Posted by Dan (152.163.232.19) on October 07, 1999 at 17:27:09:
In Reply to: Help Me Open My Mind posted by Bob P on October 07, 1999 at 15:12:03:
Bob,
After reading about everyone else's experience, I have learned a great deal about these monsters. Until I began to read this message board, I didn't know that there was such a thing as "chronics". I am very definitely "episodic". It seems to me that there are many different kinds of attacks (as well as cycles) as there are clusterheads to experience them.
I can only speak for myself, but for the last 17 years, my cycles and attacks have been very consistant:
Cycles:
From 6 to 8 weeks in length, with a period of remission that lasts from 4 to 6 months. The last time I was in remission, it lasted for almost eight YEARS (Thank God), but that was the first time that happened.
Attacks:
One per day, approximately 23 to 25 hours apart. Almost never happens during the night, and rarely happens in the morning. Most likely to happen in early evening (about 70%), or mid-afternoon.
Always lasts from 45 to 60 minutes.
Goes from nothing to peak in about 5 minutes, and then goes from peak to nothing in about 10 minutes. Occasionally will have some warning ahead of time, in the form of "sparklies" or wavy lines in my peripheral vision for a minute or two before the attack starts. (Gives me time to get to the side of the road if I'm driving)
Peak levels will vary, according to how well the meds are working. (I am getting very good results from Verapamil SR in this cycle, but it takes from 4 to 7 days to reach its proper level.)Without meds, pain level usually goes to 9 or 10 on the Kip scale. Level will lower to 5 or 6 as meds are adjusted. At proper level of meds, only a 2 or 3 on the Kip scale.
Pain levels mainly constant througout the cycle, though the first few days will peak out at about a 5 or 6. And when I begin to skip a day, I know that I can start to taper off the meds.
I know you weren't asking about "episodic" sufferers, but I hope this helps anyway.
Dan