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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2002 >> other triggers
        
(Message started by: tanner on Dec 14^th, 2002, 11:09pm)

Title: other triggers
Post by tanner on Dec 14^th, 2002, 11:09pm

the only kind of triggers i have had any success in identifying are those affecting severity. one that i have repeatedly noticed is air quality. for instance in traveling i am always at my worst in places like the san joaquin valley of cali, we have also noticed it in el paso, tx houston, etc. anyone else ? also any differences noticed with altitude or air type (SALT) versus inland?

more then a little curious... tim

Title: Re: other triggers
Post by ChristineL on Dec 15^th, 2002, 8:43am

Tim,

My only major triggers.........the ones that will certainly bring on a CH are weather changes and alcohol. I stay far away from alcohol during a cycle but weather I obviously can't do anything about.

Chris L

Title: Re: other triggers
Post by domm on Dec 15^th, 2002, 12:20pm

tim - never noticed what you're describing. Jacksonville, FL on my first cycle, Richmond, IN on my second, and Portage MI on my third. Jax had salty air, but Richmond and Portage are small town USA with no days that meet the EPAs definition of pollution. Never could find a trigger for mine.
Good luck in finding something to link it to.
domm

Title: Re: other triggers
Post by Jarvis on Dec 15^th, 2002, 8:00pm

Tanner I have lived in many places. Scottsdale az. flagstaff az. san diego ca. detroit mi. jackson and jackson hole wy. mnpls mn. french lake mn. and a several places in between. Polluted and not polluted and have found no real noticable differences in my CHs. All locations are ranging from sea level to 10,000 ft altitude. ...... Weather and rapidly changing pressure systems do seem to make a difference though.... Mn. seems to be in the middle of all continental weather systems and a noticeable difference is seemed ahead of the arrival of a changing pressure system. Thus I can predict the weather to some extent. This doesnt necessarily trigger a CH but very definately a pressure in the head. what others call headaches. A note; I was in mexico when the hurricane came up the sea of cortez in 98 or 99 with major pressure systems and I felt great. I remember this because I expected the opposite.

Title: Re: other triggers
Post by Mark C on Dec 16^th, 2002, 4:54am

Hi Tanner,
I have yet to discover ANYTHING that really seems to trigger a CH attack. According to Dr. Goadsby .....
"It may be triggered by stress, relaxation, extreme temperatures, glare, allergic rhinitis, and sexual activity.
CH is rarely triggered by ingestion of specific foods, although tobacco or alcohol products may precipitate an attack."
http://www.clusterheadaches.org/library/general/overview.htm
When I am in cycle sleep and alcohol seem to be the only things that may trigger an attack, although lack of both make little difference.
Further the good Doctor states..."Alcohol, nitroglycerine, exercise and elevated environmental temperature are recognised precipitants of acute cluster attacks."

And finally, never EVER inhale nitroglycerin spray...
http://www.clusterheadaches.org/library/hypothalamus/hypothalamic_activation.htm
PFDAN...
Mark

Title: Re: other triggers
Post by Jarvis on Dec 16^th, 2002, 11:51am

on doc goadsbys triggers ie: extreme temperatures. Thanks marc, I hadnt seen that one before. My job requires work in very extreme temperatures and I have seen and been in cycle during extremes. From working sunup to sundown at 122+ deg f. in AZ. To -68 deg f. in nrthern MN.... But again I dont think these temps were triggers but I am thinking that the pain levels were worse at those times. No science here just a maybe. ................just the other day I was working with an environmental chamber that we set to test parts from minus 80deg. f. to 220 deg f. with both extremes in an hour and I wondered about sticking my head in there to cure a CH. ......maybe next time I will test myself..... Naahh..............

