Posted by John Braganca (142.150.129.72) on August 08, 2000 at 00:59:09:
First of all, thanks to all those who responded to my inquiry about rebound headaches and especially those who identified codeine as a probable cause.
Secondly, in scanning the message board I've come across some references to hyperventilating as a abortive method.
This morning I felt a cluster winding up so I dropped a cafergot pill. This seemed to do nothing as the CH developed in intensity.
I suddenly recalled hyperventilating as a response to CH and began doing just that. I dropped to all fours and breathed in and out very deeply to the point of developing lightheadedness.
My four year-old daughter also decided that now would be a good time to jump on my back and make me giddyup. This broke my concentration, and in the process of demonstrating how much terror I could strike into the heart of a four year-old I realized that my CH had fully abated. There remained not even a memory of the attack.
I'm not absolutely sure that hyperventilating did the trick, but I'm sure as hell glad that I gave it a try. For anyone who has not tried it, please give it a shot. Perhaps the most difficult thing is overcoming the awarkwardness of looking like an idiot and the uncertainty of relying on a drug-free response.
If I use this method a second time I'll post the results.