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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Cluster Headache Specific >> Caffeine?  (and a mini rant)
        
(Message started by: Corey_Griffith on May 24^th, 2007, 8:59pm)

Title: Caffeine? (and a mini rant)
Post by Corey_Griffith on May 24^th, 2007, 8:59pm

what's with the references Im seeing to Red Bull/caffeine?

I've been avoiding caffeine like the plague, thinking that it only makes things worse. have other people been experiencing benefits? Im so close to finding a pot of coffee right now and just adding ice and chugging it.

The beast is, as we speak, sitting patiently just above my right eye, waiting for me to fall asleep.

I can feel him there now, juuuuuust barely, but I do feel him. And Im so angry.

Enough!

Title: Re: Caffeine? (and a mini rant)
Post by taraann on May 24^th, 2007, 9:09pm

Back in the day my grandpa used to drink what he called kettle coffee. Take a bunch of coffee and fill the bottom of the can with the grounds and pour the boiling water over it, then let it sit for a long while till it's good and strong. Then chug. That was one of his home remedies. I tried it, chugging and gagging. Didn't help, and went back to my regular coffee and tea. Alot of us use caffene to try and abort.

Title: Re: Caffeine? (and a mini rant)
Post by tanner on May 24^th, 2007, 9:15pm

Welcome Corey, While caffiene is a common trigger for migraines, with CH relaxation is the enemy.

We will have to wait for the real chemists to respond to explain the whole Taurine/ Caffiene phenom. they will be around sooner or later.

In the meantime sorry to meet you :( but you are in the right spot!

.....Tim

Title: Re: Caffeine? (and a mini rant)
Post by Corey_Griffith on May 24^th, 2007, 9:39pm

So it works then? If I can feel a CH coming on, I should grab some strong coffee or a red bull or some other energy drink and pound it down?

Has this worked for a lot of people?

I'll try it if people say it works, but Im so scared that if I do try it, it'll make the beast intensify from what it is now, to a full blown CH, and Im at work right now and it would really suck for me to have to explain to my boss why Im in the fetal position under my desk...

Title: Re: Caffeine? (and a mini rant)
Post by E-Double on May 24^th, 2007, 10:20pm

You'll find that most of us (and stating most is daring in any situation) find caffiene to be one of our best friends.

Many docs will tell you to stay away.
Many CH knowledgeable docs will tell ya to go for it but be careful to not drink too much as we can develop caffiene withdrawl HA which in turn creates an additional problem.

Good luck and see ya @ Starbucks ;)

Title: Re: Caffeine? (and a mini rant)
Post by BarbaraD on May 25^th, 2007, 8:01am

Caffeine is a vasoconstrictor which is what we take to abort a CH - Red Bull is just loaded with cafeine. don't know what else, but "for me" it aborts most of the time IF I get to it soon enough.

If I wait till it's above a 6-7, I hit the cafergot (which is just loaded with caffeine).

I told my neuro about Red Bull and he didn't see anything wrong with it (he knows how I hate to take cafergot) and said, "If it works go for it!"

the only way you'll know if it's gonna work is to try it.

Hugs BD

Title: Re: Caffeine? (and a mini rant)
Post by sandie99 on May 25^th, 2007, 10:02am

Red Bull works wonders for me. I get a can as soon as I feel a hit coming and drink it asap, with ice, ice cold. That's my pain management plan. :)

Naturally, we're all different. What works for one, doesn't help another. You have to figure out what works for you. Using RB has not made my hits more intense, but whether it does that to you, its impossible to tell without trying. In my experience, its the quickest painkiller I have found and the side effects have been the small in comparison to others I have tried.

Best wishes & PF days,
Sanna

Title: Re: Caffeine? (and a mini rant)
Post by jimyhertz on May 25^th, 2007, 11:15am

I woke up just a bit ago with him tugging on my nerve. I imagine him siting there caressing it, waiting for me to piss him off. Anyway I was reading this and drank a strong cup of coffee. If your doc gave you anything that works, anything is worth a try cuz you have help on hand. I try to stay clear of the drugs, but having them helps make exparimentation much more tollerable. I didn't need anything else yet.He's all but asleep now. This is the first time I have any meds to help me out if I need them.

Title: Re: Caffeine? (and a mini rant)
Post by ClusterChuck on May 25^th, 2007, 12:49pm

Oxygen Oxygen OXYGEN OXYGEN

Title: Re: Caffeine? (and a mini rant)
Post by Linda_Howell on May 25^th, 2007, 1:07pm

Like Barb. said, Caffeine is a vasoconstrictor which is what we need to relieve the pain when our vessels swell up 20 times their normal size. It kills me that Doctors are very willing to prescribe Imitrex (a vasoconstrictor) but hesitate to tell their patients about caffeine or prescribe oxygen.

