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        New Message Board Archives >> Jan-Mar 2003 >> Attention Smokers with CH.
        
(Message started by: wallyd2 on Mar 20^th, 2003, 3:55pm)

Title: Attention Smokers with CH.
Post by wallyd2 on Mar 20^th, 2003, 3:55pm

Just a short background of myself, I have been a CH sufferer since the ripe age of 20. In the past 10 years I have only tried a handful of solutions... propanalol, imitrex, etc... with Excedrin being my only mild relief. Then I turned to giving up bad habits... first was Mountain Dew... This energy nectar seemed to trigger a cluster every now and then... but my main relief came from tossing the butts.
Though I only smoked 1/2 to 1 pack a day of the Nicotine sticks, I have noticed a steady decrease in my CHs. Within six months of being a non-smoker I noticed that my clusters were not as powerful and not as common during my CH cycle. Now after just passing by my 2 year anniversary of not-smoking I'm enjoying a five month layoff from the damn things. Occasionally I still get a hint of a CH coming on but 2 quick excedrin and I'm back on top of the world
Hopefully none of you are smokers, but if you are, get help and kick the habit!

God bless you all!
---wallyd

Title: Re: Attention Smokers with CH.
Post by Charlie on Mar 20^th, 2003, 4:18pm

Welcome to the fold and it's great you're doing so well. It's good to see these posts too. 8)

You'll find that the members of this board, are smokers, and as a group, about twice the national average. I haven't in 23 years but it took 11 for my CH to end. I don't know what that means but I've saved a hell of a lot of money and don't go postal when flying. ::)

Good luck and stick around. You'll find lots off good ideas here.

Charlie

Title: Re: Attention Smokers with CH.
Post by BobG on Mar 20^th, 2003, 4:31pm

Hey wallyd2
the smoking subject has been discussed many times here. Clusterheads seem to be smokers more than non-smokers and most agree that smoking has no affect on their headaches.

I think clusterheads have more habits, good and/or bad than the general population.

Glad you gave up that nasty, stinkin', expensive, dirty habit..............one of these days I think I'll start to think about trying to quit.

Title: Re: Attention Smokers with CH.
Post by jonny on Mar 20^th, 2003, 4:39pm

10 yrs ago I was getting nailed CH wise everyday and smoking 2 packs aday.

Today im smoking 4 packs aday and can go a week without a CH.

Hmmmmmm!!

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

Title: Re: Attention Smokers with CH.
Post by Opus on Mar 20^th, 2003, 5:08pm

I have Ch and Migraines and the things that help with CH attacks such as black coffee, cigs, and stress seem to trigger a migraine after I get over a CH. Fortunately a migraine is much easy to handle than CH. My migraines can be treated with OTC drugs which can make CH's worse. Now for the first time I saying it. Are you sure that you have CH? The only triggers I have found for my CH are heat and sleep.
Bright light is my main Migraine trigger. I hope you are sure what you have because except for Imitrex CH and Migraine treatments are vastly different.
Opus :P

Title: Re: Attention Smokers with CH.
Post by suzy617 on Mar 20^th, 2003, 8:25pm

I quit smoking a few times and it never made a difference to the beast. :(

suzy

Title: Re: Attention Smokers with CH.
Post by Lori on Mar 20^th, 2003, 9:08pm

I will be curious to see if not smoking helps me with CH. I finally quit Jan 7th this year but don't expect a cycle until either next Feb-April or Feb-Apr the following year. So, it will be a while I guess before I can say if it's helped me. I decided to make lifestyle changes this year, tired of being in bondage to those awful smokes and now for the last 2 weeks dieting and exercising everyday. :) I really don't think losing weight and being healthy will make a difference though. I have been in great shape in the past, working out, etc and still got hit! Oh well. Glad you gave up the habit though. If it helps with someones CH, great! If not, it's still good to have given it up. :) I breath better these days. No more wheezing! My kids are happy.

Title: Re: Attention Smokers with CH.
Post by TomM on Mar 21^st, 2003, 9:01am

I don't know, but call me cynical. I'm not sure wallyd2 has CH's.

Quote:

Excedrin being my only mild relief

I see this aa a red flag. There is no OTC drug that touches my CH's.

And I smoke about 5 sticks a day (you'd think I could quit, wouldn't cha?), have quit here and there and I still get these friggin' HA's!

wallyd2, have you been to a Nuero?

