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Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Cluster Headache Specific >> Altitude as a trigger? http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1231824912 Message started by alisonjmorrow on Jan 13th, 2009 at 12:35am |
Title: Altitude as a trigger? Post by alisonjmorrow on Jan 13th, 2009 at 12:35am
We're on vacation in Colorado. We got here on Tuesday, and on Thursday night my husband had his first headache in over a year. He's had one every night since then, and then another this afternoon while napping, which turned out to be one of the worst he's ever had. We're trying to figure out what the trigger might have been, and are wondering if maybe it's the altitude. It seems to me that, if O2 can abort a CH, then being in an environment where the air is thinner and your brain is deprived of the O2 level it's used to, then that might trigger it. Has anyone else found this to be the case?
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Title: Re: Altitude as a trigger? Post by UnderTheRadar on Jan 13th, 2009 at 12:38am
I can get attacks just from changing altitude by a few hundred feet, so yeah, I'd imagine going to CO could really do a number on ya. :P
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Title: Re: Altitude as a trigger? Post by DennisM1045 on Jan 13th, 2009 at 5:24am
Hi Alison,
Flying is a trigger for me. I know within a half hour of landing I'm gonna get slammed. Usually that's a one time hit though. Never had it kick off a cycle. Have you guys ever been to CO before? -Dennis- |
Title: Re: Altitude as a trigger? Post by seasonalboomer on Jan 13th, 2009 at 7:16am
I think there is some validity to your theory Allison. I run a race every July in the Boone, NC which goes up Grandfather Mountain. This is only a change of a couple thousand feet. The last two years I have been hit following the race and never fully finish the hit till I get back down the mountain. Two years ago it even withstood an Imitrex injection (which are like silver bullets for my beast).
Scott |
Title: Re: Altitude as a trigger? Post by Chris Morrow on Jan 13th, 2009 at 8:56am
I live in Asheville,NC, and have been driving different routes for work recently. When I drive down the mountain (about 2000 feet), I begin feeling strong shadows, but when I drive back up to Asheville's elevation, they hit me hard....really hard. After the third time of going through that, I won't drive those routes any more, and I don't get an option to stop.....You don't get that option when you are driving critical medical specimens.
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Title: Re: Altitude as a trigger? Post by atagj on Jan 13th, 2009 at 9:47am
I live in Cleveland and take a trip to Colorado every winter. It triggers a cycle for me as well. I've noticed that it can be a combination of altitude sickness and CH's. Does he have dizziness or fatigue as well? I would suggest drinking a ton of water to help both, that helps me when I am out there. Good Luck and hope you can enjoy the vacation!
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Title: Re: Altitude as a trigger? Post by Guiseppi on Jan 13th, 2009 at 10:20am
I live at seal level, in San Diego. Daughter just finished school in Denver so I was doing 2-4 trips a year to the mile high. Never triggered an attack or a cycle. Although I was never "in cycle" on any of the trips.
Joe |
Title: Re: Altitude as a trigger? Post by alisonjmorrow on Jan 13th, 2009 at 10:22am
No Dennis, Dan's never been here before. He has been to higher elevations before, but not this high, I don't think. We thought it was weird that he didn't get one right away if the O2 level was indeed the issue, and we were hoping that maybe the episode would end once his body had acclimated to the altitude. But we've been here a week and I think we should be acclimated by now. :( He's still sleeping, so I don't know if he had another one last night. Hope not. I second the water-drinking; I'm sure he's not drinking enough for this environment in the first place, and certainly not enough to help with the headaches. I'll encourage him to drink more, and maybe that will at least lessen the intensity...
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Title: Re: Altitude as a trigger? Post by Bob P on Jan 13th, 2009 at 10:24am
I'm with Joe. Live at sea level and go fishing in the Eastern Sierra each spring (8000'). Never triggers an attack. I did go up there one summer while in cycle and was miserable.
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Title: Re: Altitude as a trigger? Post by Balanchine on Jan 13th, 2009 at 11:38am
From what I'm reading altitude variation does seem to be a common trigger among some of us. I noticed it the first time this past summer coming down from 10,000 + feet to near sea level where I live. The quicker the descent, the more heinous the hit. These were only day trips to climb some of our local peaks so I have no idea what might happen if I were to stay up there awhile. Hope your husband gets some relief soon.
David |
Title: Re: Altitude as a trigger? Post by Marc on Jan 13th, 2009 at 1:07pm
I used to travel very heavily for a living - flew over 100 times per year. For awhile I thought that it was a trigger, but after really looking at it - nope.
Just like everything else I thought was a trigger, I realized that it wasn't. Marc |
Title: Re: Altitude as a trigger? Post by Balanchine on Jan 16th, 2009 at 12:35am
Batch: thanks for that. Very interesting indeed! I don't do enough air travel these days to test myself, my experiences were in coming down from mountains fairly quickly. But this is good stuff and I really appreciate your taking the time to think it through, research it and write it up so clearly.
David |
Title: Re: Altitude as a trigger? Post by Wartooth on Jan 16th, 2009 at 3:39pm
It is amazing that this topic is brought up (I have been on the boards here reading for years, but rarely converse) I have not flown in a few years, but recently flew to Florida for a little RnR. I started to get my first realization that I was getting that same old feeling again only a day after landing and sure enough they started up again after nearly 15 months in remission. I also remember a time when they had ended and a week later I had flown to Vegas, where they started up again. It makes me wonder if flying was is trigger...
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