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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Cluster Headache Specific >> Brainstorm: Alcohol before MRI?
        
(Message started by: pieface_49 on Mar 25^th, 2007, 12:53pm)

Title: Brainstorm: Alcohol before MRI?
Post by pieface_49 on Mar 25^th, 2007, 12:53pm

I now know alcohol is a trigger mechanism for my illness. What if I were to have someone drive me to have an MRI done tomorrow? I could drink a beer or two and possibly trigger an episode? Would this, in turn make a difference on the MRI?

Title: Re: Brainstorm: Alcohol before MRI?
Post by ClusterChuck on Mar 25^th, 2007, 2:24pm

I would probably cancel the MRI.

Chuck

Title: Re: Brainstorm: Alcohol before MRI?
Post by UN solved on Mar 25^th, 2007, 2:51pm

It would not make a difference and you would be put through an attack for no reason. A cluster attack will not show up on an MRI.

Now, if it were a PET scan, that might be different

UNsolved

Title: Re: Brainstorm: Alcohol before MRI?
Post by pieface_49 on Mar 25^th, 2007, 3:24pm

I cannot rule out the idea of muscular sclerosis or a tumor. This will be my second MRI, the first since 2003 I believe. At the same time, I do not want to waste $2500. I will take the advice and forgo the alcohol. I really need some guidance here.

Title: Re: Brainstorm: Alcohol before MRI?
Post by chewy on Mar 25^th, 2007, 7:11pm

What guidance do you need. You show up, you take the MRI, you wait for the results.

Title: Re: Brainstorm: Alcohol before MRI?
Post by pieface_49 on Mar 25^th, 2007, 7:31pm

I wanted to know if I am wasting my money? I also wanted to know if an MRI has been helpful to others?

Title: Re: Brainstorm: Alcohol before MRI?
Post by Redd on Mar 25^th, 2007, 7:52pm

MRI is a diagnostic tool, not a treatment. What it will show is the presnce or abscence of a tomor or other mass which may be causing your pain. It's not a waste.

Title: Re: Brainstorm: Alcohol before MRI?
Post by chewy on Mar 25^th, 2007, 8:11pm

The MRI is used to rule out other causes, not to detect or diagnose clusters.

Title: Re: Brainstorm: Alcohol before MRI?
Post by TonyG1 on Mar 25^th, 2007, 8:28pm

Alcohol in cycle = CH attack -- Ask yourself, do you really want to be in a full blown CH while having an MRI of your brain? --- facemask over your face so your head doesn't move, banging of the MRI machine, etc .... I couldn't even imagine that ...http://bestsmileys.com/bouncing/6.gif

Title: Re: Brainstorm: Alcohol before MRI?
Post by pieface_49 on Mar 25^th, 2007, 8:56pm

It never dawned on me. How am I going to hold my fingers to my face in an attempt to stop the pain [smiley=laugh.gif]

Title: Re: Brainstorm: Alcohol before MRI?
Post by Gator on Mar 25^th, 2007, 9:23pm

An MRI is definitely NOT a waste of time or money. There have been people come through here convinced they had ch and nothing else, even though their symptoms didn't quite seem right. At the insistence of people here they had MRI's and discovered they did in fact have tumors/growths.

Title: Re: Brainstorm: Alcohol before MRI?
Post by chrisw on Mar 25^th, 2007, 10:08pm

the thought of being in an mri machine with a ch is unimaginable. you cant move anything. it woul d be unbearable.

chrisw

Title: Re: Brainstorm: Alcohol before MRI?
Post by burnt-toast on Mar 26^th, 2007, 7:21am

I don't believe alcohol, CH and MRI's are a good mix.

I'd have to believe that an alcohol enduced CH attack in an MRI machine would render it impossible to get a clear image.

Can't picture anyone remaining still long enough to get good results. Go without the alcohol.

Best Wishes,

Tom

Title: Re: Brainstorm: Alcohol before MRI?
Post by JeffB on Mar 26^th, 2007, 10:59am

Bad idea!

