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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Cluster Headache Specific >> Please humor an old man
        
(Message started by: the_old_man on Jan 4^th, 2005, 10:21pm)

Title: Please humor an old man
Post by the_old_man on Jan 4^th, 2005, 10:21pm

Since I have no life beyond ch, I was wondering if you all can give me a little info about yourselves for me to play around with. I'd like to know if, when you're not in cycle, and I know that's hard for chronics, is your blood pressure usually high, low, or normal...high being above 140 or above 90. 140/84 is high and 135/92 would also be high. Low is below 110 or below 70. Normal would be anything in between. Also are you chronic or episodic and are your HA's mostly daytime or nite time. For instance...my bp is borderline high, I am episodic, and my HA's are primarily nite time. Thanks.

The Old Man

Title: Re: Please humor an old man
Post by Sean_C on Jan 4^th, 2005, 10:29pm

High normal out of cycle

High when in cycle

edit: both day time and night time hits

Sean......................

Title: Re: Please humor an old man
Post by nani on Jan 4^th, 2005, 10:54pm

Hey old man...
I'm a chronic with severe episodes (they come and go as they please)
I have high BP - higher during hits (170/100 during a k9)
I can't take triptans
My regular chronic hits tend to stay below k7
I probably get hit 3-5X day.
I shadow on and off all day, everyday.
I almost never get hit at night
During my episodes, I get hit more often with much higher kips

Hope that was helpful...nani (the old lady)

Title: Re: Please humor an old man
Post by Chillrmn1 on Jan 5^th, 2005, 5:39am

Hi Old Man,

Episodic here, and think my current cycle is at end, no hits fer 2 days, Hooray after 17 weeks! Last check at Neuro's office in Nov while in cycle, BP was @ 140/92. BP when not in cycle and @ rest is usually around 120/70. My HAs, when at peak occur throughout the day & night, sometimes spaced only 2-1/2 hours apart and lasting about 1 hour.

Hope you're feelin better.

Title: Re: Please humor an old man
Post by Langa on Jan 5^th, 2005, 9:17am

Same as Sean...

Langa ;;D

Title: Re: Please humor an old man
Post by becky8 on Jan 5^th, 2005, 2:27pm

on 01/04/05 at 22:54:19, nani wrote:

Thats me,except my blood pessure is fine and I love TREX ( I do injections)and I do get hit at night

Title: Re: Please humor an old man
Post by cat14 on Jan 5^th, 2005, 2:57pm

same as Langa and Sean

Title: Re: Please humor an old man
Post by BlueMeanie on Jan 5^th, 2005, 3:03pm

Episodic. Blood psi normal in or out of cycle. When in cycle get hit day & night. Normal hit times: 2am, 5am, 9am, 3pm, 9pm.

Title: Re: Please humor an old man
Post by Kirk on Jan 5^th, 2005, 4:03pm

cronic
110/60
Usually get hit at night.

Title: Re: Please humor an old man
Post by Ronny on Jan 5^th, 2005, 6:01pm

Let me see,

Episodic (i hope)
BP normal, always
Day and night in high season, low season: only during the day and occasionally at night.

Title: Re: Please humor an old man
Post by don on Jan 5^th, 2005, 7:20pm

Just how old are you?

Title: Re: Please humor an old man
Post by nani on Jan 5^th, 2005, 7:23pm

I think he's almost as old as you, don

Title: Re: Please humor an old man
Post by Grandma_Sweet_Boy on Jan 5^th, 2005, 7:29pm

Oh Nani! That wasn't nice! You'll hurt his feelings and then he'll tell ya that ya suck and then the fight will be on! ;)

To answer the "nice old man" - I'm an episodic - usually the beginning of February (damn, I'm starting already to get cranky about that). When in cycle, my BP goes up a fair bit but ordinarily it's at 110/80 which is good I guess.
I guess I'm considered one of the luckier ones - my hits are almost always in the middle of the night - about an hour or two after I've gone to bed.

It's a concern when you say you have no life beyond CH. Hopefully you're kidding - there is a lot more out there, please don't let this monster consume you completely.

Carol

Title: Re: Please humor an old man
Post by bobbio56 on Jan 5^th, 2005, 7:59pm

Chronic here, bp is almost always 120/70, except during an actual attack and I've moved my house over about 10 ft. or so. I just move it back again with the next HA.

