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Title: Polling the board RE: cigs Post by jefferator on May 20th, 2005, 4:35pm I have seen alot of evidence that ClusterHeads are mostly smokers. Do we be bringin dis shit down on our own salves??? Who does, who doesnt, who used to, and how does it play into your history. Second question...What do you know about those Cheads who have quit....is it once you got em you got or a much higher percentage who quit go into full remission...you guys get my di-rekshun....thanks. In the words of William Hurt in The Big Chill.."Just tryin' to keep the conversation lively!!" jeff |
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Title: Re: Polling the board cigs Post by LeLimey on May 20th, 2005, 4:41pm Okay I'll be the first to piddle on your fireworks! I don't smoke, I never have and I don't drink often either. When I do I tend to make up for lost time though... just goes to show that although some things may be "typical" they are not unique.. sadly. If only it was as easy as that huh?? |
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Title: Re: Polling the board cigs Post by jefferator on May 20th, 2005, 5:29pm No problem...My fireworks have been piddled on since I found this site's message board. While I have met some very nice people in here, and learned quite a lot, this probably isnt the site for me. Been sittin in a dark room takin the pain alone for 20 years... |
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Title: Re: Polling the board cigs Post by Margi on May 20th, 2005, 5:36pm Jeff, I know I'm not supposed to reply to your posts anymore but let me just say this before you totally discard everything that is trying to be handed to you. We've ALL been alone with this pain for a long time. When we found each other, about six years ago - it was like finding people from our own planet. Together, we researched and learned more about this affliction. And, trust me - that knowledge bank is growing daily with all the new folks finding us. What makes hackles stand up is someone coming in and discounting research we've all already tested, tried, proven or discarded. No one is trying to chase you away from the website - you need to put your dukes down and learn from those who are trying to help you. And, whether you believe it or not, I am one of those people. Just don't ever call me 'dear'. ;) Married to a clusterhead for 19 years, myself, I'm a meegrainer. What my hubby goes through is nothing like what I do, and vice versa. But he was labelled (and therefore mis-prescribed) for years to be a migrainer. It didn't help him and that really IS why these boards were formed - to break that distinction. Re-pairing them is kinda like fingernails on a blackboard around here. To answer your question - doesn't really seem to make a difference, smoking or non smoking. Diet/no diet, light/no light. There IS no rhyme or reason to cluster - that's all there is to it. Peace, Jeff - I hope you don't leave. |
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Title: Re: Polling the board cigs Post by pattik on May 20th, 2005, 5:37pm Smoked for about 10 years in early adulthood. Quit at about the age of 30. My CH started up five years after that. [smiley=huh.gif] |
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Title: Re: Polling the board cigs Post by Bob P on May 20th, 2005, 5:37pm Jeff, Click on the "Cluster Survey" button on the left and then "view survey results". You'll have answers from over 10,000 clusterheads. |
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Title: Re: Polling the board cigs Post by vig on May 20th, 2005, 8:18pm nope, no coughin' nails here. [smiley=laugh.gif] |
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Title: Re: Polling the board cigs Post by wetdogtwo on May 21st, 2005, 2:00pm Funnily enough, I'm not a smoker, but an occasional chipper. I had my first cigarette in almost a year or so last Saturday and my cluster began that night. Coincidence? Anyhow, I've noticed that a lot of CHeaders are drinkers. I know I am and when I am in a cluster, alcohol sets them off like a match on gasoline. Maybe it's nature's way of drying us out? |
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Title: Re: Polling the board cigs Post by purpleydog on May 22nd, 2005, 12:10pm CH started 5 years ago. Cigarette smoke and alcohol would trigger me, until last summer. I've been in cycle for over a year, and neither cigarette smoke nor alcohol trigger me anymore. I smoke now. I drink when I want to, no problems. |
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Title: Re: Polling the board cigs Post by Kim Y. on May 22nd, 2005, 12:24pm Don't smoke and very rarely drink. (mostly fou fou drinks) Do get triggers when around cigarett smoke not sure about alcohol haven't really tested it much. Quote:
Kim |
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Title: Re: Polling the board cigs Post by Langa on May 22nd, 2005, 5:28pm Used to smoke, haven't in over 9 years. Still got clusters after I quiet :-[ Langa |
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Title: Re: Polling the board cigs Post by Lori on May 22nd, 2005, 11:02pm I use to smoke and quit 3 years ago. I was due for a cycle around Oct. 04. I started it about 6 weeks ago. However, it was nothing like the past. In fact with a bit of verapamil daily ( I used this last cyle too) and I have been on lamictal already for 4 months, my cycle has ended and I only had a few headaches the whole time! Amazing since they usually are killer for weeks. I did notice when I went to spend a night at my friends home a few weeks ago and earlier this week for a day..they smoke heavily in a closed up house and both times the smoke triggered me. So I think smoke obviously is a problem for me at least. I guess for some it may be a trigger but if the majority of CHers don't quit there is really no way of knowing over all how involved it really is in intensifying or causing the ch's. At this point not smoking is a healthy choice no matter how you look at it and if it helps some not have cycles or painful cycles then great! So, if you smoke try quitting for good and see if it helps you down the road with the HA's. Ok, I talk too much. :) |
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Title: Re: Polling the board cigs Post by maffumatt on May 23rd, 2005, 1:42am My doc asked me when I was diagnosed if I smoked, when I said yes he told me to try chain smokeing when I get hit to see if it helps. Another CH patient told him it helped. I tried it and it does help somewhat. |
