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Title: How I Broke My CH Cycle Post by rocklobster on Jul 21st, 2006, 10:19am I began a 10 day fast on July 6 by drinking lemon juice, maple syrup, and cayenne red pepper in 10 oz. of pure or spring water. 6-12 glasses a day, also as much water as I wanted, but no food. This was a last resort, having nothing to lose besides a few pounds, and everything to gain. The first day was the hardest, since I had never fasted even for a day, but after that, it really was quite easy. My wife fasted with me for support, which was a help. Saturday the 8th I had 2 CH in less than 2 hours and was ready to sell my soul for relief from the pain. On Monday July 10, I had 5 headaches, my worst day ever, in 40 years. I wasn't warned that during and immediately after the fast, the CH can get worse before they get better, since your system is clearing out all the crap in there. I saw my nutritionist on Wednesday July 12, and she had me break the fast early, since she felt that the toxins had been removed. For the rest of the day until Thursday evening, we drank water and orange juice. Thursday July 13, we had fruit and vegetables, and Friday we had our first real meal in 8 days, chicken stir fry. I lost 8 pounds, have since gained about half of it back, but I wasn't overweight anyay. Friday AM the 14th I had a killer in my office, and was really disheartened. However, that was the last CH. I've had shadows, but none have broken out. I'm only 3 and a half weeks into my cycle, and should be having 2-3 a day for another 2 plus months. It appears that the CH cycle has been broken. I will be fasting 3-4 times a year for 2-3 days, just to clean out the old body. Kind of like preventive maintenance. I'm also on a restricted diet for a few weeks. No dairy,except plain yogurt, no sugar, wheat or white flower (whole wheat is fine), no nightshades. Plenty of water, lots of fruit and vegetables, fish, chicken, etc. It is now 8 days since my last CH. Ask your Dr. if you are healthy enough to try a fast before you attempt it. The lemonade fast might not work for you, but then again, maybe it will, or at least slow the cycle down. I didn't think it would work for me, but when you're at the your wits end, you'll try anything. Larry from Pa. (USA) |
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Title: Re: How I Broke My CH Cycle Post by rhino on Jul 25th, 2006, 12:11am Your wife fasted with you,, that blows me away. Are you sure she did not sneek a pork chop in or maybe some mashed potatoes and gravy. :D |
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Title: Re: How I Broke My CH Cycle Post by CHTom on Jul 25th, 2006, 1:29am Interesting tale, but to the best of my knowledge and the neurological community, CH is not caused by "toxins" in the body-that concept goes back to the middle ages. I wish you luck, but all evidence of modern science shows that CH is a neurological condition. If your headaches do return, don't let your doc start bleeding you! |
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Title: Re: How I Broke My CH Cycle Post by jmorgan52 on Jul 25th, 2006, 3:02am Whether or not CH is caused by Toxins is a debatable issue, and I am beyond debating it with this board, but.... I have been reporting here for the past 3 years that a good Detox Diet will break a CH cycle. As for medical science - Tom you are right about the evidence, but the problem is the lack of real hard proof. And the medical science "business" is far more inclined to make a buck out of us sufferers rather than find the real cause. Good on you Larry for achieving what you hoped for - some CH free time. John |
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Title: Re: How I Broke My CH Cycle Post by jmorgan52 on Jul 25th, 2006, 3:08am and Tom - I see you are the guy advocating "deep brain surgery" as the way to go! I think I would have given the Detox Diet/Fast a good go and just about anything else before I went down that road. No wonder you are a firm believer in medical science 8) Just my 2c John |
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Title: Re: How I Broke My CH Cycle Post by sandie99 on Jul 25th, 2006, 3:50am When something helps/works, it's worth sharing the information with others. Back in my chronic days I noticed that my life turned better when I made sure I ate loads of fruits and vegetables, avoid sugar and eat salty snacks only on rare occasions. And I have continued the same ever since. Sanna |
