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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2002 >> Just Wondering (Episodics)
        
(Message started by: J. Marshall on Oct 21st, 2002, 12:46pm)
Title: Just Wondering (Episodics)
Post by J. Marshall on Oct 21st, 2002, 12:46pm
Has anyone ever became sick immediately before and immediately after your Cluster Cycle?  

This past cycle I became very ill 1 week before the clusters started. I'm talking 3 to 4 days of fever, vomiting, and just general severe flu-like symtoms. I then began my cycle the night I began feeling better from the flu-like symptoms. then, about 2 weeks ago the clusters seem to start diminishing. Now, this past week I got the same flu-like symtoms only for a shorter duration. (About 1 1/2 days).

I've been episodic for around 22 years, and I can't remember this happening during previous cycles. However, it just seemed too much of a coincidence to just dispell.

Has anyone else ever remembered a cycle starting and/or stopping with a virus or flu-like sickness?
Title: Re: Just Wondering (Episodics)
Post by suzy617 on Oct 21st, 2002, 5:41pm
Its wierd, the day after my first ch this month I developed a terrible cough and still have it. Seems like it starts to kick up the morning after each ha. I thought maybe it had to do with your sinuses becoming infected after each episode.
Title: Re: Just Wondering (Episodics)
Post by Jim R on Oct 23rd, 2002, 2:51pm
It seems at times, in the Fall, I have gotten a bad cold and right after the cold the CH's started their cycle...connected?  Maybe or maybe just a coincidence...  Jim R
Title: Re: Just Wondering (Episodics)
Post by PETEH on Oct 23rd, 2002, 4:03pm
I HAVE JUST GOTTEN OVER A 7 WEEK CYCLE OF CH. JUST AS THE CLUSTERS WENT AWAY, I DEVELOPED A BAD COLD. MY WIFE DOES NOT HAVE THE COLD AND HAS NO SYMPTOMS.

AGAIN, MAYBE A COINCIDENCE.

BELIEVE ME, I'LL TAKE A COLD ANY DAY OVER A CH!
Title: Re: Just Wondering (Episodics)
Post by forgetfulnot on Oct 23rd, 2002, 7:00pm
As we struggle through a cluster cycle we don't eat right, we don't sleep right, some of us become depressed and so on. It's no wonder that our immune systems suffer.

You might get tested for HCV, there isn't a whole lot they can do for it but at least you might now what is going on.

I have it and had similar problems as you described.

Good luck, Lee
Title: Re: Just Wondering (Episodics)
Post by suzy617 on Oct 23rd, 2002, 7:32pm
What is HCV?
Title: Re: Just Wondering (Episodics)
Post by Luna on Oct 23rd, 2002, 7:41pm
HCV = Hepatitis C Virus
Title: Re: Just Wondering (Episodics)
Post by suzy617 on Oct 23rd, 2002, 7:50pm
Oh yikes, thanks for the info Luna. I guess though after 21 years I would have found out if I had that. I think my Dr. tested me many years ago when I got my tatoo, I think they test you for HepC.
Title: Re: Just Wondering (Episodics)
Post by forgetfulnot on Oct 23rd, 2002, 10:12pm
Suzy617, not exactly correct, HCV can lay dormant for many years undetectable then become active, in my case about 30 years. You can save a lot of time and money if you think you might have it. Avoid alcohol of any kind. That is about all you will hear from any specialist in the field. Current treatments only slow or repress the damage to the liver, any damage already existing is not reversible short of a liver transplant.

Not to be taken lightly :'(,

Lee
Title: Re: Just Wondering (Episodics)
Post by marty on Oct 24th, 2002, 10:40am
Every cycle comes right after a bad cold for me - it never fails...  Scared to death when catching a cold. I usually get hit with CH once or twice per year always following a cold.

Marty
Title: Re: Just Wondering (Episodics)
Post by NotH20 on Oct 24th, 2002, 3:05pm
Marshall - I don't ever recall starting or stopping a cycle with any sort of cold/flu.  I totally agree with Forgetful though - the ch's are such a drain on our entire system that it's no wonder the potential is there.

I'll keep this in mind for my next cycle   >:(

NotH20
Title: Re: Just Wondering (Episodics)
Post by Lori on Oct 24th, 2002, 9:35pm
Wow Marshall, you descibed exactly what I experienced this past cycle I had Feb-May this year. I got extremely sick at the beginning, so sick I wanted to die! Then when my cycle was winding down, pretty sick again. Flu-like symptoms like you also. That never happened to me in the 12 yrs I've had these that I can remember anyway. I thought it was connected somehow but didn't know for sure. Glad you brought it up.

