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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Cluster Headache Specific >> Smoking while in cycle
        
(Message started by: dinopeep1 on May 16^th, 2008, 10:41pm)

Title: Smoking while in cycle
Post by dinopeep1 on May 16^th, 2008, 10:41pm

It had been 2 yrs since my last cluster cycle so I thought I had finally gotten rid of the annoying headaches. Whenever I would get a cycle I would basically lose my life for 2 weeks because the headaches were so bad. Anyways a couple days ago I got a headache and yesterday I got a really bad one so I went to the doctor and picked up some corticosteroids. I'm wondering if smoking marijuana during my cycle or while I'm taking the corticosteroids will have any harmful effects?

Title: Re: Smoking while in cycle
Post by Transamdoug on May 16^th, 2008, 11:31pm

Hey Dino, your smokin weed and worried about your health? ;;D Just kiddin, gave it up a long time ago but I remember doing a paper in school on it and it has some effect on the eyes which seems to always be afflicted by CH, might actually help? But I'm no doc and would certainly never advise someone to do anything against the law... ::) Be interesting to see what wins,the roids making you mad or the weed making you glad? You might just end up normal....? Good luck man...

Title: Re: Smoking while in cycle
Post by Trooper on May 17^th, 2008, 1:24am

I tried weed while having a cluster ha many many years ago and boy was that painful! Made the ha all the worse. I have not smoked the stuff since (not because of the cluster) but I have read many post on this board with experiences similar to mine. From all I gather it is a big no no and could even trigger a hit while in cycle.

Title: Re: Smoking while in cycle
Post by chefjohn on May 17^th, 2008, 2:17am

I tried it once while in cycle and it was a big trigger...worse than alcohol. You would think not but remember despite the fact that the pain is in our head these are in fact not headaches medically so its not like doing a wake and bake when your hungover. Its different chemistry up there with CH. If you need too then make sure you do it far away from your O2 then go to your O2 and get ready to use it. Also have your Imitrex or whatever other abortives you use at the ready too. I didn't need to do it a second time.

Title: Re: Smoking while in cycle
Post by BarbaraD on May 17^th, 2008, 10:24am

I think we've established (over the years and several hundred "research" posts) that weed doesn't help CH.

Although.... one time in Jamacia while on the beach (late at night) I got hit with a 10 and all I had was some "local" stuff. After about two hits - I had "no problems mon!" Took two security guards to find out where I lived! ;) but I didn't have a headache. Unfortunately, I couldn't bring any of that home with me.. >:( and I couldn't live there, so....

Best advice I can give you -- get some O2 and suck on it... Works for most of us and is LEGAL.

Hugs BD

Title: Re: Smoking while in cycle
Post by jon019 on May 17^th, 2008, 10:47am

Oh Barb, that was funny, thanks....

Jon

Title: Re: Smoking while in cycle
Post by chefjohn on May 17^th, 2008, 12:03pm

Like I said before it was a trigger for me but I didn't try it while I was having an episode. Maybe once you are already a 10 then how much more can it hurt to try it. It may work as an abortive too. As long as I have my O2 and Imitrex I will stick with them but if I was on a beach in Jamaica with a 1 and that was all I had I would give it a try.

Title: Re: Smoking while in cycle
Post by kcopelin on May 17^th, 2008, 11:55pm

Barb, I can not even begin to imagine you stoned ;;D Were you singin Bob Marley tunes?

Most say pot is a trigger. Some say it helps. Guess what? It probably acts differently for different people-much like verapamil, lithium, O2 (doesn't work for everyone), you name it, and there are some folks the treatment works for and others it doesn't. And, the very annoying thing is-the same person can have different responses from cycle to cycle.

What I find very interesting is that, although alcohol is an almost universal trigger, there are a lot of clusterheads that still drink. Why? Because its legal? Knowing that alcohol is a trigger for me was enough. But I DO NOT critize those who still drink, or who keep wishing they could.
I intend to stay the course and NOT critize those who say pot helps them or is not a trigger. Though the number of naysayers is far greater than not, who am I to tell anyone that their experience is wrong.

one last thought....when we battle CH we are battleing for our sanity, our life, our hope....far be from me to denigrate ANYONE who believes thay have found a port in the storm, no matter what my personal experience was with that treatment.

PFDAN y'all
whatever gets you through the night.

Kathy (climbing down off soapbox)

P.S. The views expressed in this post are not intended to reflect ANYONE ELSES reality.

Title: Re: Smoking while in cycle
Post by triprover on May 18^th, 2008, 1:36pm

I think K hit the nail on the head when she said it can affect the same person differently from cycle to cycle. When I used to partake (which was in the early years of my ch's) it seemed to be a mute factor. A couple of years in it became a HUGE trigger just like alcohol. I'm not a doctor either but roids and thc together seem like a roller coaster ride to me. Be careful either way. Legality aside moderation is key.

Title: Re: Smoking while in cycle
Post by dinopeep1 on May 18^th, 2008, 5:07pm

Wow lots of good response here. I really like this community of people who suffer from the same thing I do. No one else really understands what I go through. Anyways I've been smoking herb while I'm taking the prednisone (corticosteroids) and it doesn't seem to have much of an effect on my headaches. I've still been getting around 2-3 headaches per day. My headaches have been a lot more bearable since I started the prednisone so goods news there.

I've been researching online about treatment for cluster headaches and I came across a shroom treatment that supposedly can abort a cycle. Does anyone know if it's legit?

Title: Re: Smoking while in cycle
Post by kcopelin on May 19^th, 2008, 2:31am

dino, check out www.clusterbusters.com .
Tons of info there.

kathy