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Geo

(Member)
From: Adelaide
1 total posts
Not currently suffering :D
08 Jan, 2009 - 3:19 pm
I am new to this site as I am seemingly a new ghastly hybrid of cluster and migraine ( I would be interested to know if any one else gets headaches that typically last up to a week and my current one since mid December..Hell on earth). Like all desperate pain sufferers I suspect certain foods: milk products‚ cheap chocolate ‚residue on veggies that have rind alongside dehydration..
To complicate matters I hit my head in October and the headaches got worse alongside many near fainting spells so I am reluctant to take medication if noone really knows and it could make things (EVEN)worse. Could people share their triggers as there is oddly nothing about on the website- stress is obvious in the frame but how is that measured given I have been the way I am and have 3 close female family with migraine
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lil_fuzzy

(Admin/Moderator)
From: Burpengary
112 total posts
Not currently suffering :D
09 Jan, 2009 - 4:13 pm
Welcome to the forum‚ and sorry to hear what you are going throughicon

Yes‚ you are right‚ there's no info on triggers on the forum‚ because there are no definite triggers for clusterheadaches. There are some things which trigger an attack for some people‚ such as sleep‚ chocolate and alcohol‚ but a lot of people find that they can eat and do anything they want without triggering an attack‚ and the attack will come at its usual time every day‚ despite them eating chocolate and drinking alcohol.
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Hefty

(Member)
From: sydney
13 total posts
Not currently suffering :D
10 Jan, 2009 - 1:09 am
Hey Geo‚

There's a bunch of info on triggers on the ch.com forum - not sure if it's the done thing for me to post a link to another site so might wait for someone in the know to say if that's okay. *waits*

Personally I think it's worth us pooling what we know - even though triggers vary it might help you notice one if someone else mentions it.

My husband sometimes gets cluster-migraine combos too - not nice! But while migraines can last a long time‚ are you sure the clusters aren't just coming and going on top of that? I don't know all that much as i'm new to the site too‚ but a one week cluster sounds pretty dangerous and in need of emergency care to me! Do you have a neurologist?

For migraines you could see an allergy specialist and do an elimination diet - for many people there are foods which need to be avoided. I did one of these for migraine‚ it was worth it to stop guessing and actually know.

Anyway really hope your cycle breaks soon!
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zinzan

(Member)
From: St Ives
16 total posts
Currently suffering :(
01 Feb, 2009 - 6:14 pm
Hi all‚

All of the below relates to triggers while in cycle. Out of cycle the only way I'd get a cluster headache is with a nail-gun to the temple. The problem with trying to identify triggers is that in-cycle‚ you have about a 85-99% chance of getting a headache in the next 24 hours‚ so breathing and drinking water are highly correlated with CH
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Triggers (100% effectiveness & immediate):
- Cigarette smoke
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Triggers (100% effectiveness but at night):
- Red wine
- Dark spirits
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Triggers (Less than 100%)
- Other alcohol
- Altitude (aeroplanes / mountains)
- Dehydration
- Glare
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Possible Triggers
- Dark chocolate
- Ahh‚ sexual activity
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Not triggers
- Stress
- Oranges
- De-stress
- Exercise
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zinzan

(Member)
From: St Ives
16 total posts
Currently suffering :(
01 Feb, 2009 - 6:22 pm
In addition‚ I also get ocular migraines that are apparently related in terms of the nerves affected. Thankfully they just prevent me from seeing‚ make me dizzy and fatigued

Triggers for these ones are: chocolate and intense (yeah‚ right!) concentration
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lil_fuzzy

(Admin/Moderator)
From: Burpengary
112 total posts
Not currently suffering :D
01 Feb, 2009 - 10:12 pm
The reason triggers for CH are not listed one this site‚ is because there are no definite triggers. What triggers it for you may not trigger it for anyone else.

My partner can have all of the 'usual' triggers all he wants - chocolate‚ alcohol etc‚ and they don't trigger CH for him‚ even tho they are known to trigger CH for *some* people.

A 'trigger' could be anything really‚ it all depends on the individual. That's the thing about CH‚ it's always different from person to person and no one knows for sure what causes it in the first place‚ or what triggers it.
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saintpeter

(Member)
From:
606 total posts
Not currently suffering :D
02 Feb, 2009 - 12:06 pm
Yeah‚ triggers are funny things.
I find an overheated room will trigger me‚ especially if it's a wood fire‚ although that could be because the oxygen level is too low. I find aeroplanes trigger me for the same reason.
Cigarette smoke of any kind does not bother me‚ (possibly because I live and work in a country where smoking is permitted just about everywhere‚ and by everyone)‚ nor does cigar or pipe smoke‚ except if its those vanilla scented cigars. Then I have to walk away. Smoke from a house fire or a burning rubbish bin will trigger me. A bush fire wont.
Red wine or dark spirits can set me off‚ so it's lucky vodka is the drink of choice here. But if I've had a few‚ then alcohol doesn't trigger me‚ whatever type it is. I NEVER have an attack if I've got a hangover- maybe someone can explain that for me?
Work stress doesn't trigger me‚ and it doesn't get much more stressful in the workplace than here‚ but I don't have lifestyle stress‚ so maybe that compensates.
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zinzan

(Member)
From: St Ives
16 total posts
Currently suffering :(
04 Feb, 2009 - 10:12 pm
Hi StPeter‚

Don't know - but there is some loose relationship between serotonin and CH. Alcohol is a vaso-constrictor and a histamine and for both reasons a possible trigger‚ but it also has a depressant effect‚ presumably lowering serotonin

I'm glad that hang-overs aren't any protection for me‚ or I'd be an alcoholic

Re: Rugby. Trying to decide whether to go 'round again - any thoughts?

ZZ
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saintpeter

(Member)
From:
606 total posts
Not currently suffering :D
06 Feb, 2009 - 12:52 pm
Geez‚ if there was any way I could get a run I would‚ so yeah‚ I say go for it.
That fresh Sydney air (cough cough); no really‚ you're the right side of 40 (if my maths is good); if your Doc says you're not going to burst an artery‚ then why not? You've got enough time to do a decent pre-season so you'll not be stiff as a board. If you improve your fitness‚ you improve your blood oxygen carrying capability‚ and that's got to be good‚ right?
The only thing you've got to ask yourself‚ is what would happen in the workplace if you got laid up with torn knee ligaments or something serious like that. Some bosses get a bit narky when you can't walk for 6 weeks‚ or you frighten clients away with the amount of titanium scaffolding poking out of your calf muscles. But if you do get fit and play‚ you could go for ten years‚ but wait a few and it WILL be too late.
Get into the golden oldies and grow old disgracefully‚ that's what I reckon.
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