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        New Message Board Archives >> Jan-Mar 2003 >> How fast are those triggers?
        
(Message started by: barbee on Jan 8^th, 2003, 2:54pm)

Title: How fast are those triggers?
Post by barbee on Jan 8^th, 2003, 2:54pm

Do they bring on the beast
soon after consuming the good stuff, or sometimes much later?

For me, I can't find the trigger. I get the 2 AM head banger whether I stick to fruits and vegies, or get daring and have wine, chocolate and cheese.

Title: Re: How fast are those triggers?
Post by jonny on Jan 8^th, 2003, 2:59pm

For most they are triggered in less than an hour.

I myself like you cannot find a trigger.

.......................jonny

Title: Re: How fast are those triggers?
Post by echo on Jan 8^th, 2003, 3:01pm

Alcohol can certainly be a trigger for some. For me - Chardonay wine brings an 8 within 10 minutes.

Some chocolate and I've heard others mention dairy products from time to time.

In the past I kept a journal of what I'd injested prior to any kick a** CH. Anything that proved positive I avoid. Not fool proof by any means but somewhat effective.

Title: Re: How fast are those triggers?
Post by JDH on Jan 8^th, 2003, 3:29pm

barbee,
The only for sure trigger that I have is alcohol.
I've found that if I'm in a cycle and try to drink, I can usually bring on the beast in less time than it takes to finish the drink...and he's usually pissed too!
I'm currently in a cycle since Sept. so needless to say, I'm very sober right now...anybody need a designated driver?

Title: Re: How fast are those triggers?
Post by Bob P on Jan 8^th, 2003, 3:52pm

During a cycle, drinking a beer means a full blown 10 before I can finish 1 beer. Nitroglycerine is probably faster. I'm not sure about the elevated temperatur or exercise.

Title: Re: How fast are those triggers?
Post by Svenn on Jan 8^th, 2003, 4:26pm

its a matter of minutes for me after consuming alcohol .And as Bob P says.Nitroglycerine is the trigger numero uno here.It is common to give you a nitroglycerine-pill to provoce the attacs forward when the neuroes are trying to diagnose a clusterhead.Its almost 90%certain that 1 nitro will give you a clusterattack.

But we are different kind of people as there are different triggers and the way we react on those
just hang around and pop the questions.

Take it easy

The best from Svenn

Title: Re: How fast are those triggers?
Post by Mark C on Jan 8^th, 2003, 5:12pm

I am with jonny,
I havent found a trigger yet, breathing I guess. In cycle alcohol is as close a trigger I have ever found. I wish I could identify something to stop doing then I would have a sense of SOME control over this damn beast. Good luck,
Mark

Title: Re: How fast are those triggers?
Post by suzy617 on Jan 8^th, 2003, 5:27pm

Beer is a definite no no when I'm in cycle. Although I can drink vodka and it doesnt bother me. I dont think food has ever been a trigger for me. Biggest trigger would have to be SLEEP!

suzy

Title: Re: How fast are those triggers?
Post by 2late on Jan 8^th, 2003, 5:33pm

in cycle beer will trigger ch within 30 mins. wich sucks cause i love beer & have a tap system >:( other than that i'm not sure, thanx for the tip suzy i'll drown the bastard in vodka next cycle ;D .........2late

Title: Re: How fast are those triggers?
Post by Margi on Jan 8^th, 2003, 5:40pm

Interesting to note here, however, is that nitroglycerine is the ONLY thing that will trigger a cluster attack for an episodic sufferer who is OUT of cycle. None of the other things will - not alcohol, not MSG...

My take on 'triggers' is that (and this only applies to episodics) a sensitivity develops while you are in cycle and almost anything can provoke an attack. I think these attacks are going to happen whether you drink booze, eat cheese or Chinese food with MSG...we do tend to look for somewhere to place the blame though in our desparate search to feel at least a little in control. Yes, there are common stimulants for attacks, but they rarely - should I say 'never'? - will spawn an attack if the sufferer isn't in cycle. But, nitro will.

