Hi All,

I know there have been a couple of smoking threads in the past, but Im trying to get a feel for how many of you smoke, or have smoked in the past.  I did see that quite a few have quit, and still gotten CH- so Im curious if this mostly hits folks who have at one point been smokers- regardless if they have quit or not.

Answer away!

Yep, probably about 80%. That is the first thing that we notice when we go to our first convention. Everybody appears to smoke. Addictive personality? Something else? Who knows.

 I belive there are a lot of smokers here and I am one.   I have quit several times and my ch only got worse every time I quit,  so I will no longer be called a quiter ;).
           Phil [smiley=smokin.gif]

Never been a smoker!

Joe

Guiseppi wrote on Dec 23^rd, 2008 at 9:18pm:

Never been a smoker! Joe

Show off.....LMAO!  ;D

I've never been a smoker, but when I grew up almost everyone smoked so I never minded smoke.

Charlotte

Hi bsic!

Just for the sake of info, I started getting CH when I was 14--never had smoked, drank, or even drank coffee at that age and wasn't around second hand smoke growing up.  So...I am always a little skeptical that CH people necessarily smoke or that there is any link.  All I know is, CH can hit people who have never smoked.  Good luck with your research!

non-smoker.

Nope. Lifelong asthmatic. No one was allowed to smoke around me as a kid and teenager because it was too likely to make me have an attack.

No one smokes around me now, because after my cycle started, first whiff of smoke I got caused a cluster.

Oh yea, [smiley=smokin.gif]

Jimi wrote on Dec 23^rd, 2008 at 9:16pm:

Yep, probably about 80%. That is the first thing that we notice when we go to our first convention. Everybody appears to smoke. Addictive personality? Something else? Who knows.

Ah!  Ya know, i wish i frequented this board earlier, y'all met in my neck of the woods last year :(  

First chance you get try and make a meet and greet....you'll never be the same! ;)

And Jonny....biteth me! ;D

Joe

Yep smoked for the last 45 years & see no point in giving up now START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGESTART PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE

Cheers
Barry

I smoke twice as much when in cycle.
           

[smiley=smokin.gif] and wish I never started...

Ray

Yep.  Not all that much (it's never been all that much)--maybe ten cigs a day--but still...

Thing is, I started with CH years before I started smoking.

There's a definite relationship, but I don't know whether smoking increases the likelihood that one will be a clusterhead, or whether something about smoking is peculiarly attractive to clusterheads.  It's interesting.

Best,

George

I am not a smoker.  I have just been testing the taste of them, for the past 50 years, to the tune of two packs a day.  BUT, it is just for research mind you, as I am NOT a smoker ...

I can put them down, forever, at any point ...

Chuck

(Ya believe THOSE statements, then I have a pill here, that will CURE you of cluster headaches!  A Pill that is cheap {relatively} and has NO side effects)

(Just send me $873.98 for ONE sugar magic pill, that is guaranteed to cure your clusters.  If it doesn't work, buy another, and THAT one will!)

ClusterChuck wrote on Dec 24^th, 2008 at 1:27am:

I am not a smoker.  I have just been testing the taste of them, for the past 50 years, to the tune of two packs a day.  BUT, it is just for research mind you, as I am NOT a smoker ... I can put them down, forever, at any point ... Chuck (Ya believe THOSE statements, then I have a pill here, that will CURE you of cluster headaches!  A Pill that is cheap {relatively} and has NO side effects) (Just send me $873.98 for ONE sugar magic pill, that is guaranteed to cure your clusters.  If it doesn't work, buy another, and THAT one will!)

I'll have 6 thanks Chuck, I'm in a hurry ;)

40 a day for 40 years and I just quit.

No change to CH, slipped two discs.

Unimpressed.

I started smoking at 16 and started CH at 32, I must be a godsend to the tobacco industry 'cos I wouldn't manage without my cigs.  I don't want to give up and have never tried, as soon as the O2 goes away out come the cigs. [smiley=smokin.gif]
FYI I don't drink coffee or tea, and haven't touched alcohol for about three years. It's these smells that kick me off. I can't even stand coffee/alcohol flavoured foods.
What's in Red Bull that everyone seems to find helpfull? Or am I missing the joke? [smiley=worried.gif]

30 year smoker, worked myself up to two packs a day, then one day I said to myself, ENOUGH ALREADY! Went out and bought myself a new mountain bike and never touched one since. That was September 3rd, 2005 at 9:45am.

Did not change or effect my CH's either way. [smiley=twocents.gif]

sheena.t wrote on Dec 24^th, 2008 at 7:45am:

What's in Red Bull that everyone seems to find helpfull? Or am I missing the joke? [smiley=worried.gif]

It has something to do with the high amount of Taurine in red bull and other energy drinks, i believe because it along with the caffiene is a vasal constrictor, which shrinks the blood vessels.   Im sure someone here can add to this, or tell me im way off :)

I used to smoke a couple packs or so a day, cause I didn't have time for more.  I didn't have a monkey on my back, I had a Diane Fosse study group.  I was never able to just smoke a little.  Like the old Tex Ritter song "Smoke, Smoke, Smoke that Cigarette."

Anyway, I got doped up with a bunch of narcotics by a neuro, stopped buying smokes, and never even noticed.  Haven't had one in six years.

