Posted by Foz (209.37.191.201) on October 08, 1999 at 11:32:09:
In Reply to: answer and another question posted by Darrell on October 07, 1999 at 16:15:33:
Darrell,
The only thing that consistent about my CH is that it is inconsistent!
Sounds like you and I are very much alike, though.
I get the residual headaches with 9's & 10's. Sounds sick, but the residual feels so good after a 9/10 cause I know it is over for awhile, and usually when i start getting residuals I am beginning the down side of the episode.
I also have nothing but confusion about my "triggers", I can't pinpoint if the things I try to identify are really triggers, or just co-incidence. I think it is mainly co-incidence for me. However, I was convinced of the trigger of my last episode. My wife and I were trying to be healthier, so we were drinking more milk, juice, and water. I got rewarded with a particularly nasty episode that none of my usual meds would help. I finally realized that I was consuming virtually no caffeine. The CH only went away after I returned to my lifelong habit of drinking Lipton Instant Iced Tea like a fish! I had discusssed caffeine withdrawal with my neurologist years before, but during that episode, it just didn't dawn on me right away.
I usually get at least one new and tricky item every time it appears. At first, I typically get a few days or a week of "twings" behind my left eye(It likes telling me it is on the way.) Even if I start meds, it gets stronger and more frequent. Weeks 2-3 are filled with 3-5 times a day of 7's and 8's with a 10 thrown in (usually at 3am) for good measure. Then I get treated to the different item. Sometimes it is a week of 10's 2-3 times a day, or one "fun" example was my first 8 hour CH that included a 3 hour 10 followed by what I thought was the usual drop to residual, but when it got to 6-7, it jumped back to a 10 for another 4 hour romp through my skull. It just loves to show off new tricks from time to time.
Consistence through inconsistency!
Foz
PS. You are NEVER NUTS for trying to figure out / question /discuss what is really going on with this lousy beast!!!!!!