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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2005 >> I found an amazing cure for my CH.
        
(Message started by: Jleon on Nov 11th, 2005, 3:00pm)
Title: I found an amazing cure for my CH.
Post by Jleon on Nov 11th, 2005, 3:00pm
Hi everyone,

I'm sure many of you will think I'm totally nuts when you read this, but I have found an incredibly cheap and simplistic cure for my CH pain: its chewing gum!

I was enduring a cycle of CH that was the worst I've ever gone through- several times a day I would get this intense CH in my right temple (the "ice pick" pain that everyone is always mentioning). Then somehow I discovered that the pain vanished shortly after I started chewing a piece of gum. Now I chew it all day long and I've been completely pain free.

I'm no doctor, but it seems it must have something to do with the jaw muscles releasing tension from that part of the skull. For night-time CH's I just spend about 15-20 minutes flexing my jaw, and it helps prevent them from waking me up.

I hope this helps at least someone, I know how debilitating CH can be- so let me know what results you get from trying it.

   
Title: Re: I found an amazing cure for my CH.
Post by AussieBrian on Nov 11th, 2005, 3:04pm
Any particular brand?
Title: Re: I found an amazing cure for my CH.
Post by Jleon on Nov 11th, 2005, 3:14pm
No particular brand I guess, but I've been using sugarless Trident gum.  
Title: Re: I found an amazing cure for my CH.
Post by pattik on Nov 11th, 2005, 3:19pm
Well, double your pleasure and double your fun... ;;D
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y71/northcolor/pp1371.jpg
Title: Re: I found an amazing cure for my CH.
Post by marlinsfan on Nov 11th, 2005, 3:28pm

on 11/11/05 at 15:14:01, Jleon wrote:
No particular brand I guess, but I've been using sugarless Trident gum.  


The aspartame (equal) in sugarless stuff triggers headaches for me.

Glad you found something that works for you. :D
Title: Re: I found an amazing cure for my CH.
Post by jon019 on Nov 11th, 2005, 3:30pm
Hello,

Just the opposite for me. Chewing gum when in cycle is a trigger!

Jon019
Title: Re: I found an amazing cure for my CH.
Post by Mr. Happy on Nov 11th, 2005, 3:32pm
Ya know, whenever I look at those Doublemint twins, I'm not thinking about gum...

http://www.wgks.com/images/Morning%20Show/doublemint_twins_6.jpg

But I'm definitely thinking about chewing.
RJ
Title: Re: I found an amazing cure for my CH.
Post by Kevin_M on Nov 11th, 2005, 4:09pm
If Advil came out in a "gum" form, they could corner the market for tension headaches with your idea.   Even better for tension if you could blow bubbles with it and it had longer lasting flavor.  
Title: Re: I found an amazing cure for my CH.
Post by Jleon on Nov 11th, 2005, 4:18pm
I wouldn't know- I've never had a tension headache in my entire life, just CH.    ::)
Title: Re: I found an amazing cure for my CH.
Post by Kevin_M on Nov 11th, 2005, 4:21pm
The CH must have missed my "a tension".
Title: Re: I found an amazing cure for my CH.
Post by rextangle on Nov 11th, 2005, 4:44pm
Well, that chews.... :(
Title: Re: I found an amazing cure for my CH.
Post by Kevin_M on Nov 11th, 2005, 4:50pm

on 11/11/05 at 15:00:25, Jleon wrote:
it seems it must have something to do with the jaw muscles releasing tension from that part of the skull. For night-time CH's I just spend about 15-20 minutes flexing my jaw, and it helps prevent them from waking me up.


Sorry, I got stuck here.
Title: Re: I found an amazing cure for my CH.
Post by E-Double on Nov 11th, 2005, 7:06pm
I thought chewing gum is bad for TMJ???
Title: Re: I found an amazing cure for my CH.
Post by pubgirl on Nov 11th, 2005, 8:53pm

on 11/11/05 at 15:00:25, Jleon wrote:
Hi everyone,

I'm sure many of you will think I'm totally nuts when you read this, but I have found an incredibly cheap and simplistic cure for my CH pain: its chewing gum!

I was enduring a cycle of CH that was the worst I've ever gone through- several times a day I would get this intense CH in my right temple (the "ice pick" pain that everyone is always mentioning). Then somehow I discovered that the pain vanished shortly after I started chewing a piece of gum. Now I chew it all day long and I've been completely pain free.

