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Topic: COFFEE? (Read 1026 times) |
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ronnieK
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Hello all,
My clusterred headache just started again after 2 years, and from the previous one, I learned that caffeine helps a lot. Now,during the day coffee is my life saving solution, but at night time (about 9pm) I am banging my head against the wall.
This site does not mention much about coffee. Any inputs?
Ron
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Giovanni
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Re: COFFEE?
« Reply #1 on: Jan 9th, 2004, 7:53pm » |
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caffeine helps me day or night when under or just prior to an attack.
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t_h_b
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Re: COFFEE?
« Reply #2 on: Jan 9th, 2004, 8:19pm » |
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Yes, caffeine helps by constricting the blood vessels. Some headache medicine contains it.
Nicotine does the same thing.
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No, it's not a headache--it's a Stage Ten Primary Chronic Periodic Idiopathic Trigeminovascular Cephalalgic Crisis.
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ave
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Re: COFFEE?
« Reply #3 on: Jan 9th, 2004, 8:23pm » |
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ronnie, there's a lot being written here about coffee and nearly everybody hear swears by it. I's just not the "writing about coffee week" this week.
For thenight, you may want to look into oxygen. Button to the left of this board.
pfd&n
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Bob_Johnson
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Re: COFFEE?
« Reply #4 on: Jan 9th, 2004, 8:48pm » |
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Long, long ago we had long discussion on the subject.
Caffeine is one of those paradoxical drugs: for some, it seems to trigger attacks when they are in a cycle; others find large doses an abortive (to some degree).
You'll have to draw a personal map on this one.
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Bob Johnson
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henzey
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Re: COFFEE?
« Reply #5 on: Jan 9th, 2004, 8:51pm » |
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I am not an expert on this, but I think that coffee or any major caffeine solution can have a rebound effect similar to some of the headache medications, which may explain why you need another "boost" of caffeine throughout the day. For some of us, caffeine can become more of a trigger than a preventative over time. I have found that I have to slowly wean myself off of caffeine once a cluster episode starts up...but I do mean slowly wean. If I don't do this, my clusters are much more frequent and more painful. However, you may not have this problem....
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civics queen CHead
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Prense
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Re: COFFEE?
« Reply #6 on: Jan 9th, 2004, 8:54pm » |
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Coffee is mandatory during an attack...folks here even keep the pot setup for the night time attacks. It does not abort for me, but it sometimes eases the intensity for a temporary duration...never triggered or rebounded from coffee thus far.
Chris
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5-string
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Re: COFFEE?
« Reply #7 on: Jan 9th, 2004, 10:43pm » |
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I will give up coffee when the mug I am holding is pryed from my cold dead fingers. 
...Mark..
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Linda_Howell
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Re: COFFEE?
« Reply #8 on: Jan 10th, 2004, 2:45am » |
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Caffeine is a vaso-constrictor.
which is one of the tools we need to fight this beast.
Linda
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Kindness, is gladdening the hearts of those who are traveling the dark journey with us.
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pubgirl
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Purely anecdotal of course and not scientific but I met a CH sufferer who reckoned he aborted 80% of his attacks with really huge blasts of caffeine (coffee downed with caffeine pills).
Lucky bloke but he was convinced!
Wendy
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FrankF
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Re: COFFEE?
« Reply #10 on: Jan 10th, 2004, 10:28am » |
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Coffee helps me sometimes. I add 2 heaping TABLESPOONS of Folgers Instant to a cup of hot water. Tastes like shi* but the caffeine is like eight cups of coffee in one.
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ave
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Re: COFFEE?
« Reply #11 on: Jan 10th, 2004, 11:38am » |
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Hanzey, you don't mean the weekend or holiday coffee headache?
You get used to a certain caffeine intake every day., the theory goes. Weekends, holidays you get up late, you don't take your cup at the time you are used too - you get a sort of detox-symptoms, including headache.
I never had this.
I take a fair amount of coffee, including often late at night when I cannot sleep... Yep. After I have done that and read a bit, I can usually sleep like a baby.
When I am not only grey but very old, I will request them to put me on the coffee IV; will save them feeding me!
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ronnieK
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Re: COFFEE?
« Reply #12 on: Jan 10th, 2004, 11:46am » |
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t_h_b
You kidding right?
I thought cluster headaches happen because of lack of oxigen as my doctor explained. This is caused because of oxygen due to stress (most of the time). He also told me to do a lot of exercise, especially running with a walkman or something to distract me from thinking. I guess running would accelerate or force oxigen to our lungs. Can you imagine what niccotine would do to a brain that needs oxygen? I am not sure if I am right on this but any input would be apreciated too  .
RonnieK.
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pubgirl
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Bloody hell
Wish life was as simple as your Doctor thinks!
CH is caused by a lack of oxygen!!!
That's a few zillion £ and $ in wasted CH research all over the world finding the cause then, Ronnie's doctor has it sorted.
Wendy
Sorry for the sarcasm Ronnie, it's not directed at you!
CH Is NOT caused by lack of oxygen brought on by stress. They don't know what causes it, but all CH sufferers do have a deformed hypothalamus.
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| « Last Edit: Jan 10th, 2004, 12:32pm by pubgirl » |
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t_h_b
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Re: COFFEE?
« Reply #14 on: Jan 10th, 2004, 1:15pm » |
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No, I'm not kidding at all. Vasoconstriction is the easiest way to acute relief from CH. Nicotine, besides being poisonous, is a vasoconstrictor. Both nicotine and caffeine are absorbed fairly rapidly and that's nice, too.