Title: Re: other triggers
Post by K bogo on Dec 16^th, 2002, 3:55pm

I have an interesting observation on the "extreme in temperature" comment. I had read about this but had never experienced it as a trigger myself until last week.
Before I begin, I will let you know that I am right in the middle of a CH cycle and doing quite well (random low level hits daily) thanks to Verapamil.
Last week we had a cold front come in and our furnace happened to go out. (no big deal, a "cold" front here in Houston TX is 32 degrees!) I work from home, so I stuck an electric heater in my home office and left the room to do some other things while it warmed up in there. I walked in the room about 10 minutes later and it was hot in there! I just turned the heater down and started working - thinking the heat was a nice treat. WRONG! I was hit with a CH within 2 minutes that went up to a 6 and lasted 10 minutes. I kept getting hit about every 10 - 15 min with pain levels between 3-6 lasting 10-15 minutes. This went on for about 3 hours until it faded into "icepick" type headaches and went away. The clusters certainly were not "bad" - but it shocked me how irradic and frequent they were when I went from a very cold temp to a very warm temp. Also, I kind of experimented a little later in the day. I would take a mental note when I would leave the room and come back. The same thing would happen, only not so drastic - pain level from shadows (which I often have daily during my CH cycle even with the Verapamil) to a level 2.5 or so. I thought it was interesting.
Anybody else ever had this happen? I also noticed that with me, it wasn't the cold that triggered the attacks, but rather the heat. It was only when I went into the warm room that the attacks begain. Weird.

Title: Re: other triggers
Post by K bogo on Dec 16^th, 2002, 4:38pm

I just wanted to add that I have both Clusters and Migraines and for me air pressure does not affect my Clusters in any way. However, Barametric Pressure is the major cause of my migraines - especially low pressure. Trust me, migraines and Clusters are TOTALLY different from each other - for anybody who is wondering what they have. Nothing about them is the same. That is something that seems to be hard for even the neurologist to understand. I have seen some pretty "controversial" post on this site regarding which pain is worse - migraine or cluster. I'll try not to start anything..... ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D........, but let me just add, he, he he, that for ME, I have spent day upon day of endless migraine pain (in Feb of last year I had not 2 or 6, but 22 days of migraines!). I have puked my guts out, had numerous migrainous strokes where I am unable to stand up, unable to talk, unable to write - (just like a mild stroke victim,blurred vision) irritable, sound sensitive, etc.. But at no time during a migraine have I ever begged, with tears in my eyes and despiration in my voice for my husband to end my life by chopping my head off with an axe like I have done with a cluster at a pain level 9.5 - 10 +. As miserable and longlasting as migraines are, there is no comparasion on the pain level charts! I guess that is why it is so irritating to me to see people and doctors talk about clusters as headaches and migraines. Chaps my hide!

Title: Re: other triggers
Post by Jarvis on Dec 17^th, 2002, 12:03am

K, I for one and maybe the only other one here would never discount the migraine as I too know what they are like. The difference is so vast and I think that is what gets to us when people try to compare intensity of pain versus [for me mild compared to you] extreme pressure like symptons of migraines. Migraines you go down Clusters you gotta get up. They are totally different I agree.... Interesting on the temperature issues and clusters though. I am going to watch this more closely and pay attention to rapid temperature changes. The extremes I mentioned earlier were fairly steady not changing. ... Amazed I never saw that issue before. maybe others have experienced this too. someone needs to ask on the other board.

Title: Re: other triggers
Post by tanner on Dec 17^th, 2002, 5:00am

jarvis & k,
i thank you for your feedback on this thread! i am begining to suspect a lot more commonality among us (ch'ers) then i originally thought. i too come from a severe migraine background and apparently still occasionally have them. i only say that because my wife and i were discussing this topic a couple days ago and she mentioned that i still sometimes complain of "smelling Blood" which was my most common aura. the funny (or not) thing is that back when i had serious problems with the migraines (my early 20's) it seemed to be a fairly rare diagnosis, and now most ha sufferers say and think they have them. it makes me suspect that the drug companies in concert with the medical community have precipitated a lot more misdiagnoses (wow what is the plural to that), in an effort to push their drugs!

i have often noticed the extreme temp trigger although only on the hot side. try walking out of a well airconditioned casino into the vegas summer heat.

i have also noted the change in barometric pressure trigger.

i swear that i have also noted the air qulity issue question that started this discussion but so far seem to be alone in this. we (my wife and i) have been on the move in an r.v. since aug in an attempt to find a haven of less pain and aren't stopping yet!