Title: Re: Brainstorm: Alcohol before MRI?
Post by Linda_Howell on Mar 26^th, 2007, 11:07am

Quote:

I could drink a beer or two and possibly trigger an episode?

If you are episodic and NOT in cycle it wouldn't trigger an attack anyway. If you are in cycle, it probably will, but like everyone said....NOT a good idea.

Title: Re: Brainstorm: Alcohol before MRI?
Post by pieface_49 on Mar 26^th, 2007, 9:17pm

I am in cycle and woke up this morning with about a 30 minute hit. I thought I might go to the hospital for the MRI in the midst of the hit. During the hit, I took an indomethacin and jumped in the shower. After showering the hit went away. Through time I have associated a hot shower as a way to relieve the or lesson the pain. It seems to clear up my clogged sinus passage. Anyone else find a hot shower helps them?

Title: Re: Brainstorm: Alcohol before MRI?
Post by Redd on Mar 26^th, 2007, 9:22pm

I know of a few people where heat seems to help them more than cold.

I've turned to heat myself from time to time, but I'm usually an ice person. Heat is a second line of defence/distraction when everything else is failing.

Title: Re: Brainstorm: Alcohol before MRI?
Post by Linda_Howell on Mar 26^th, 2007, 10:01pm

Yes, a few people have stated that heat works for them. I don't understand that at all however. It doesn't make biological sense to me.

Vascular dialation=cluster headaches

Vascular constriction=cold

NOT heat :o

Title: Re: Brainstorm: Alcohol before MRI?
Post by LeLimey on Mar 27^th, 2007, 2:11am

on 03/26/07 at 21:17:06, pieface_49 wrote:

During the hit, I took an indomethacin and jumped in the shower. After showering the hit went away.

This is the bit I don't understand - how does Indo work as an abortive for you?

Title: Re: Brainstorm: Alcohol before MRI?
Post by Karla on Mar 27^th, 2007, 9:15am

Yes question about the indomethacin. I took 50mg 3x a day of indomethacin as a preventative and needed to take nothing else for 5 months and then it quit working and lost its effectiveness.

Title: Re: Brainstorm: Alcohol before MRI?
Post by vig on Mar 27^th, 2007, 9:52am

brave AND crazy!

good luck....
(& step away from the bottle!)

:)

Title: Re: Brainstorm: Alcohol before MRI?
Post by pieface_49 on Mar 27^th, 2007, 8:37pm

I honestly do not know what stopped the hit. I am suspecting the shower, not the Indomethacin. It could have just been a short hit (5-20 minutes). When I can clear my clogged sinus passageway, even by drainage, it helps though it does not necessarily take away the hit. My sinuses let me know when a hit is coming unless I am sleeping. My right nasal passage will become completely stuffed and dry. Shadows (nasal itchiness/burning or palpitations in my face or both) will occur. The hit is coming or starting at this point in time. When I jump in the shower the drainage may start. What I think is happening is my nasal passage may swell (sphenopalalitine ganglion) and I know the nightmare of a hit is beginning. When I jump in the shower, I sometimes can relieve the swelling in the sphenopalatine ganglion and start the drainage. I swear I should by stock in Puffs. The above is basically how all my hits start. Normally, but not always, after drainage stops, the hit may stop also.

This is only my theory.

Title: Re: Brainstorm: Alcohol before MRI?
Post by MikeE on Mar 27^th, 2007, 9:13pm

Make sure you understand that MRI does not see your Head ache. They are trying to rule out the fact that your HA is not caused by a tumor or something. In my case they said they didnt find anything so my insurance would not pay. If I had cancer insurance would pay. good luck, Mike

Title: Re: Brainstorm: Alcohol before MRI?
Post by JeffB on Mar 27^th, 2007, 10:18pm

Let him do it. Don't forget to put a piece of metal in your pocket before you go in!