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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2003 >> Smoking History and Cluster Headache
        
(Message started by: kcoaster on May 27^th, 2003, 2:49pm)

Title: Smoking History and Cluster Headache
Post by kcoaster on May 27^th, 2003, 2:49pm

This is my first post.

After looking at the CH survey which shows that 50% of CH's smoke, I think it important to pass on my experience:
I started getting clusters at 20 years old, I was a smoker and when I quit, at age 36, I was smoking 2+ packs a day. After years of trying to get relieve and after visiting the Diamond Headache Clinic in Chicago, I found that Oxygen almost always relieved the headache. I guessed, because Oxygen stopped the pain, that smoking could possibly cause the lack of Oxygen. One of the hardest things I ever did was to quit smoking but I did. Six months after quitting, my clusters ceased. I was 36. I thought I was "cured"

I had no headaches for 21 years and never thought about clusters when I started smoking a cigar some evenings. Two months after smoking 3-4 cigars a week the clusters returned. My first attack was about 2 hours and a day later, before I was able to get a script for Oxygen, I had a 6-hour bout, relieved for 20 minutes followed by another for an hour.

I my case it took no genius to conclude that I should never smoke again. I quit and within in a few days the clusters ceased again. It's now been one year without a headache.

Of course I don't know for sure if there was a, "smoking connection" or if the headaches will come back. I will keep this board informed of what happens.

I'm not a doctor and my experience my not benefit anyone but I know the pain and if this post can help just one person, I glad I took the time to submit it.

Title: Re: Smoking History and Cluster Headache
Post by williamsmh on May 27^th, 2003, 3:24pm

Maybe smoking was triggering yours in some way.

I've never smoked and mine come whether I'm around smokers or not.

But... if someone is smoking, sure can't hurt to try quitting.

Mark

Title: Re: Smoking History and Cluster Headache
Post by oringkid on May 27^th, 2003, 4:17pm

Hi, I started getting mine at the age of 12... long before I started smoking.

Since there are others like me and some like Mark that never smoked, I have to conclude that smoking doesn't cause CH.

But, quitting certainly can't hurt!

By the way, Welcome to the board! Check out all the buttons to the left! Lots of great info and people here.

Sherry

Title: Re: Smoking History and Cluster Headache
Post by Charlie on May 30^th, 2003, 6:25am

I was smoking 1-1/2 packs a day when my CH began. They have been gone for 12 years now. The thing is, I quit smoking 23 years ago. Glad I did too but in my case it doesn't seem to have made a difference as it hung on for 11 years. Starting, especially quitting, has a significant effect on our systems. My thinking is that sudden jolts like this, including childbirth for example, give our flawed systems something more serious to worry about, and CH is sometimes thankfully, put on a back burner. It would be nice if the gas would be shut off for good as well. Sometimes it is.

This is not a reason to smoke. It's a horrible thing to do to yourself, is horribly expensive (several thousands of dollars a year on average) makes you unwelcome at more and more places and most of all it stinks big time.
Not a good idea and there has to be something to the fact that board members smoke at twice the national average. I just don't know what it is.

Charlie

Title: Re: Smoking History and Cluster Headache
Post by kcoaster on May 30^th, 2003, 7:16pm

Thanks Mark, Sherie and Charlie for your comments, and Charlie---Sudden jolts?? That was certainly true when I started getting them at age 20. In college, I wanted to transfer to a better college to major in Physics, so I took calculus during my lunch break three days a week which meant, "snack on the run" and on days with a lab I was in school from 8AM to 7PM with no break. I got a "sinus infection" and the CHs started. Never thought about that until your comments.
Quite the opposite was true when they started again, now retired, "reaping in the soils" of working and saving for 30 years, I have it made, golf, tennis and travel when I want. A wonderful wife and three great children---not a care in the world.
Obviously none of us know what causes these terrible headaches YET.
PS. Why does this board substitute "”:" everytime I use an "

Title: Re: Smoking History and Cluster Headache
Post by cleon on May 31^st, 2003, 6:49am

Perhps the smoking thing isnt the problem, but perhaps the smoking thing, or 'what ever' causes a fucking little virus that sits 'in there; to come 'out', who the fuck knows???

