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shayzzee CH.com Newbie Offline I Love CH.com! Posts: 4	4-6 hour attacks Jan 7^th, 2009 at 11:49am Does anyone else get these? I'm in week 3 of my cycle and about every 3 days I'll get a really bad attack that lasts for 4-6 hours...usually they last about 30-40 mins....but not those ones
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gizmo CH.com Hall of Famer Offline Posts: 522 Germany Gender:	Re: 4-6 hour attacks Reply #1 - Jan 7^th, 2009 at 11:57am I too get them once in a while. I haven't found a reason / cause so far. Oliver
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George CH.com Moderator CH.com Alumnus Offline Black-Billed Magpie Posts: 8126 Boise, Idaho USA Gender:	Re: 4-6 hour attacks Reply #2 - Jan 7^th, 2009 at 12:06pm Do they ramp up in intensity and then subside--only to ramp up again? If so, I wonder whether you're getting multiple attacks, one on top of another. Not that it matters--it sounds pretty hellish. You're going to hear this more than once--but are you using oxygen to treat your attacks? Best wishes, George
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gizmo CH.com Hall of Famer Offline Posts: 522 Germany Gender:	Re: 4-6 hour attacks Reply #3 - Jan 7^th, 2009 at 12:14pm I assume you asked both of us... Mine don't ramp up and subisde. They build up a tad faster than usual and then simply stay there. Weird thing is that they are always K8 or higher and that trex doesn't do anything. Haven't had one since I got O2 in December so can't say if O2 works for them - I hope it does. Oliver
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Marc

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Re: 4-6 hour attacks
Reply #4 - Jan 7^th, 2009 at 12:28pm

shayzzee wrote on Jan 7^th, 2009 at 11:49am:

Does anyone else get these? I'm in week 3 of my cycle and about every 3 days I'll get a really bad attack that lasts for 4-6 hours...usually they last about 30-40 mins....but not those ones Sad

Nope.

I've had a few very bad series of hits that went almost back to back spanning a total of 3 hours - but never one hit longer than about 90 minutes.

If you are talking about a high intensity hit for 6 hours, you have to be the toughest person I've ever heard of. I know that I couldn't take it.

Marc

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Racer1_NC CH.com Moderator CH.com Alumnus Offline "Well, let's go see." Posts: 4417 Lewisville, NC Gender:	Re: 4-6 hour attacks Reply #5 - Jan 7^th, 2009 at 12:35pm It's happened once.....went right at 4 hours......caused my first and only trip to the ER. Terrible stuff it was. B
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ClusterChuck CH.com Alumnus Offline The BEAST rises again, and again, and again, and . Posts: 5394 Greenville, North Carolina Gender:	Re: 4-6 hour attacks Reply #6 - Jan 7^th, 2009 at 12:49pm Racer1_NC wrote on Jan 7^th, 2009 at 12:35pm: It's happened once.....went right at 4 hours......caused my first and only trip to the ER. Yup! Me too! Except mine was about 4:45 ... Almost five hours ... Sure did suck the big green weenie! Chuck PS: BTW, the emergency room did their normal treatment ... NOTHING for it!
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fiftyamp CH.com Junior Offline I love YaBB 1G - SP1! Posts: 57 x0\|philly\|USA\|\|0\|0\|PA,Pennsylvania	Re: 4-6 hour attacks Reply #7 - Jan 7^th, 2009 at 4:50pm Last night I had a nasty bout. Started at 1225am lasting until 2am, half hour brake then started back up. Shadowing heavily until about 6 this morning. I also had back to back hits this past Sunday. A bit unusual for me, but fuck 'em. I'm still here.
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Opus CH.com Hall of Famer Offline "We have met the enemy... and he is us" Posts: 2746 Sidney,NY USA Gender:	Re: 4-6 hour attacks Reply #8 - Jan 7^th, 2009 at 5:17pm Mine were always 4 hours unaborted. That is the reason I have not had an attack I haven't aborted in 5 years. Thankfully trex and O2 work well for me. I am never without on or the other. Paul
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Langa CH.com Alumnus Offline So many donuts, such little time... Posts: 4754 x0\|\|USA\|usa\|0\|0\|NJ,New_Jersey Gender:	Re: 4-6 hour attacks Reply #9 - Jan 7^th, 2009 at 6:12pm I had a 4 hour ch once...I was praying for death. Do you use oxygen/imitrex or any other form of aborting ch? Langa
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Guiseppi CH.com Moderator CH.com Alumnus Offline San Diego to Florida 05-16-2011 Posts: 12063 SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA USA Gender:	Re: 4-6 hour attacks Reply #10 - Jan 7^th, 2009 at 7:00pm I've NEVER had a 4 hour attack...sheesh.....I refuse to even IMAGINE a 4 hour attack...damn. My heart goes out to you, thought the occasional 90 minute hit was worthy of a good cry. Joe
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UnderTheRadar CH.com Old Timer Offline Literally Posts: 383 Texas Gender:	Re: 4-6 hour attacks Reply #11 - Jan 7^th, 2009 at 8:16pm My attacks usually last about 2-3 hours each. But you know, you might also be experiencing secondary headaches on top of it- like migraines or tension headaches...that can keep the party goin' for hours!!
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Batch

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Bremerton, WA
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Re: 4-6 hour attacks
Reply #12 - Jan 7^th, 2009 at 9:04pm

Going by the International Headache Classification (ICHD-2) "Book Classification" that describes the acute cluster headache as...

