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        New Message Board Archives >> Oct-Dec 2003 >> Morning Show
        
(Message started by: barbee on Dec 1^st, 2003, 1:38pm)

Title: Morning Show
Post by barbee on Dec 1^st, 2003, 1:38pm

This morning's tv show included a "headache specialist" and a patient concerning migraines. The Doc said all headaches are caused by the same thing: swelling of the blood vessels. His advice: throw out ALL your headache medications, and stop taking the triggers. Your medications shrink the blood vessels temporarily, then they swell again with a vengeance, a rebound. His list of triggers, (possible triggers): MSG, alcohol, chocolate, caffeine, citrus, bananas, on and on.

I wonder, does he know how "cold turkey" feels?
But I know there are hidden triggers. Such as both water packed tuna, and oil packed tuna have vegetable broth included, and it has MSG in it . Anyway, it's something it think about, and maybe try it gradually.

Title: Re: Morning Show
Post by thomas on Dec 1^st, 2003, 3:59pm

He doesn't sound like much of a "specialist" to me. Maybe he should try Voodoo or something.

Title: Re: Morning Show
Post by Paigelle on Dec 1^st, 2003, 4:09pm

So we can't eat or drink anything now? I have tried to weed out different things to see if it would help and the only thing I got rid of that helped was wine. Can't drink it! I know you can essentially take too much medicine and that will ending causing more HA than helping.

Title: Re: Morning Show
Post by aprilbee on Dec 1^st, 2003, 4:31pm

I was given a huge list of things not to eat when I was diagnosed with CH, and I just stay completely away, whether they are triggers or not...it may be psycho symatic, but I just can't eat these things when in cycle, My list included, chocolate, caffiene, anything dilled or fermented, fish, except herring, (hate fish any way!), citrus fruits (I love lemons that's a hard one!), I couldn't drink anything except Segrams VO and Vodka, to this day I hate bloody marys-nuff said-I can't really remember the rest, but they should add, like sitting in one position too long, excessive heat, excessive cold, dry air, watching your favorite movie, spending time with your family, helping your daughter/son with homework, sitting at work at a computer all day, need I say more...this guy is a quack, not eating these things may aleve "trigger" headaches, but they're a comin anyway, so what the hell??

I'm done....April Bee

Title: Re: Morning Show
Post by Paigelle on Dec 1^st, 2003, 4:36pm

I really like how April put that. It seems that I need to totally avoid the month of November. It is the biggest trigger I know of.

Title: Re: Morning Show
Post by Marc on Dec 1^st, 2003, 5:44pm

Once again I see the line between Clusters and Migraines being blurred. Clusters are not Migraines and should not be treated as such.

I've been flamed for saying this here before, but I’ll say it again: Not too many years ago CH’s went largely undiagnosed. Now we see more and more doctors incorrectly diagnosing Cluster Headaches. Maybe it means that we are getting the word out……..

Title: Re: Morning Show
Post by Paigelle on Dec 1^st, 2003, 5:58pm

I had them for 8 yrs before I was diagnosed. Before that I was told "it's just a little headache."

Title: Re: Morning Show
Post by thomas on Dec 1^st, 2003, 6:01pm

on 12/01/03 at 17:58:58, Paigelle wrote:

"it's just a little headache."

And giving birth is minor upset stomache. Jeez I'm so glad I got diagnosed right as soon as I did.

Title: Re: Morning Show
Post by Paigelle on Dec 1^st, 2003, 6:06pm

Giving birth is easier than having these headaches.

Title: Re: Morning Show
Post by thomas on Dec 1^st, 2003, 6:19pm

on 12/01/03 at 18:06:46, Paigelle wrote:

Giving birth is easier than having these headaches.

I wouldn't know. But, I have heard that here before.

Title: Re: Morning Show
Post by don on Dec 1^st, 2003, 7:19pm

Quote:

Now we see more and more doctors incorrectly diagnosing Cluster Headaches. Maybe it means that we are getting the word out……..

Did you mean correctly diagnosing Ch ?

From reading the board over the last couple or so years I definitely see a trend in correct diagnosis. The problemseems to be that the Docs are still stuck on Migraine dosages for treatment

Title: Re: Morning Show
Post by eyes_afire on Dec 1^st, 2003, 8:05pm

Hi Barbee, to answer your question... No, he certainly does not know how 'cold turkey' feels.