Whatever the underlying cause of a vascular headache, shrinking the blood vessels takes pressure off the nerves involved and helps to relieve the pain. That's probably why ice packs work.
Imitrex works the same way, except that it targets receptors specific to cranial arteries.
I also think that there may be multiple possible underlying causes of CH. For me it seems to be a lack of melatonin, not oxygen.
Warning: rebound headache can occur when the vasoconstriction ceases.
My neuro recommends aerobic exercise as well. I find that having a cluster headache distracts me from thinking well enough that I don't need a Walkman for that!
I'm not a physiologist but when you exercise it increases the muscles' need for oxygen and might decrease the amount available for the brain. Fortunately, the heart and brain get first pick on the oxygen in your blood.
p.s.: Since your MD understands the cause of cluster headaches, please get him to tell everyone else instead of keeping it a secret. Might save us all a lot of pain in the long run.
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| « Last Edit: Jan 10th, 2004, 1:32pm by t_h_b » |
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No, it's not a headache--it's a Stage Ten Primary Chronic Periodic Idiopathic Trigeminovascular Cephalalgic Crisis.
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henzey
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Re: COFFEE?
« Reply #15 on: Jan 10th, 2004, 2:00pm » |
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To Ave: I am just one of those who caffeine becomes just as much of a trigger as it does a short-term help. Yes, a strong dose of caffeine can abort one, but it will also bring on other more quickly and more strongly. Whereas, if I wean myself off very slowly, I can shorten my episodes and the number of headaches. I have no idea why it does this...but it just does.
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civics queen CHead
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Prense
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Re: COFFEE?
« Reply #16 on: Jan 10th, 2004, 3:15pm » |
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on Jan 10th, 2004, 11:46am, ronnieK wrote:| I guess running would accelerate or force oxigen to our lungs. |
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The ratio of O2 used vs intake will increase during exercise...your body is using more to maintain the activity. The more vigorous the activity, the faster this happens. The more "in shape" someone is, the less drastic the effect. I don't see where exercise would have the same effect as sucking on an O2 bottle...the effect would be the opposite. Probably more of an endorphin thing...
Chris
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Stevieray
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Re: COFFEE?
« Reply #17 on: Jan 11th, 2004, 2:14pm » |
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Maybe it is time to rev up the expresso machine! Then again, what about chocolate coated expresso beans? I used to use them when driving to keep me awake when on a long haul. Any thoughts?
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Timmi
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:P :PRe: COFFEE?
« Reply #18 on: Jan 12th, 2004, 12:36am » |
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Coffee is the drink of the gods durring my episodes.Relpax seems to be working for me.No full blown attacks in nearly a week!!!!!!! I feel I may be able to have my nightly beers again soon 
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it's got you now.just lie there and be it's bitch untill it leaves.
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Paigelle
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Coffee helps me alot. I keep a pot ready to roll at night if needed. Also, it will make meds work quicker. Don't know why though. Just make sure your coffee is super strong and super hot.
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floridian
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Coffee is more than just caffeine. It is a good source of choline, and is rich in anti-oxidants (on par with green tea and red wine). The hot temperature could also play a role.
Coffee in the short run is probably good for headaches in general, and CH in particular. Chronic large doses of coffee could be bad for CH, though. Somebody posted recently that high coffee consumption was even more pronounced among clusterheads than high nicotine consumption. Could be like imitrex, which provides short term relief but may actually increase the number of headaches in the long run.
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blindboy3am
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Re: COFFEE?
« Reply #21 on: Jan 12th, 2004, 12:59pm » |
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I started suffering from CHs two years ago and usually only during periods of Dry Climate (I live in FL so that's winter here). After the first year I gave up coffee and smoking and the next winter (last winter) I didn't have any. Well this year I was back to smoking and drinking coffee and BOOM! Here we go again. It's been a couple of weeks with two to three a day. Nothing is helping. HURRY UP SPRING!!!!!
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TxBasslady
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Re: COFFEE?
« Reply #22 on: Jan 12th, 2004, 1:16pm » |
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I have to agree with Prense and 5 String on this one...the coffee definitely is a must!
And........I have never heard that caffeine can bring on a CH quicker and stronger 
Oh well, what do I know........... Never got my Medical degree LMAO......But I damn sure got CH !!!!!!!!!!!!
PF vibes...........
Jean
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Paigelle
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on Jan 12th, 2004, 1:16pm, TxBasslady wrote:I have to agree with Prense and 5 String on this one...the coffee definitely is a must!
And........I have never heard that caffeine can bring on a CH quicker and stronger
Oh well, what do I know........... Never got my Medical degree LMAO......But I damn sure got CH !!!!!!!!!!!!
PF vibes...........
Jean |
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I think since we have CH, they should just give us honorary degrees in suffering. Hell, we know more about it than most doctors do anyway.
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Janzokris
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Re: COFFEE?
« Reply #24 on: Jan 13th, 2004, 2:52am » |
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After reading everyones replies on this I tried it out, Im no a coffee drinker, but thought what the hell mite as well try it. It did sooth my CH as did having a smoke at the same time. Could this be a case of "mind over matter" go on shoot me lol I know nothing eases the pain totally but I will admit the CH did ease with the strong cup of coffee, did not go away completley but eased.
Just my tuppence worth
Janet
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Please someone take this pain away and let me sleep!!!
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