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Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies >> Heat
(Message started by: WaitingAgain on May 24th, 2007, 6:32pm)

Title: Heat
Post by WaitingAgain on May 24th, 2007, 6:32pm
I have been suffering from CH for the past 5 years (since 27) and although I haven't been able to stop them, I have found a way (that works for me) to very quickly stop the pain...like in 10 minutes ;;D

I am sure that most of you know that heat can help, but I previously used an electric heating pad, and placed it on my head/neck. Because staying still and/or touching the scalp just doesn't really work for us, I have now been using a portable heater fan. I crank this thing as high as it will go and get my left side as close to it as possible without starting myself on fire...5 to 10 later, it gone, and that makes me very happy...and no pills!

Title: Re: Heat
Post by Brewcrew on May 24th, 2007, 8:31pm
Welcome. Sorry you're here, but glad you found this place.

I am the polar opposite. Any kind of heat at all will be met by me with strong resistance. I'm an icepack guy - the blue gel kind that will get  below freezing and remains flexible.

We each have our own methodologies. I'm glad you found something that works for you.

Again, welcome. Stick around, do some reading, weigh in when the spirit moves you.

Title: Re: Heat
Post by tanner on May 24th, 2007, 9:26pm

I am like Brew. My HA's were as good as they get when we went to my hometown of Chicago and stayed down at a hotel on the lakefront in Feb. with all my Il and In. clan.

Everyone else was wanting to cab from place to place but I made us all walk. Go figure.

I had to go and fall in love with a girl also from The Windy City who hates the cold and now we are moving to southern Texas :o

time for me to "Man Up"......Tim

Title: Re: Heat
Post by Kevin_M on May 24th, 2007, 9:56pm

on 05/24/07 at 20:31:30, Brewcrew wrote:
I'm an icepack guy - the blue gel kind that will get  below freezing and remains flexible.


Same here, don't mind squashing it on my head, the rubbing kills time 'til an abort takes hold.  No luck with heat here.

Title: Re: Heat
Post by E-Double on May 24th, 2007, 10:23pm
A bag of frozen peas is what keeps me company at night.

I wish it were my wife instead :-/ ;;D

Seriously though, I used to live with an ice pack on my skull while hovering over a steam bath to clear my nose.

The combination was very helpful to me.

Title: Re: Heat
Post by taraann on May 25th, 2007, 7:34am
I go back and forth.  Sometimes I love my frozen peas or crushed ice and other times it's a hot cloth or heating pad.

Title: Re: Heat
Post by burnt-toast on May 25th, 2007, 8:37am
This CH stuff is funny.  

For years ice was my favorite distraction - one ice pack on the right side of my head in one hand, another moved between my right eye, temple and jaw in the other helped - heat drove attacks to new levels of torture.

With little warning everything changed over the last year.  Reaching for/applying the trusty ice packs started driving attacks to new levels of torture.  So I stuck a hot tea cup in my right eye and amazingly got some relief.  Now I'm moving a hot tea cup between my right eye, temple and jaw and it helps.

With CH it seems you need a distriction deJour' to stay a step ahead of this nightmare.  

Tom

Title: Re: Heat
Post by sandie99 on May 25th, 2007, 10:14am
Heat is my enemy! I get hit after going to the sauna or taking a warm shower... And when the warm, warm summer days arrive, I get hit easier than I do during the winter. Icepacks and ice cubes are my friends and ice cold Red Bull is my best friend. ;)

I'm glad that you have found out what works for you, that is important! :)

PF days,
Sanna

Title: Re: Heat
Post by MR_FLOOR on May 25th, 2007, 4:08pm
I'm also like brew and the most of the rest of the crew.I can't stand heat soft ice pack works the best for me really any thing cold and ether flat or soft (cd case cold wall window )whatever. Good luck and hope it keeps working for you.





Dave

Title: Re: Heat
Post by Wayne on May 31st, 2007, 3:10am
Fascinating how there'sno logic to these things, with me cold is absolutely the enemy, CH cycle arrives promptly with Jack Frost and leaves with spring. Red bull works a treat but better if its warm.

Title: Re: Heat
Post by Sandy_C on May 31st, 2007, 2:10pm
Isn't CH so much fun to try and figure out?????

For me, heat is an enemy when in cycle.  I can't even take a shower in the morning and wash my hair with hot, even tepid water.  Yet, ice, ice water, ice packs, frozen peas....they are my friends while in cycle.

Obviously, from the above, I may be "cool", but I probably stink.   :-/

go figure????? [smiley=huh.gif]

Sandy

Title: Re: Heat
Post by ClusterChris on May 31st, 2007, 3:16pm
In my opinion. I believe it's the shock factor that actually helps. I find if I'm out in the hot weather while in cycle, it brings on my attacks, However, When I get an attack, I put something hot on my head and it helps. Same situation applies to ice .  I truly believe it somehow messes up the routine of the attack by suddenly changing the temperature in the area of the pain! But then again It could just be one of those mental things!
Cheers

Chris

Title: Re: Heat
Post by BlueMeanie on May 31st, 2007, 11:20pm
Your VERY lucky if heat OR cold STOPS a CH. I do agree that it tames it down a little. I would normally put my head under hot running water in the tub as long as I can stand it. Then after a few minutes of that, I dry off and put ice packs over the affected area. It seems to help until the Trex kicks in to actually abort the CH. My theory is like Chris', that it's the shock that keeps the pain from climbing the kip scale.

Glad to hear it works for you.

Title: Re: Heat
Post by WaitingAgain on Jun 1st, 2007, 10:43am
Just don't get it?
After going through the first 2 months of my cycle with heat working so well, the last 3 nights have been BRUTAL!
I tried both hot and cold, and neither seem to provide any relief?? Thankfully I only have until the end of June and they "should" go away until next spring?!

Thanks for comments everyone,

Title: Re: Heat
Post by taraann on Jun 1st, 2007, 6:00pm
Hot or cold doesn't abort in my case... depending which one what I prefer at the time... it just feels good and helps take the edge off a tiny bit sometimes.  

Title: Re: Heat
Post by Gator on Jun 1st, 2007, 9:25pm
Most of the time, ice is my friend.  I have a large gelpack that wraps nicely from my eye around the side of my head and to the back of my neck.  A nice, wide elastic strap with velcro on both ends holds it snugly in place.  (Thanks Donna)  When I get hit, I strap this puppy on, grab my clustermasx and crank up the O2.  As the hit subsides, I'll take it off my head and just lay it around the back of my neck.

Every once in a while I have one of those days where the shadows come out to play and just won't go away.  Sometimes a nice hot shower will break these up.


Title: Re: Heat
Post by gore2424 on Jun 2nd, 2007, 2:39pm
same here Gator "ice is my friend.  I have a large gelpack that wraps nicely from my eye around the side of my head and to the back of my neck.  A nice, wide elastic strap with velcro on both ends holds it snugly in place." and I always try the O2 for 20 minutes BUT it hasnt helped me for over a year BUT I always try it cause it was all free Terry (the builder)

Title: Re: Heat
Post by Kate in Oz on Jun 3rd, 2007, 9:28am
The heat works for me (doesn't abort but provides a distraction)  I can't imagine putting something cold on my face  :o  I get my hot water bottle and rock my head back and forth on it - IT BURNS!!  

I have been trying something a bit different this cycle - when a hit comes I try to keep my self removed from the pain - play observer if you know what I mean.  Managed to pass out last night during a hit - I think the pain was just tooooo much to deal with and off I went  :-/

Its about 11.30pm now and not looking forward to going to bed  :(  I hate CH!!!




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