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Title: Re: How I Broke My CH Cycle Post by rocklobster on Jul 25th, 2006, 8:22am Just an update for the non-believers out there. This is day 12 and even the shadows are gone. It sure beats surgery or pumping your body full of meds, though I was kind of looking forward to the magic mushroom treatment. Sort of like a flashback to my youth. I've been to dozens of doctors, some so called specialists, Jefferson Medical in Philly, etc. This treatment works for me. What do you have to lose if you try it for a week? I just wish I would have tried this long before now. After 40 years of this pain, I have my life back, and as someone posted elsewhere, I'm almost ready for the "beer test". Larry |
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Title: Re: How I Broke My CH Cycle Post by LadyLuv on Jul 25th, 2006, 5:31pm I will never say that SOMETHING DOES NOT WORK. But I will say that there are some things that work for some that does not work for others.. I have been in Cycle since January, with as many as 8 hits in 24 hours and no day without at least 2. Each year (through my Church) I Fast 40 days during Easter for Lint (with this year being no exception). During Lint I double my liquid intake, eat only bake chicken or bake fish and fresh vegetables once a day between the hours of 6-7 pm. When I eat on Tuesday evening, I can eat nothing else until 6pm on Thursday, because Wednesday's are a complete corporate Fast Day. I head head aches all during my Fast, the same as I did before and after.. But I am so happy that it works for you.. Peace & Blessings Lady Luv |
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Title: Re: How I Broke My CH Cycle Post by rocklobster on Jul 26th, 2006, 8:20am I'm sorry that fasting did not work for you. There just are not any easy answers to this pain. After 40 years of this dilema, I'm grateful to God that fasting worked for me, and hope that more folks will at least try it. You must have a strong faith to be able to fast for that length of time that you mentioned. During my fast, and for 3 days after, I had the worst and most frequent CH ever, but by the third day after the fast, they were gone. I have had shadows, but less frequently each day. If doctors had CH, someone would find a cure. Hang in there. Larry |
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Title: Re: How I Broke My CH Cycle Post by chewy on Jul 26th, 2006, 8:32am Quote:
Doctors do have CH. CH does not discriminate. An Equal Opportunity Beast. |
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Title: Re: How I Broke My CH Cycle Post by LadyLuv on Jul 26th, 2006, 1:43pm IF DOCTORS HAD CH????????.. I've got news for you brother... doctors and members of doctors family all suffer with CH's.. CHs do not have a preference... It do not discrimination... There is no preference, regardless of race, sex, occupation, age or the area of the world you live in. CHs are diffently a EOA (Equal Opportunity Attacker) Peace & Blessings LadyLuv PS: Rock I am not a religious fanatic, but I am at church every 1, 2, 4 & 5 (when there is one) Sunday at 7:00am to answer the phone for rides and I attend 8am service; Bible Study on Wednesday and Vesper at 6pm 1st & 3 Sunday. For you see I am a 22 year breast cancer suvivor: laid in the hospital in 1976 for 6 months with a c-6 fracture (broken neck) and have been suffering with CH's for over 30 years. Someone or something have keep me going and I'd like to think that someone is God.. So fasting for Lint is just another way of serving Him.. I never even think about it, I just do it. Peace & Blessings Lady Luv |
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Title: Re: How I Broke My CH Cycle Post by rocklobster on Jul 26th, 2006, 2:11pm I stand corrected. Though I've never seen a posting by a dr. who had CH. Or met one, or met anyone who has. Nevertheless, let me direct my statement to the drug companies. Has anyone ever heard of a drug company searching for a cure for CH? |
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Title: Re: How I Broke My CH Cycle Post by LadyLuv on Jul 26th, 2006, 2:55pm rocklobster I would advise you to read the OUCH News letters (exspecially the Convention Special Edition). YES I HAVE HEARD OF PHARMACUTICAL COMPANIES SEARCHING FOR SOMETHING THAT WOULD HELP US... rock, several pharmacutical companies are on board.. Imitrex it made by GSK, Zomig is from Astrazeneca.. There are constant trials being conducted (including one at this years Convention in Wisconsin). Pharmacutical companies even support our conventions in part. Studies are being conducted by Dr. Sewell a Neurologist and Pyschiatrist with Harvard McLean Hospital as well as others. I don't wish this pain that I suffer upon anyone, but if I did, it wouldn't be the doctors or the pharmacutical companies, it would be the Insurance Companies workers that want to play doctors and decide how much medication you can have no matter what your doctor prescribe; but even with that I would only want them to have one.. Peace & Blessings Lady Luv |