Almost always hit, 1am, 3am, 6am , 1pm, 7pm.

PFD, Bobbio.

Title: Re: Please humor an old man
Post by the_old_man on Jan 5^th, 2005, 10:48pm

Don,
I'm 60. There's no advantage to getting old. The only good thing is that I no longer fear dying young.

Carol,
I was kidding. I can function just fine during the day because I only get hit at night. I AM tired though from the constantly interrupted sleep. I'm regular with the hits...1:30,
3:30, 5:30...that's when I get up for the day. I usually don't get another hit until 1:30 am again. They last about 45 minutes to an hour, and I fight them barehanded...no meds at all.

The Old Man

Title: Re: Please humor an old man
Post by don on Jan 6^th, 2005, 9:50am

60? Old? Gimme a break.

Give yourself a break.

Title: Re: Please humor an old man
Post by heprat on Jan 6^th, 2005, 12:23pm

episodic
typically nightime hits in cycle
normal to low BP consistently

Title: Re: Please humor an old man
Post by kimh on Jan 6^th, 2005, 3:27pm

Hey ole man,

I'm 44 episodic (female) for about 25 years. As for when attacks establish pattern - it can start out one way and morph throughout cycle. Hardest hits wake me from sleep or begin occuring late afternoon into the early morning hours. The daytime episodes are mostly strong shadows that increase towards evening and early morning.

BP is low all the time and drops off even lower when attacks hit. I am somewhat of a heavy smoker and have wondered if this is related to BP levels. But lots of heavy smokers (and drinkers) here and not too many hits on the LOW BP....hmmmm [smiley=huh.gif]

I've talked about BPlevels b4 and so far gotten similar responses to you***

Title: Re: Please humor an old man
Post by E-Double on Jan 6^th, 2005, 6:13pm

Hiya old guy,

I'm 31 episodic...2 brief cycles a yr. (1month) since 1995.
This yr my cycle has been going strong since May.
8 months...Go figure.

Blood pressure is just fine and I get daytime hits now mostly since I started using melatonin in July. Once in a while I will be awaken with a tweak.

Wishing you well.

Eric....

Oh yeah I'm a Scorpio and I like earth tones but look good in many colors ;;D

Title: Re: Please humor an old man
Post by Jonny on Jan 6^th, 2005, 7:30pm

on 01/05/05 at 19:20:32, don wrote:

Just how old are you?

Hey shit for brains!

Dont fuck with the old man.......otherwise you fuck with me...got it? >:(

Title: Re: Please humor an old man
Post by LeLimey on Jan 6^th, 2005, 7:35pm

on 01/05/05 at 22:48:47, the_old_man wrote:

I'm 60. There's no advantage to getting old. The only good thing is that I no longer fear dying young.

Good grief... 60 isn't old! not even 90 is old these days! My grandfather in law was 100 on new years day and do you know what we got him? a unicycle!
If there's life in him you have NO excuse to call yourself old!!

Title: Re: Please humor an old man
Post by Grandma_Sweet_Boy on Jan 6^th, 2005, 7:36pm

But he mght like that- you keep makin' promises to him! ;;D

Title: Re: Please humor an old man
Post by don on Jan 6^th, 2005, 11:00pm

Quote:

otherwise you fuck with me...got it?

Oh no. Not that.

Title: Re: Please humor an old man
Post by aceserve on Jan 8^th, 2005, 9:55pm

My BP is normal and believe it remains that way during cycles. I get hit by headaches in the day and can be woken up at night. Episodic: I'm in a cycle now, the last one was summer of 2002 and before that was 1.5 years earlier, each cycle lasting about a month. I wish a pain-free year for 2005, and beyond, for all other CH sufferers. May the medical world provide more answers and relief. For now, Imigran (sumatriptan) is a relief for me, but I live in a country where it's not available in injection. Thanksfully, I do have the sprays.

Title: Re: Please humor an old man
Post by LeLimey on Jan 8^th, 2005, 10:04pm

Hi ace, have you tried O2? It is brilliant for me at any rate. Well worth reading up on and discussing with your doctor

Title: Re: Please humor an old man
Post by aceserve on Jan 8^th, 2005, 10:13pm

Thank you LeLimey. I have heard oxygen is a good remedy but have not tried it yet. I guess I haven't because I felt that getting a tank and all that would be a hassle. I think I will try it though soon enough.
Ace

Title: Re: Please humor an old man
Post by cardogman on Dec 18^th, 2005, 7:28am

hey old man. Yes it is common for BP to rise during CH. Mine hads. I am usually normal and now I am borderline. That is one of the reasons Verapamil is used. It lowers blood pressure and is a calcium channel blocker for the heart.

