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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Cluster Headache Specific >> Triggers !!!
        
(Message started by: pedropedro on Aug 29^th, 2007, 10:42am)

Title: Triggers !!!
Post by pedropedro on Aug 29^th, 2007, 10:42am

As I'm in my clusterperiod now, this one is different and more severe than the 13 ys before. The advantage though is that i have learned more from experience about the triggers and what to do than ever before. I wanted to share the with you, it might help.
- I experienced a lot of problems due to aircon and electric fans. This was really a trigger and i always turned them off. Also having wet hair (i have still a little left...) from swimming or a shower does have the same effect. Dry it immediately.
- Another problem is if I'm too long in one position, per example a long car ride. Frequent stops helped.
- Stress and emotion. I found out this was a real trigger. I was traveling from the philippines to holland and the stress and emotion of farewell to my family and the trip ahead caused a severe attack while checking in!! I had to sit down and inject immigran, luckily they still thought I'm fit to travel for a 13hr flight! It was embaressing though for me and my family.
- Rest. Relaxing might be a trigger but if you are not well rested it will hit hard on you. If possible try to sleep late and go to bed early. The attack will come anyway so might as well try to get as much sleep as possible.
- I tried the things with coffee and red bull but it did not seem to do anything. Is there some kind of ritual to follow, per example take redbull at the first feeling of an attack etc?
- I couldn't experience any connections with food or something like that. Ofcourse alcohol is killing but every CH knows that.

My doctor just called they will start delivering oxygen instead of immigran so i hope this will be an improvement. I feel like the medicines (verap en immigran) are wearing me out.

Best of luck to all my fellow CH's and their wonderful supporters (so is my wife!!) !!

Title: Re: Triggers !!!
Post by DennisM1045 on Aug 29^th, 2007, 12:21pm

Hi Pedro,

Sorry to hear you are back in cycle. I agree with your observations about stress and sleep. However nothing works the same for everyone. Cold showers, air conditioning and fans help me a lot. Exposure to extreme heat is a major trigger for me.

We had a fish fry at the house last Saturday. I cooked over an open fire pit for two hours. Ambient air temp was 95F. It must have been 120F in front of the pit. Thought I could hold off the beast by drinking lots of water but it really pissed him off. Nothing helped after that. Non-stop hits through that night and late into Sunday afternoon. Everyone is outside drinking Pomegranate Martini’s and I’m inside on the couch sucking O2 and holding an ice bag to my head. Oh well, I managed to get a few laughs in between the hits.

Anyway, why would your Dr want to replace Immigran with O2? They are complementary! If the O2 doesn’t work then you fall back to the Immigran. This replaces some of your Immigran injections with O2 which has almost no side effects. Less Immigran is the real benefit. This is just my opinion and my experience.

Wishing you PFDAN!

-Dennis-

Title: Re: Triggers !!!
Post by MR_FLOOR on Aug 29^th, 2007, 10:47pm

on 08/29/07 at 12:21:40, DennisM1045 wrote:

Anyway, why would your Dr want to replace Immigran with O2? They are complementary! If the O2 doesn’t work then you fall back to the Immigran.

-Dennis-

I agree O2 should be in addition to your Immigran.Triggers are different for everyone.So it's hard to say,but one thing that seems to ring true for most people is alcohol and stress.

One thing I never heard before is the wet hair thing thats a new one on me and AC helps me when I'm getting hit(allot)

Dave

Title: Re: Triggers !!!
Post by sandie99 on Aug 30^th, 2007, 3:54am

Triggers are bit different, that's true.

Cold generally helps me, but I do recall a glass of cold water triggering a nasty hit. And that wet hair thing... it brought back painful memories from getting hit right after a warm shower.

But it is uselful to figure out your own triggers, so you can avoid them as much as possible - or prepare in advance when they're avoidable.

PF days,
Sanna

Title: Re: Triggers !!!
Post by sue_g on Aug 30^th, 2007, 6:30pm

Hi All,
It's funnyI just logged on and seen the message about triggers, I was going to post a message about this myself. "Is there a list of some sort, of the different triggers that Cluster Headache people experience".
Yes, we all know the usual ones are, but living day to day, watching and knowing what your diet consists of.... and what your daily physical schedule is....can this help! I don't know.
I know air con, is a good thing for me.
If I over exert myself in the hot weather, that is the worst situation to be in...
If you have a list I would appreciate the help.
Thanks all.