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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2005 >> Episodic vs chronic......
        
(Message started by: BMoneeTheMoneeMan on Oct 13^th, 2005, 9:44pm)

Title: Episodic vs chronic......
Post by BMoneeTheMoneeMan on Oct 13^th, 2005, 9:44pm

for people that are episodic, do you ever get hit when NOT in cycle? Like lets say alcohol seems to be a trigger, when you are not in cycle can you drink like a fish and not get hit?
For chronic people, does it seem to run in cycles? Like during a 'cycle' you get hit 4 times a day, and when not in 'cycle' you only get hit once per day? Or do you chronic people typically get hit with the same frequency and severity daily?

What is the deciding factor to be considered chronic?

Also, typically how many times per year do you episodic people get a cycle? I think i am entering my 4th cycle this year. They have been lasting about 6 to 10 weeks.
Thanks, and PF wishes to all
BMonee

Title: Re: Episodic vs chronic......
Post by unsolved1 on Oct 13^th, 2005, 9:52pm

I'm chronic, but thanks to Histamine ... i'm catching a good break. Yes, sometimes I get hit worse than others. Sometimes I get hit 3 times a day and sometimes it gets worse. When I start getting hit 8 times a day, I can't handle* it and go into the hospital for something, anything! :(

To be considered chronic ...it's a time thing. No remission(s) for more than 30 days within a year. Someone correct me if i'm wrong.

PF wishes
UNsolved

Title: Re: Episodic vs chronic......
Post by E-Double on Oct 13^th, 2005, 10:01pm

Many chronics appear to get cycles within cycle.
Just like you said ups and downs.
I have periods where I have 8-10 a day then times where I get 1-2 sometimes will just have a day that approaches PF.

There are people here who have reported random whackings when out of cycle and then it disappears.

Title: Re: Episodic vs chronic......
Post by LeLimey on Oct 14^th, 2005, 3:55am

I have cycles within cycles, I'm currently going 2-3 weeks with 3 hits a day and then having a week to ten days of more hits and more randomly spaced, unpredictable in other words and then it settles back down to 3 hits a day again. (I'm chronic by the way but I hate that word)
I CAN drink but I couldn't bring myself to try it during my "bad" week so I don't know if that would affect me or not, I have a theory though that if I can't face it that's my body telling me not to! During my "good" weeks though I can drink happily

Title: Re: Episodic vs chronic......
Post by nani on Oct 14^th, 2005, 7:49am

When I was chronic, I also had severe "cycles" within my cycle. The hits came more often and were much harder.
The definition of chronic is going one year without a 30 day remission. If you get 30 PF days (with or without meds) you're not chronic.
hugs, nani

Title: Re: Episodic vs chronic......
Post by Jeepgun on Oct 14^th, 2005, 7:54am

on 10/14/05 at 07:49:14, nani wrote:

When I was chronic

HEY!!! Tell me, how f*cking GOOD does it feel to say THAT!?!?!? WHOO-HOO!!!!! *shaking champagne all over the freakin' place...* (BEAMING!)

-Franko

Title: Re: Episodic vs chronic......
Post by nani on Oct 14^th, 2005, 8:03am

LMAO Frank! It does feel good. :D

Title: Re: Episodic vs chronic......
Post by don on Oct 14^th, 2005, 8:06am

Quote:

for people that are episodic, do you ever get hit when NOT in cycle?

Yup. I've been cycle free for3 years now but not pain free. Just finished (I hope) a 2 week bout of shadows and 1 or 2 minor hits.

Quote:

To be considered chronic ...it's a time thing. No remission(s) for more than 30 days within a year. Someone correct me if i'm wrong.

Your right. Thats is the diagnostic criteria. I would only add that it is with or without meds.

Title: Re: Episodic vs chronic......
Post by burnt-toast on Oct 14^th, 2005, 9:15am

on 10/13/05 at 22:01:06, E-Double wrote:

Got to agree with chronics getting cycles within cycles. Between July & Sept. I typically count on a significant reduction in attacks and drop in severity. They don't go away - just let up some. I don't get this break every year but most years I get some relief in the summer months.

During these months I can usually cut my med. dosages in half but if I go lower than that the attacks will come on with a vengence.

In this month (October) attacks will start ramping up and by the end of November I can count on being in the full blown part of this cycle within a cycle.

