Hi Everyone,
        I think I found a common denominator at least for me and my CH. Wondering if anyone else out there have had a similar experience.
       Started Verapamil 200 mg back on April 7, prescribed by my neuro. After 2 weeks I finally was having some relief from daily head pressure/ burning scalp, eye tear and droop, etc.  Had a complete blood work done then as well. Saw my PC Doc May 11. He tells me my blood work showed Kidney function failure and takes me off my BP meds. He let me continue to take Verapamil. It should keep your BP in check. First day off of BP meds.... instant head pressure back which has continued to increase in intensity over the last 3 weeks. Of course my BP was not in control. I checked it almost daily. Started a new BP med last week. BP is still consistently on the high side and I"m still having some pretty intense head pain nearly everyday. Oxygen isn't even giving me much relief.
         It seems, at least for me, I need to keep my BP on the lower side to keep my CH manageable while I'm still in cycle......nearly 6 mo now.
          Anybody else have a similar effect when BP is too high?
         Thanks so much for listening.

Donna Mae   

My BP has always run naturally LOW.  So low at times I've scared the wits out of a few nurses, whom I'd forgotten to warn about it. 

BP for me at least has not been a factor with my CH.

Yeah same here.....bp runs on the low side.

Joe

Interestingly, this has been my worst cycle and my blood pressure has been running high.  I'm normally a steady 120/70, but I've been at 160/98 for the past several days inspite of being on 480 mgs of verapamil/day.  I normally have one or two hits a night, but I've now had 6 in the past  24 hours.  I'm normally a late nighter, but today I started with one at 5:30, woke up from a brief nap at 5:30 with a quick, hot 7-8, then had another one around 7.  This crap got old weeks ago; now it's just a grind.  I'm assuming the bp issue is due to the almost constant phantoms and heavy shadows. 

Your bp automatically goes up in response to pain, medical fact.  So in your case with pre-pain bp issues your CH is probably exacerbating the bp issue.

I am sorry to hear you are having such a hell of a time lately.  You may want to check with your Doc. to see if you have any other bp med options or look into other ways to help lower your bp.  My Dad uses meditation to help lower his.  You may want to give it a try, when your head isn't banging like a steel drum that is.

      Thanks for the responses. This high BP thing with me is all new. It started just after this cycle came.  I didn't have high BP before CH.
       Have only been back on BP med for a week now since I had some kidney issues. Doc has me on a new one. Yes I need to call him or my Neuro. Want to see if I can increase my Verapamil. Now would be a good time to suggest it I think since I'm still to high.
        I still think for me anyways, when my BP is high, my CH is much worse.
Thanks again

Donna Mae

I think you misunderstand where we are coming from what we have stated are our own person all experiences with this and we are not telling you that you are wrong.

I also know from dealing with relatives that high blood pressure can and does cause headaches.  I made mention of the following:

Quote:

Your bp automatically goes up in response to pain, medical fact.  So in your case with pre-pain bp issues your CH is probably exacerbating the bp issue.

  The opposite may also be true your high bp is triggering a headache which in your case will adversely affect your CH attacks.

Simply put either way High BP and CH would not play well together. 

I hope this helps.  ;)

The only time I have high BP is during a cluster cycle. Am currently of propanolol, which helps with the pressure I feel in my head, but it leaves me tired all the time.