I'm no doctor, but it seems it must have something to do with the jaw muscles releasing tension from that part of the skull. For night-time CH's I just spend about 15-20 minutes flexing my jaw, and it helps prevent them from waking me up.

I hope this helps at least someone, I know how debilitating CH can be- so let me know what results you get from trying it.

   


We mention "ice pick" on here when someone is suffering from "Ice-pick" or Idiopathic stabbing headache. A totally different condition altogether and you don't need gum because it is almost always responsive to indomethacin.

Have you seen a neuro for a diagnosis Jleon?

Wendy

edited for spelling only
Title: Re: I found an amazing cure for my CH.
Post by Jleon on Nov 11th, 2005, 9:09pm
No, these are cluster headaches- I've been getting them since I was ten. They generally affect me only in the Fall (and some years a little in the Spring), they come around for about 6-8 weeks and individually last for 2-4 hours. They involve sharp pains located around my right temple, and sometimes spread out to my neck and eye.

Just feel the side of your head when you chew gum- the jaw muscles extend quite far up, so it shouldn't be too surprising that some CH sufferers would benefit from a massage-like motion in the area where the trigeminal nerve is located.  
Title: Re: I found an amazing cure for my CH.
Post by Kevin_M on Nov 11th, 2005, 9:52pm
Curiosity as to why chewing gum relieves and prevents your pain raises interest and concern for correct diagnosis when not a lot of details are given.  And some light scepticism when a first post is an amazing cure, being able to abort and prevent by chewing gum.  There's more involved in what causes the pain that relieving tension from jaw muscles can undo or prevent.
Title: Re: I found an amazing cure for my CH.
Post by Jleon on Nov 11th, 2005, 10:11pm
Well notice how I included the word my in the title. I'm not claiming that this will help anyone else for sure, I'm just trying to share my own experiences- itsn't that the whole point of this message board to begin with?

And there's nothing to be skeptical about anyway, because if it doesn't work for you then that's all there is to it.  I'm really not trying to convince anyone of anything, so if it makes you feel better to say that I just have "tension headaches" then go ahead and believe that.
Title: Re: I found an amazing cure for my CH.
Post by pubgirl on Nov 11th, 2005, 10:14pm
You also used the word CURE in your title, but we won't hold that against you ;;D


Wendy
Title: Re: I found an amazing cure for my CH.,l
Post by Jleon on Nov 11th, 2005, 10:21pm
I used the word because it did, in fact, cure my CH pain.

You know if doesn't help this board at all to harrass the newbies, I was simply sharing something that I have found very helpful.    
Title: Re: I found an amazing cure for my CH.
Post by Kevin_M on Nov 11th, 2005, 10:30pm

on 11/11/05 at 22:11:50, Jleon wrote:
so if it makes you feel better to say that I just have "tension headaches" then go ahead and believe that.


Chewing gum, which you say relieves jaw muscle tension, and if it were a headache pain reliever also, is just an idea your post brought up.  I don't think it says you have tension headaches.  Good it relieves your pain though.  
Title: Re: I found an amazing cure for my CH.
Post by Mr. Happy on Nov 12th, 2005, 12:00am

on 11/11/05 at 15:00:25, Jleon wrote:
Hi everyone,
I'm sure many of you will think I'm totally nuts when you read this, but  

Yup. And everytime I hear somebody begin a sentence part with "but," it makes me think of my wife, and that fact that I'm wrong, no matter what.....AND, it's time to listen, learn, and pay attention, cuz I'm wrong, she's right, and you know the rest.

It's GREAT that chewing gum gives you a CH Kill.....it'll go in the archives, along with brown aples, vinegar and bleu cheese.

As far as treating a newbie like rat snot...........you've been handled with Kid Gloves. Good thing you started with gum, and not an herbal trademarked product, chiro routine, or personally fitted head piece. Most folks have seen some pretty strange characters stop in over the years. If you're not one of them, then welcome aboard. If you are....

You better RUN, boy.
RJ
Title: Re: I found an amazing cure for my CH.
Post by rextangle on Nov 12th, 2005, 12:05am
Now that you've got my attention, I was wonderding if you've ever chewed gum during a kip 10? [smiley=biggrin.gif]
Title: Re: I found an amazing cure for my CH.
Post by pubgirl on Nov 12th, 2005, 12:51am
jleon

To help a new person out a little. People tend to be suspicious of a person whose very first post mentions a cure for CH.

