Posted by gary g on March 21, 1999 at 16:59:04:
In Reply to: Alcohol CH and Shadows posted by Stefan Th on March 18, 1999 at 21:13:49:
as far as shadows go - it is my opinion that shadows mean we are still "in season" with our CH - the attacks are a feature of a syndrome onset, they are not the entire situation - see recent research reports especially in The Lancet - big srtides being made in seeing the cluster cycle in its entirety)
so - if we consider a period of "shadow" as PART of the overall cluster, we will probably be on the safer side of things - if in shadow, avoid anything you think of as "triggers" and don't abruptly stop any regular medication without cking w/the doc & tapering off
on to the specific topic:
Agreed - there is nothing in UNANIMOUS about CH
BUT -
the CLOSEST thing to a single,universal attack trigger is alcohol (and the physiology of why is pretty elementary - do a little research)
(just like the CLOSEST thing to a single, universal attack abortive is oxygen, though not 100% of the time for 100% of the people)
I guess I feel the need to again raise the issue of the well-established link between CH attacks & booze
- it will undoubtedly make some folks angry - but if it does - remember the axiom that those statements that make us the angriest, are probably closest to the truth (otherwise, we don't care)
OK ?-
anybody who is very concerned about whether or not to drink alcohol during a CH bout may do well to be considering other problems EVEN MORE POTENTIALLY DAMAGING THAN CH
(they say people who don't have a drinking problem just don't think about their drinking to begin with)
IF ALCOHOL MAKES YOUR HEADACHES WORSE - EVER - AND YOU DRINK ANYWAY ANYWHERE NEAR A CH CYCLE,
THAT IS BOTH A CLUSTER HEADACHE PROBLEM AND A DRINKING PROBLEM -
IF YOU FIND THIS STATEMENT OFFENSIVE, OK - IGNORE IT AND MOVE ON TO THE NEXT TOPIC-
THIS IS FOR EVERYONE ELSE, WHO ARE SERIOUS ABOUT HELPING THEIR CH PROBLEM -
as far as TYPE of alcohol making a difference - that is just chemical & medical foolishness - no matter WHAT the topic - there is a molecule we call "alcohol" that is EXACTLY the same no matter what solution (the type of beverage) you find it i;
those of us with some training in substance abuse issues, and many others as well, always grin at this "type of booze" differentiation - because it is one of the recurring and most common denial/defensive ploys used when people begin to question their drinking -
(to be fair - do not confuse this with the issue of people who are in fact to allergic to OTHER components of certain alcoholic beverages - that is a different issue)
smoking ? another troublesome issue, not quite as clear as alcohol - but follow the logic & draw your own conclusions - oxygen delivery to the brain is ABSOLUTELY a factor in RELIEF of CH attacks
smoking REDUCES the amount of o2 delivered to the brain
take it from there
again - I REGRET if my comments upset anybody, but I do not APOLOGIZE - because, if they don't apply to you, then there's no problem; if they do apply to you, I may be doing you a favor even if it pisses you off & makes you think I'm a jerk.
You see-
I just get REAL concerned when folks who are obviously way behind in their CH homework AND very defensive about their drinking, start spouting VERY DANGEROUS stuff to sincere CH "newbies" who are seriously and desperately looking for help...