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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies >> ice users?
        
(Message started by: Charlotte on Mar 29^th, 2008, 2:40pm)

Title: ice users?
Post by Charlotte on Mar 29^th, 2008, 2:40pm

How do you keep the darn stuff on your head, and how do you time it?

Charlotte

Title: Re: ice users?
Post by lionsound on Mar 29^th, 2008, 3:42pm

practice ;)

and I use most everything besides ice...like a bag of frozen peas or other veggie forms a little better to your head. Or a first aid ice pack. I also have a hot and cold neck therapy thing i wrap around my head.

I don't time it. I keep it there as long as I can. Sometimes putting it in a cloth or at least a paper towel can make it easier on the skin.

Title: Re: ice users?
Post by BMoneeTheMoneeMan on Mar 29^th, 2008, 3:59pm

i keep a couple of bags of water in the fridge. when i need one, i put 2 or 3 ice cubes in it to keep it cold. The liquid water forms around your head pretty good, and it doesnt get uncomfortably cold.

Title: Re: ice users?
Post by Batch on Mar 29^th, 2008, 5:20pm

Charlotte,

I wrap an ice cube in a doubled paper towel and wet it so I get a good heat transfer between the ice cube and scalp. I also use a ball cap to hold it in place... That usually stops the questions too. Every day is a bad hair day for me so the ice cube is no big deal as long as it works... It usually works just fine...

Timing is easy... as soon as you "think" you're about to have an attack... go for the ice cube. If your husband or kids are observant... they may recognize an attack is about to happen before you do...

V/R, Batch

Title: Re: ice users?
Post by kcopelin on Mar 29^th, 2008, 5:43pm

Charlotte,
I wrap my bag of frozen peas in a bandana and tie it around my head-gives me a kinda funky pirate/biker/hippie look and holds my peas in place.
Also, I move it around so that it covers my CH eye, the entire side of my face or the base of my skull.
I go through alot of frozen peas cause after a few times of thawing and refreezing they get nasty.
PFDAN my friend,
kathy

Title: Re: ice users?
Post by brewcrew on Mar 29^th, 2008, 6:42pm

I use those blue gel icepacks that don't freeze solid at freezer temperatures, wrapped in a terrycloth hand towel. We have about 5 or 6 of them in our freezer.

We buy them from our chiropractor, but I think you can get them at Walgreens or other national chain pharmacies.

Title: Re: ice users?
Post by Whipsmart on Mar 29^th, 2008, 7:18pm

I use an ice bag. http://www.amazon.com/Heavy-Duty-Ice-Bags-Small/dp/B0006ULKQW/ref=pd_bbs_4?ie=UTF8&s=hpc&qid=1206832612&sr=8-4

I put about a tray of cubes in it with a little water. It stays lice and cold. I also use peas. The peas work better on the back of my head and neck. The ice bag works better for my eye, forehead, scalp, jaw, and everything else. You can pick them up for a couple of bucks at the drug store.

Title: Re: ice users?
Post by brewcrew on Mar 29^th, 2008, 8:29pm

on 03/29/08 at 19:18:46, Whipsmart wrote:

It stays lice and cold.

Well then, for god's sake, don't use it on your head.

Title: Re: ice users?
Post by AussieBrian on Mar 29^th, 2008, 9:13pm

I keep a dozen cotton base-ball caps, soaked in water, in the freezer with a layer of plastic between each one. As each one thaws I throw it back in.

Wish I could remember which of of our Cmates said, "Frozen peas are my friends" but I avoid the bags of frozen mixed vegetables because they always include carrots.

We've also a young CHead in England who swears blind that broccolli is a trigger so his mum no longer puts it on his plate. That might be worth a wide berth, too.

Title: Re: ice users?
Post by Kevin_M on Mar 29^th, 2008, 9:14pm

on 03/29/08 at 18:42:45, brewcrew wrote:

I use those blue gel icepacks that don't freeze solid at freezer temperatures, wrapped in a terrycloth hand towel.

you can get them at Walgreens or other national chain pharmacies.

About the exact same here. A cooler icepack handheld with a thick wash rag so my hand doesnt' get uncomfortable holding it, but bare cold icepack right on the head.

Title: Re: ice users?
Post by E-Double on Mar 29^th, 2008, 9:35pm

One of my away messages for IM is

" Got Peas? It's good for the noggin!"

Frozen peas are great....
The mold to he head
By the time it melts it has already done the trick

Title: Re: ice users?
Post by Annette on Mar 29^th, 2008, 11:52pm

We put ice cubes and water into a small thermo container and kept it in the fridge, then we soaked hand towels in the cold water, wrapped up the ice cubes and put it where needed.

Title: Re: ice users?
Post by sandie99 on Mar 30^th, 2008, 6:17am

I use small plastic coolers, which come in a shape of a ice cube. They are reusable and last much better than real ice. I keep mine in the freezer all the time, so when I need them, they're ready.

These are similar to the cubes I use:
http://www.wineintro.com/products/icecubes/bluecubes.jpg

Sanna

Title: Re: ice users?
Post by kevmd on Mar 30^th, 2008, 3:23pm

frozen peas!!!! I'm not the only one that prefers it I see. Usually, when reusing the same bag over an over, the peas all clump together when they refreeze. So a couple whacks on the kitchen counter and they loosen up. Best thing I can come up with. I tried corn one time but the smell, while it thawed during the attack made me want to puke. Just my 2 cents!