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Title: Re: Polling the board cigs Post by BobG on May 26th, 2005, 9:48pm Jeff, You have a broken hypothalamus. All clusterheads do. The hypothalamus has a lot to do with habits and addictions. Some more than others. For me, I started smoking years before my first attack. I have smoked before, during and after an attack. Made zero difference in pain level or length of the attack(s). I still smoke and haven’t had a true cluster cycle in about 5 years. But I still have the addiction. |
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Title: Re: Polling the board cigs Post by TonyG1 on Jun 1st, 2005, 9:35pm I smoke and have for a number of years.... occassionally drink --- used to party like tommorow would never come when I was younger (in my 20s) :-[ Nah, not embarrassed... did I ever have a good time ;;D Clusters started when I was about 21... I'll be 40 this year... :-X I smoke when I'm in cycle and in fact when I'm having attacks .... really doesn't make a diff. On the other hand, if I drink when in cycle ... look out... it is asking the beast to hand me my head on a silver platter... Rule of thumb for me in cycle is NEVER NEVER EVER drink alcohol |
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Title: Re: Polling the board cigs Post by marlinsfan on Jun 2nd, 2005, 7:53am Started smoking at 17 yrs, quit at 28 (I'm 37 now). The first series of headaches I remember was when I was 15. So, seems that or me they started before I became a smoker, and most mocertainly have continued since I quit. I smoke cigars now, about 1 or 2 per month. I have not smoked one since I found this site, but will once the cycle ends. |
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Title: Re: Polling the board cigs Post by hdbngr on Jun 3rd, 2005, 5:13pm Don't smoke or drink (never did), and I still have them. Nowadays, the smell of second hand smoke will take me to full-blown within seconds. I used to actually like the smell of some smoke, clove, cigars and pipes, but now I hold my breath for as long as possible before entering or after leaving a building, as it tends to collect. Microwave popcorn (taste and smell) does the same thing. Go figure! |
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Title: Re: Polling the board cigs Post by unsolved1 on Jun 3rd, 2005, 5:39pm I smoke. I quit for a year and still had cluster attacks everyday...so I started back again ! Unsolved |
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Title: Re: Polling the board cigs Post by ghost62 on Jun 3rd, 2005, 7:24pm Smoke a pack a day down from 2 and I wish I could quit. Also switched to ultra lights (like that helps) hope this helps though. |
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Title: Re: Polling the board cigs Post by plazticsoul on Jun 4th, 2005, 4:19pm I don't think smoking cigarettes has anything to do with clusters. BUT... the common link seems to be that most of us have addictive personalities, at least that's what I believe. Other evidence suggests that a traumatic experience or a sudden change in lifestyle can trigger the demon that's been sleeping inside until the first attack. However, there doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to stopping these cycles. Our brain chemistry changes from day to day, and it's not like we can just figure out what it is that went wrong and undo it. When I was first hit last year, I had made some major changes to my life. A smoker for 9 years, I quit for 4 months, my girlfriend cheated on me, I was studying for computer certifications and had just got on Adderall to help me study. I also took up running. One night I went out with some friends, had a few drinks, and I smoked my first cigarette in 4 months. Next morning is when it happened. Since I was studying hard at the time, I thought it was originally eyestrain. [smiley=laugh.gif] But I have been off and on cigarettes ever since. Actually right now I'm back on the patch. I don't think smoking is the cause. Maybe there is some part of the brain or in our DNA that has an addictive gene and that may play a part, or maybe others just have pushed themselves too hard without realizing it and that was just enough to trigger a first cycle. I do think that we are mostly smokers because it is an emotional crutch. A coping mechanism. |
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Title: ,Re: Polling the board cigs Post by burnt-toast on Jun 5th, 2005, 10:30pm I smoke less than 1pk daily. Most of my smoking takes place while I sit up alone at night and deal with this nightmare. My first neurologist was totally committed to my stopping but he also failed to diagnose me with Cluster Headaches for two years. My second neurologist diagnosed me in under 15 minutes and we discussed smoking in great length. Ultimately the research he came up with indicates that quitting won't stop CH. My third neurologist must have gone to the same school because his research also indicates that quitting, outside of making one generally healthier, won't stop CH. Ain't much but that's what I know on the topic. |
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Title: Re: Polling the board cigs Post by jokrs2 on Jun 8th, 2005, 2:05am Smoked for 25 years but quit 10 years ago. Had ch with cigs or without...seemed to make no difference. If I get around second hand smoke it can trigger an attack, so I don't associate with smokers, the pain ain't worth it. Makes your clothes smell like you've been in hell [smiley=huh.gif]. My nose..get over it. |
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Title: Re: Polling the board cigs Post by cazman on Jun 11th, 2005, 7:38pm smoking has no effect iether way and that legal and not legal, but any form of alchohol including mouthwash is absulutley devestating to me a garanteed k10 everytime |
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Title: Re: Polling the board cigs Post by Kiwiinoz58 on Jun 13th, 2005, 5:15am I've been a classic migraine sufferer (2-3 a month) for 34yrs, started smoking 42 yrs ago, migraines have been down to 1 a year for last 10yrs now. CH started 12 months ago, quit smoking for 3 months but it made no diff, started again and trying to quit again. Had a couple this week and got pain within 1/2 hour but can drink all I like with no ill effects. Seems to be no rhyme or reason!! cheers, Kiwi |
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