There are literally thousands of years of CH experience here, and therefore we are a mite cynical. :-/

Can I draw your attention to the "new visitors" link in yellow on the left.
It is suggested there:

"Your first post

Now, about that first post of yours. Please share your experience with us. What are your symptoms? How long have you had clusters? Are you episodic or chronic? What meds have you tried? What works for you? If you have a question, try to be specific, it helps us help you"


Hope that helps

Wendy
Title: Re: I found an amazing cure for my CH.
Post by BMoneeTheMoneeMan on Nov 12th, 2005, 3:15am
Glad that works for you Jleon, and welcome.
Gum is not good for me.  It seems that it makes me have tension in my jaw or something, but lots of times i just cant cause it makes me shadow.  
Welcome again.
BMonee
Title: Re: I found an amazing cure for my CH.
Post by Ueli on Nov 12th, 2005, 8:15am

on 11/12/05 at 00:05:53, rextangle wrote:
Now that you've got my attention, I was wonderding if you've ever chewed gum during a kip 10? [smiley=biggrin.gif]

Rex, where have you lost your logical thinking?  ;)

Since it is a cure he has no longer CH, and therefore no more Kip 10's.

                 [smiley=smokin.gif]
Title: Re: I found an amazing cure for my CH.
Post by Chillrmn1 on Nov 12th, 2005, 10:51am
Jleon,
If chewing gum relieves your pain, more power to you. Keep on chewing if it helps you.
Title: Re: I found an amazing cure for my CH.
Post by purpleydog on Nov 12th, 2005, 10:59am
I'm curious, when you say chewing gum cures your CH, do you mean it cures that particular episode? And if you have two more in the day, it cures those too? Or has it completely stopped your cycle? At nght, if you don't flex your jaw, you still get CH, right?

I suppose you will find out for sure next cycle. Around here, we call that a treatment, because there is no cure. Not yet.

But if it works for you, congratulations.
Title: Re: I found an amazing cure for my CH.
Post by chewy on Nov 12th, 2005, 11:57am
ITS TRUE! ITS TRUE!

Just the other day in the middle of a KIP 9 while trying to gouge out my eye with a table spoon I thought to myself:

"Hmmm, a nice stick of gum would be nice right about now."

But I didn't have one. So I went to retrieve the wad of Bazooka I stuck under my desk 6 months ago. HMMM. Yummm. Chew chew chew. When I went to stand up I wacked my head on the bottom of the desk. Felt pretty good so I continued to whack my noggin while I chewed on my flavorful wad of Bazooka and sure enough! In 20-40 minutes my CH had completely disappeared!
Its a fucking miracle!

http://www.topps.com/Confectionery/Bazooka/images/chunk_collage.jpg
Title: Re: I found an amazing cure for my CH.
Post by Jasmyn on Nov 12th, 2005, 12:47pm

on 11/12/05 at 00:51:25, pubgirl wrote:
jleon

To help a new person out a little. People tend to be suspicious of a person whose very first post mentions a cure for CH.

There are literally thousands of years of CH experience here, and therefore we are a mite cynical. :-/

Can I draw your attention to the "new visitors" link in yellow on the left.
It is suggested there:

"Your first post

Now, about that first post of yours. Please share your experience with us. What are your symptoms? How long have you had clusters? Are you episodic or chronic? What meds have you tried? What works for you? If you have a question, try to be specific, it helps us help you"


Hope that helps

Wendy


Jleon welcome and what Wendy said here is very true.  

We don't want to scare off newbie’s but it is best to choose your words better when new.

You will get the best advice and support here if you suffer from CH.  We have had a few bad experiences with "trolls" and are just on the lookout to protect our own people and site.

When you become a regular visitor and we come to know you better then people get more tolerant of each others view points.

Sorry that you started on a bad footing.  Try to stick around if you are a cluster sufferer and give us the chance to learn to know you better.

We are not just people who suffer around here we are also each others best supporters.
Title: Re: I found an amazing cure for my CH.
Post by chewy on Nov 12th, 2005, 1:08pm

Quote:
Try to stick around
Title: Re: I found an amazing cure for my CH.
Post by rextangle on Nov 12th, 2005, 2:27pm

on 11/12/05 at 08:15:31, Ueli wrote:
Rex, where have you lost your logical thinking?  ;)

Since it is a cure he has no longer CH, and therefore no more Kip 10's.

                 [smiley=smokin.gif]



Easy now, Ueli! No need to CHEW me out!  ;)


Singing: "Amazing cure, how sweet the gum...."
Title: Re: I found an amazing cure for my CH.
Post by Jonny on Nov 12th, 2005, 2:42pm
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v396/Ueli/TrollAlert.gif
Title: Re: I found an amazing cure for my CH.
Post by nani on Nov 12th, 2005, 2:43pm

on 11/12/05 at 11:57:02, chewy wrote:
ITS TRUE! ITS TRUE!

