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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies >> Visualisation...a better way to help manage pain?
        
(Message started by: Buzz on Jun 23^rd, 2007, 2:07am)

Title: Visualisation...a better way to help manage pain?
Post by Buzz on Jun 23^rd, 2007, 2:07am

I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm fed-up with guzzling pills. During my long, lonely attacks, as I pace and growl and gnash my teeth, I covet my ability to still think rationally (albeit acting irrationally) and I want to talk about visualisation - 'seeing' the beast.

I believe that if you can see your enemy, you can reclaim some of your lost advantage - and mentally (with practice) beat him. Let me illustrate this with a true story about one of my friends, Fernando.

Fernando contracted Leukemia and for 2 years fought (and nearly lost) the disease but he won in the end and has nearly completed 5 years in remission. Here is how he won: He taught himself to imagine that he had a little Pacman inside him that was munching his way steadily along all his blood vessels, eating up the excess white blood cells.

He made this a habit and even when he was at death's door, in phenomenal pain, he kept his little Pacman going, calmly munching his way along all his arteries and capillaries... even now, he still keeps that Pacman going - just to be safe.

I'm tying to get a visual fix on my 'beast'. Once I feel I have it, I will devise a cunning way of torturing and devouring him during an attack; it will give me something to concentrate on and will allow me to feel more in control. If the attack is taking a long time to subside, its not because of the beast, its because I'm still busy attacking him.

Right now, I see the Beast not as a beast at all. I see it as a poisonous, semi viscous liquid, the colour of treacle - or boiling tar. I see it oozing through my brain along the nerves and blood vessels. I'm trying to discover how to drain this poison from my head, a drip at a time, or perhaps the answer is to visualise a 'neutralising agent being fed into the same blood vessels, slowly dissolving and disabling the poison - I don't know, but once I'm comfortable with what I see, I intend to teach myself to concentrate on that alone during each attack...

Does anyone else have any similar techniques?

Title: Re: Visualisation...a better way to help manage pa
Post by seasonalboomer on Jun 23^rd, 2007, 5:29am

Good luck with that!

Most of us aren't guzzling pills and are therefore not fed up, but spending time making sure I have the methods at hand to quickly dissipate a CH hit.
Leaving me time to better visualize how I will spend my time when I don't have a cluster headache.

Scott

Title: Re: Visualisation...a better way to help manage pa
Post by taraann on Jun 23^rd, 2007, 8:59am

I've gone medfree many times over the years, either due to no insurance or because I am extremely med resistant and I gave up trying this med and that and dealing with side effects with no good affect on the clusters.

I didn't use visualisation though but deep breathing, ice or heat. Pacing or sometimes as I did the deep breathing I would try to FORCE myself to sit still, it didn't work well but it was almost like excercise to try to sit still! LOL But even with meds these are the things I still do. Hey do what works, I wont knock it.

Title: Re: Visualisation...a better way to help manage pa
Post by purpleydog on Jun 23^rd, 2007, 10:13am

Good luck with this, if you can do it, and it helps you, then great!

Personally, I'm pretty good at ignoring various types of pain, by thinking of something else (like work, when I'm there), or doing something else. But CH, I've not been able to ignore it. Once it hits, I can't do anything except try to kill it, because it comes on so fast. Getting to the O2, or the trex is paramount, and getting to it fast, because it ramps up so fast...if I let it go too far, I can get to where I literally can't help myself, and need help.

Shadows I can ignore, even when they are up to a 7 or even an 8, because I know when the hit starts, it will be much worse. It just depends on where I am "cycle" wise.

CH pain is in a class all it's own. I wish it was easy to handle like other kinds of pain.

Title: Re: Visualisation...a better way to help manage pa
Post by Rosybabe on Jun 23^rd, 2007, 6:12pm

I pray, I try to concentrate on praying the rosary, trying to kep my mind off the pain and at the same time I beg God for relief or just to send me an angel to pick me up and take me from all my misery..
I also use the breathing techiques what makes you focus on your own breathing, but when I get a 10, nothing, absolutely nothing works, I just cry like a little girl...
Hope whatever you do works for you, I really do..

Title: Re: Visualisation...a better way to help manage pa
Post by Buzz on Jun 23^rd, 2007, 10:57pm

I'm trying to make it work... but yes, when a 9 or 10 hits, I just cannot think... and I'm rapidly beginning to consider marrying they person who invented Red Bull!! ;;D

Title: Re: Visualisation...a better way to help manage pa
Post by mynm156 on Jun 25^th, 2007, 7:56am

Interesting Idea Keep us updated on how you progress.