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Title: Re: How I Broke My CH Cycle Post by jon019 on Jul 26th, 2006, 3:25pm Yow Lady Luv, very nice last post and I really liked this part. Regards, Jon on 07/26/06 at 14:55:53, LadyLuv wrote:
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Title: Re: How I Broke My CH Cycle Post by LadyLuv on Jul 26th, 2006, 5:21pm Jon019: Being a CH Sufferer you know the pain.... How could I wish this pain on another human, no matter how in human they might be. Peace & Blessings LadyLuv |
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Title: Re: How I Broke My CH Cycle Post by jmorgan52 on Jul 27th, 2006, 2:54pm [quote author=LadyLuv Each year (through my Church) I Fast 40 days during Easter for Lint (with this year being no exception). During Lint I double my liquid intake, eat only bake chicken or bake fish and fresh vegetables once a day between the hours of 6-7 pm. When I eat on Tuesday evening, I can eat nothing else until 6pm on Thursday, because Wednesday's are a complete corporate Fast Day. I head head aches all during my Fast, the same as I did before and after.. But I am so happy that it works for you.. Peace & Blessings Lady Luv[/quote] Sorry Lady, no offense meant, but fasting for lent is hardly the same thing as what Rocklobster did so I really doubt you would see the same results as he did. His fast is eating NOTHING for 7 days straight, just drinking his "potion". This is what the real physical cleansing is all about, as opposed to your "spiritual" cleansing lent fast where you eat once a day. I remember Lent from my childhood as a period when you gave up all the "good things in life" like chocs for lent. During this 7 day real fast expect the HAs to get much worse before they get better. If you have the willpower to do this fast then it just might break your CH. You won't know until you try though. John |
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Title: Re: How I Broke My CH Cycle Post by LadyLuv on Jul 27th, 2006, 4:45pm Rocklobster I thought that you might be interested in the following article which was posted on the General Board today. Doctors assisted in us getting the Grant, and the Grant came from a Pharmacutical company.... So as you see, there are people out there helping. Peace & Blessings LadyLuv The Organization for Understanding Cluster Headaches (OUCH) is pleased to announce that it has received a grant from GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) in the amount of $15,000.00 to fund the education portion of it’s recent annual convention held in Waukesha, WI. OUCH wishes to thank GSK, all those involved in obtaining this grant, specifically Rori Lockman, and this years speakers Dr. Andrew Sewell, Dr. John Halpern, Lori Choyce, RN, and Svenn Thorn for helping to make the education portion of our 2006 convention a success. |
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Title: Re: How I Broke My CH Cycle Post by jmorgan52 on Jul 31st, 2006, 9:08am Rocklobster I hope you are well. How are things going regards your CH? I am interested to know if you are still PF, and get some more insight into your views on this fast as a way to break a cycle. It seems that not many here are very willing to make any sort of supportive statement or even admit to being willing to try your method, which is a shame for all those out there who are more than willing to try illegal substances and expensive drugs to get relief. It makes me wonder if it's just a few of us who are willing to have some faith in natures way of healing. John |
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Title: Re: How I Broke My CH Cycle Post by Jasmyn on Aug 4th, 2006, 9:27am I am going to throw a spanner in the works here by giving my opinion on why I think the fasting helped. I am no doctor but only speak from my own experience. Did you ever consider that it has nothing to do with detoxing but with lowering your BP? A few years ago, I was at my wits end and I had to break my cycle. Logic and my engineering background told me that because CH feels like pressure building up, what I should do is get rid of that pressure, some way or the other. Because I live in a country where my options are limited to get medical assistance, I decided to experiment a little by myself. I need to state that I already have a very low BP, eat healthy(organic veg farmer me) and clean my colon on a daily basis. I didn't eat at all for two days, to lower it even more but still got hit badly, so... I decided to blood let. A primitive solution but what the heck, I can only kill myself in the process and at that time I was near the edge. So I do not advocate this method without medical assistance or even at all. ;;D I took a measuring jug, a syringe and a belt. Tied the belt around my arm(tourniquet), pushed the needle into my arm and pulled out the plunger. The blood started to flow into the jug and I tried to keep an eye on it, then