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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Cluster Headache Specific >> Exercise and Cluster Attacks
        
(Message started by: Putter on Jul 24^th, 2007, 9:28pm)

Title: Exercise and Cluster Attacks
Post by Putter on Jul 24^th, 2007, 9:28pm

Hello there,
I have a question about exercise and clusters.
I am typically active - I love to run, walk the dog, play games with the kids... but when I am in cycle (like now) if I so much as run up the stairs, I trigger an attack. Any comments or insite from anyone???
Leanne

Title: Re: Exercise and Cluster Attacks
Post by chewy on Jul 24^th, 2007, 9:42pm

It can go both ways. Like you, physical assertion triggers an attack with me. With others strenuous activity aborts an attack.

It cluster headaches.

Go figure.

Title: Re: Exercise and Cluster Attacks
Post by AussieBrian on Jul 24^th, 2007, 9:44pm

I'm guessing this isn't a good time to talk about sex.

Title: Re: Exercise and Cluster Attacks
Post by Lenny on Jul 25^th, 2007, 1:10am

on 07/24/07 at 21:44:53, AussieBrian wrote:

I'm guessing this isn't a good time to talk about sex.

[smiley=laugh.gif] [smiley=laugh.gif] [smiley=laugh.gif] [smiley=laugh.gif] [smiley=laugh.gif] [smiley=laugh.gif] [smiley=laugh.gif]

Title: Re: Exercise and Cluster Attacks
Post by BMoneeTheMoneeMan on Jul 25^th, 2007, 1:10am

For me its not the physical exertion, its my body temp.

If i get hot, I get hit.

Title: Re: Exercise and Cluster Attacks
Post by barry_sword on Jul 25^th, 2007, 7:32am

I mountain bike and being on Verap. it allows me to be active, even if it is like dragging a piano along behind me. Without Verap. I would not be out doing my biking, so I can be thankful of that.

So yes for me with exercise.

Barry

Title: Re: Exercise and Cluster Attacks
Post by birdman on Jul 25^th, 2007, 7:54am

I have to agree with BMonee. If I start exercising then obviously my heart rate increases and so does body temp. Instant H/A when in cycle. I take verapamil and it lowers the heart rate. To me it makes no sense to try to increase your heart rate and contradict the medicine. When out of cycle not a problem.

Title: Re: Exercise and Cluster Attacks
Post by Guiseppi on Jul 25^th, 2007, 10:10am

I am very active, in and out of cycle. In the old days before 02, I'd run to try and abort a headache. About half the time I could abort that way. I've never noticed it to be a trigger.

Guiseppi

Title: Re: Exercise and Cluster Attacks
Post by birdman on Jul 25^th, 2007, 11:27am

Guiseppi and I show how different each CH'er is. For him it is no trigger, for me it is taboo. You need to find your own things to avoid and what to use to abort. Best of luck!
Tim

Title: Re: Exercise and Cluster Attacks
Post by seasonalboomer on Jul 25^th, 2007, 11:35am

Putter,

You'll find lots of contradictions with CH - exercise and CH is one of them.

I'm very active and usually run 20-35 miles per week. When in cycle, running is a trigger. Not everytime, or through the whole cycle, but enough that I try to gage how the head feels before I commit to a run. Sometimes I can get by without a hit. Sometimes a little O2 afterwards will ward off the tickle of a hit coming. Sometimes it ramps up quickly into a full-on hit requiring Imitrex.

I got hit two weeks ago after completing a 5 mile race up Grandfather Mountain. My cycle had hit but I had trained and I was going to run it no matter what. So I had the combo of an exercise induced hit and altitude. A bad one and not even Imitrex would stop it from going to a Kip 8.

I'd still rather take the risk than stop being active.

Scott

Title: Re: Exercise and Cluster Attacks
Post by Rosybabe on Jul 25^th, 2007, 5:20pm

on 07/25/07 at 01:10:45, BMoneeTheMoneeMan wrote:

For me its not the physical exertion, its my body temp.

If i get hot, I get hit.

me too and I am also very tired for lack of sleep so my BP goes way down....I don't feel like doing nothing anyway :(

Title: Re: Exercise and Cluster Attacks
Post by GrandPotentate on Jul 25^th, 2007, 8:28pm

Moderate exercise helps me. I did that a lot before I got hooked up with O2, and it is still the next best thing. Instead of walking circles around the room, I take a brisk hike. I lost five pounds during the last cycle, and that was okay.

It sounds like this one swings both ways.