Does it affect the CH? Maybe.  My worst CH day came after travelling and chewing some nicotine gum to get through overseas flights.  Since quitting, I've had fewer and milder cycles.  But none of us knows what affects the beast.

I find it is a LOT easier to function in life as a non-heavy-smoker.  I used to smoke in my office; my present job doesn't allow anywhere on the property.  I could go on and on.  There are a lot of really paranoid non-smokers out there, and they are winning.  The tyranny of the majority in a democratic society.  You can't change it, so deal with it.

I still occasionally hang out in smoky bars in Indiana.  But I've also been to NYC and Ireland, and like to duck into a pub for a breath of fresh air.

So would I have to drink the Red Bull with coffee? or is the caffeine in the drink?
Either way I cannot seem to tolerate caffeine at all, most energy drinks are too much for me too.  I must be more weird than I originally thought [smiley=2vrolijk_08.gif]

RedBull is loaded w/ caffeine as well, one stop shopping.  Its worked fairly well for me as an abortive should I get one in the car- its happened a few times and its aborted 2 out of 3 on the way to work.

It is the caffeine and taurine combo in the drink that helps some of us.

Oliver

Ta muchly on the info on Red Bull, I don't know whether to try it if there is caffeine in it. The only stimulant I can seem to manage is the cigs, can't do without my nicotine hit!! ;D

A smoker & a bull drinker . I was drinking lots of redbull without knowing it may have been helping me..
Maybe I felt good and subconsciously kept on drinking it. I only found out on this site that caffeine/ redbull  was good for us..   (another thanks)

Smoked previously, been in cycle whether smoking or not.

Smoked for 18 yrs more than half my life.
Quit 4 months ago.

Hasn't seemed to make a difference with exception to me being more of a prick...I still need to find a different coping mechanism.

It's nice to have a few more extra bucks though

2 packs a day [smiley=smokin.gif] [smiley=smokin.gif]

I slow down my smoking about 50% at about kip3 or 4. They just don't appeal to me. Regularly .80 packs/day

never smoked

Well lets See , Been smoking since 12 and that was 22 years ago. I seem to have more need for nicotine during my cycle then when PF ( though that is a rarity)

It seems that when the Kip is increasing I tend to smoke a lot more until I hit about a 7 or so then its nothing but me , my aborts and the beast.

My usual is about half a pack a day but that increases to a pack a day during my dancing time

Used to smoke a pack a day.  Quit about 11 years ago.  Had CH's while I smoked and still have them now.

Smoked from 15 years old to 34. Quit twelve years ago. Best thing I've ever done for myself. Didn't change my CH though.

Scott

Based on this sites survey, about 50% of clusterheads smoke:


Quote:

Does the sufferer smoke (if yes, the frequency is listed) No                    5842 48%   Less than 1 ppd 2672 22%   1-2 ppd             3131 26%   2+ ppd               254   2%

Based on OUCH conventions, I would have thought that it was higher.

This Feburary will be 4 years for the wife and I.
Since I have quit, the intensity, frequency, and cycles
have been reduced.  As soon as I would light up back then
during a cycle, a cluster would almost immediately follow.
If you're really looking to reduce the pain, it's worth quitting.
That's how I look at it.  Any trigger during cycle is worth quitting,
no matter what it is.

Chad

I smoke 1- pack a day [smiley=smokin.gif]

   I quit back in 94 ( 8.5 months ) at the time i was in cycle and the beast refused to give me a break.....I was going to quit today (lasted 2-hours) so i will try again on the 3rd.of this month (my wife will have 5-years on the 3rd.) so hopefully i will do it (i know i can do it)just not sure how bad i want it.....The only thing that scare's me is after each hit (when i get rid of the beast) i will miss my smoking afterwards (its almost like a celebration of victory).....Lenny

Smoke 1 PPD.  , Don

Smoked about a pack a day for a little over 33 years, starting at age 13.  Quit 5 years ago.  I did have a long remission from CH at around that time, but the remission actually started before I quit, so there's probably no connection, but who knows?

Regards,
Jim

I'm a smoker and don't have the desire to quit right now.  Congrats to all who have quit!!!   Quitting smoking is the best thing you can do for your health in general.  If it reduces the ch's or shortens a cycle, I would consider that a bonus.

Smoked for 10 years.  Quit 12 years ago.  Went into cycle either way.

Langa

Joe is a long time smoker, 1 ppd; he does not think about a cig when he is having a hit and does not smoke after aborting for a while.

30+ years f@ckin' smoker.

midwestbeth wrote on Jan 2^nd, 2009 at 3:47pm:

I'm a smoker and don't have the desire to quit right now.  Congrats to all who have quit!!!   Quitting smoking is the best thing you can do for your health in general.  If it reduces the ch's or shortens a cycle, I would consider that a bonus.

I wholeheartedly agree with everythin you say here... The first thing you must have is the desire.. I don't want to give up and find the first thing after an attack is a drink of water and a cig!!! [smiley=smokin.gif]
sheena

Never smoked a day in my life.

That being said I wish I had something that cost 5 bucks a day to quit - I need some money!

At least a pack a day for 35 years.

I topped out at 2 1/2 packs a day when I was a police officer.

Trying to quit now.  I have the lung capacity of a 2 year old.