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        New Message Board Archives >> 2005 Cluster Headache Specific Posts >> Congestion
        
(Message started by: bJordan on Aug 8^th, 2005, 2:46pm)

Title: Congestion
Post by bJordan on Aug 8^th, 2005, 2:46pm

I'm not new, but it's been several years since I've been here. Out of mind out of mind I guess. But they're back.
Got 3 today already. Always get a lot of anger in the beginning of a cycle.
Anyway this round seems somewhat different. Each attack is preceded with unbeleivable congestion in my left nostril (this side my attacks come). The congestion is unbearable. I am also addicted to nasal spray and it does not help during these attacks at all.
What I was wondering is: Do other people experience this extreme congestion? I've always had my nose run when getting an attack, but this time it's really dammed up!
And also since the only other person I know personally to have these (my brother) is also on the evil nose spray, if there may be some connection? Any other nose spray junkies out there with Clusters?

Thanks and forgive my rambling.
Brian

Title: Re: Congestion
Post by unsolved1 on Aug 8^th, 2005, 2:52pm

I'm not a "nose spray junky" but I do experience (nose) congestion on the same side as the pain .... everytime.

Unsolved

Title: Re: Congestion
Post by seasonalboomer on Aug 8^th, 2005, 3:08pm

on 08/08/05 at 14:46:33, bJordan wrote:

1.) It's pretty consistent that Cluster folks get nasal congestion on the same side as their CH symptoms. "Dammed up" is a pretty good description. Damnable is another word to use.

2.) The congestion for most of us is pretty bearable, compared to the unbearable nature of the pain.

3.) Certain symptoms are pretty consistent from sufferer to sufferer, but virtually everyone has some little personalized special symptom or something that works or doesn't work for them. Many times these are based on other illnesses or ailments that the sufferer has that accentuate are abbreviate certain aspects of the CH experience. Nasal spray "addiction" will probably bring some symptoms that others don't get, as well as potential issues for treatments and medications.

Make your doctor aware of your "problem" before you go in for prescriptives to help your CH. Maybe he can help you get past the nasal spray issue -- as, long term, nasal spray will cause you much misery down the road in other ways.

Title: Re: Congestion
Post by Jasmyn on Aug 8^th, 2005, 5:43pm

Congested and runny but nose spray does not even help as it won't go through.

Title: Re: Congestion
Post by Sandy_C on Aug 8^th, 2005, 6:37pm

During a hit, my right nostril will begin to run like a sieve, just the opposite of "congestion". But, then it will begin to clog up where I cannot get any air through it at all to the point of pain and breathing difficulty. At some point, mid way through the hit, I will begin to sneeze, very violently where it actually hurts my chest/lungs, and this will go on for several minutes, non-stop. Once the sneezing has started to diminish, I can then take a shot of nasal spray. It will not work at all if I take it too soon. Gotta stop the sneezing first. I use Sinex 12 hr - only one very short shot in the right nostril. This will usually help open the nasal passage and I start breathing again normally. I have noticed on the directions of all nasal decongestant sprays to use from one to three squirts in each nostril. Never, never this much. Only one teeny tiny squirt helps, and it keeps me from being dependent on the stuff to breathe.

Title: Re: Congestion
Post by eyes_afire on Aug 8^th, 2005, 7:59pm

Quote:

Do other people experience this extreme congestion?

Oh yes. Extreme as in 'total blockage'. Then sometimes it will get runny as the CH progresses. Actually the blockage precedes the pain, so I use it as a warning sign. Forget the nasal sprays... I've never had one work and there's hell to pay in rebound congestion.

--- Steve

Title: Re: Congestion
Post by floridian on Aug 9^th, 2005, 2:15pm

Congestion, runny nose, tearing of one eye, swelling of the eye, these are all common symptoms - sometimes worse than others.

I don't like the nasal sprays. A dependence builds up quickly, and then if a squirt is missed, the sinuses rebound and swell shut. Pseudophed is also a powerful med with undesireable effects in clusterheads - it messes with the Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Adrenal system and the circadian cycles.

Title: Re: Congestion
Post by burnt-toast on Aug 9^th, 2005, 7:52pm

severe congestion is common for me during attacks. I've learned that blowing my nose in an attempt to clear it while an attack is active is not only foolish because it instantly clogs back up but it can increase the intensity of an attack 70+% of the time. I just deal with it until the attack subsides.

Tom

Title: Re: Congestion
Post by Tom54 on Aug 10^th, 2005, 1:23am

Years ago as an episodic I had congestion left side only; then later in life, I turned into chronic at 2-3/day. Don't want to scare you any cuz everyone is different...doesn't mean you'd go chronic. I pray you don't.
Tom

Title: Re: Congestion
Post by brainfreeze on Aug 10^th, 2005, 9:19am

My stuffy nostril is always a sign I'm getting a CH. The right side always stops up yet runs profusely (?). Since this is such a common characteristic (for me), my docs and I tried lidocaine nose spray to see if it affected the pain that started accompanying the stuffiness. Lidocaine is a numbing solution. It seemed to work but like all other meds, it's effectiveness wore off after using it for a time. Now I'm prescribed steriod nasal spray (Nasonex) for the blockage. It's much better than OTC nasal sprays. If you need a nasal spray, talk to your doc about a prescribed one that doesn't cause addiction.

Title: Re: Congestion
Post by vig on Aug 10^th, 2005, 9:24am

I used to joke that I could soak a towel with sweat and snot during a bad attack...
gross huh?
;;D

Title: Re: Congestion
Post by rickyshot on Aug 10^th, 2005, 1:41pm

Oh wow That is me to the T. I thought I was the only one with the sneezing thing. I used to think it was allergies and sinus but found out different. And for me when in cycle if the congestion and sneezing is ch and not something else no decongestents will work at all. Oh man during this cycle when I sneeze I am FUCKED. What is up with that. It is the strangest malady.

Title: Re: Congestion
Post by Kiwiinoz58 on Aug 10^th, 2005, 5:44pm

They surely are the weirdest thing these CH's. My daily routine is- very runny nose, violent sneezing & weeping eye followed by congestion, then the pain starts in jaw, ear and head and builds up to about an average of 7. Strange though I sometimes think I'm the only one who does not experience the "exploding eyeball"

Wishing you all PF days and nights,
Cheers,
Jacqs

Title: Re: Congestion
Post by Redd715 on Aug 11^th, 2005, 1:20pm

I too am a nasal spray addict, from the many years of being told the CH was allergy attacks, and nothing and mean NOTHING they prescribed ever helped. I got inbto the habit of using the spray before bed every night. I thought that if my sinuses were clear at the time I went to sleep I could prevent the wake-me-up "allergy attacks"

Still use the spray, not as a preventive, but because I still want to breathe.... [smiley=laugh.gif]