Posted by Bill McCuistion (198.64.206.92) on October 08, 1999 at 19:30:08:
In Reply to: brain bruises posted by hub on October 08, 1999 at 08:20:54:
hub,
I think you are right about the effect of duration and intensity on the resulting CH residual "afterglow". I seem to experience different aftershock-profiles and have associated these with different CH-attack/treatment profiles.
I often feel so much better after an intense CH-attack that I forget about how shitty I feel from the residual pain. Under normal conditions, I would treat the kind of pain I get from the CH-residual as a primary condition on itself. Under CH-conditions, however, I find myself hesitant to treat the residual for fear that that might trigger another CH-attack. So sets up a cycle. The residual-pain leads to depression which is debilitating on its own. Then another CH-attack wave hits me in a weakened condition. The residual-pain builds up, the depression builds up, the debilitation increases and the cycle intensifies. Soon it is a runaway reaction.
In order to break the cycle I use the method discussed earlier: shift from CH management to pain management, depression management and stress management. Allow the body, mind and spirit a chance to get traction again. These once secondary now primary conditions are all part of my CH experience.
I would like more insight on how to deal with the CH-residual problem. Sort of like a firefighter who has to stay on the scene of a fire to put out the smoldering ashes so that they don't errupt into another fire. A CH-attack seems to have these phases: the calm, early warnings, the wind-up, full volume, the wind-down, the residual and the calm. I never found a good alcohol-hangover remedy but hope to have better results with the CH-residual remedy. May even try snake oil.