Corey, I can, with almost certainty...tell you to try the strong coffee and that it will not trigger a CH. I realize everyone is different, but if it triggered a hit you would be a one in a million rarity. Happy chugging.

Title: Re: Caffeine? (and a mini rant)
Post by MikkaB on May 25^th, 2007, 1:58pm

hang in there, Corey.

Title: Re: Caffeine? (and a mini rant)
Post by Racer1_NC on May 25^th, 2007, 2:02pm

It helps me, but only to a point. It's on my list of weapons.

Bill

Title: Re: Caffeine? (and a mini rant)
Post by Dave on May 26^th, 2007, 9:47am

on 05/24/07 at 20:59:10, Corey_Griffith wrote:

I know most people don't buy it, but for me caffeine feeds the devil.

For me, it is rarely a direct trigger, but the coffee habit brings on and strengthens cycles.

I have avoided caffeine for 2 years, and have been CH-free.

Title: Re: Caffeine? (and a mini rant)
Post by Brewcrew on May 26^th, 2007, 10:05am

Red Bull has no more caffeine than a cup of strong coffee. It's the combination of caffeine and taurine that seems to make it so effective. The taurine seems to increase the absorption rate, drive it into the bloodstream quicker.

Taken at the first signs of shadow, a Red Bull (or in my case, a Red Thunder, which is Aldi's generic answer to Red Bull at less than half the price) will stop a pending attack dead in its tracks. It's cheap, it's easy, and I've even grown to enjoy the taste.

Just be sure to rinse off the Red Thunder cans and wipe the top well before you refrigerate them. After all, they've been sitting in an Aldi. ;;D

Title: Re: Caffeine? (and a mini rant)
Post by NoMoreCH on May 31^st, 2007, 3:13pm

Caffeine works for me.

I drink small expresso sized coffee during the day without milk or sugar. Just pure coffee.

It softens it, but does not take away the pressure entirely. Note that too much isn´t good either!

Trying Red Bull helps too, but I do not always have it at hand.

O2 is my next experiment once I get my hands on it....

If nothing helps, relax and ride it out... It´s hard but the more relaxed you stay the sooner it stops. Agitation only makes your veins open more widely thus increasing the pressure on your eye.

Good luck...

Title: Re: Caffeine? (and a mini rant)
Post by BC_Battler on Jun 1^st, 2007, 1:31am

Caffeine mixed with taurine (as in drinks like Red Bull - although my drink is actually Rock Star) has worked wonders for me.

I am a professional speaker, and it can be very difficult fighting a CH while trying to be upbeat in front of an audience (thank god I've never had anything worse than a kip 7 in front of a group). If oxygen is not available to me, I often find that Rock Star will take the edge off and sometimes abort a CH completely.

I asked my doctor about it and she said that it made perfect sense. Ever since I've used Rock Star in my arsenal and I swear by it.

Give it a shot. Good luck, and welcome to the board. Here's to a pain free night!

Title: Re: Caffeine? (and a mini rant)
Post by Almy on Jun 4^th, 2007, 7:57am

This is amazing - like others, I'd always thought caffeine was a big no-no. Now I'm going over to my nearest Aldi and buying them out. I have hope for the day!

How about Pro Plus tabs? Has anyone tried them?

Title: Re: Caffeine? (and a mini rant)
Post by Brewcrew on Jun 4^th, 2007, 9:43am

on 06/01/07 at 01:31:39, BC_Battler wrote:

Rockstar is a good one - the only thing I don't like is that 16 oz. is the smallest quantity you can buy.

Title: Re: Caffeine? (and a mini rant)
Post by GrandPotentate on Jun 4^th, 2007, 10:44pm

I found completely quitting caffeine during a cycle was a bad thing. I was probably hitting the coffee a little too hard before, and quitting resulted in hits all day long. I found a little buzz from moderate caffeine usually got me through a day of work, and postponed the hits till the evening when I could better deal with the beast.

I've never had any luck with anything oral as an abortive. I'm not certain that digestion is working well at that point. I had a doc who gave me some strong stuff that usually kicked in about 10 minutes after the hit was over.

Title: Re: Caffeine? (and a mini rant)
Post by puppetonastring on Jun 9^th, 2007, 7:35am

"Red Bull works wonders for me. I get a can as soon as I feel a hit coming and drink it asap, with ice, ice cold. That's my pain management plan. " Sandie99

I was a little sceptical - but having nothing to loose (other than more sanity and sleep - Ahem) I've tried it over the last couple of days.
3 out of 3 low grade hits have been zapped!

It's officially a part of my arsenal now

Thanks all. 8)