Title: Re: How fast are those triggers?
Post by suzy617 on Jan 8^th, 2003, 5:47pm

Interesting Margi. I didnt realize anything could trigger a CH while out of cycle. I thought when your over it, your over it. I was given nitro years ago while out of cycle and I never got a HA from it.
2late, In my earlier posts while I was in cycle I wrote about the vodka thing and found that if I drank alot of it I would even avoid the middle of the night attack and get a whole nights sleep. Not that I am saying you should all go out and get sloshed every night but I did it on the weekends and most every time it worked. So put that tap system on hold and break out the Absolute! ;)

suzy

Title: Re: How fast are those triggers?
Post by kim on Jan 8^th, 2003, 6:17pm

For this episodic - after 25 years this is what I now KNOW:

Booze (of any sort - I'm a beer drinker) and I'm flippin within 30 minutes.........relaxation of any sort and i'm fucked. After all this time those two factors are the only definite I can associate. When in cycle most everything bugs me. It's like being allergic to living. But, what really brings on the mudda is the booze and being laid back. That's all I STILL KNOW as ABSOLUTE....

Title: Re: How fast are those triggers?
Post by Brassbear on Jan 8^th, 2003, 6:27pm

In the short time I've been a clusterhead I've identified two triggers. 1. is red wine. Just the smell of it gave me a headache of 5 Kip in less than a minute. I found out the hard way in an Italian cafe'. The second for me is cheese. I've been trying to keep track of what I eat in my "headache logbook". I got hit pretty hard about 45 minutes after eating pizza. I had been avoiding cheese. The other ingredients on the pizza I had been eating without problems.

Michael

Title: Re: How fast are those triggers?
Post by Margi on Jan 8^th, 2003, 10:42pm

That's so strange, Suzy - in all our years here and learning from Doctors Goadsby, Kudrow, DocGreg, etc., we've been taught that nitroglycerine IS the clusterhead's kryptonite...as Svenn says, it's a real sure way for an accurate diagnosis because it is the only thing known to definately trigger an attack in OR out of cycle. If it triggers, the diagnosis is clusters. If it doesn't, the diagnosis is not. I know, to be politically correct here, we should never say never, but this one has always been our failsafe identifier. Kim, I bet you'll agree with me that nothing (i mean other than nitro) triggers you out of cycle, right? Same with you, Brassbear?

Title: Re: How fast are those triggers?
Post by tgz23 on Jan 8^th, 2003, 11:34pm

I went to our company's x-mas party and after 5 screwdrivers in about 7 hoursI felt no ill effects. I think it affected me worse for the next 2 to 3 days, it was very bad attacks kip 8's and9's. One beer and I'm dancin big time.

Title: Re: How fast are those triggers?
Post by Charlie on Jan 9^th, 2003, 12:33am

I never found a trigger either. I'm not sure what I might not have done after the attack began. I no doubt stopped doing a lot of things.......No trigger though

Charlie

Title: Re: How fast are those triggers?
Post by Mastifflvr28 on Jan 9^th, 2003, 1:51am

I don't drink very often...so I don't "test" that one. The only triggers for me are...REM sleep. Hence the 2 am headbanger.
Hot baths are also a trigger. Immediate.
Mast

Title: Re: How fast are those triggers?
Post by jmorgan52 on Jan 9^th, 2003, 4:26am

beer and wine does it for me every time when I'm in cycle. Many years ago I tried scotch whisky as an alternative, and found I could get through a social event on it without getting the big headache within 30 mins, but still got a shadow which I could live through. I now try and avoid all alcohol during the ch season. It doesnt help the ch at all, but it stops me getting them at social events and then I get them in the night or during the morning at work.

Title: Re: How fast are those triggers?
Post by suzy617 on Jan 9^th, 2003, 8:05am

Margi, I've had CH for 21 yrs now. Around 10 years ago I went to th ER for chest pains and they gave me the nitro. I was out of cycle but was afraid I would get a HA cause I've heard it causes "normal" people (LOL) to get them but nothing. They did give me morphine so just maybe they had something to do with it. Anyhow, havent had nitro since and dont want to. ;)

suzy

Title: Re: How fast are those triggers?
Post by Margi on Jan 9^th, 2003, 9:02am

I've heard from another clusterhead who also didn't get attacked when he was given nitro, out of cycle. Dang, just when we think we've found something universal about this affliction, we find cases that can prove it wrong. :(

It's all a big learning curve, isn't it?

Title: Re: How fast are those triggers?
Post by cathy on Jan 9^th, 2003, 9:20am

Wes can't drink beer or orange juice when in a cycle...this triggers a ch within 10 minutes..... :(
However, he can also drink vodka with no effects.... ???

can't comment on nitro....don't know what it is.