agian thanks for your imput and its nice to make ya'lls aquaintence's
tim ;D

Title: Re: other triggers
Post by K bogo on Dec 17^th, 2002, 9:25am

Unfortunately, or shall I say, fortunately, I have not had clusters or migraines long enough to have any input on the air quality topic. I lived in Upstate NY until I was 19, San Angelo, TX until I was 24 (Clusters began here at age 22), Houston TX until I was 27. and Willis TX(an hour North of Houston) currently. I first noticed the horrendous pain of a Cluster about a week after my daughter was born. A newborn with colic and undiagnosed clusters! Of course, all docs thought it was hormonal or perhaps something gone wrong with the epidural (a week later??). To make a long story short, I have CH's from Oct - Jan for 8 years and once had a remission for 3 years :). In reference to migraines, I had my first one about 4 years ago and have those year round ever since.
You are SOOOO right about the difference between migraines and Clusters - Migraines you are down and Clusters you are up! Couldn't have said it any better myself! I am totally drained after a migraine, every muscle hurts, and again the stupid stroke thing. But a cluster - of course, the dance, etc, during the attack, but after it is over is way different. I feel an almost uphoria "yah, honey, did you see me kick that Clusters butt!" My husband shakes his head with a grin on his face every time he sees my Cluster "victory" dance. Again, my experience only, ;D , but if I had to choose, I personally would take migaines all year long, 24/7 over having unmedicated Clusters just a few months out of the year. I feel so sorry for those people with chronic clusters - I do not know how they cope. I am very thankful that the Verapamil has helped me to a great extent this year and for the support from the people on this site

Title: Re: other triggers
Post by domm on Dec 17^th, 2002, 7:29pm

Hi all - the "heat" trigger has been mentioned before, usually when someone from up north finally gets the heat on in a car and gets blasted in the face from one of the vents. I haven't had it happen to me, but others have reported that when they're getting hit, cold air from an AC vent or sticking their heads out of the window while trying to drive often brings some relief.
Kay - glad to hear the Vera is working for you. If you're still getting hit, you should talk to your doc about upping the dose.
hang tough all
domm

Title: Re: other triggers
Post by 9erfan on Dec 27^th, 2002, 2:35pm

I'm a little late replying to this. I've been spending all my time over in general posts and forgetting about this part of the board. OOPS! ::)

I've lived in the SF Bay Area, Washington DC, Kansas City. My h/a's were at their worst in KC which is also where I became chronic (it's been 4 years). I'm back in SF now and still chronic but not as severe as in KC. I notice that my h/a's get worse when it rains. Note to easterners & mid-westerners: we don't get rain in the summer here in Cali, only in the cold winter months. Maybe that's why I was worse in KC; seemed like it was cloudy & humid all year round. The damn sun never comes out there1 :o

Virginia

Title: Re: other triggers
Post by cathy on Dec 27^th, 2002, 2:56pm

on 12/27/02 at 14:35:34, 9erfan wrote:

I'm a little late replying to this. I've been spending all my time over in general posts and forgetting about this part of the board. OOPS! ::)

Virginia

Better late than never...LOL

Tim....Not sure about air quality but definately extreme temperature changes affect wes when hes in a cycle, especially going from cold to hot.,, :)

Cathy ;D

Title: Re: other triggers
Post by catlind on Dec 27^th, 2002, 3:23pm

The only things I've noticed as definite triggers are alcohol during cycle, and heat and humidity. First week of July is usually a key time because of the humidity and heat, and then the end of November/beginning of Dec. when the house gets closed up and there's no cold air and the furnace is turned on.

Vicks is also another trigger that few folks here have mentioned. I used to use the vicks inhaler to clear my nasal congestion, until I figured out that it would make the CH worse.

Cat

Title: Re: other triggers
Post by ave on Dec 27^th, 2002, 3:38pm

Cathy, best thing for nasal congestion is lukewarm saline solution. Easy to make. Cheap, tastes horrible, but so do all the others and they only line the pockets of the drug companies. We pay them enough already...

Just get an old eyedropper, lay back on the bed (head dangling is the best) and squirt. For ears turn your head with the affected side down.

If the dropper does not work, try sniffing some of the solution up from your hollow hand. Home remedies, sometimes there's nothing to beat them.

Makes a great gargle recipe too.

Title: Re: other triggers
Post by catlind on Dec 27^th, 2002, 4:20pm

That's so true ave! In fact I think I have better luck with my frozen corn and O2 than anything else. That and going into a cleaning keep busy frenzy.

Because my nasal passage is super sensitive (i.e. I become dependant within 3 days of using nasal sniffers) they are out of the question for me. What I have is a simple saline solution to help keep the nasal passage moist.

Linda Howell is another great resource to ask about home remedy helpers. Ann Reynolds actually jumped into the river when they were on holidays and the cold water did the trick for her very well. Although I don't think I'd recommend that in the St Lawrence at this time of year LOL

Cat