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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies >> Blood Test
        
(Message started by: sistersue on Aug 16^th, 2007, 3:24pm)

Title: Blood Test
Post by sistersue on Aug 16^th, 2007, 3:24pm

I read somewhere that most CH sufferers have low blood levels of magnesium, melatonin, choline (whatever that is) and possibly high levels of histamine. Has anyone here ever had these things tested? Have you ever heard of this?

Title: Re: Blood Test
Post by Guiseppi on Aug 16^th, 2007, 3:30pm

I'm one of the "less formally educated" on these things, I'm sure E-double will have some info on the histamine, I'll address only the magnesium. Since starting magnesium suplements several years ago, my cycles have been far less severe. Not shorter and I don't skip them, but they are less severe.

I had close to a 25 year track record to compare against. I know with the way these things morph, cause and effect is always a risky assumption. But with the results I've experienced I'm going to stay on the magnesium/calcium supplemet. But I have never had tests for any of the levels you mentioned.

Guiseppi

Title: Re: Blood Test
Post by davepul on Aug 16^th, 2007, 3:47pm

never heard this but have heard of low testosterone levels in ch patients

Title: Re: Blood Test
Post by Ray on Aug 16^th, 2007, 9:24pm

Hello SisterSue:

I can comment re: histamine.

When we have a cluster headache, our bodies produce huge amounts of histamine, which in turn causes the affected eye to turn red, get tears, our noses runny and congested.

When I had an allergy [scratch] test, some time back, I did not raise a welt on the "control", which was histamine. They actually had to test again by putting allergens and control under my skin with a syringe.

By saying this, I would think that when you are having/recently had a CH, you have a large amount of histamine in your system.

Wishing you PF days and nights,

Ray