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Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Getting to Know Ya >> Newbie intro and barometric pressure http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1288383717 Message started by WisconsinCH on Oct 29th, 2010 at 4:21pm |
Title: Newbie intro and barometric pressure Post by WisconsinCH on Oct 29th, 2010 at 4:21pm
Hi everyone!
I'm a newbie to this forum but not a newbie to CH. I'll give a short background. First time I remember was in Junior high school (circa 1978?) - thought I had a tumor or an aneurysm. Went to a doctor who told me to suck on a piece of candy. Never went to a doctor after that until grad school in Madison, WI (circa 1988). They have a medical school with a library (I'm a librarian so had to mention!) so when I had a cluster at that time, I self diagnosed and then made an appointment to see a headache specialist. He was impressed that I had diagnosed it and then he gave me a prescription for prednisone. By that time the cluster was over and I didn't like the list of side effects. Luckily over the years they seem to have become less severe and less frequent for me. The reason I joined this was that I am currently in a cluster (started Monday) and was wondering if anyone had done or heard of any research involving barometric pressure. We just had one of the lowest readings for barometric pressure here and it seems to correspond with the start of this cluster. Unfortunately, I have never tracked my cluster in the past to go back and see if they correspond to low barometric pressure. Any advice/comments are appreciated! :) |
Title: Re: Newbie intro and barometric pressure Post by WisconsinCH on Oct 29th, 2010 at 4:42pm
A little more info about me. I used to drink lots of Pepsi back in college but now nothing caffeinated. My clusters are always right-sided, temple/eye area, and last about 30 min. I always describe it to others as if someone were inside of me, crushing my right eyeball or trying to shove it out the socket. I also wore/wear contact lenses but have switched back to mostly wearing glasses. I don't know if all of that is relevent but thought I would mention it.
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Title: Re: Newbie intro and barometric pressure Post by his wife on Oct 29th, 2010 at 4:48pm
Hello and welcome! I'm sorry you are currently suffering. With regard to the barometric pressure, there's a thread under "General Posts" called "Weather Related?" where we talked about that earlier this week. Like everything CH related, some were hit hard, others not.
I'm sure others will be along to give you some great advice. I would recommend that if you've been out of cycle for awhile to find a good headache specialist as there are new treatment options available, especially since 1988. You'll get great advice on the benefits of using oxygen by experts on the subject on this site. You should read the "oxygen info" listed on the menu. CH is a two-fisted fight...prevents and aborts. Read, read, read everything you can on this web-site. Information is power. Wishing you peace and wellness. |
Title: Re: Newbie intro and barometric pressure Post by Ginger S. on Oct 29th, 2010 at 4:52pm
Hello and Welcome WisconsinCH !
Not sure about any studies done on Barometric pressure and CH recently, as I haven't had the time to really search for them. My dad has suffered from CH for over 30 years and has watched the Barometer regularly when he gets a Hit. Yes the barometer does affect CH and migraines as well for that matter. When I starting getting CH over 10 years ago he started taking note of what the barometer is doing when I get hit as well. Again it is a factor with CH for me. That doesn't mean that I only get a CH hit when barometer is changing but that it can trigger some CH hits. Depending on the degree of barometric change for me it is usually up or down .03 or more percentage points within an hour that can trigger a CH hit. Airplane rides and long car rides where you change altitude can be a real BITCH btw. There are a few here who will tell you if flying make sure to bring whatever abortive you use! |
Title: Re: Newbie intro and barometric pressure Post by Guiseppi on Oct 29th, 2010 at 5:34pm
Another Wisconite, we've got a few of you back there now, welcome to the board. I'm not one who is affected by the weather changes but several on the board say they are. As mentioned earlier, please read the oxygen info tab on the left. It has taken the CH community by storm. Cheap, fast, effective and no side effects. I average 6-8 minute aborts, untreated i run about 90 minutes. Glad you found us, hoping you catch a short cycle this go round.
Joe |
Title: Re: Newbie intro and barometric pressure Post by Chris H on Oct 31st, 2010 at 9:57pm
Hello there, Wisonsin,
I don't know if barometric pressure has any bearing on oxygen levels, but I have read a few cluster info sites that recognize changes in oxygen levels having an impact on cluster headache sufferers. I get a good bout of major hits anytime I fly, which is a similar situation. Welcome to the site! -Chris |
Title: Re: Newbie intro and barometric pressure Post by Skyhawk5 on Oct 31st, 2010 at 11:41pm
Oxygen (O2) levels are not the problem with CH. The problem is excess CO2, that is a vaso-dialator. Blood vein dialation in the brain rubs against the trigeminal nerve, and this causes CH pain.
Oxygen is a vaso-constrictor, which shrinks the veins and helps relieve CH pain. The most useful CH medications do the same. At one time in my 22yrs of CH, storms did affect my attacks, but I can't say that now. Wishing you the best, Don |
Title: Re: Newbie intro and barometric pressure Post by wimsey1 on Nov 1st, 2010 at 8:46am
Welcome. I'm not sure, but it sounds like you have a whole lot of options still available to you as everyone has already written. Try them. As to prednisone tapers, it can work, and yes, the side effects are nasty but you aren't on it long enough for the really bad stuff to kick in. I wouldn't throw that one away just yet, or any of the tricks of the trade we share. Good luck, and God bless! lance
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Title: Re: Newbie intro and barometric pressure Post by ellenjoanne on Nov 1st, 2010 at 11:46am
Wow! Another couple of people from Wisconsin! Wisconsin CH, I'm an alum of the UW (the Class of 87). For all I know, we walked past each other on campus during that time period. Last week's intense low pressure Meso-cyclone didn't do much for me CHwise (other than possibly a couple of hard shadows - but I'm not sure, because I've had a cold with serious amounts of coughing and sneezing for the past few weeks, and the pain has been CH-like, but not quite, since it doesn't have that spike through the eye socket quality to it, so for all I know, my sinuses are what's giving me headace grief).
My main concern, is wild temperature changes. Have the temp drop 30 degrees or more in a short amount of time, and watch my CH come screaming in. This happened in 2007, when we went from being in the low 40s for most of January (which is VERY warm for Wisconsin in January), to below zero in the space of a few days. I had a nasty cycle, complete with a kip 10, that like a fool I tried to ignore (hoping it would go away, since I was already on Prednisone for cycle busting, and had never had a major attack [up to that time] while taking the stuff), because I was in the middle of doing something. A similar situation was my first springtime cycle in 2006. I'd never had a CH cycle in the spring. We had violent oscillations in temps for a period of about 2 weeks or so. In early April 2006, we had a couple of days or so of temps in the 60s and 70s. Then they'd drop down into the 30s and 40s during the daytime (we even had sleet). This temperature variation repeated for 2 weeks or so. My hypothalamus screamed uncle, and the CH came on with a vengeance. So, with me, it's radical temperature changes, that get me worried. |
Title: Re: Newbie intro and barometric pressure Post by Ginger S. on Nov 1st, 2010 at 4:58pm
Thought this was a good article to share related to this topic...
Quote:
Temperature and air pressure changes generally go hand in hand, if one changes so does the other. Quote:
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