Attacks of severe, strictly unilateral pain which is orbital, supraorbital, temporal or in any combination of these sites, lasting 15-180 minutes and occurring from once every other day to 8 times a day. The attacks are associated with one or more of the following, all of which are ipsilateral: conjunctival injection, lacrimation, nasal congestion, rhinorrhoea, forehead and facial sweating, miosis, ptosis, eyelid oedema. Most patients are restless or agitated during an attack.
Diagnostic criteria:

1. At least 5 attacks fulfilling criteria B-D
2. Severe or very severe unilateral orbital, supraorbital and/or temporal pain lasting 15-180 minutes if untreated1
3. Headache is accompanied by at least one of the following:
   1. ipsilateral conjunctival injection and/or lacrimation
   2. ipsilateral nasal congestion and/or rhinorrhoea
   3. ipsilateral eyelid oedema
   4. ipsilateral forehead and facial sweating
   5. ipsilateral miosis and/or ptosis
   6. a sense of restlessness or agitation
4. Attacks have a frequency from one every other day to 8 per day2
5. Not attributed to another disorder3

For more details of this classification please see the following link:

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Anything is possible, but an attack lasting 4 to 6 hours would appear to be out of limits per the classification above. Back-to-back attacks where the time between attacks without pain wasn't clearly recognizable is possible, but there's the also the possibility of something else going down.

See your doctor/neurologist.

V/R, Batch

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ClusterChuck

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and again, and again,
and .

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Re: 4-6 hour attacks
Reply #13 - Jan 7^th, 2009 at 9:35pm

Pete, those are great "GUIDE LINES" ... But most of us know, there are possible variations on those.

Quote:

2. Severe or very severe unilateral

Well, how about an oddball? Like ME? As most know, I get hits on either side. AND there have been a few times where I got hit on BOTH sides, at the same time. That is NOT unilateral!

Quote:

once every other day to 8 times a day

Again, oddball me has blown THAT statement out of the water! And I am not the ONLY one! I have heard of many that have had more than EIGHT hits in a 24 hour period. I do it several times a week during my "normal" cycle period, and EVERY DAY, during my "high" cycle period.

And how often have we heard that a sufferer gets only one or two hits a week?

SO, it IS possible to be outside those guide lines. I have been tested often and quite recently, and I have no other condition to cause my "oddities" ...

BUT, I DO agree that this needs to be brought to the doctor's attention, to verify that nothing else IS causing the oddities.

Chuck

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Garys_Girl

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Re: 4-6 hour attacks
Reply #14 - Jan 7^th, 2009 at 9:46pm

Yeah - those are guidelines. Gary's had up to 12 attacks in one 24 hour period, and 10 isn't so unusual. He pretty regularly has the 3 hour attacks, but has definitely had 4 - 5 hour attacks that - just like all the other ones - ramp quickly and stay "peaked" until they let up back into his high level of shadowing.

Thank GOD they've never switched sides or been on both sides at once. Chuck, I can't imagine.

Laurie

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MITYRARE

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Re: 4-6 hour attacks
Reply #15 - Jan 7^th, 2009 at 10:17pm

Back in the early 1980s the published definition of CH only maxed out at 120 minutes and it took an entire neurological team of specialists at a university hospital witnessing my CH and wiring me up to sleep clinic like equipment to monitor brain waves to finally confirm my diagnosis as CH (with Cluster Tic Syndrome) when routinely they lasted 3-4 hours.

The first time I saw a printed reference to the longer 180 minute maximum was in 1998.

As years passed my CH became classic 45 min to 90 min duration and then in my forties i would get a mix of 5-8 hits a day of 45 min- 90 min and then a real good 3hour long duration attack at least once every other day( and a constant 24/7 low grade migraine all during cycle).

So odd ball exceptions are out there for sure.

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Opus

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and he is us"

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Re: 4-6 hour attacks
Reply #16 - Jan 8^th, 2009 at 7:42am

Batch wrote on Jan 7^th, 2009 at 9:04pm:

Anything is possible, but an attack lasting 4 to 6 hours would appear to be out of limits per the classification above. Back-to-back attacks where the time between attacks without pain wasn't clearly recognizable is possible, but there's the also the possibility of something else going down.

