Posted by Roo on March 15, 1999 at 12:54:17:
In Reply to: Marijuana and cluster headaches posted by Jeff on March 13, 1999 at 21:44:51:
A man walked into the doctor's office, complaining horribly.
Patient--"Doctor, doctor, every time I drink my morning coffee, I get a terrible pain in my right eye!"
Doctor--"Do you take cream and sugar?"
Patient--"er....yes, but I don't see what that has to do with my eye."
Doctor--"Try taking the spoon out of your mug. Next!"
Folks, if smoking triggers a cluster, don't smoke. If alcohol triggers a cluster, don't drink. If pot triggers a cluster, stay away from pot (and for the fellow--I think it was "ananymous" who didn't see the connection--just because you smoked it for several years WITHOUT getting a cluster doesn't mean they aren't related--pound your body with enough chemicals, and your chemistry CHANGES, big guy).
I hate to sound harsh, but....DUH.
Caffiene, alcohol, even plain ol' Tylenol will eventually change the chemistry of your brain and body. Having too much of the wrong kind of vitamin can even do funky things to you. That's the way the human machine works; c'mon, how do you think you develop tolerance? Did you think that tolerance was the only possible side effect of smoking/drinking/eating/etc.? Almost anything can be a trigger--lack of sleep is often cited as a trigger, and how many of us pulled off all-nighters back in college with no ill effects?
I'm speaking as a drinker, and an ex-smoker--believe me, I'm speaking from experience when I say all of this. I admit, I was pretty happy when I found (after carefully experimenting) that alcohol wasn't a trigger for me (Guinness is good for you!) but if I had found that it was a trigger, I'd have just stopped drinking. If it causes the kind of pain that comes with CH, why bother? And so far as smoking goes, I mean, geez, it seems like CH would be one more good excuse to avoid a respiratory visit from the Cancer Fairy, don'tcha think?
Anyone?