Title: .Re: Please humor an old man
Post by burnt-toast on Dec 18^th, 2005, 9:23am

Chronic

BP always normal

Mostly night hits (hit severity/length varies without rhyme or reason).

Evening hits common (7:00PM to 9:00PM) if I doze off early (These hits are consistently nasty and extended).

Daytime hits likely when exposed to single digit temps or long periods of physical exertion. (These hits are consistently the easiest to deal with)

Tom

Title: Re: Please humor an old man
Post by Mattchew on Dec 18^th, 2005, 2:05pm

BP is normal when not in cycle, very high during an attack.

Title: Re: Please humor an old man
Post by Melissa on Dec 18^th, 2005, 4:11pm

116/70 when out of cycle
Episodic
Nightime hits (or whenever I take a nap) they get me approx. 1 hr after I fall asleep

Title: Re: Please humor an old man
Post by Kate in Oz on Dec 18^th, 2005, 6:42pm

My Bp is low to normal
2 cycles each year March & Sept lasting bout 8-10 wks (started age 18 now 36)
mostly night hits but seems to depend on the cycle and what I'm doing during day (triggers)

Title: Re: Please humor an old man
Post by Phil L on Dec 18^th, 2005, 8:11pm

Bp will increase during cycle, otherwise fairly normal in the 120's/70's. I'm 63 going strong and love life. Bring it on!

Title: Re: Please humor an old man
Post by gobby on Dec 19^th, 2005, 12:30am

37 - episodic
borderline high bp
mostly night hits but usually at least one durring the day.

Title: Re: Please humor an old man
Post by imnotbub on Dec 20^th, 2005, 10:46am

Episodic
Hit almost always at night or very early morning
Normal blood presure (except when the Yankees or Giants lose)

Title: Re: Please humor an old man
Post by givin2fly on Jan 3^rd, 2006, 2:46am

Hi Old Man

Supporter here. Dean, Husband 40yrs old, is chronic, at the upper realm of the spectrum, meaning he has them daily, they last most of the day with severe episodes off and on throughout. There is no "regular" start time. He gets a pain-free day about once a week, intermittantly.

BP is normal, spiking high during upper kips from the pain.

Title: Re: Please humor an old man
Post by BarbaraD on Jan 3^rd, 2006, 4:15am

Hey Old Man,

60 was a good year (I remember it well - well, sorta well.....)

Chronic here - BP gets up to about 135/90 when getting hit. For some reason, the docs (and nurses) always tell me, "That's good!" No- my damn head is blowing off stupid! Normally it runs about 100/70.

Don't really have much rhyme or reason to my hits except my wake up call in the morning - usually around 4-5 (this morning I'm up a little early -3 a.m.)

Hope you're kidding about the "no life" beyond CH. How long have you had CH? You just gotta make a life with them. I use coffee as an abortative a lot of the time. Works most of the time if I get to it soon enough.

Hugs BD

Title: Re: Please humor an old man
Post by the_old_man on Jan 3^rd, 2006, 6:13am

[b][/b]Hi BarbaraD,

Just kidding about "no life". Episodic...29 years...always in Oct for 10 to 12 weeks...can't take meds...only at night...3 times per night...sometimes get a 2nd cycle in August...hoping at 61 I'll outgrow them.

The Old Man

Title: Re: Please humor an old man
Post by Sean_C on Jan 3^rd, 2006, 6:32am

on 01/03/06 at 06:13:12, the_old_man wrote:

can't take meds...

How about o2??? Does the trick for me ;)

Sean............................

Title: Re: Please humor an old man
Post by the_old_man on Jan 3^rd, 2006, 7:24am

Sorry Sean,
Been there...done that. Doesn't work for me.

The Old Man

Title: Re: Please humor an old man
Post by Sean_C on Jan 3^rd, 2006, 7:40am

on 01/03/06 at 07:24:40, the_old_man wrote:

Sorry Sean,
Been there...done that. Doesn't work for me.

Check your messages bud.