fainted. Needles to say, I nearly bled to death. Assistance arrived just in time but the CH back was broken for that cycle. The last time I did that, I was a little bit more concerned about my health and the consequences. So I had myself company to assist, my daughter. She kept an eye on the amount of blood running into the jug. 1/2 a litre later, she pulled out the needle and stopped the blood flow. I aborted another cycle. Fasting over a longer period, fluids only, has the same effect. You do not take in your normal amounts of sugars and salts which causes a higher blood volume which in turns raises BP. So your BP lowers. Triptans, beat blockers, Verapamil and certain anti-depressants all lower your BP. Most of us use some of these to abort or prevent CH. I don't know if it is just me but I see a definite correlation between lowering your BP and a lowering of CH attacks. By this experiment I came to the conclusion that to abort a cycle for me, it is essential to go as low as I can go regarding my BP and blood volume. On the other hand, I am not in favour of bleeding myself dry so I think I'll just try to up the meds that does the same thing or try the less conventional route of cluster busting. Quote:
So there you are, I am willing to have faith in Natures way(of which illegal substances are a part of ;)) but it needs to be logical and I need to know the mechanisms that gives it the potential to work. Now you can disagree with me, you are welcome. :) |
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Title: Re: How I Broke My CH Cycle Post by seasonalboomer on Aug 4th, 2006, 9:32am on 08/04/06 at 09:27:01, Jasmyn wrote:
For those of us who have access to a Red Cross station and want to test Jas' hypothesis, the Red Cross will gladly "bleed" you any time and you'll be doing a good thing for someone else as well. Just a suggestion and keeping all opinions about reintroducing bloodletting as a modern medical procedure to myself... Scott |
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Title: Re: How I Broke My CH Cycle Post by jmorgan52 on Aug 7th, 2006, 5:29am Jasmyn My very first thought when starting to read your post was why the hell you didn't just go and donate a pint? Even up in Mozambique they must be more than willing to get some donated blood! You might be right , but as I have said ad naseum on this board for the past 3 years or more, a detox diet with stacks of fluids (or a liquid fast if you have the willpower to do it) will always break my CH cycle within about 5 days, but the HA gets much worse before it gets better. As to exactly how it works is fully debatable. I seriously doubt a week long fast or detox diet will harm anyone, least of all the reportedly mostly overweight Americans out there ;;D That is more than you can say for all the various drugs being taken for CH |
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Title: Re: How I Broke My CH Cycle Post by Jasmyn on Aug 7th, 2006, 7:08am Why I don't donate blood in Mozambique? Yes they are more than willing to take my blood but... well, the hospitals that does it here are in a terrible state, I might leave with less blood and a tad more than a speck of AIDS. SA won't let me donate blood because I am from a Malaria area. Detox, that is my problem word... fasting to get the same results as some medications, that I understand. "Detoxing" says that some of the foods I have consumed over a period of time are the cause of my CH and eliminating their build-up will cure this condition while "fasting" does not have the same connotation or implication. Fasting is not everyone's cup of tea and you cannot advocate for everyone to follow this, as many other medical conditions do not allow for such an alternative. It is still up to the individual to experiment behind the scenes and there is no guarantee that it will work. Categorizing Americans does not make people open to your viewpoints. This is a family of supporters with a rare commonality where race, gender, culture, religion and politics are no players in the game. As for conventional medications, they do work some and most of the time and this option is sometimes better than starving oneself. I do agree with the use of alternative, natural chemicals(Nature's own) but it is only for those inclined to take the responsibility of going off the beaten track. Because something has worked in the past, does not mean it will work the next time around. People that had CH for a long time can vouch for that. So nothing can be seen as the be all and end all of medications and treatments. Everyday we read opinions, information and advise, we take what would apply to us, we leave the rest but it gets a bit frustrating to get banged over the head, time and time again because we do not all comply with one persons viewpoint. If you need to go the natural way, there are a few... Oxygen(we breathe it everyday), Ergot(a conventional medication) derived from the Claviceps fungus, Psilocybin from mushrooms, Serotonin(a tryptamine found in fungi, plants and animals), Lithium(a natural chemical element which exhibits properties of the alkaline-Earth metals), etc. So as you can see most of what we as CHers use are "Natural", although we have to rely on pharmaceutical companies to supply it to us, in either a legal or prescribed form, in mass quantities. ;) |
