....but tastes far better.

---Chris :P

Title: Re: The END
Post by Jonny on Dec 28^th, 2006, 9:20pm

Some energy drinks do not go well with Verapamil......it can hurt you!

Check with your doc!

Title: Re: The END
Post by B14CK5H33P on Dec 29^th, 2006, 7:02am

on 12/28/06 at 21:20:15, Jonny wrote:

Some energy drinks do not go well with Verapamil......it can hurt you!

Check with your doc!

WORD!

Title: Re: The END
Post by Chrisjg23 on Dec 29^th, 2006, 5:27pm

It can hurt...but hasn't ....I'll keep you all updated!

Title: Re: The END
Post by Chrisjg23 on Jan 4^th, 2007, 8:23pm

Hi All,

Well, it's been 3 weeks since I first posted and I'm pleased to say that I've found this site to be a Godsend.

I think the Verapamil is working...I went from 3-5 HAs/day to 1-2 after a couple weeks of 240mg. Believe it or not, I even had 33 consecutive hours of a normal life! Not even a shadow...

For the last 24 hours (which was followed by the PF 33 hours) I have had a fairly constant shadow... no real HA's...It's been pretty weird and awkward...kinda like waiting for the bomb to drop...

Has anyone else had this experience?
Are they winding down?
Should I go from 240mg of Verapamil to 360?

I've still had a lot of abortive success drinking 1/2 can of Monster...although, with the warnings of it magnifying the Verapamil, I've been cautious...

[smiley=laugh.gif]

Title: Re: The END
Post by MikeE on Jan 4^th, 2007, 9:26pm

Hi, Know what you mean about the wierd shadows. Lots of days seems like one side of my head wakes up and the right side doesn,t catch up till much later in the day. I say you may have found your coctail of meds. Back up and punt when things are going bad,dont change when things are going better. Good luck