Title: Re: ice users?
Post by Trooper on Apr 1^st, 2008, 10:20pm

I read the Tips for CH posted by Mrs. DJ and decided to try the crushed the ice and rubbing alcohol. Oh' what a beautiful thing it is!! You can make up several packs this way and it is quite inexpensive. The alcohol keeps the ice from getting hard, it just stays nice and slushy. I wrap it with a paper towel because I find cloth towels to be too thick.

The ice pack may not abort the ha but it gives me reliefe for a second. When I am in the throws of a big attack the icepack almost makes it feel as if I am coming up for air.

Title: Re: ice users?
Post by brewcrew on Apr 2^nd, 2008, 11:58am

Frozen vegetable do not retain the cold anywhere near as long as the blue gel packs. Plus, the blue gel packs are reusable far longer than veggies, which will go bad when warmed and re-frozen over and over again.

Title: Re: ice users?
Post by AussieBrian on Apr 4^th, 2008, 4:14am

Anyone remember the famous "Frozen Banana" therapy? I laughed meself near sober over that one and the timing was terrific. (I needed to laugh.)

Title: Re: ice users?
Post by Sandy_C on Apr 4^th, 2008, 4:31pm

I also use the blue gel packs and I hold them on my head until they get warm, or the hit is over. If the hit isn't over, I go get another gel pack or two. I have several. I ususally wrap it in a thin dish towel (not terrycloth), or paper towels.

I'm a rightie, so I sit either in an arm chair or the couch with a large pillow under my right arm (helps to support the arm), rest my arm on the arm of the chair, and hold the pack to the right side of my head/eye. I will also have a second pack on the top of my head and on the back of my neck, if necessary. I've also, believe it or not, tied one to my head with a pair of pantyhose ::) My husband thought that one was quite charming.

Oh, and I also chug down about three to four 12 oz glasses of ice water, holding cubes in my mouth.

Keep practicing, you'll get it.

Sandy

Title: Re: ice users?
Post by Charlotte on Apr 6^th, 2008, 4:47pm

on 04/04/08 at 04:14:33, AussieBrian wrote:

Anyone remember the famous "Frozen Banana" therapy? I laughed meself near sober over that one and the timing was terrific. (I needed to laugh.)

I think I missed that one. Dare I ask?

All forms of ice are good.

Charlotte

Title: Re: ice users?
Post by tony-PA on Apr 6^th, 2008, 5:38pm

I've never used ice, only O2 (no more imigran ;)), but i wonder:
wouldn't be better to cool other parts of body, so our organism would remove blood from the head to warm them up?
I know..... it is a silly question, but ::)

Title: Re: ice users?
Post by brewcrew on Apr 6^th, 2008, 8:16pm

Cold constricts, including blood vessels.

Ever swim in cold water?

Title: Re: ice users?
Post by Linda_Howell on Apr 6^th, 2008, 8:31pm

Quote:

I laughed meself near sober over that one and the timing was terrific. (I needed to laugh.)

I am so totally cracking up Brian. Not because of the frozen banana, but about the rest of what you said.

I don't remember the banana thing either. Want to refresh our memory?

Title: Re: ice users?
Post by jon019 on Apr 6^th, 2008, 8:52pm

on 04/04/08 at 04:14:33, AussieBrian wrote:

Anyone remember the famous "Frozen Banana" therapy? I laughed meself near sober over that one and the timing was terrific. (I needed to laugh.)

Oh geez Brian, I'm still laughing, THAT was frickin' funny!
(And I needed the laugh TOO.)

The only ice I can possibly come near during a hit is the slush in a "wired" energy drink. The attempts to time that out of the freezer have been a dismal failure. Cleaning up sticky exploded mess in the middle of a hit? well, it is possible to laugh and cry at the same time (been there).

Personally, a hot, HOT, HOT! shower helps.

Regards,

Jon

Title: Re: ice users?
Post by AussieBrian on Apr 6^th, 2008, 10:22pm

It was in a discussion just like this and one of our ladies was explaining the joy and relief she got from using a frozen bandana. The misprint was unfortunate so you can imagine how this mob leapt at it.

I didn't, of course.

Title: Re: ice users?
Post by DragonSlayer on Apr 6^th, 2008, 10:56pm

on 04/06/08 at 22:22:36, AussieBrian wrote:

Oh no, Brian wouldn't jump on that like a gorilla with an ice cream brain freeze from eating the frozen banana. LOL [smiley=crackup.gif]

There was an article in prevention (I think) magazine about using frozen bananas back in th 70's.
I remember freezing 3 bananas and after the first one I threw the others out.
Shit maybe I read the article wrong???
I don't even remember how you were supposed to use them. I do remember it was a real bitch trying to peel the darn thing during a K9. If the smell of thawing corn was bad as posted above you can imagine the smell of a stinky, thawing, getting squishy banana.

That experiment was right up there with snorting cayenne pepper.

I quit using remedies from that magazine after that.
Well, there might have been a few others, I was desperate. But I soon learned there wasn't much the homeopathic remedies could do for these things.