Just the other day in the middle of a KIP 9 while trying to gouge out my eye with a table spoon I thought to myself:

"Hmmm, a nice stick of gum would be nice right about now."

But I didn't have one. So I went to retrieve the wad of Bazooka I stuck under my desk 6 months ago. HMMM. Yummm. Chew chew chew. When I went to stand up I wacked my head on the bottom of the desk. Felt pretty good so I continued to whack my noggin while I chewed on my flavorful wad of Bazooka and sure enough! In 20-40 minutes my CH had completely disappeared!
Its a fucking miracle!

http://www.topps.com/Confectionery/Bazooka/images/chunk_collage.jpg


LMAO.

Jleon, I'm glad you found something that works for you. As you can see, we can be a skeptical bunch. Don't let that chase you away. If you suffer from CH, this is the best place to be.

My skeptical brothers and sisters...
...for the record I have made my first (and often only) post on a CH MB a declaration of my success with kudzu. While I didn't claim to have a "cure", I was not met with any resistance, either.
Title: Re: I found an amazing cure for my CH.
Post by rextangle on Nov 12th, 2005, 3:02pm
Believer Nani,

Unlike Kudzu, gum has not shown to have any effects on CH.
If that was indeed a CURE, a lot of us would have found that out long time ago.

Sinusbusters, which is also a scam, makes more sense to me than chewing gum.
Eating Bull Shit (litterally) would benefit us more than gum.
It's got TAURINE in it!!! ;;D

Nobody has chased Jleon out of here, yet.
And that's probably because of his minty fresh breath!
Time will tell...


Jonny, try looking at your TROLL ALERT with 3D glasses!
Man, that might be the AMAZING CURE we're all waiting for!!! It just CURED a kip 5 in no time! ;)

The Very Holy Archbishop Tangle
Title: Re: I found an amazing cure for my CH.
Post by chewy on Nov 12th, 2005, 3:46pm
http://re2.mm-c1.yimg.com/image/1377356862

This works well to. Step firmly in chewed gum. Remove shoe. Use gum side  to repeated smash yourself between the eyes with shoe.
Title: Re: I found an amazing cure for my CH.
Post by kimmeesue on Nov 12th, 2005, 4:26pm
Chewing gum makes the muscles in my jaw tense up so bad it could easily bring on a headache.  Can't imagine it providing relaxation and if relaxation "cured" CH chiroprators would RULE.
But, hey, whatever floats your boat.  Welcome to the loony bin.
Since I have a son in chiro school I hope they do find a cure because then he would make lots of money and be able to afford to put me in a higher class nursing home.
Title: Re: I found an amazing cure for my CH.
Post by chewy on Nov 15th, 2005, 7:25am
My new Neuro

http://members.aol.com/rkmskm/gumbot.jpg
Title: Re: I found an amazing cure for my CH.
Post by Jleon on Nov 15th, 2005, 10:09am
OK, that was very funny... but the Bazooka one wasn't.

Why did someone post a "Troll alert"? I'm not trying to sell anything or bother anyone!

Anyway, I think I'm going off cycle now as the end of November approaches, and maybe I'll come back next time and let you wankers know if it still works.  

p.s.-next time I'll know not to use words like "amazing" and "cure" on a medical message board unless I want my head handed to me.  [smiley=laugh.gif]
Title: Re: I found an amazing cure for my CH.
Post by pattik on Nov 15th, 2005, 10:30am
I hope you are ending your cycle.  That would be great.  But don't feel that you have to leave just because you're out of cycle.  Many of us are here to support others and to continue learning about CH. So hopefully you will check in from time to time. ;)
Title: Re: I found an amazing cure for my CH.
Post by BobG on Nov 15th, 2005, 6:07pm
Welcome to the board Jleon. You can keep your head

for now. But,

using the word "cure" is an unforgivable sin.

Next time Bubba and Junior will come to your house and rip your head off, turn it upside down and stuff it down your neck-hole.