W00t, Batch says I don't have CH! J/K My long attacks are one reason I cannot get a nero to treat me. They have it in their head it must be migraines and since they don't know about migraines like that there is nothing they can do.

Good thing what ever I have responds to CH medicine, so I can self treat with the help of my GP.

There are many people that do not fit the norm. Of course always see a Nero, never self diagnose. I was diagnosed by an ER doc and so far the diagnoses has worked for me.

I have also had the dreaded double sided CH, Not fun at all, took both O2 and trex to kill it. I also used to get cluster/migraines, even less fun as you are throwing up the whole time, and cannot move or it gets worse.

Paul

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Chris Morrow CH.com Veteran Offline Messin' with Sasquatch Posts: 100 Asheville, NC Gender:	Re: 4-6 hour attacks Reply #17 - Jan 8^th, 2009 at 9:28am I was hit last night for a 4 1/2 hour ride. Pure hell....I have had some vicious attacks this week, but nothing like this one. I've lost my voice from screaming. I've had 1-2 per cycle for the past 4 years.
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Layla328

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Re: 4-6 hour attacks
Reply #18 - Jan 8^th, 2009 at 11:58am

At peak of cycle I have had one that did not respond to O2--lasted an hour at KIP 10--ramped down--only to ramp back up pretty much immediately lasting another hour. Wow, did that s*ck, so I can't imagine 4-6 hours. But my neuro told me that it is possible for them to go on even longer than I described when I was describing these awful ones that happen at peak of cycle (not sure why he shared that info with me) but anyway, do you have a good doctor/treatment plan b/c you shouldn't have to deal with it going that long. Do you have imitrex (injectable)? That is probably what I would recommend, b/c it will probably stop the headache.

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Rolomatic Ex Member	Re: 4-6 hour attacks Reply #19 - Jan 8^th, 2009 at 12:20pm Hi Shayzzee, It happens to me at least once a month, yesterday as a mater of fact. It started at 1 pm and ran till 6pm when I finally gave in and hit the IM DHE. They were intractable continuous peaks hitting K8 and O2 resistant, between 2-3pm on constant O2 @ 25 LPM. $hit happens! PF’s to ya, Rolo…
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Batch

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Control The Beast With
O2 & D3 You Must

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Re: 4-6 hour attacks
Reply #20 - Jan 8^th, 2009 at 12:59pm

Well... That sure smoked out a few more outliers with cluster headache attack patterns that exceed the ICH classification guide for diagnosis, but then it's just a guide and I wasn't questioning the diagnosis...

There are however, some other medical conditions and triggers associated with cluster headache attacks that may make them more painful, more frequent... and even last longer.

There's no sense in being a record holder in any of these categories without at least trying to find out why or if anything can be done to avoid that status... A good neurologist experienced in treating cluster headache sufferers may be able to help.

Take care,

V/R, Batch

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You love lots of things if you live around them. But there isn't any woman and there isn't any horse, that’s as lovely as a great airplane. If it's a beautiful fighter, your heart will be ever there

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Rolomatic

Ex Member

Re: 4-6 hour attacks
Reply #21 - Jan 8^th, 2009 at 2:10pm

Hi Pete

I would add to the trigger effect “MSG”, it has been at the root of my worst K10 x 24hr continuous attack periods. I avoid it like the plague, and do not eat at restaurants that use it. I check all the canned goods and pre-prepared food that I eat. I believe it to be a universal trigger like beer or just alcohol for many. They (food companies) hide the $hit in almost everything these days. Go to the link and read the astounding list of sneaky ways this ingredient is slipped into your food supply.

Get some O2, best dam friend I have some days.

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Best,

Rolo. Wink

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Marc Ex Member Gender:	Re: 4-6 hour attacks Reply #22 - Jan 8^th, 2009 at 2:23pm Rolo, Are you saying a K10 for 24 hours?!!
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Rolomatic Ex Member	Re: 4-6 hour attacks Reply #23 - Jan 8^th, 2009 at 2:29pm Mark, Up-Dn (more up than down) every 1.5-2 hours constantly for 12-24 hours straight. I can easily use more than an M-tank in a bad bout of hits over one day’s time.
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UnderTheRadar

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Literally

Posts: 383
Texas
Gender: female

Re: 4-6 hour attacks
Reply #24 - Jan 8^th, 2009 at 3:27pm

here's one for ya...I got hit Tuesday evening and it ramped up to about an 8 or 9...took the usual stuff, resorted to the fiorinal- didn't touch it...

finally passed out around 3am, woke up with a K6 that stuck with me all day until about 4pm when it went up to a 9; stayed there all evening, no ups and downs, just stayed there;

after 5 fiorinals and no relief, I finally passed out about 3 am again.

Woke up this morning with the energizer bunny still rollin' at a 6 or 7, saw the doc and got a shot of Tordall (sp?) and a Reglan pill, took a nap, and now it's down to a 3-4. Cheesy

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