Title: Re: Please humor an old man
Post by Guiseppi on Jan 3^rd, 2006, 11:10am

Top of the morning to you old man! I'm a 46 year old episodic. I've never checked BP. When I'm on cycle 90% of my attacks are at about 8 to 9:00 am, or shortly after falling asleep at night. Although they randomly strike me at weird times just to upset my daily routines! Off cycle my BP is relatively low. A pain free new year to you.

Guiseppi

Title: Re: Please humor an old man
Post by the_old_man on Jan 3^rd, 2006, 7:40pm

Thanks Guiseppi,

So far the new year HAS been PF. It's the first Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years in 29 years that's been free and clear.

The Old Man

Title: Re: Please humor an old man
Post by BarbaraD on Jan 4^th, 2006, 7:28am

Hey OM,

that's great..... I'm getting hit for both of us :-/

Seriously, have you tried the melatonin for the night-time hits? Takes a couple of weeks to get in your system. I tried it a few times before I stuck to it for any length of time and now I swear by it. Gets me the sleep I need to get thru the day. (Helps get thru the REM sleep where the CH hits - about an hour and a half after going to sleep).

Kudzu has worked for a lot of people. I haven't tried it yet, but have a bottle. Gonna try it next week (have company this week and don't want any surprises until they leave). You can find it at the health food stores.

Black coffee still works for me "most" of the time for an abortative if I get to it quick enough. I don't like meds either, but..... I don't like pain either.

Hugs BD

Title: Re: Please humor an old man
Post by the_old_man on Jan 4^th, 2006, 7:18pm

Hey BD,
Tried melatonin about 8 years ago. Worked for one cycle then never worked again. I seem to have that problem. Things work only once for me. Haven't tried kudzu yet. Right now I'm PF and don't want to press it. First time in 29 years I made it thru the holidays PF. I tried something different the first of Oct and for the first time in 29 years...well...you know...PF!!! Wishing the same for you.

The Old Man

Title: Re: Please humor an old man
Post by Sean_C on Jan 4^th, 2006, 7:31pm

on 01/04/06 at 19:18:55, the_old_man wrote:

I tried something different the first of Oct and for the first time in 29 years...well...you know...PF!!!

Well......................what was it??????? Inquiering minds want to know ;;D

Sean.............................

Title: Re: Please humor an old man
Post by Jonny on Jan 4^th, 2006, 8:05pm

on 01/04/06 at 19:31:46, Sean_C wrote:

Well......................what was it??????? Inquiering minds want to know ;;D

Sean.............................

Com'on man, hes old....its got to be Geritol ;;D

Title: Re: Please humor an old man
Post by Barry_T_Coles on Jan 4^th, 2006, 8:13pm

Episodic every five years.

At the onset get hit each evening around 6.00pm for about the first 2-3 weeks starting at around kip2.

Next stage afternoons at kip 3-4, night time hits around 2.00am at kip 4 – 5 for about the next 1-2 weeks.

Next stage 4-5 weeks at no particular time with average of 5 hits a day, the worst being kip 10 ( had three this time around) the 10s almost always mid afternoon.

Next stage kip levels and frequency gradually reduce until they just simply go away, total time duration 10 -12 weeks.

Normal blood pressure but hey i'm not checking my pulse at the time.

Kind Regards
Barry

Title: Re: Please humor an old man
Post by the_old_man on Jan 4^th, 2006, 8:16pm

Getting ready for the cold...flu...asthma...bronchitis..."cough until you spit up your small intestine" season, I thought I'd try to build up my immune system hoping to have an easier time of it this year. Research led me to try Elderberry syrup, turmeric extract, and ginger root extract. All are natural anti-inflamatory immune system boosters available in any health food store at a very low cost. I took (take) 1 tbs of Elderberry twice a day as well as 1/3 of an eyedropper of turmeric and ginger root twice a day in my coffee. So far I have not had a cold or the flu. I've had very mild asthma symptoms and still have my small intestine intact. I also skipped my Oct cycle for the 1st time in 29 years. I don't know if one thing had anything to do with the other, but I'm gloriously PF!!! Maybe Floridian has some thoughts on this. I could stop taking it to see if my cycle starts, but I'm selfishly enjoying myself too much to tempt the beast. I guess I'm just a coward, but a happy one. For less than $20 a month I'm taking a non-drug with no side-effects, and experiencing relief not only with my respitory problems, but also with my CH. It may be just a coincidence, but maybe...
Maybe I'll get the courage to stop taking it and see what happens.