Nah, I'm just kidding.  ;;D Tell us more about yourself.
Title: Re: I found an amazing cure for my CH.
Post by zrmulcahy on Nov 16th, 2005, 10:28pm
I have to support Jleon on this one, in spite of the suspicious tagline.  Chewing works well for me on shadows at least (haven't had a full-blown CH since beginning clusterbusting).  Chewy candy like Skittles is my weapon of choice.
Title: Re: I found an amazing cure for my CH.
Post by Mr. Happy on Nov 16th, 2005, 11:32pm
Was reading this again, laffing to myself......"Chewing gum. Yeah, right. That's right up there with brown apples and bleu cheese." OK, not an earth shattering revelation, but it's another one of those stupid pet tricks for the archives.

Then it ticked......brown apples. There's something about brown apples...........from the OUCH site:

Here's an e-mail about another treatment from a sufferer:
Tony battled for two weeks at a time with his attacks .... the last time (about 4 years ago) we gave up in despair and sought natural treatment ..... he was told as follows:

* peel an apple at night when you go to bed
* first thing in the morning (before you even get out of bed) eat the apple - it should be brown by now
* strong cup of coffee
* brisk walk
* and drink (and this is big helper) at least 2 liters of distilled water everyday

he has not had another attack for 4 years, we advised anther sufferer to try this remedy - after being in hospital for 2 weeks as well .... stopped his attack after 1 day .... maybe worthwhile mentioning

OK, so chewing gum isn't _all_ that stupid of an idea....but the memory wheels are still grinding, trying to remember, let alone find, the thread here from some years back on brown apples, and the ingredient which became active. Was it called.....t.....turpentine.....tarosamine.....taurine.....was THAT it? Taurine? The same crap that's getting so much attention thanks to Red Bull? Was that the stuff? Can you remember? I know I can't.
Chewing gum leads to hard thinking.

Just say no.
RJ
Title: Re: I found an amazing cure for my CH.
Post by rextangle on Nov 17th, 2005, 12:09am
But... which one came first? The apple or the snake?

The Lieutenant
Title: Re: I found an amazing cure for my CH.
Post by Mr. Happy on Nov 17th, 2005, 1:09am
Touché, douchez. Bugger the brown apples/taurine thing.
I never considered the Snake angle.

(What Planet are you ....)
RJ
Title: Re: I found an amazing cure for my CH.
Post by rextangle on Nov 17th, 2005, 1:19am

An old wives' tale states that chewing gum, if swallowed, may take up to seven years to become fully digested, and that swallowing gum could also result in the substance becoming lodged in the esophagus.

This is untrue, and although chewing gum does resist complete digestion by the body, it is expelled like other foods, though relatively unchanged. There is also a very low, but real risk of gum becoming lodged inside the body.
Title: Re: I found an amazing cure for my CH.
Post by Rock_Lobster on Nov 17th, 2005, 8:10am
A pic of my new meds box...
http://www.muffinmanthemovie.com/Pics/Jack-Getting-Gum-2_large.jpg
Title: Re: I found an amazing cure for my CH.
Post by Jimmy B. on Nov 18th, 2005, 8:44am
Well...whattya know. In the span of 10 minutes I have found the cure for two of my ailments that have been driving me insane for over 20 years.

Now...all I have to do is eat one banana a day and the torment of my Restless Legs syndrome will go away and when I get the unrelenting pain of a Cluster ...just chew on a piece of gum.  Who knew, I've been suffering in pain for years, trying thousands of dollars of RX...not to mention other expensive remedies and all could've been cured by a 75 cent Banana and a 50 cent pack of gum.

Don't I feel like the fool :'(
Title: Re: I found an amazing cure for my CH.
Post by cazman on Nov 26th, 2005, 11:44am
yikes peeps easy not so harsh on the newbies,when i first came in here i was not think at all about useing the right words, fact is when you get here your clueless freaked out scared and truley out of your mind with concern, nobody here is a doctor,and nobody knows everything.
i will laugh when someone comes here with what looks to be a simple and stupid  idear that really works and we miss it cause we are to concerned with picking someone apart playing god. theres no need to be hurtfull towards anyone that is trying to be helpfull in the same statement we all know there are money hungry losers thats only goal is to prey on us that suffer from this horrible problem to them i say kiss off and die. i for one thank you for trying to help me with your i dear i hope it continues to help you.
Title: Re: I found an amazing cure for my CH.
Post by ccbiggsoo7 on Nov 26th, 2005, 1:16pm
just ignore all the buttholes!
Title: Re: I found an amazing cure for my CH.
Post by Mr. Happy on Nov 27th, 2005, 10:51pm

on 11/26/05 at 13:16:40, ccbiggsoo7 wrote:
just ignore all the buttholes!

See: Delete All Profiles.

You'll have this.
RJ


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