Posted by Paco (204.111.93.23) on October 09, 2001 at 09:35:12:
In Reply to: Possible CH Cure - Long Winded posted by SteveY on October 09, 2001 at 08:59:36:
...to try to work into your well-reasoned summary:
Is it not true that the pain sometimes starts before dilation? Could it be that the hypothalamus (being a little distorted) "thinks" one side of the brain is not getting enough oxygen, and thus dilates the vessels, increases bp, heart rate, etc. to correct the perceived problem? Where are these "higher centers" of the brain, (thought process, reasoning, etc.)located? Why should the correcting feedback signal go to the "dormant" half of the hypothalamus for endorphin release? I ask these questions because some years ago I presented my "oxygen deprivation" theory of cluster triggering to my neuro. He just smiled condescendingly and said, "Well, the process is a little more complicated than that." I do agree with you on the genetic factor, and said as much in a post here a couple months ago. I'm still trying to educate myself in the basics of genetics. A final thought: I believe that whatever triggers your CH (alcohol, msg, nitro, nicotine, stress) supplies the hypothalamus with the signal that the brain is not getting enough oxygen. Anyhow, thanks for stirring up my sawdust. I hope you are right, and that Dr. Goadsby can soon point a finger at the offending gene.