PFDAN to all..
Title: Re: Just Wondering (Episodics)
Post by Lapsi_Harmaahapsi on Oct 25th, 2002, 1:51am
Come to think of it, at least my 2 last cycles have "happened" around the time I had a bad cold (= 2 weeks of not sleeping because of coughing).
Don't remember which was first.
Title: Re: Just Wondering (Episodics)
Post by suzy617 on Oct 25th, 2002, 5:07am
Yes like I stated before I have had this terrible cough for my entire cycle and now day 4 and no HA and cough is going away, wierd...
Title: Re: Just Wondering (Episodics)
Post by Lapsi_Harmaahapsi on Oct 25th, 2002, 6:02am
The cough lasting the whole cycle doesn't sound fun.

Last time this cough-thing happened to me I was cough-free from the beginning of january and my cycle ended in the middle of february. Next time I'll "watch" things more closely..
Title: Re: Just Wondering (Episodics)
Post by oringkid on Oct 25th, 2002, 12:33pm
Nope, never got sick before and after although the cold/cough symptoms sometimes coincide with the cycle due to allergies and the fact that most of the time the cycle starts in fall or spring. (Hence the incorrect diagnoses that so often happen)

Better get it checked out would be my advice.  Been episodic for almost 30 years now, CH has never made me sick (well except sick and tired of it!)

Sherry
Title: Re: Just Wondering (Episodics)
Post by pjbgravely on Oct 26th, 2002, 5:37pm
I was finally recovering from sleep apnea and felt the best I have in years when this cycle hit which was the worst I ever had. When this cycle was winding down I was first hit with muscle pain which went to joint pain and then I caught three colds in a row. I guess my imuine system needs to recover from CH.                        PJB
Title: Re: Just Wondering (Episodics)
Post by Mark C on Oct 27th, 2002, 2:36am
Yep,
I had the pleasure of a massive sinus infection that came at the same time as this round of HA. NO fun at all. 1500mg of Ceclor a day for 14 days got rid of the infection which left me with just a massive CH attack, two or three a day, KIP 8-9 for like 50 days, whew. I hate gettin older. I have been sick since school started. Those of us with kids in school, at least where I live seem to keep a cold for the end of every year. Now that I think about it, my CH cycle moved up from November of last year to August (school starts) of this year and has continued to right about now. I think its over, but the beast has screwed me before and I expect it again, without a kiss.  :-*
Love,
Mark
Title: Re: Just Wondering (Episodics)
Post by Chuffy on Nov 2nd, 2002, 6:38pm
I have found that my sleep patterns alter just before the start of a cluster.
I generally become very lethargic and and have real trouble getting up in the mornings but have never noticed an illness of any sort.
Title: Re: Just Wondering (Episodics)
Post by pjbgravely on Nov 2nd, 2002, 6:46pm
Chuffy, This sounds like you are having sleep apnea before (and during ?) your cycle. Do you have any joint and/or bone pain? Sleep apnea has some connection with clusters but after I was treated I suffered my worst cycle yet. Don't know what the connection could be. You could get a sleep study done during your cycle but that might be hard. In my area the waiting list is 6 months         PJB
Title: Re: Just Wondering (Episodics)
Post by Chuffy on Nov 2nd, 2002, 7:12pm
No pain like that, but I am suffering from recurring lower back pain at the moment  that recurred after lifting something back in the summer but thinking about it did peak as the cluster started, interesting.
I also seem to become more nocturnal than usual during a cluster.
Title: Re: Just Wondering (Episodics)
Post by pjbgravely on Nov 2nd, 2002, 8:13pm
Chuffy, I just thought of something, CH effects the hypothalmus which i beleve regulates sleep patterns, So sleep problems such as a bad nights sleep will probably be the norm. I don't see this becouse even with my CPAP I only sleep well 50% of the night.     PJB
Title: Re: Just Wondering (Episodics)
Post by Chuffy on Nov 3rd, 2002, 5:18am
I don't normally sleep very deeply but I think that is due to the fact that I normally drink most evenings when not in cluster phase.
As I stop drinking during a phase I tend to sleep soundly all night, at least I have always put it down to the 'not drinking'.


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