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        New Message Board Archives >> Jul-Sep 2003 >> Boose & Boomers?
        
(Message started by: frenzik on Sep 15^th, 2003, 3:00am)

Title: Boose & Boomers?
Post by frenzik on Sep 15^th, 2003, 3:00am

Good Morning Fellow Oarsmen,

I have seen several posts that link the use of alcohol to the onset of a CH. I am very curious to find out more about this phenomenon. As I have said in the past, I was recently diagnosed and having Cluster Headaches. All the symptoms are there. When the neuro asked about my headache history it did not occur to me to go back to ancient history. My age puts me slightly above the typical age group of CH sufferers. Next week I will be celebrating the 35th anniversary of my 21st birthday.

The alcohol comments bring up an interesting question. When I lived in Chicago, I would get ‘migraine headaches’ about 3 or 4 times a month. Usually in the back of my head, with the aura and nausea. Classic migraine. When I relocated to central Iowa in 1993, the headaches stopped. I attributed it to the tension of driving in Chicago traffic, air pollution and the hectic lifestyle.

When I was much younger I could party until the wee hours, occasionally waking up with a hangover. At about 40 years old, I noticed that one beer would give me a boomer of a headache. I really don’t remember if the headaches were localized or had the other symptoms of CH. Hell, I’ll buy a case of beer in the Spring for when friends come to visit and there will still be 6 or 7 bottles left at Christmas.

The question is, Is there a direct link between alcohol consumption and the onset of a Cluster headache?

All comments appreciated.

Regards,

F2

Title: Re: Boose & Boomers?
Post by Mark C on Sep 15^th, 2003, 3:52am

Most episodics will swear a drink is sure to bring on an attack, myself included. More empirical evidence would be more accurate than just an off the cuff survey....so....The researchers found that during the alcohol-free sessions, the subjects' vessels constricted normally and blood pressure did not change significantly, except at the most extreme negative pressure. However, the subjects' blood vessels failed to constrict after drinking alcohol and the subjects had a low blood pressure response at every level of gravitational stress. In fact, at the lowest level, blood pressure dropped twice as much as it had in the same subjects when they abstained from drinking alcohol. (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2000/02/000201070742.htm) and then Triptans are believed to effect migraine relief by binding to serotonin (5-hydroxy-tryptamine) receptors in the brain, where they act to induce vasoconstriction of extracerebral blood vessels and also reduce neurogenic inflammation. (http://www.biopsychiatry.com/triptans.htm) This is much more avaliable on this subject I am just running out of time to research more at this time.

More input from some seasoned members would be appericated....

PFDAN's
Mark

Title: Re: Boose & Boomers?
Post by Charlie on Sep 15^th, 2003, 2:18pm

I'm 57 and cluster free for 12 years. My CH began in 1969 when I was drinking very little. I did my serial drinking in the1970s and it never brought on a headache so far as I can tell. The frequency was no greater during this time. My drinking has been pretty light since about the time I quit smoking in 1980 (no fun since then.....) and I don't think it ever affected my clusters. From what I read here, this is unusual.

Charlie

Title: Re: Boose & Boomers?
Post by Prense on Sep 15^th, 2003, 6:20pm

Beer and rum will trigger me about 80% of the time. That is all I ever really drank...I have yet to be hit from drinking vodka (haven't done that enough to get a true result though). I am (was) a fairly social drinker... Being hit almost non-stop these days, I dare not touch alcohol of any sort for a while at least.

It was pretty amazing how quickly the attack would come on. Sipping a beer (1 per 45 min rate), I would get hit by the 30 min mark (if I was gonna get hit). There was little to no warning...just bam and staring an 8 or so in the face. I bailed on friends many times from a bar because of an attack... I even made the mistake a few times thinking I could drink (slamming) the HA away (before I was diagnosed or even heard of CH) Don't do that!

My experience as a chronic...although I have heard several other chronics say they never had a problem with booze.

Chris

Title: Re: Boose & Boomers?
Post by jonny on Sep 15^th, 2003, 6:22pm

No triggers whatsoever

.................................jonny

Title: Re: Boose & Boomers?
Post by Prense on Sep 15^th, 2003, 6:25pm

You are one of the chronics I was referring to . ;D
O

Better? ;D

Title: Re: Boose & Boomers?
Post by jonny on Sep 15^th, 2003, 6:28pm

Its "Too"

Title: Re: Boose & Boomers?
Post by Patrick_A on Sep 15^th, 2003, 7:33pm

In cycle....Always. Out of cycle....Never!

Patrick

Title: Re: Boose & Boomers?
Post by frenzik on Sep 15^th, 2003, 7:57pm

Thanks everyone.

I will be talking with my neuro tomorrow. All the great comments on your experiences with alcohol helps me put some of my past history in perspective. Being that this is my first cycle, I really don't know what to expect. I went CH free from saturday morning at 10AM until today at 4PM. I think I was a little nieve to think the cycle was over. Today's attack gave me a pretty good warning so I started the O2 and blocked the sonofabitch.

Praying for a restful night.

F2