Me thinks wallyd2 is a covert message board, anti war, pro Clinton (the one with the cigar habit), Strom Thurman lovin', Jessie Helms livin', Jerry Fallwell followin', Bush Twins a-drinkin' (Nice Bush!--had to go there), James Carvel speakin', NASCAR watchin', DUDE! ;D

Just my humble opinion.
TomM 8)

Title: Re: Attention Smokers with CH.
Post by Opus on Mar 21^st, 2003, 9:32am

What's wrong with Nascar? Go Martin.
Opus :P

Title: Re: Attention Smokers with CH.
Post by Roxy on Mar 21^st, 2003, 9:43am

on 03/20/03 at 15:55:41, wallyd2 wrote:

with Excedrin being my only mild relief

All this time Excedrin would have worked.....to think of all the money I've wasted on trex ;).

on 03/20/03 at 15:55:41, wallyd2 wrote:

Then I turned to giving up bad habits... first was Mountain Dew...

This must be where I went wrong, I added Mountain Dew to my (growing list of bad) habits...just to try to slam the ch's with more caffeine. I have found that with the inclusion of more bad habits, my ch's are getting better..... :)

on 03/20/03 at 15:55:41, wallyd2 wrote:

but my main relief came from tossing the butts.

I've tossed my kids ~~asses~~ around quite a bit.....hasn't seemed to help yet.

I've tried giving up food, sex and alcohol....didn't help the ch's, so I quickly put them back onto my menu. There are only so many things I can give up in life.

Tracey

Title: Re: Attention Smokers with CH.
Post by TomM on Mar 21^st, 2003, 10:01am

Quote:

I've tried giving up ~~food,~~ sex ~~and alcohol~~

Yeah, butt (punn inteneded) us married folk are required to give up sex. It's in the contract. :o That's what my lawyer/spousal unit tells me... ::)

Quote:

I added Mountain Dew

Are you drinkin' it? Thats' where ya went wrong! Ya should be snortin' it! ;D

TomM 8)

Title: Re: Attention Smokers with CH.
Post by 2late on Mar 22^nd, 2003, 9:12pm

had my last smoke August 24th, didn't get hit till' recently, i'm gettin' hit hard but still won't go back to cigs, i feel better & i'm gonna be rich, i put 3 bucks a day smoke money in my bank and it's addin' up ;D .........Jack

Title: Re: Attention Smokers with CH.
Post by kim on Mar 22^nd, 2003, 9:34pm

Clusters begain for me as a child. I did not smoke or drink (that was then this is now :D). There is a LINK somehow --chichen or the egg............it's there somewhere. ;)

Title: Re: Attention Smokers with CH.
Post by Frank on Mar 22^nd, 2003, 10:06pm

on 03/20/03 at 16:39:36, jonny wrote:

10 yrs ago I was getting nailed CH wise everyday and smoking 2 packs aday.

Today im smoking 4 packs aday and can go a week without a CH.

Hmmmmmm!!

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

Damn! I thought my uncle held the record at 3 packs per day... Lucky Strike no-filters.

Title: Re: Attention Smokers with CH.
Post by wallyd2 on Mar 26^th, 2003, 2:27pm

Glad to see that the bulk of you still have a moderate since of humor left... lmao on about 2/3 of your posts... :D

Anyway, I wasn't gonna share this secret without financial compensation, but since you all are so wonderful I will let you in on a secret-CH remedy that you may not have tried yet.

Every night before you go to bed (don't forget to brush your teeth), stuff peanut butter into your ear that is on the same side as your headaches. Make sure that you use creamy peanut butter Monday - Thursday, and Crunchy on the weekends... You'll notice an insane difference with a matter of days!!!

Hope this helps, oh and please let me know what brand you used. I do recommend though that you keep Peter Pan out of your ear, unless your kinda funny and all...

thanx, lol, enjoyed the humor!

Title: Re: Attention Smokers with CH.
Post by Sean_C on Mar 26^th, 2003, 6:45pm

Wally,
I'm new to the group , but have been a clusterhead for 23 wonderful years with the beast sharing my life at his will. I agree that air quality sometimes seems to have an effect on my CH's. Although I'll be honest, when I'm clusterin' I'm blaming everything!!!!!!! But if you find it works for you, or anybody finds it works for them, then it doesn't get any better. I honestly think its the grey matter myself, and where all just f????d, and thats the way it is, and we can't change it. Although I do think there's a connection to truama. My clusters started shortly after I had been knocked unconscience at age 13. I was hit in the back of the head with a pipe, lower right side, base of the scull. Believe me it was a homerun for sure. If anybody else can relate I"m curious what you think. Brain damage or what? If you do think its brain damage, I'm gonna start drinkin' heavy again, god I miss it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Love ya,
Sean

Title: Re: Attention Smokers with CH.
Post by Aussie on Mar 26^th, 2003, 10:27pm

Curious about the connection between Head Trauma and CH's myself Sean_C.
My clusters started about 3 months after copping a real hiding in a pub brawl, broken nose, jaw, cheek and eye socket.
Is this a coincident or have others experienced any form of trauma leading to the onset of CH's?