MYNM156

Title: Re: Visualisation...a better way to help manage pa
Post by Buzz on Jun 27^th, 2007, 12:26pm

not much progress to report... had 12 kip9/10 in succession over the course of 24 hrs... the only thing i could visualise was my funeral!!! (but I'm doing better now)

Title: Re: Visualisation...a better way to help manage pa
Post by Kate in Oz on Jul 1^st, 2007, 8:16am

on 06/23/07 at 02:07:52, Buzz wrote:

Right now, I see the Beast not as a beast at all. I see it as a poisonous, semi viscous liquid, the colour of treacle - or boiling tar. I see it oozing through my brain along the nerves and blood vessels. I'm trying to discover how to drain this poison from my head, a drip at a time, or perhaps the answer is to visualise a 'neutralising agent being fed into the same blood vessels, slowly dissolving and disabling the poison - I don't know, but once I'm comfortable with what I see, I intend to teach myself to concentrate on that alone during each attack...

Does anyone else have any similar techniques?

I find it really interesting that you describe your pain as being in liquid form - that's exactly how I see it too... unadalterated liquid pain, fills up and finally subsides.

And the twinge you get or shadow is like when there is just a few drops of the pain - I guess it makes sense because it is the blood rushing through that causes the pain yes?

So far this cycle I have been trying really hard to be the spectator and just observe the headache. The first really bad one I passed out - blessed relief. It has been getting harder to do this as the cycle comes to its climax tho. (Wouldn't ever do it without the drugs and the 02, I admire those here that do, but hey I'm just not that strong!!)

I wish you all the very best, whatever you can find that works for you, do it.

Good luck,

Hope you're getting some zzz's

Kate

Title: Re: Visualisation...a better way to help manage pa
Post by sandie99 on Jul 2^nd, 2007, 12:30pm

I have used visualization a few times and I must admit that it works very well when I can keep myself still and sitting and really concentrade on it.

Here's what I do: I'll raise my hands a bit and imagine that black liquid is coming from my head and leaves via my fingers. Once I've imagined the liquid's journey until my fingertips, I imagine that the liquid turns into "good" white one.

But because red bull works wonders with my hits, I usually get a can first! ;;D

PF days & nights,
Sanna

Title: Re: Visualisation...a better way to help manage pa
Post by DennisM1045 on Jul 3^rd, 2007, 8:43am

I’ve been practicing yoga and meditation for a little while now. While visualization isn’t part of that tradition, I am able to empty my mind (I know, I know, not that there is much there in the first place) and look inward pretty well now. The idea is to become an observer within, allowing yourself to observe without judgment, without emotion. The main trick is to practice regularly so you can apply the process when you get hit. I don’t think it is something that would work if only practiced in the throws of a Kip 8-10.

I first focus on my breath – don’t affect it, just observe. Now that I’m prescribed O2, I do this with a mask on. Notice the cool feeling of the air entering your nostrils and warm as it passes down your throat. Then notice the heat escaping your body on the exhale warming its path through your body eventually passing back out through your nostrils. If thoughts arise, just let them pass without judgment, push them away and let them be. If I maintain this focus, I can calm myself and endure the ride.

This doesn’t work well yet on a Kip 9/10 (fortunately I don’t get those often) but it’ll get me through most Kip 6-8 hits. The trick is not to let the fear take hold. I do this by separating myself from it, becoming an observer instead of a participant. Of course I can’t physically separate myself but this is more about mindset and perspective.

Know you will survive. Know you will endure. Know that it will pass.

This probably doesn’t make sense to anyone else but it does work for me.

-Dennis-

Title: Re: Visualisation...a better way to help manage pa
Post by Sandy_C on Jul 3^rd, 2007, 1:44pm

My very first CH cycle ever, undiagnosed, I tried the good old Lamaze breathing technique (childbirth, which stood me well through to agonizing labors). With Lamaze, you tried to remain quiet and still, and needed a focal point, and concentrated on that point while controlling your breathing. Not much help, especially in the being still part.

Having no focal point available, as I paced, I visualized the beast in my head, and it turned out to be Rosanne Barr, when she was in that Devil something movie. I kid you not! My beast was Rosanne, and I even named her that.

When I got hit, I would shout and curse at Rosanne, the "B****, and somehow get through the hit.

Since those early days, I've learned so much from this website that I no longer think of Roseanne, but, to me, she is still my beast.

Sandy

Title: Re: Visualisation...a better way to help manage pa
Post by thomas on Jul 3^rd, 2007, 3:05pm

Good luck! All the best, hope you get some pf times or a least it becomes a little more manageable for you.

Edit to add I do have a "technique" of sorts, I TRY to remain as calm as possible and "embrace" the pain, accept it, and try to wait it out as best I can. It doesn't always work, but I do find the calmer I can remain, the milder the attack will be.

Title: Re: Visualisation...a better way to help manage pa
Post by Sandy_C on Jul 3^rd, 2007, 5:23pm

on 07/03/07 at 15:05:43, thomas wrote:

Absolutely agreed! I like the "embrace the pain" part. Doesn't always work, but the longer I can remain calm, the more energy I have to fight the hits that don't allow calmness.

Thanks Thomas

Sandy