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Title: Re: How I Broke My CH Cycle Post by rickyshot on Aug 7th, 2006, 10:08am Very good posts Jazz. I too have tried many natural alternatives including more than one detox fasts, giving up a lot of foods over the years (for possible allergy connection , that is the theroy of that one), B 12, B complex, magnesium, Feverfew, kudzu, butterbar for not only CH but chronic complicated migraines that are ruining my life and NOTHING. The only sort of relief I get is with DHE and prednisone or solumedrol in hospital . Then I get weeks of some relief but those meds are ass kickers and that is why I do detox fasts including milk thistle for my liver cleansing. I am choosing to try the HBWR seeds and will let y'all know how that goes. You know we can debate ad nauseam about natural vs unnatural and legal vs illegal. Look just because something is natural or even legal does not make it safe or even right. I have worked in the medical field for 30 years and have seen many cases of poisening and deaths from OTC drugs, never mind problems with meds. Natural meds, herbs do conflict with each other and other meds or simply do not agree sometime. Some has even caused death. WE simply have to accept responsibility for our choices. The trick is to try and make the best informed choice as possible. This is where we use doctors and others such as these boards to help make the decisions. What works for one does nothing for another. Also we can share our experiences with modalities of treatments, the good, bad and ugly. Look on this thread alone we have had those who use fasting and herbs, blood letting, conventional meds, mushrooms and even draconian surgery all with some degree of success and failure. As far as what is legal all I can say is whatever the governemnt and drug companies can control and get rich off is illegal and immoral one day and fine the next when they can get something out of it. Please.... This is a horrible malady and for those people who suffer chroinic maladies which are ruining their lives and CH is one of those along with a litany of others some will drink turpentine if they thought it can help. Desperation is a horrible thing. I count on these boards to inform and educate and support. I don't want to hear your way is shit and all the flaming. If it helps and you take responsibilty for possbile consequences good luck to you. |
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Title: Re: How I Broke My CH Cycle Post by unsolved1 on Aug 7th, 2006, 10:26am Glad to hear you believe that detoxing has helped you break your cycle. IMO ... it was just a fluke or the cycle was going to end anyways and another cycle will return when the beast is ready. Detoxing and dieting has never helped me. But then again ... you said your worst day was having 5 headaches ... that's normal for me ... count your blessings (it could be worse) UNsolved I'll stick with the drugs that I know help me. PS. I've also heard that rubbing peanut butter on your genitals will stop an attack within 5 - 6 hours. ::) |
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Title: Re: How I Broke My CH Cycle Post by EstebanPR on Aug 13th, 2006, 2:52pm Friends, I think the point is not what causes the damn pain. We've all read many theories. The bottom line is a CH is hell and WHATEVER works for relieve is OK. Fasting, screaming, water, oxigen, imitrex, or else. Im real glad you could break your cycle. |
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Title: Re: How I Broke My CH Cycle Post by chopmyheadoff on Aug 16th, 2006, 4:29am on 08/07/06 at 10:26:57, unsolved1 wrote:
pmsl . . . just make sure no squirrels run up your trouser leg r kid ;;D |
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Title: Re: How I Broke My CH Cycle Post by rhino on Aug 16th, 2006, 10:59pm Smothered Pork Chops with Verapmil,, Mashed potatoes with Prednisone gravy,, Green Beans with a dash of Zomig Nasal,, Ice tea, oxygen,, Pecan Pie,, I get now, thats how you cure them damn headaches. [smiley=smokin.gif] |
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Title: Re: How I Broke My CH Cycle Post by unsolved1 on Aug 16th, 2006, 11:30pm on 08/16/06 at 22:59:18, rhino wrote:
LMAO [smiley=laugh.gif] Something like that !! UNsolved |
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