Title: Re: Exercise and Cluster Attacks
Post by Nat on Jul 25^th, 2007, 8:53pm

My husband just started using oxygen at home. The one they gave us only goes to 8 liters per minute, (with a nonrebreather mask)and so far it has worked. Should we have the ones that go to 10-15 liters per minute instead? Can 8 work now and not work for another day? Also please what is LIQUID oxygen and can we use that instead?

Any advice is greatly appreciated,
Thanks,
Nat

Title: Re: Exercise and Cluster Attacks
Post by MR_FLOOR on Jul 25^th, 2007, 9:04pm

I played softball up til 2 years ago and I realized a long time ago that I never got hit during a game,coincidence,I think not.

Dave

Title: Re: Exercise and Cluster Attacks
Post by Rosybabe on Jul 25^th, 2007, 9:46pm

HI Nat!

Welcome aboard!

Please check the link to the left for Oxygen info. Most of us find to use O2 at 12 to 15 lpm works a lot better but everyone is different.

Liquid Oxygen is what its name says Oxygen in liquid form instead of gas. I know some people is using it and works the same but it fits in smaller tanks I think.

I do not know if your insurance company covers that type of Oxygen, you will have to find out with them.

For more information about Oxygen you can check in OUCH at this link:

http://www.ouch-us.org/medications/oxygen/o2links.htm

Thanks for being such a great supporter and tell your husband to come over and say HI!

Rosy.

Title: Re: Exercise and Cluster Attacks
Post by barry_sword on Jul 26^th, 2007, 12:04pm

I remember during the winter I would wake up (around 5:00am ) with a heavy shadow that was going into a hit. I would grab a coat and gloves and head out into the frigid temps and start shoveling snow. The shadow would be gone in minutes and no hit.

I live in a snow belt so there was always snow to shovel in the winter, thank goodness.

Exercise is working for me.

Barry

Title: Re: Exercise and Cluster Attacks
Post by andrewjb on Jul 26^th, 2007, 9:57pm

gentle streaching "yoga" type excercising when in cycle, helps me to remember to breath deep. walking, tree climbing and swimming for fun. andrew.

Title: Re: Exercise and Cluster Attacks
Post by Jonny on Jul 28^th, 2007, 4:08pm

on 07/25/07 at 01:10:45, BMoneeTheMoneeMan wrote:

For me its not the physical exertion, its my body temp.

If i get hot, I get hit.

I guess sex is out....LOL ;;D

Title: Re: Exercise and Cluster Attacks
Post by swimchica623 on Jul 28^th, 2007, 4:22pm

For me the key is keeping everything regular, like with sleep and eating, exercise won't trigger as long as i keep it consistant. I swim competitively (hence the screen name) and sometimes stopping or starting up again when I haven't for awhile will trigger hits for a little...usually they don't come right away but the evening after an afternoon workout or something like that. That generally seems to be the pattern anyway, if I could put any pattern to it I would say that's it. I also think there could be something linked to body temperature so maybe try something (like swimming!) where your core temperature is a little cooler during your workout....I do think I get hit more frequently when I get hotter during a workout or when I swim in a warmer pool...get hot get hit like BMonee said.
Lisa

Title: Re: Exercise and Cluster Attacks
Post by Sandy_C on Jul 29^th, 2007, 3:57pm

on 07/25/07 at 01:10:45, BMoneeTheMoneeMan wrote:

For me its not the physical exertion, its my body temp.

If i get hot, I get hit.

I agree! My cycles are not "cyclical", in that they some every spring, or fall, or whatever. They come every 18 months to two years, so I've had cycles in all four season.

Each cycle was Hell, but, I had a much harder time with the summertime cycles than in any other season, just because my body temp was naturally a little warmer due to external heat. Exercise, which would raise my body temp is kept to a minimum during any cycle, but avoided at all costs in the summer. Guaranteed bad hit.

Sandy

Title: Re: Exercise and Cluster Attacks
Post by Racer1_NC on Jul 29^th, 2007, 4:01pm

on 07/25/07 at 01:10:45, BMoneeTheMoneeMan wrote:

For me its not the physical exertion, its my body temp.

If i get hot, I get hit.

Ditto!

Title: Re: Exercise and Cluster Attacks
Post by southwalessunshine on Jul 30^th, 2007, 9:51am

For me exercise isn't a trigger but for a good few days after i can't face physical exertion. So I took up Yoga and Pilates. No physical exertion, just gentle, controlled exercise and it really works for me.