The Old Man

Title: Re: Please humor an old man
Post by Barry_T_Coles on Jan 4^th, 2006, 8:24pm

on 01/04/06 at 20:16:16, the_old_man wrote:

It may be just a coincidence, but maybe...
Maybe I'll get the courage to stop taking it and see what happens.

The Old Man

Don't tempt fate I made a magnesium bracelet and have been wearing it for about 8 months; does it work? I dont know but I'm not going to take it off to find out.

Enjoy your reprieve
Kind Regards
Barry

Title: Re: Please humor an old man
Post by BarbaraD on Jan 5^th, 2006, 6:59am

That's great OM ... but don't you dare quit taking it -- if it's working keep it up. I just love success stories...

Come to think of it, you may of hit on something. Alergies, sinus, seasonal thingies = CH in episodics ummmmmm. I'm chronic, but my "high" cycles hit during cold/alergy seasons. Maybe I think I'll take a trip to the health food store... That's one coctail I haven't tried. Thanks for the suggestion.

Hugs BD

Title: Re: Please humor an old man
Post by MJ on Jan 5^th, 2006, 12:19pm

Interesting.

Old Man when you said
"I took (take) 1 tbs of Elderberry twice a day as well"
I know an old woman has at least 25 years on you and seems healthy as a horse allways in her gardens all summer, gave us canned apples and rasberry jam this year with the seeds removed.

A few days ago this old farm woman who lives near me reccomended elderberries for headaches, said it should help. To most shes considered eccentric around here. I like her and I proceeded to tell her of the seeds I took, She went into a huge ramble on natural cures.
Think I will go back and take notes.

I dont even know what an elderberry is.

MJ

Title: Re: Please humor an old man
Post by floridian on Jan 5^th, 2006, 12:41pm

on 01/04/06 at 20:16:16, the_old_man wrote:

I've written about curcumin/turmeric - on paper, it looks good as a possible preventive, but it hasn't been tested.

http://www.med-owl.com/clusterheadaches/tiki-index.php?page=Curcumin

Ginger has some properties like cayenne pepper - it affects substance P cells. Short term, it may burn and increase the pain/long term, it may reduce it. If it is fresh ginger, it also has a proteolytic enzyme that reduces coagulation and might dampen some immune/inflammatory responses.

Elderberry is usually billed as an anti-viral herb, though it has other properties that may come into play here; most of the anthocyanins (red-blue-or-purple pigments) have a good effect on blood pressure and the endothelial system, and some have other properties, like possibly blocking cgrp.
http://www.med-owl.com/clusterheadaches/tiki-index.php?page=CGRP

Does the Old Man's cocktail have a beneficial effect on clusters? I don't know, but it is possible.

Title: Re: Please humor an old man
Post by BarbaraD on Jan 5^th, 2006, 2:54pm

Well, it's certainly worth a try ... and a whole lot cheaper than all the meds we're spending on now...

Off to the health food store for this old Granny... well as soon as my grandson wakes up (thank goodness it's nap time right now) .. anyone got a remedy for ENERGY for Grannys? Keeping up with a four year old and fighting CH at the same time is about too much for this old broad. ;)

Hugs BD

Title: Re: Please humor an old man
Post by Sean_C on Jan 5^th, 2006, 7:37pm

on 01/05/06 at 14:54:43, BarbaraD wrote:

Well, it's certainly worth a try ... and a whole lot cheaper than all the meds we're spending on now...

Off to the health food store for this old Granny...

Let us know how you make out Barb, maybe you should post it on the meds board when you give it a go, I hope you find success ;)

Thanks for the info Flo

Sean.................................

Title: Re: Please humor an old man
Post by Kris_in_SJ on Jan 5^th, 2006, 7:52pm

Hi Old Man!

I don't know how I've missed this thread for so long.

Age 51 here - episodic every 3-4 years since age 42. I'm also hypertensive (got my dad's bad genes), and controlled with meds. Frankly, my blood pressure is at its best when I'm in cycle - probably because of the addition of 480mg Verapamil daily to my cocktail.

My only surprise is that my doc keeps allowing me Trex for aborting - probably because B/P is well controlled during cycle. After hearing of your natural herbal cocktails, I might add to my arsenal.

Hugs,

Kris