Since finding this site though have discovered chinese food is another trigger...someone mentioned Triptophane found in turkeys....think I spelt it right...is this in other foods too..?? making sure I read labels when out shopping now...avoid the msg cos that does seem to trigger....luckily he's out of cycle now.. :)

Cathy

Title: Re: How fast are those triggers?
Post by TimeTraveller on Jan 9^th, 2003, 11:21am

With me it has always been pretty immediate on beer , less so on wine or spirits. Any sort of food has never been a problem.
Strangely if I got a CH when drinking beer, if I could force a second glass down it frequently stopped the CH dead, could enjoy a few more then !! :)

TT

Title: Re: How fast are those triggers?
Post by brain_cramps on Jan 9^th, 2003, 11:29am

on 01/09/03 at 11:21:43, TimeTraveller wrote:

Strangely if I got a CH when drinking beer, if I could force a second glass down it frequently stopped the CH dead, could enjoy a few more then !!

Shit, dude!

You must have balls the size of watermelons!!!

I can't say I would ever give that a try. Even though I drink quite a bit while out of cycle, it is not that important that I would risk a CH while in cycle.

Title: Re: How fast are those triggers?
Post by Slammy on Jan 9^th, 2003, 12:07pm

When I am in cycle, alcohol, including vodka ( my favourite) is a definite trigger. So, during a cycle, I don't drink. However, sometimes, while being hit, I would rationalize that I'm getting them anyways, so..have a drink! ::)

2 things will happen. One, I will trigger a mambo king kip 10 bastard that O2 or cafergot won't abort due to the alcohol in my system, or two, nothing..no cluster at all. Unfortunately, I would say the former would occur 75% of the time, so it isn't worth it.

The one constant during a cycle is... I WILL wake up in the middle of the night with a full blown cluster, regardless what I eat or drink during the day.

Slammy http://www.uselessgraphics.com/devil09.gif

Title: Re: How fast are those triggers?
Post by JDH on Jan 9^th, 2003, 2:27pm

I agree Mastiff, the REM sleep is ALWAYS a sure fire trigger for me. It usually happens within an hour after I go to sleep.

Title: Re: How fast are those triggers?
Post by SFChris on Jan 9^th, 2003, 2:51pm

My (previous) doctor told me about a variety of possible triggers, so I avoided them. My next doctor told me that the first doctor gave me a list of migraine triggers (aged cheese/redwine/msg), and that I would probably be okay with them...I was (except the wine).

My experience has taught me that I actually have only a couple of triggers - alchohol, weed (some), and my hot tub. The most amazing trigger is Nitroglycerine!!! And it is fast! My doctor gave me a pill (not telling me it was a trigger) which triggered a Kip 10. Just to prove his diagnosis. I almost strangled him, but was too busy banging my head on his nurse...

Chris

Title: Re: How fast are those triggers?
Post by Slammy on Jan 9^th, 2003, 3:28pm

Too busy banging his Nurse? THATABABY Chris! ;D

Slammy http://www.uselessgraphics.com/devil09.gif

Title: Re: How fast are those triggers?
Post by Jarvis on Jan 9^th, 2003, 7:38pm

Hey chris your doc sure knows how to get around getting strangled. Insurance pickup the tab for bangin the nurse? ;D .......................Back to triggers....In cycle I often get hit every hour. 2 hrs on 1 hr off.. So naturally as a trigger usually affects within the hour Everything causes clusters..........I agree with Margi on looking for somewhere to put the blame. It seems every year for the last 27 I had allways identified at least one trigger yet the next cycle it had no affect whatsoever. Alcohol and sleep are the 2 very definate triggers for me....So I just quit sleeping for several months.

Title: Re: How fast are those triggers?
Post by talitha on Jan 9^th, 2003, 8:59pm

triggers: relaxation, sleep, alcohol (when I used to drink)
hot stuffy rooms,
went to a seminar today (I'm on day 102 of a cycle) the speaker was really boring, I nodded off-major mistake-came to maybe 1 minute later with a CH. this sucks, ain't no two ways about it
talitha

Title: Re: How fast are those triggers?
Post by Roxy on Jan 9^th, 2003, 9:16pm

I'm not sure on triggers, I've tried to narrow it down this last year, but I don't think anything triggers mine. I can drink wine.....and nothing. Then I can just get one out of the blue.....when I haven't eaten or drank anything. Being chronic, it's hard to pin it down. They're going to come no matter what.

R