Title: Re: Smoking History and Cluster Headache
Post by badfly on Jun 9^th, 2003, 7:14am

Just curious about the 50% of CH'ers smoke statistic. When was that published? When were the records taken from? I seem to recall that when I was in my early 20's (about 10 years ago) 50% of white males smoked (round where I lived, Cape Town SA). I also read that 95% of clusterheads ate meat, 90% have sex on a regular basis and 80% watch more then 2 hours of television a day.
I dont think that people should smoke, dont get me wrong. I am a smoker and have been trying to quit for 2 years now. Smoking is VERY unhealthy and you dont need to be a rocket scientist to work that out. "What inhale smoke on purpose?"
But lame assed moronic percentages glibly thrown out by the medical profesion to quantify and qualify somthing they admit they dont understand really pisses me off.

Title: Re: Smoking History and Cluster Headache
Post by Nathan on Jun 9^th, 2003, 10:45pm

smoking never seems to bother my chs, been smoking a pack a day for 15 years. now DRINKING on the other hand... i would love to know just how many chs sufferers have or had drinking problems in their life. i was a major drunk for 10 years and about 1 year after i quit my chs kicked in. of course i was in the right age bracket for chs too so i guess its a "chicken or the egg" sort of thing. but i would like the stats on drinking and chs if anybody knows off hand.

Title: Re: Smoking History and Cluster Headache
Post by Linda_Howell on Jun 10^th, 2003, 3:32pm

Nathan,

As you can see from this thread smoking does NOT appear to be a factor or a trigger, no matter how bad it is for the rest of our body. HOWEVER........drinking is a definite No-No if you're in a cycle. It is a proven trigger, except in several of us chronics. I can have a glass of wine and get my usual 3 to 6 HA's per day. Or I can have no alcohol whatsoever and have my several HA's per day. no differance. LindaH

Title: Re: Smoking History and Cluster Headache
Post by Bob P on Jun 10^th, 2003, 4:09pm

Quote:

Just curious about the 50% of CH'ers smoke statistic. When was that published?

That's from the survey that is ongoing at this web site. Thousands of responses. Check the buttons on the left.

My observation from attending 3 OUCH conventions is that about 95% of clusterheads are smokers and the same percentage are drinkers.

Title: Re: Smoking History and Cluster Headache
Post by MarkHW on Jun 11^th, 2003, 9:55pm

Hey Linda, I'm chronic too, but drinking definately triggers me.

I usually get 3 ch a day (when not medicated).... Mine come at the same time for periods... such as 6:00 AM, 2:00 PM & 5:00 PM... If I drink I'll get an extra, bonus cluster within 30 minutes of alcohol.

If I'm medicated and not having CH, alcohol will trigger me right away.

The only time it doesn't seem to work is if I've injected with imitrex within an hour or two of drinking - probably not the smartest thing to try, but .... I have.

1/2 a beer is enough to trigger me.

Mark

Title: Re: Smoking History and Cluster Headache
Post by ijunG4 on Jun 13^th, 2003, 7:53am

Well, I for one don't smoke at all; never been a smoker.

Personally, I don't think smoking is a necessary causal factor for CH at all. Maybe it's something like we tend to have more Type-A, driven personalities (according to surveys), and to cope with that, we are more likely to smoke to relieve stress. Just guessing...

When I'm off-cycle, I enjoy drinking in very reasonable moderation (3-4 drinks typical per week). I miss not drinking beer during cycle. Last time, I tried non-alcoholic beer in-cycle since taste has improved in recent years. However, the 0.5% alcohol content was enough to trigger an attack! Obviously, I am not going back that route...

Title: Re: Smoking History and Cluster Headache
Post by BobG on Jun 13^th, 2003, 8:28am

ijunG4, I share your theory about the type A personalities. From what I've seen and read here for the last 4 years it seems that we have a high rate of habits and addictions. Some good and some not. We seem to be smokers and drinkers (not so good habits). We also have habits like checking this board every day almost to the point of being an addiction.