I would dearly like to lean out of the window, and scream: “Stress is not likely a reason for CH!”,
although stress can be a trigger, or as in my case an indirect trigger, I just (bluntly) ignore the signal of an onset of an episode, and I am in a stress situation believing things must be done, and done now.... and I pay the price! But that is me.
Yes CH brings with it self-stress (defiantly at the beginning of the “syndrome”), for me, just over 3 years and 6 months (about), without identification of the new situation, the running to the ER or the Dr. looking for relief, with no immediate identification for the cause of the excruciating pain, visits with the dentist, visits with the eye specialist (finding I need glasses, but no real answer to the pain), visits to the Otolaryngologist (ear, nose and throat doctor) and a surgery on the nose and forehead .... With no real relief ..... But a justified procedure by itself ..... And then the first visits to the pain clinic and the neurological clinic. Treatment for suspected CH but with the need to verify all aspects .... And the first treatments for specific pain, the GLOA or ganglion stelatum, and the beginning of the use of O2, and the verdict Cluster Headaches, from the start Chronic ....
And all that time the enormous stress, anxiety, not that the verdict relived the stress .... On the contrary ..... new questions, new situations, not totally in control of things, denial ..... And then this website with some answers, and even more questions ..... The trip to Milwaukee, coming (sort of) to term with my new situation ...... The diminishing effect of the GLOA, new stress looking for alternatives, with very marginal success .... Or adverse reaction, be it beta blockers, be it lithium, and the stress of “What now?”, the episodes per day are by now up to five or six, with no real answer. Only O2 as an effective and good abortive (acute treatment), or resort to the use of Zomig, with all the adverse reactions from it, and to it .... and the stress goes on .....
Then the light at the end of the tunnel!(?) .... The ONB (Occipital Nerve block) works very well for a long time, but with some very severe adverse reactions (in my case), with long term damage to the adrenal gland. I still am in treatment.... to “fix” the adrenal gland.
And then the verdict of being ICCH and the stress of looking for what to do next, with very few options left, within the school medicine ... I will mention CB as a plausible alternative, but not for me. I would suggest that anyone that has a job and principles that do not prevent him from using CB, to look into this venue .... I believe it suggests high potential!
So the stress is a prominent companion! Looking for the next step .... DBS (deep brain surgery) is way too radical and removing the nerve is out of the question. It has failed in most of the cases, and the loss of control over some parts of the face, make it even less attractive. The stress is growing … Up to 8 episodes a day, without a comprehensive preventive (prophylactic treatments). Starting to worry about the job, about the family, the future, adding to the stress......
At the end of last year, I was given the opportunity to implant an ONS (occipital nerve stimulator), and a (maybe) new horizon. Well, the stress is still a regular companion, but I have my CH under better control, and the worry about living with CH, the stress anxiety, are somewhat diminishing, but it is still part of me......
I do have to say that despite the stress and the anxiety, I do live a full life, I love my life, and I fight the demon called CH. I do not let it run my life, but, yes, it does affect it in many ways, it does dictate some aspects in my life, somewhat, and it does affect the life of my loved ones, in much more than just one way, and at times my job...... and it is disturbing.... stressing
Stress is part of me..... it dose not trigger an episode, but it might (and dose) increases the way I perceive the pain during an episode, and dose effect my reaction to many situations
Michael
(Tks. Chuck for the orthographic / English help.)