Okay, right now I'm really numbdrumb from all of the stress I've been under, so... I figured I'd ask here.

Is there any article that discusses what (if any) changes our bodies go through before/during a cluster headache? I thought I may have read some, but right now I can't even find anything and...am just frazzled.

Any info would be appriciated.

--Mystina

Don't know if this will help, but my MRI showed white spots on the brain that were caused from the CH'S.
I know the night before the MRI I had a kip-9 1/2.
The white spots were labeled as migraine changes
Don't know what that means, but they told me not to worry :-/

There is an interesting discussion going on in Gonzolo's thread in "medications, treatment, therapies", but it is way over my humble head.  Bob Johnson also references a lot of papers where research is going on.  I appreciate the efforts, but most of my concern is more short term.  When in cycle, noisy bars bad, oxygen good.

PF wishes.

i saw some links in OUCH , just indicating the changes grey area  in Hypothalamus during CH attacks. ant remember the exact link.

for myself i shall add Blood pressure and heart rate increase!

cheers
farzad

Here are a couple of links to articles.  The first is a brief listing of the autonomic symptoms.  The second link from the OUCH site has some great info on the many possible associated symptoms.  It's a little technical, but quite informative regarding how the hypothalamus controls these functions.
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Thanks for all of hte replies.

Dieclusterdie: START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE Here's a link that explains it...well, somewhat. D:

For me, I know my blood pressure rises. My pulse is normally high, and blood pressure is usually 80/60. A day or so before I posted this, I was having a severe shadow, really close to having a cluster at the doctor's office.

My blood pressure spiked to 142/83. WAY high for me. D: That's what made me try to find this, and, then lead to me posting. ^^;

80/60? That seems abnormally - no, dangerously - low.

Love your new icon Brew. :D

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According to that, my top number is a bit low. I've had numerous work-ups by cardiologists, partly due to other reasons.

My pulse runs at 110+ usually, so they check up on it to make sure things are working properly there. I've flatlined (When I was 13.) and when I was 16, given Dilantin through an IV which dropped my BP down to 75/25. They were trying to yank me out of a status seizure and wound up with me in a coma instead.

They always say my heart is healthy. (Expecially for what I've been through, and the meds I'm on.) So I don't worry about it too much unless a new medication is going to drop my BP, or, unless I start to pass out randomly.

PFDAN
Mystina

Okay, Mystina - If you're not worried about it, I won't be.

Glad you like the new avatar. I've caught some shit about it on the General Posts board. I just think it's funny in a twisted sort of way.

dieclusterdie wrote on Feb 19^th, 2009 at 5:38pm:

white spots on the brain that were caused from the CH'S. I know the night before the MRI I had a kip-9 1/2. The white spots were labeled as migraine changes

Never heard of these spots relating to clusters. I'm not saying you don't have clusters, just that these spots are indicative of severe migraines. They could have beeen there for years.

They are VERY common for people with migraines. I agree with the doc that they're nothing to worry about. Just evidence that migraines can cause damage.

BobW
If we got a white spot on the brain for every Kip 9, a lot of brains here would look like the pile of snow along my driveway.  :D

amen to that Bob  ;)

Brew - Bah, who wouldn't like an avatar that has someone setting themselves on fire?! D: It's made of awesome.


Pinkfloyd wrote on Feb 26^th, 2009 at 6:55pm:

dieclusterdie wrote on Feb 19th, 2009 at 5:38pm: white spots on the brain that were caused from the CH'S. I know the night before the MRI I had a kip-9 1/2. The white spots were labeled as migraine changes Never heard of these spots relating to clusters. I'm not saying you don't have clusters, just that these spots are indicative of severe migraines. They could have beeen there for years. They are VERY common for people with migraines. I agree with the doc that they're nothing to worry about. Just evidence that migraines can cause damage. BobW If we got a white spot on the brain for every Kip 9, a lot of brains here would look like the pile of snow along my driveway.  :D

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At least in the articles I read on migraine changes, they THINK it's caused by the pain experienced during a migraine. But they aren't sure, as the problem could have been there beforehand.

They also know that those with chronic back pain do show some changes in the brain. So, I'm wondering if we clusterheads manage to get by unscathed...  Or if any kind of change occurs due to how severe the pain is?

I'd offer to check my MRI's. I've had over 20 of them done, but, with my complications, I doubt it'd give any definate answer...

PFDAN
Mystina