Tom

Title: Re: Episodic vs chronic......
Post by marlinsfan on Oct 14^th, 2005, 9:17am

on 10/13/05 at 21:44:30, BMoneeTheMoneeMan wrote:

Like lets say alcohol seems to be a trigger, when you are not in cycle can you drink like a fish and not get hit?

When I am not in cycle, I DO drink like a fish and do not get hit. Well, drink like a small fish. I'll drink beer on the weekends, and maybe a glass of wine with dinner during the week, or port wine after dinner.

I had a headache last december, with all the CH symptoms, and that was a full 4 months before my cycle started.

Title: Re: Episodic vs chronic......
Post by Kevin_M on Oct 14^th, 2005, 9:37am

on 10/13/05 at 21:44:30, BMoneeTheMoneeMan wrote:

What is the deciding factor to be considered chronic?

Also, typically how many times per year do you episodic people get a cycle?

From an episodic point of view I blur the distinction because I've episodes that go longer than a year but then afterward get time unmedicated pf for varied amount of months. So they're still episodes to me simply because they go away for awhile before coming back. Length and frequency of episodic cycles can vary by individual, "typical" can be elusive.

Title: Re: Episodic vs chronic......
Post by ozzy on Oct 14^th, 2005, 12:29pm

I may be a prick, but lately I'm more convinced that there is no such thing as chronic or episodic....

You always have CH. You are always a clusterhead.

It's a matter of not getting hit by any means necessary.

Ozzy

Title: Re: Episodic vs chronic......
Post by Pascal on Oct 16^th, 2005, 4:33pm

Episodic with 2 cycles during 8 to 10 weeks every spring and fall up until now for the past 5 years (excepting this fall where a kudzu trial has stopped the crise in its bud within 2 weeks!!) .
Personnally, I can drink what I want between cycles without it inducing any CHs.

Title: Re: Episodic vs chronic......
Post by rextangle on Oct 16^th, 2005, 4:38pm

Pascal, of course you can drink! You don't have a darn choice, you live in France!!!! ;;D
Passe le bonjour à mon pays natal!
Rex ;)

Title: Re: Episodic vs chronic......
Post by Pascal on Oct 16^th, 2005, 8:07pm

on 10/16/05 at 16:38:06, rextangle wrote:

Pascal, of course you can drink! You don't have a darn choice, you live in France!!!! ;;D
Passe le bonjour à mon pays natal!
Rex ;)

Thanks for the permission! Sundays lunch=
Our local brew= Muscadet de Sèvre et Maine (sur lie), followed by a Bordeaux 2002 (Chateau Haut Pelletan).
(I'm a bit dissapointed all the same, I thought that you were an Aussie (quote "je suis aussi un expatrié") must have got things wrong as usual as Rex is one my brothers name. Over here, when I talk about my brothers (Ross and Rex.) people often think that I'm talking about my dogs!)

Title: Re: Episodic vs chronic......
Post by rextangle on Oct 16^th, 2005, 9:39pm

Ah you Bastard! Rub it in... all that good wine costs more than gasoline here. Over there it's the opposite.
I can't touch alcohol anymore because of CH.

But make no mistake, I am actually a dog. A dog with CH that can type. I hope your brother has more talents!

What made you think I was an Aussie? Can you tell that I'm drooling all the time through the screen?

You would have made a lousy detective!
Welcome to the nut house... not fire your questions away!

Is CH called Algie Vasculaire de la face or is there a more popular name that includes "maux de tete"???

Title: Re: Episodic vs chronic......
Post by MarkHW on Oct 17^th, 2005, 12:36pm

I used to be Chronic before the right med balance. I would have cycles within cycles. Spring was the absolute worst.

Now... I am almost cluster free from about july - october, small cycle, cluser free from December - February and then it hits the fan until July (even medicated). Of course now even in the Spring I only have a couple hits a day instead of many.

Mark

Title: Re: Episodic vs chronic......
Post by MJ on Oct 18^th, 2005, 2:11am

Pretty sure I've never been hit out of cycle with the pain.
Often get silent hits out of cycle, (symptoms but no pain).
I live in fear of alcohol due to clusters and seldom drink but occasionally I give it a run.
My attacks allways stay consistent but the cycles vary in time from a few months to years in cycle. Same times occur between cycles.
During the first few years like clockwork my cycles occured every 13 months and lasted 3-4 months.
Then I tried a 3 year stint.
It's Never been the same since for the duration of a complete cycle nor the time between. Last cycle lasted about 7 months with maybe a half a day off.

MJ