I agree 100% with Marc. There is a real danger with blurring of the headache lines. We don't benefit much when there is an increase of incorrect CH diagnosis. Marc may be right, there may be an increasing trend of incorrect CH diagnosis.

This is why I hate those 'morning show' soundbites... they're 'oh so simplistic', and they ruin progress. This 'specialist' would probably be more reluctant to say that all headaches are caused by vascular issues if he knew about some current CH research. It may very well be that CH is NOT a vascular head pain syndrome. Are the vascular changes cause or effect????

Moreover, the insurance companies LOVE to hear what this guy is saying. Imagine if this specialist's thinking ever becomes mainstream? 'No imitrex for you!'

BTW, his 'trigger list' is a pretty good migraine trigger list. Certainly not much use for clusterheads.

I really hate 'morning shows', LOL.

--- Steve

Title: Re: Morning Show
Post by Marc on Dec 1^st, 2003, 11:15pm

Steve, You understood my point exactly!

Don, Yes - more people are being correctly diagnosed with CH's - and a whole lot faster too. Now that CH's are being "discovered" far fewer people will have to suffer needlessly.

BUT we are also seeing doctors diagnosing CH's when they don't fit any of the patterns. I suspect that some are simply saying "CH" when they can't figure it out. If you ask where I'm seeing this pattern, I'll answer: clusterheadaches.com. As of yesterday, I’ve been here pretty much everyday for 3 years, and I’ve seen it gradually increase – along with correct diagnoses.

Collectively, we've worked hard to increase awareness. I just can't help but recoil when I see the line being blurred - especially on this site.

If you feel that I'm off base - take a long hard look at some of the trigger, medication and symptom threads - then come back and argue.

In the mean time, I’m going to take an aspirin and lay down in a dark room to sleep off my CH.

Marc

Title: Re: Morning Show
Post by Rick_K on Dec 1^st, 2003, 11:54pm

on 12/01/03 at 18:01:13, thomas wrote:

Jeez I'm so glad I got diagnosed right as soon as I did.

From those of us who spent 15-20 years being told there was nothing wrong with us..or "it's all in you head"

good for you

Rick

Title: Re: Morning Show
Post by Marc on Dec 2^nd, 2003, 9:39am

Hi Rick,

Welcome aboard

Title: Re: Morning Show
Post by Patrick_A on Dec 2^nd, 2003, 10:35am

on 12/01/03 at 23:15:29, Marc wrote:

In the mean time, I’m going to take an aspirin and lay down in a dark room to sleep off my CH.

Marc

Touche` Marc, LMAO!!

Patrick

Title: Re: Morning Show
Post by bean on Dec 3^rd, 2003, 8:21pm

on 12/01/03 at 16:31:55, aprilbee wrote:

when i quit consuming all triggers, my headaches went from mindblowers to just hurt real bad to hurts but pop a couple of pain pills and let it ride, to the last one, which im still not even sure it was one, i just cant believe it.
when i used to go to the doc, i wouldnt even bother talking about pain pills, i used to ask for a blackout pill.i didnt think they would do a damn thing. and they wouldnt, if the trigger eating still went on. it took a long time, but the list isnt really that long, if you think about the potential benefits.

Title: Re: Morning Show
Post by Opus on Dec 3^rd, 2003, 9:16pm

Having Clusters and Migraines are a nightmare somedays,
Things like cigs, coffee, breathing in freezing air are great in the help cluster shadows, and hits, but they can trigger migraines, then to get rid of the migraine you lie down flat and sleep which can trigger a cluster.

I have changed my diet to reduce the migraines but it had NO effect on the clusters, unfortunatly my biggest cluster trigger is life.

Opus/Paul

Title: Re: Morning Show
Post by taraann on Dec 3^rd, 2003, 9:38pm

on 12/03/03 at 21:16:16, Opus wrote:

OMG Paul I hear ya! I just had the week from hell because of a SEVERE migraine and many many CH hits (alot were now obviously induced by trying to sleep off the Migraine) and when I got up to pace or sat up to rock with a CH, my migraine just exploded! **Knock on wood I've had quite a few PF hours now and that's a huge relief!